Britain’s highest goal Arena Polo match is set to take place at the 2008 British Open Show Jumping Championships. Two teams consisting of some of the UK’s finest professional polo players are busy tuning their top string of polo ponies for this unique event.
The teams invited to battle for the High Goal Arena Polo Challenge Championship title are:
Blue Team
Tim Bown (Arena handicap 8) Berkshire
Jack Kidd (7) West Sussex
Philip Baker (3) Rugby
Red Team
Jamie Morrison (7) Berkshire
Howard Smith (7) Surrey
Dean Lines (4) Hertfordshire
Heralded by many as ‘the future of polo’, the sport of Arena Polo has taken the country by storm since the first UK Arena Polo rules were issued in 1991. The game of polo, known as the “sport of kings”, is normally played over a ten acre field where as Arena Polo is staged in a much smaller area resulting in a high impact, energy charged game. This condensed format and rapid pace provides pure entertainment and ensures the most thrilling view for spectators – if you’re looking for top polo action the arena is most definitely the place to go.
“Arena Polo is one of the best spectator sports in the world and the atmosphere at the British Open is second to none. The crowds get a much closer view than they would at an outdoor game and that allows people to get a lot more involved in the action. Last year the buzz was just incredible and we can’t wait to wow them again in 2008.” said 27-year-old British Open polo professional, Dean Lines.
The high goal (18 goal) competition will take place over all four days, with two performances on the Saturday. Each game will consist of two chukkas of play with the final taking place during Sunday’s British Open Championship performance.