Equine equality

Thrill of the chase: The Army women’s polo team practise their skills during a training day at Tidworth Polo Club

Report: Stephen Tyler
Picture: Graeme Main

OF all the sports on offer throughout the British Army, few scream “officers only” quite as loudly as polo.

With its long-standing tradition, old-fashioned terminology and specialist equipment – not least of which is a polo pony – the equine activity makes croquet seem like a pastime for yobs.

But put stereotypes to one side and the truth could not be more different. Polo is a fast-paced, thunderous and most importantly inclusive sport which the formative Army women’s team wants to introduce to a new generation of junior soldiers.

Since emerging from the successful AGC side in early 2008, the Army squad has attracted a range of ranks, many complete beginners, and has tasted success against their experienced male counterparts along the way.

Team captain and Army women’s polo secretary Maj Gill Shaw (AGC) has been at the forefront of the sport’s growth within the military and does not intend to rest on her laurels as the side approaches its first anniversary.

“It is true that polo has been a sport played predominantly by officers in the past,” said Shaw. “But things are changing and, because of the funding that is now available within the Army, anyone can play.

“We have a budget between us as a team and we have already proved that we can be successful with that amount.”

With a large part of a player’s performance based around the ability of their pony, the sport eliminates physical barriers and allows men and women to compete against each other.

The women’s team took advantage of the level playing field by challenging the experienced Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment to a match at the Captains’ and Subalterns’ Cup at Tidworth Polo Club last July.

Anyone doubting the prowess of the fairer sex on the field of play was given a rude awakening as the women cantered to victory against their more highly-favoured opponents.

The team followed up the victory with a runners-up performance at the Ladies’ Heritage Cup at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (RMAS), and has continued to progress under the expert tutelage of RMAS polo manager Barbara Zingg and Tidworth Polo Club’s resident coach Sean Dayus.

“We are never going to be England players because we don’t get to practise every day,” added Shaw. “You want to be classed as equals and we have shown that we can be competitive with the men at our level.

“We admit that the men might be able to hit the ball a bit further, but if you have a good horse and do the training then it counts for a lot.”

The women’s rapid improvement is all the more remarkable as most of them only took up polo a maximum of five years ago.

Although the majority of the current squad is made up of officers, Shaw’s assertion that she wants more soldiers to sign up has already paid dividends with five junior rank females expressing an interest.

Among the current crop of players helping to drive the team to success is Pte Emma Steed (AGC). The 23-year-old Territorial Army soldier got involved last year after seeing a recruitment poster.

“I would really recommend giving polo a go,” Steed told SoldierSport during a break from training at Tidworth. “It’s a great team sport.”

The welcoming atmosphere in the team camp is anything but elitist and, with support coming from the top in the form of Army Polo Association chairman Lt Col Simon Ledger (LD), women’s polo looks assured of going from strength to strength.
l Contact Maj Gill Shaw at agcpolo@hotmail.co.uk