Sport
depends on what the weather is like each year. Last year it was so wet we finished really early but we can still teach in an indoor facility.” James established the Academy in 2006 with the goal of providing affordable polo lessons. He now caters for a variety of age groups and abilities at the Academy, which is sited six miles outside of Chester, within reach of the Cheshire Polo Club and the Chester Race- course Polo Club . He said: “Between Tuesday and Friday we’ll run lessons from 8.30am to up to 9pm. We’ll teach everyone from individuals to groups and people of any age. We also offer experience days so we may cater for a corporate group or a stag party where we’d host between 10 and 16 people throughout the whole day. James added: “Tere’s not many places set up like we are. Here you’re able to play polo straight off and just come along once if you wish. In the majority of polo clubs you would need to own your own horses and equipment, pay membership fees and so on. We offer af- fordable lessons but it’s not just a money thing.
Another constraint people have is time. If they can turn up and the horse is ready for them then that suits a lot of people. Tey can disap- pear again as they please without having to look after a horse full time or become involved in a club.” Outside of the Academy James has been
an active polo professional for over a decade. Having been based in the New Forest before setting up business in Cheshire, he competes in tournaments around the country at weekends. He has managed to combine his playing and coaching careers successfully. He said: “Tere are good players that have
started with us that have gone on to play professionally. We get a range of people here.
Some people want to have a one-off go, other people want to get in to the sport. Tere’s not many that get into it as a full time career. Quite often people start out in it as a hobby and then if you’re good enough you may get sponsored and take it from there.”
To find out more visit
www.jfpoloacademy.com
Te St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow takes places between 30th January and 2nd February 2014. For more information visit
www.polostmoritz.com
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