Cambridge University Polo Club

Last updated

Cambridge University Polo Club
Official website
University University of Cambridge
Location Cambridge, England
Founded1873
First varsity match27 November 1878
Known asLight Blues
Home groundsCambridge Polo Club, Haggis Farm
Affiliation(s) Hurlingham Polo Association
SUPA
President King Charles III
ChairmanRavi Tikkoo
CaptainIoan-Gabriel Alexandru [1]
Head coachFrancis Molyneux
Team colour #A3C1AD

The Cambridge University Polo Club (often referred to as CUPC) is the Discretionary Full Blue sports club for competitive polo at the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest surviving polo club in Europe and the second oldest in the world. [2] Its annual Varsity Match against Oxford, established in 1878, is the second oldest continuing polo fixture in the western world. [3]

Contents

History

The Varsity Polo Match, by Frank Dadd Varsity Polo Match by Frank Dadd.png
The Varsity Polo Match, by Frank Dadd

The club was founded in 1873 by John Fitzwilliam. [4] Originally, the colours of the club were maroon and yellow and, after some discussions and the sanction of the Cambridge University Boat Club, the following rule was passed : "That the Polo Five be allowed to wear a light blue polo shirt, white forage cap, and belt". [5]

The first inter-university match was held on the Bullingdon Cricket Ground in Cowley, on 27 November 1878. In 1879 the University players felt strong enough to enter a team in the Hurlingham Club's Champion Open Cup, the premier competition of the time. Although they were quickly defeated, the experience served them well and they returned later that year to defeat Oxford in the first Varsity Match.

Varsity match

Varsity polo match, 2013 Varsity Polo 2013.jpg
Varsity polo match, 2013

The match format is extremely uncommon as it is traditionally not handicapped. Teams are also mixed, which is a rare opportunity amongst the Cambridge University Blues sports. The original conditions are as follows:

"No player eligible who has been a member of his University for more than four years, or who has not been in residence during the term in which the match takes place. Instituted in 1878. Played generally at Hurlingham, in June." [6]

Currently, polo is a Discretionary Full Blue sport at Cambridge. Oxford and Cambridge take it in turns to host the B-Team and C-Team varsity event on a separate weekend during Lent Term, with the Old Blues match serving as the traditional curtain raiser for Varsity Day. The match is a well-established fixture in the British sporting calendar and is now held at Guards Polo Club.

Notable players

Related Research Articles

Rivalry between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge is a phenomenon going back many centuries. During most of that time, they were the only two universities in England and Wales, making the rivalry more intense than it is now.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hurlingham Club</span> Organization

The Hurlingham Club is an exclusive private social and athletic club located in the Fulham area of London, England. Founded in 1869, it has a Georgian-style clubhouse set in 42 acres (17 ha) of grounds. It is a member of the Association of London Clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge University Cricket Club</span> University cricket team

Cambridge University Cricket Club, established in 1820, is the representative cricket club for students of the University of Cambridge. Depending on the circumstances of each individual match, the club has always been recognised as holding first-class status. The university played List A cricket in 1972 and 1974 only. It has not played top-level Twenty20 cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Varsity Match</span> Annual rugby union fixture

The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. The event began in 1872 with the first men's match, with interruptions only for the two World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1921 to 2023 the game was played at Twickenham Stadium, London and usually took place in early December. The game is now played in March and will take place at StoneX Stadium in 2024.

A blue is an award of sporting colours earned by athletes at some universities and schools for competition at the highest level. The awarding of blues began at Oxford and Cambridge universities in England. They are now awarded at a number of other British universities and at some universities in Australia and New Zealand.

Claire Janet Tomlinson was an English polo player and pony breeder. She was the highest-rated female polo player and coached the English national team she once captained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Cycling Club</span>

Oxford University Cycling Club (O.U.C.C.) is a cycling club for students and associated members of the University of Oxford. Via earlier incarnations, the Dark Blue Bicycle Club (D.B.B.C.) and the Oxford University Bicycle Club (O.U.Bi.C.), it has a history reaching back to the very origins of club and competitive cycling.

The University Match in a cricketing context is generally understood to refer to the annual fixture between Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club</span> Universitys ice hockey club

Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, is one of the oldest ice hockey teams in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Ice Hockey Club</span> Universitys ice hockey club

The Oxford University Ice Hockey Club (OUIHC) is home to the Men’s and Women’s Blues ice hockey teams of the University of Oxford, England. The Men's Blues, also known as Oxford University Blues, is one of the world's oldest ice hockey teams. Tradition places the origin of the team in 1885, when a match is said to have been played against Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club in St Moritz, Switzerland. This date is recognised by the Hockey Hall of Fame, and prior to the 1985 Ice Hockey Varsity Match, the International Ice Hockey Federation formally recognised the 1885 game as the first ice hockey match played in Europe. However, there is no contemporary evidence that this match took place, and Oxford now claims that this was a bandy match.

