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SUPA tour of India Report
Splendour and success
for emerging English talent
Rugby School’s polo captain Ciara McKibbin tells the story of polo, palaces
and a packed schedule on SUPA Britain’s triumphant 10-day tour of India
was delighted to be selected as part of the
Photog
I
SUPA Britain squad to tour India this r
aph supplied b
winter, where we faced local opposition in
three matches in late November and early
December. SUPA had welcomed Young India
y Robin Spicer
to the UK in summer 2008, where the hosts
had been beaten by a strong touring side, so
the 2009 team – Robin Spicer, Harold Hodges,
Barney Wilson, Alex Mains and I – were
anxious to ensure a British victory overseas in
the return series.
We didn’t have to wait long to get into the
action as, after arriving in Delhi the day before,
the first of our two official Test Match fixtures
was scheduled against the Indians on day two at
the Jaipur polo ground. We’d had the chance to
see how the ground played on our first day, after
SUPA Britain’s successful tourists (l-r: Harold Hodges, Ciara McKibbin, Robin Spicer, Alex Mains and Barney Wilson)
Col Bhawani Singh arranged for us to be
whisked direct from the airport to watch the well accommodated at previous locations, none After another day of visits to local attractions
final of the 10-goal Cavalry Gold Cup. of us could quite believe our luck at having such and an evening meal hosted by Kunwrani
Playing in that final was young two-goal a great place to stay. It was part of a Taj Palace Gayatri Singh, the team woke up to its final test,
player, Gaurav Sehgal, a member of the side that Hotel and I think it is fair to say none of the the second official Test Match. Fortunately, we
inspired Young India to victory over SUPA Britain team had ever stayed anywhere quite like it! held our nerve and won the match 9-8, and the
in the UK in 2008. He would be lining up against
us again, alongside promising young female
player Devyabi Rao, so we knew we had our
We were interviewed for the local news channel
work cut out. However, the Indians mounted us
after our second Test Match victory and were
very generously and we did well to sneak a
narrow victory, 61/2-5.
surprised to see ourselves appear in the newspapers
The game was followed by a spicy barbecue
with our hosts and their families at the Sehgal On Friday 5 December we played the first of series. We were then interviewed for the local
Stud. The following day we returned our taste our two matches on the ground in Jodhpur, news channel and were surprised over the next
buds to more familiar territory with afternoon mixing up the sides with players from Mayo few days to see ourselves mentioned in a
tea and McVitie’s biscuits at the British Embassy, College for an exhibition match. Robin and I number of articles in the newspapers.
kindly hosted by Arabella Stagg. We then formed part of a side called the UK Knights, After the unexpected honour of enjoying
departed on the first of the epic road trips that losing out 3-1 to two Mayo boys playing with dinner on the palace lawn with the Maharajah,
we were quickly to become used to, travelling to Alex and Barney as the Mayo Bravos. the following day we were up early to return to
Ajmer in Rajasthan via a palace tour in Jaipur Sadly, Harold missed all the action that day, Mayo College for an Indian wedding and then a
where we were shown around by the polo- being forced to spend it confined to his hotel welcome rest before a nine-hour drive back to
playing Maharaj, Narendra Singh. room with a bucket after becoming the first Delhi airport and a cold English December. All in
In Ajmer we stayed at Mayo College, often (and thankfully last) person to fall victim to all, it was a fantastic tour and thanks must go to
referred to as “the Eton of the East”, and “Delhi belly”. That evening, our fellow player our sponsors La Martina, as well as a huge thank
enjoyed a day of tours around the area before Vishwaraj Singh and his team-mates took us out you to tour organisers Maharaj Raghav Raj Singh
moving to spend the night at the Umaid Bhawan to sample the local Indian nightlife, which and Mr and Mrs Charles Betz, as well as our
Palace, in the private wing of the home of the proved to be great fun and a chance to get to patient coach Lavinia Black. Let’s hope it can
Maharajah of Jodhpur. Although we had been know each other better! become a regular fixture! F
www.polotimes.co.uk January/February 2010 31
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