CENTENARY
HRH Prince Michael of Kent and Arnaud Bamberger present the Coronation Cup to Chile’s polo captain Jose Donoso in 2007
thick and fast of one of the sport’s hard men, a dashing horseman, but a gentleman absolute. The Hipwoods are a dynasty, but international polo dynasties have also etched their names onto the Cup. The families of South America, who are traditionally steeped in horsemanship - Heguy, Gracida, Donoso, Pieres – have all shown their brilliance on this particular playing field too. “For English players, it always came at a
difficult time in the season when you were under a lot of pressure having just played the Gold Cup,” explained Hipwood. “Your ponies were tired, you were at the end of that campaign, and then, a matter of days later, you were into a mega-occasion like the Coronation Cup. An event like that requires the very best horsepower.” It is one of the facets of preparing for England that has caused
players sleepless nights over the decades. And still does. “We did muddle through to find and finance horses – the HPA came to our assistance and financed the rental of horses to play on the day which made a huge difference,” recalls Hipwood. “It’s very difficult asking people, namely patrons, to lend you horses when they are prized
English brothers Julian and Howard Hipwood, who have both captained the home side in the Coronation Cup. Picture credit: Desmond O’Neil
“You can play in Palermo, in Buenos Aires, which for many is the Mecca, with the noise and 5,000 people on top of you, but when you play at Guards in The Coronation Cup, and you hear the roar of 25,000 people, there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. No event can boast those numbers, and when you get a great, close match, and the crowd in those stands gets behind you, the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. It is the biggest game in the world. We love that as players. There’s no greater feeling.” Alan Kent, another England stalwart, played alongside Hipwood for many years. “It was
definitely big [as an event] when we played, but not as big as it is today. There was more of a reliance on patrons to get yourself mounted in our day, and we were sometimes up against much higher handicapped players – such as
Hector Barrantes and the Argentine polo ‘Mafia’. “The difference today is that the HPA is much more aware of the overseas handicaps of the opposition, so it has become a more even
HM The Queen, Mark Vestey and Arnaud Bamberger with the Argentine and England teams after the Coronation Cup match of 2000
match in that respect. Back in the ‘80s, it was a case of ‘this is what we’ve got, so let’s get on with it.’ But they did have the Hipwoods….”
Kent also coached the England team. “My memories of The
Coronation Cup are either adulation and joy, or complete demoralisation. It’s all or nothing, highs and lows. But you can’t help looking back on every one you have ever played in, or you were involved in, with a deep sense of pride.”
This year’s Coronation Cup match – played as part of The Cartier International Day – will be played at Guards Polo Club on Sunday 24 July.
possessions and very valuable. Renting horses at a reasonable rate made it easier for it to happen.” “To win any major polo game is a great occasion, but to win one for
your country at a special event, like the Coronation Cup, on Cartier Day is always a great feather in your cap during your career,” adds Hipwood. Times change of course, and the public now has a greater appetite to
taste polo’s unique atmosphere. Andrew Hine, former Captain of England, who played for a decade in the Coronation Cup, crossing over the Nineties and the Noughties. He believes the match day itself has a flavour like no other.
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Visiting success: Australia after winning Coronation glory in 2005 (above) and Chile celebrating in 2007 (right)
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