Polo at the Regent Street Festival

Ascot Park Polo Club once again succeeded in opening up the world of polo to everyone by taking polo ponies and instructors into the heart of London.

On Sunday 4th September, Ascot Park Polo Club taught over 300 people how to play to crowds of 250,000 in the middle of Regent Street.

The entire street was turned into an English country garden from 12pm to 6pm.

Set up in the middle of the busy street, with turf laid down, Ascot Park helped people from 4 years of age right through to 81 years old to learn how to ride and hit a polo ball.

The polo programme consisted of learning how to swing a stick standing on crates and riding a polo pony – for many the first time ever on a horse.

Running constantly throughout the day everyone had the opportunity to experience this wonderful sport. Huge crowds circled the area with a ferris wheel as a back drop, the town crier passing by and live music all going on at the same time.

Established in September 2000 the Regent Street Festival was and has now become an annual event.

Live music from the BBC stage, a fun fair, food from around the world and shopping promotions, street entertainers, demonstrations, a real picnic lawn, giveaways and competitions made this one of the best free events in London.

Not content with being the largest training centre in the world and introducing more than 2,500 people a year to polo, Ascot Park Polo Club continues to seek new ways of opening the doors of polo and challenging the traditional perceptions associated with the sport.

This years event was just a taste of things to come as plans for next year include a fast paced exhibition match to really help people get a thrill and enjoy this wonderful sport.

Delighted to be part of the Regent Street Festival and constantly seeking new ways of introducing more people to polo, Club Director Victoria Grace commented:

“It is fantastic to be able to provide so many people with the opportunity to try polo for the first time and of course it captures the quintessentially English tradition we so often forget we have.

Polo truly is a lot more accessible than people realise and I am delighted to be here to encourage more people to understand and take part in this wonderful sport. Next year will be even bigger and we can’t wait to play polo in the middle of Regent Street!”.

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