Frequently Asked Questions

Terms & Conditions

1. The Organisers reserve the right to refuse admission and may on occasion conduct security searches to ensure the safety of patrons.
2. The Organiser reserves the right to refuse entry to the grounds and remove persons and/or vehicles from the grounds as deemed necessary by the Organisers.
3. Tickets are valid only for the event on the date shown.
4. Presentation of the ticket constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions upon which the Organiser is prepared to grant entry.
5. All tickets, discounts and promotions are subject to availability.
6. Tickets, badges and passes must be available for checking by Club Officials at any time.
7. Vehicles are admitted on condition that Cowdray Park Polo Club shall not be liable for loss or damage to any vehicle, anything in or on or about any vehicle howsoever such a loss or damage may be caused.

Refund Policy

All tickets are sold on a non-refundable basis.

General Safety Rules

1. Please ensure that you follow the play at all times and keep yourselves, friends, family and guests out of the safety zones.
2. Please ensure that you supervise children who may not be as diligent as you.
3. Dogs, in public areas, must be kept on their leads or controlled at all times.
4. All access, other than by those so authorised, to the pony lines, lorry parking areas and agricultural machinery, is strictly forbidden.

Public are welcome to watch all matches at Cowdray Park. Tickets can be bought at the entrance gates to the grounds in play. You are welcome to bring your own picnic and folding chairs or a rug to sit on, and there are ample viewing areas. Please follow the signs to the public car park or park as directed by our staff.

We are located near Midhurst in West Sussex. The Polo Club has 2 sets of grounds. The Lawns and River grounds are very near to Midhurst and the Ambersham pitches are located halfway between Petworth and Midhurst. The daily schedule will show which grounds are being used – always subject to last minute change.

Sat Nav References – The polo grounds do not have their own postcodes, but the following are reasonably close:

Lawns – GU29 0AJ
Ambersham – GU28 0PR

The nearest train stations are Haslemere on the Waterloo line (10 miles) or Pulborough on the Victoria Line (10 miles).

High goal matches (20-22 goal) will be played over six chukkas (lasting approx 90 minutes). Medium goal matches (15-18 goal) will be played over five chukkas (approx 75 minutes), and low goal is played over four chukkas (approx one hour).

Generally we recommend smart/casual clothes, with comfortable shoes for ‘treading-in’. However if the weather is inclement please dress accordingly. No shorts are permitted in our Members’ Enclosure.

Basic Rules
Grounds
The maximum permitted pitch is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide.

The goal posts are 8 yards apart.

Duration of Play
The match is divided into chukkas, each lasting 7 minutes.
The interval between each chukka is 3 minutes to permit change of ponies.
At half time the interval is extended to 5 minutes.
The bell is rung at the end of each 7 minute period. Play continues after the bell until the ball goes out of play, or the umpire stops play for a foul, or the bell is rung for a second time 30 seconds after the first bell. In the final chukka play stops with the first stroke of the bell.

Changing Ends
Ends are changed after EACH GOAL scored, or at half time if no score by then.

Field Rules
Right of Way – During play there is an imaginary “line of ball”, which is generally the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.

Crossing – Any player who crosses the player in the right of way close enough to be dangerous or cause a player to slow up, commits a foul.

Riding Off – Riding off is the term used to described the action of one player trying to take control of the ball by pushing a member of the opposing team off his chosen course, whether the other man is playing the ball or not. But it must not be done by charging in at a dangerous angle, nor must the man in possession of the ball be crossed.

Hooking sticks – A player may hook an opponent’s stick provided he is in the same side of the opponent as the ball, or directly behind him, and provided the stick is below the level of the opponents shoulder. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony’s legs.

Players Handicap
Each player is given a handicap level from -2 to 10 goals depending on his ability. The lowest handicap is -2, with 10 being the highest possible.

A team’s rating is calculated by adding together the 4 players’ handicaps.