The Ice Hockey Varsity Match is a longstanding competition between the Cambridge and Oxford University Ice Hockey Clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Handball Club</span> English handball club

Oxford University Handball Club (OUHaC) was founded and registered as a club at the University of Oxford in 2001 and has since established itself as one of England's most successful clubs. It is a member of the England Handball Association since 2002 and the Association of British Universities Handball Clubs since 2011. Every year, OUHaC competes in the English Handball League, EHA Cup and the British University Championships. Beginning in 2014, the club has played in the varsity match against the Cambridge University Handball Club. In 2016 and 2017 respectively, the women's and men's teams were granted Half Blue status by the Blues committees of the University of Oxford.

Oxford University Dancesport Club (OUDC) is Oxford University's largest sports club and is the second largest club at the university after the Oxford Union. Founded in 1968 it currently has an annual membership of around 800 members. It runs professionally taught classes in the following dance styles:

John Argentine Campbell was a sportsman who represented Scotland in rugby union and Argentina in cricket. Born in Argentina to a Scottish father and educated in Scotland, he was also an accomplished polo player. He was killed while serving with British forces in World War I.

The University Golf Match is the annual golf match contested between the Full Blue golf teams from Oxford and Cambridge universities. Dating back to 1878, it is the oldest amateur event in golf, as the first Amateur Championship was played in 1885. It is also the oldest team event in English golf. Scottish team matches were common after 1849, and included St Andrews University matches against Fife artisan clubs.

The Cambridge University Golf Club is the golf club for the University of Cambridge, England. It comprises the Blues team, the second-team Cambridge University Golf Club Stymies, and the Ladies team. The club was founded in 1869, and the first University Golf Match was played against Oxford in 1878. Members who play in the University Golf Match are awarded a Full Blue, while those who play against Oxford for the Stymies are awarded Second Team Colours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge Dancers' Club</span> Football club

Cambridge Dancers' Club (CDC) first opened its doors in October 1950 as a student society in the University of Cambridge to promote Ballroom and Latin dancing. It has since broadened the styles taught by their professional teachers to include Salsa and Rock 'n' Roll classes, as well as opening to all adult Cambridge residents. The club runs classes five nights a week during Full Term, including classes open to people with no previous dance experience. Classes also run outside Full Term. Having once had an annual membership of over 2000, the club now has a membership that is still well over 1000 members, making it purportedly one of the largest Ballroom and Latin Dancing Clubs in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Polo Club</span>

The Oxford University Polo Club is the Discretionary Full Blue sports club for competitive polo at Oxford University. Founded in 1874, it is one of the four oldest continuing polo clubs worldwide. Its annual Varsity Match against Cambridge University Polo Club, established in 1878, is the second oldest continuing polo fixture in the Western world. It is played at Guards Polo Club, England, usually at the beginning of June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Varsity Polo Match</span> Annual polo match

The Varsity Polo Match is an annual polo match between the Oxford University Polo Club and the Cambridge University Polo Club, played between teams of four players. Historically it was known as the inter-University Challenge Cup or inter-Varsity polo match. It is also known as the Oxford-Cambridge Polo Match or by a title that includes the name of its current sponsor. Members of both teams are traditionally known as Blues, with Oxford in dark blue and Cambridge in light blue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Men's Basketball</span> Basketball team in Oxford, England

The Oxford University men's basketballteam represents the University of Oxford in the BUCS Basketball League and the National Basketball League (NBL). The team has won 19 National Championships, making it one of the most successful university basketball teams in the United Kingdom. The team is currently coached by Greg Robertson.

References

  1. "Cambridge University Polo Club committee" . Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  2. "Cambridge University Polo Club founded in 1873". cupc. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  3. "The Inter-Regimental Trophy 1871". British Army Polo. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. Laffaye, Horace A. (10 January 2014). Polo in Britain: A History. McFarland. ISBN   978-0-7864-8980-0.
  5. Brown, J. Moray (25 August 2017). Polo. Read Books Ltd. ISBN   978-1-4733-4003-9.
  6. Modern Polo, by E.D. Miller, London: Thacker and Co. 1896 p. 399.