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Lady Victoria Hervey had no problem getting in to the polo tournament.
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You have to be pukka to chukka
Ray D'Arcy29/ 7/2008
THEY were holding on to their splendid Ascot-style hats, rucking up their silk dresses and stamping their Prada-shod feet on the grass in the middle of a field in what looked like a very elegant attack of tantrums.
However, the posh ladies of the Cheshire set were not losing their cool but taking part in a ritual - the divot stomp.
It's all part of being a dedicated follower of polo. And when those dashing players of the sport of princes take a well-earned rest from playing chukkas - the game is divided into sections called chukkas - we spectators suddenly have a part to play.
The ponies, as they swerve and turn, dig up the turf, and the chunks of grass need to be patted down. For some reason, the most enthusiastic stompers on that sunny day of delightful polo at the Coutts International at Chester racecourse were the ladies. It's good exercise and works up a thirst for the champagne.
Now you may be saying that polo - with its sniffy image of tycoons and maharajas - is not for you. But give it a chance. Is it exciting? Yes. Does it have players to compare with football's Wayne Rooney or Ronaldo? Well, the stars of the game would easily grace any Hollywood film. And players have been dubbed the `sophisticated tough' of the sporting world.
Is it hard to learn to play? A degree of riding skill is required. And nerves and muscles of iron, plus a healthy wallet, come in handy, too. It's certainly a great party conversation piece if you can just casually mention that you're a bit of a champ at a chukka - to admiring glances and mutters of `I always knew he was a real toff'.
Total fibber
Of course that CAN bring problems if you really are a novice or even a total fibber. Like being overheard by some landed type with a few acres as a back garden - and in Cheshire that could happen - who just might be able to offer you a place in a team at a forthcoming match should a substitute be required. Your party piece has suddenly become not such a good idea as I once found out to my cost when I `enhanced' my skills and brief experience as a player of the game at a cocktail party in East Africa where I used to live.
When the day of reckoning dawned the prospect of just one chukka - lasting for seven hellish minutes - can seem like a lifetime. And polo ponies - they're not strictly ponies but are often about 14 to 16 hands high - appear as muscle-bound, angry-eyed, steam-snorting demons from your worst nightmare.
But a bit of quick thinking can provide an escape - like the left-handed alibi.
Polo, you see, should be played with the mallet in the right hand because it's deemed safer.
So if you find yourself in a tight spot after a bit of reckless boasting, your excuse, while trying not to look too shifty, is the tried and tested: "Nothing I'd like better, old boy, but I'm actually a left hander and though I did use my right when I was a bit younger, I'm afraid it's not quite up to it now."
Of course, some super players like Prince William, who is left handed, play very well using their right hand, but it's unusual in the world class game.
Downright pukka
The catalogue of the famous and downright pukka who like to chukka - chukka means `wheel', by the way - is breath-taking, quite apart from our own royals. As you might expect India is where the game thrives and where players have a regal glamour.
Polo pin-up Prince Shivraj Singh, the Crown Prince of Jodhpur, was educated at Eton where he played for the school.
The Jodhpur team is one of the best in the world. In the beauty stakes model Jodie Kidd is also an accomplished player. Argentina, where my wife once played, is also a world leader.
So is a polo match a good day out? Most certainly, especially when the official corporate hospitality is provided, as it is at Chester racecourse, by Alexander Events, of Altrincham.
The man behind Alexander Events is Iain Evans, 32, who lives in Bramhall with wife Louise and son Freddie. Iain and his helpers make sure the champagne flows and the food is first class, while special guests are cared for in an impeccable and unobtrusive way
"Social event"
Iain says: "I have never played myself but really enjoy the game. I think it is a great social event and a wonderful day out for people of all ages. It is an exciting time for polo as it is becoming more popular.
"The common perception of polo as an elitist sport is changing. Its heritage and the history of many of the large polo clubs will always remain. However, it is more of a general social event now and is enjoyed across the country.
"It is a particularly family orientated sport and so is reaching a fresh new audience. With more awareness of the game, polo will continue to grow in popularity. In Chester and the surrounding Cheshire area it is well received and each year more people come to the polo events during the summer season which is just great to see.
"On a corporate level, polo is a fantastic game to be associated with. It offers excellent corporate hospitality and networking opportunities. The relaxed nature of the day suits corporate hospitality - you do not have to know the rules of the game but can still enjoy the thrill and excitement of one of the fastest team sports."
"As a sport in the UK, polo will never be as popular as football and have stars as big as Ronaldo as quite simply the money is just not there.
"Mass appeal and TV coverage will not play a part in the game, which in my opinion is not a bad thing. It is a game that is intimate by nature and should at all costs retain its warm and friendly atmosphere."
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Goes to show, regardless of how much money you have, 'being a member' of a particular set is more important (to them anyway).
I used to work in Argentina and we were invited to a very prestigious 'Polo' club for a game, as the company we worked for was a sponsor.
We even had our own viewing section and party area! It was about 200 meters away from everyone else! We were subjected to segregation, how dare they, I was born Moston! Also we upset our CEO because we were too busy enjoying the ‘freebies’ to ‘stomp’!
Same at the 'Henley Regatta', I used to row at University and we had a successful team. We were invited to compete; however, the university made a few substitutions and dragged out a few notable alumni which were more 'acceptable' to send to the event!
Saying that, Lady Hervey looks like she could do with a 'pie and chips' and a few Holts's.
4/08/2008 at 15:06