ENGLISH POLO PROSPECTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 3

ENGLISH POLO PROSPECTS.

RECORD SEASON EXPECTED

Nominally polo begins in London on Ma.yH,, but, much will depend upon the condition of the grounds (writes “ Clinkker” in the “Daily Mail”). There is every prospect of a highly successn Roehampton. The success which attended the revival of the game lastseason exceeded all expectations. I his year the outlook is remarkably premising. There is a big demand for stabling at the clubs. Many new poloplaying members are joining’ and strong entries are expected for the chief competitions. A number of . powerful teams have already been arranged, and several others arc in the course of' formation. bully trained and expert encccl iKiniGs will still be difficult to find, but there are hundreds, of {ponies in the country undergoing their' trainnig lor polo and have been for many months past.

THE DEFENCE OF THE CUP.

No doubt the chief features of the season will be the resuscitation of military polo on pre-war lines ami the preliminary selection of players.and ponies Tor the international matches of 1921. Neither this country nor the United Mates could have put really representative and adequately mounted teams into the field this year, and the postponement ol; the challenge lor the International Cup is in the best interests ol the gameThe proposal that the trial of strength should be deferred -was made by the Hurlingham Club Committee last summer and was gracefully accept?.r» •American Polo Association. 1 erhaps by 1921 your men and mounts and ours will be in better form than would bo possible this year.” wrote the, American Committee. H is highly satisfactory to know that the polo, authorities are preparing, to resist America’s nest effort to regain the cup with all the resources at itioii command. : There, is to be no Imp. hazard choosing of the teams and ponies at the last moment, as was the case U'heu Air H. P. Whitney and his brilliant team rode off with the trophy deven years ago. Major-General John \aughan, having retired from the Army, will devote much of his time as chairman of fhe Defence Committee to watching the form of players and ponies this year. He will be assisted m Ins duties by Air Buckmastcr, LicutenanfColonel E. D„ Miller. Brigal dier-Gencral Hardress Lloyd, Alajor F. W . Barrett, Lieutenant-Colonel G • W Hobson. Alajor V. N. Lockett, ‘ and Lieutenant-Colonel H. F. Wickham. A stronger committee, could scareelv have been formed and the work of finding England s best talent in men and mounts can safely be left to them- \ part ot their will be to secure the best pomes throughout the Empire ■'lr- re U7 A :I j?° o>' loan, and to arrange *or their disposal after the final match.

ENGLAND’S -BEST PLAYER

America’s approaching challenge is regarded with great seriousness', and ... ~ L ' ;e riio fault, of organisation 11 the invader,; arc not met hv our strongest forces. It is probable that the-.Defence'Committee will turn to the surviving members of the victorious team ot 1914. as a - nucleus for tho next international side. -Unhappily Alajor Leslie Cheap*, as great- a player as ever swung a stick, is pme; but there remain LieutenantColonel H. A. Tonikinson, Alaior Lockett ami Alajor Barrett. Of theso the first two are likely to be with their regiments in Ireland this summer-, and so will not be seen a great deal in Loudon. Ponies will be n source of anxiety, lor America, is extremely strong in this direction just now. Some of England’s best pre-war ponies arc in the United estates, and will torn the basis of -m exceedingly powerful stud. Every English player who has a first-class pony Ts expected to place it at the disposal cf the Defence Committee, even though rome of his own individual pleasure In the game may .be sacrificed for a lew months.

THE GAAIK IN.THE ARMY

Army teams lost so mam- of their best players in the war that a considerable time must necessarily elapse before they can get back to their former strength.. A number oh regiment's, too,i li:uiii£ just returned from foreign serucc, are finding, a difficultv in getting together good studs of .trained , ponies! Ibis season will, accordingly, be one of loconstrnction ior many regimental combinations. At present the favourites are the 17th Lancers, who can still rely upon the side which_ carried off the championship in India before the war, includin'’ 1 Lieutenant-Colonel T. p, Mclvill. Major Lockett, Captains Boles and Turnor. Properly mounted, that team would need a lot of beating. The 17tli Lancers, as well os two other tanions polo regiments, the 10th Hussar and the Ist (Royal Dragoon.?) have lately been ordered : to Ireland, where the I2ib Lancers, the 15th Lam sars. and the Carnbiniers will also have strong polo combinations. [n these and other regiments there are many promising players among the subalterns, to whom i\e look to fill the terrible gaps in Ibe game caused by tim war.