The Team
Positions are No1 and No 2 who are the forwards, No 3 the pivot position, usually the best player in the team, and No 4, or Back, the goal defender.

Umpires
There are two mounted umpires and a third man or referee in the stands acts as an arbitrator if the umpires disagree.

The goal judges behind each goal wave a flag when a goal is scored.

The time keeper and scorer keep track of the timings of the match and sound the bell or hooter at the end of each chukka.

Penalties
Different types of penalties are awarded depending of the nature of the foul.

30 and 40 Yard – Shot at an open goal, the attackers have to be level with the ball when hit or hit at. Defenders have to be behind the back line.

60 yard – None of the defending team to be nearer than 30 yards.

Free hit : – From the spot where the foul occurred, with none of the defending team to be nearer than 30 yards. From the centre of the ground, none of the defending side can be nearer than 30 yards. This is awarded at the discretion of the umpires. If the ball has gone over the back line, but not through the goal, then the defending team hit it back into play at the point where it crossed the line. The attacking team must be 30 yards away.

The nearest train stations are Haslemere on the Waterloo line (10 miles) or Pulborough on the Victoria Line (10 miles).

Dogs are welcome but they must be kept on a lead at all times when outside the vehicle. Please clear up after your dog.

You are also very welcome to bring your own picnic, folding chairs and/or a rug to sit on.  You can order picnics from the Cowdray Farm Shop.  http://www.cowdray.co.uk/farm-shop-and-cafe/shop  or telephone number 01730 815152

Picnics cannot be taken into the Members’ Enclosure. Barbeques are not allowed.

Tickets can be bought on the gate of the grounds in play.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Final tickets are available from 2nd May 2017 and can be bought in advance by calling the Ticket Line on 01730 814110 or online at our website.

If you want to book tickets in advance for a special occasion or group booking please contact the polo office on 01730 813257.

Groups are welcome to come and watch the Polo. If you wish to arrange tickets and/or catering in advance, or have special requirements, please contact the polo office on 01730 813257.

We charge for admission at weekends, on Bank Holidays and midweek during the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup tournament. On a normal polo day (excluding our main events) the standard admission charges are:-

£5 per adult. Cars enter for free.

Tickets are sold at the gate of the grounds in play. Children under 12 are free. If you wish to go into our Members’ Enclosure there is an additional £5 charge.

There are different charges for our main days, as follows:-

19th July – Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Semi Finals. Entry per person is charged at £17.50 if purchased before the 3rd of July and £20 after this date. Entrance to the Members’ Enclosure is charged at an additional £10 but guests must be accompanied by a current Cowdray Member to be granted entrance. Members can take a maximum of 4 guests into the Enclosure on this day. Cars enter for free.

23rd July – Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Final. Entry per person is charged at £17.50 if purchased before the 30th June and £20 after this date. Cars enter for free.

Entrance to the Lawns Ringside Enclosure on the South Side is charged at £15 per person. Members enter for free with their 2017 Membership Badges.

Grandstand Seating is available for this day.

Children under 12 do not need an Entry Ticket to the grounds but do have to pay for Grandstand seating if required.

Public Reserved Picnic Parking is available for this day with fees to be confirmed.  Please note that this does not include entry to the grounds and all spectators must have an Entry Ticket. This plot measures 9 meters x 3 meters and includes space for one car, a domestic gazebo and a picnic area. It must be noted that there is no direct view of the pitch from these plots.

If you wish to book tickets for these events please call the Ticket Line on 01730 814110 or if you would prefer to purchase them online please click here.

We cannot arrange accommodation for you, but there are a number of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs in the local area. The following sites may assist you in your search:-

http://www.cowdray.co.uk/holiday_cottages.htm

http://www.visitchichester.org

http://www.touristinformationcentres.com

Cowdray Park Polo Club is pleased to welcome all disabled visitors to the attend all events. Disabled forward parking is available to blue badge holders. If you have any special needs or would like some assistance, please contact the Cowdray Park Polo Club on 01730 813257.