Overview

Ever since British soldiers returning from India in the mid-nineteenth century introduced their homeland to a fast-paced ball game on horseback, polo has remained the quintessential British sport. Although its origins lie in Asia, British pioneers are credited with both modernizing the game and spurring its spread worldwide. This volume chronicles the history of polo in the British Isles from its beginnings in the 1860s through the summer of 2011. It recounts the development of polo clubs, including the rise and fall of once mighty citadels of the game; describes the major competitions and many of the lesser tournaments in England and Ireland; and gives particular attention to international contests. Biographical sketches of top players, from early innovators to current superstars, and reflections on current issues affecting the game, including the rise of commercialism and the decrease of civility and sportsmanship, complete this vivid panorama of British polo.

Full Product Details

Author:   Horace A. Laffaye
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.640kg
ISBN:  

9781476693422

ISBN 10:   1476693420
Pages:   384
Publication Date:   31 May 2023
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments      Foreword by Nicholas J.A. Colquhoun- Denvers      Preface      Part I. Pioneering Soldiers, 1860–1914      1. The Beginning of Polo in Britain      2. The Expansion of Provincial Polo      3. Testing the Waters: The Early Internationals      4. Initial Tournaments: The Hurlingham Champion Cup, the Inter-Regimental Tournament and the County Cup      5. The Great Clubs and Polo Clubs Near London      6. Polo in Ireland      7. Spreading the Gospel Round the World      8. The Climb to the Summit: The Westchester Cup      Interlude I: 1914–1918      Part II. Gifted Amateurs, 1919–1939      9. A Time for Recovery      10. The Olympic Games      11. Struggles for the Internationals      12. The Lean Years of the Depression      13. British Polo Sculptors and Painters      Interlude II: 1939–1945      Between pages 156 and 157 are 8 color plates containing 20 photographs Part III. Gentlemen and Players, 1947–1985      14. Lord Cowdray Saves the Day for England      15. The Royal Family Lends a Hand      16. Colonials and Foreigners Change the Landscape      17. Renewal of the Coronation Cup      18. The Game Grows Unabated      19. Polo Tours Overseas      Part IV. Patrons and Professionals, 1986–2011      20. The Growth of the Professional Player      21. Women in Polo      22. An Uneasy Alliance: HPA and FIP      23. Literature of British Polo      24. Polo in Britain in the Twenty- First Century      25. Some Current Issues in British Polo      Appendix 1: Letter to The Field, 20 March 1869      Appendix 2: Polo Player Recipients of the Victoria Cross      Appendix 3: Results of Major Championships      Chapter Notes      Bibliography      Index     

Reviews

a must-read for all British polo enthusiasts. Laffaye yet again thrills us with another informative book...an enlightening, entertaining history of polo in Britain...well worth a read. Fascinating...invaluable --Polo Times.

"""a must-read for all British polo enthusiasts. Laffaye yet again thrills us with another informative book...an enlightening, entertaining history of polo in Britain...well worth a read. Fascinating...invaluable""--Polo Times."

“a must-read for all British polo enthusiasts. Laffaye yet again thrills us with another informative book...an enlightening, entertaining history of polo in Britain...well worth a read. Fascinating...invaluable”—Polo Times.

Author Information

The late Horace A. Laffaye was a polo player and surgeon. He was on the board of directors of the Museum of Polo and was chairman of the Polo Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. His writings on the game included several books and many articles in magazines in North America, Argentina and England. He lived in Durango, Colorado.

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