The present Cheshire Polo Club dates from 1952 but it is the successor to a number of clubs that have played in the North West for over a hundred years. The earliest of these was the Manchester Polo Club that can rightly claim to be the oldest club in England, after the game had been brought to this country from India in the 1860’s.
In 1906 the Manchester Club moved to Ashley where it remained until 1939 when it amalgamated with the Wirral Club and moved to the mid-Cheshire Club. When the war broke out the club had reached the finals of two Hurlingham Polo Association Official Tournaments - The County Cup and The Junior County Cup. The cup we play for today in the National 8 Goal every July is The Junior County Cup.
Play did not start again after the war until 1951 when the newly formed Cheshire Polo Club leased an additional ground from Captain Gordon Fergusson and began to play the traditional club tournaments.
Cheshire Polo Club today has over 80 playing members, five grounds and is famous in the world of polo for its fantastic parties and fun atmosphere
The 2012 season promises to be one of change, which I hope everybody involved with Cheshire Polo Club will embrace wholeheartedly. Over the last few years we have enjoyed the most generous sponsorship from The Stobart Group and this will not be easy to replace but with a few changes on the committee I think we will have renewed enthusiasm and some new ideas, which I hope will make for an exciting and enjoyable season ahead.
I am extremely grateful to Boodles who will once again be sponsoring the Wirral Ladies' Cup and look forward to welcoming some new sponsors who I hope will enjoy their time at the polo. By narrowing the handicap limits of some of the tournaments we hope to ensure plenty of competitive polo at all levels to suit all our playing members.
We have a full programme of social events planned throughout the season including a return to the tradition of holding the ball during The Junior County Cup in July and culminating with the End of Season Awards Party which, as in recent years, will be the perfect opportunity to recognise the efforts and achievements of so many club members throughout the season.
Last season the younger members of the club, once again, did themselves proud at Cowdray and by all accounts our junior members look set to repeat their success this year. Hugo Taylor, Charlie Walton and Dominic Heywood were all selected to play for Young England with Charlie travelling to China as part of the victorious team against Young France.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all the younger players every success this year and feel proud that they will be representing Cheshire Polo Club in their efforts.
Finally, I hope everybody has an enjoyable and successful season
Paul Thomason
Chairman, Cheshire Polo Club
