Harrogate joins the polo set as popularity for chukkas grows in Yorkshire

For a long time, the county had just one club, at Toulston near Tadcaster, but over the past 10 years three new clubs have been established and now another one has been launched.

Harrogate Polo Club is to be based at Allerton Park, already noted in the equestrian world for its annual horse trials.

The people behind the venture are Alan Williams, former chief executive of Harrogate Town FC, and Richard Bradbury, whose background is in supplying sports clothing.

They plan to spend this season preparing teams for demonstrations and friendly matches and hope to be fully operational so far as tournaments are concerned by next year.

“We have a few friendly tournaments lined up and obviously we are family-friendly and keen to get youngsters involved. We are developing the pitches now at Allerton,” said Richard.

East Yorkshire can boast two polo clubs, one at Beverley and the other, White Rose Polo Club, at North Cliffe near Market Weighton. The Vale of York Polo Club, which used to be based in that area, relocated several years ago to Misson, near Bawtry.

Toulston Polo Club near Tadcaster was established long before polo was opened to a wider audience. Polo has been played there since 1913 when Capt W Riley-Smith of the brewing family, laid out a polo ground in the parkland surrounding his home. It was maintained privately until he died in 1954 and was registered as a club the following year.

It has always been a members’ playing club, where people have their own ponies.

Last year, coach George Carter began giving lessons there with the aim of giving newcomers, as well as more experienced riders, the chance to try out this sport.

A former polo manager at Beverley, George decided to set up on his own as a coach and says: “I had a big response from people wanting lessons last year, it was fantastic.”

However, as there were no facilities for keeping the ponies on site at Toulston, he has moved them to a more permanent base at Ledston Equine Centre.

“There is a paddock for playing chukkas and also an indoor school we can use and we will also still be going to play at Toulston at weekends,” he explained. “We are hoping in the future that we will be able to have some kind of club at Ledston.”

To contact George Carter call 07971200160 or email [email protected].

Friends of the Northern Racing College have several events coming up.

Norman Gundill, managing director and clerk of the course at Pontefract, will give a talk on April 24 at 7.30pm in the visitor centre at the college which is near Bawtry.

The Friends are also organising a Horse and Fun Dog Show on May 13. More details are on the website, www.ncrcharityshow.co.uk.

A visit to Newmarket is planned in June to watch racing, visit a trainer’s yard and the National Stud. For more details email: [email protected].

There are two point-to-points in Yorkshire over this Easter weekend, with the Bedale taking place at Hornby Castle today and the Staintondale at Charm Park on Monday.

The Bedale meeting begins with pony racing at 12.30pm, followed by six races.

The first is the Confined race, which is restricted to horses who have not won a race under rules or an open point-to-point. Rear Admiral and Bright Cloud should both be worth watching.

The Men’s Open, although low in entries, has some quality runners, including My Old Piano and Oedipe.

The Staintondalle meeting starts at 1pm with the Hunt Members’ race, in conjunction with the Derwent Hunt. This could go the way of either Willywont He or Calapocus.

The second race is the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association’s Club Members’ race for veteran and novice riders.

Also taking place on Monday is the South Notts point-to-point at Thorpe Lodge, four miles south-west of Newark. The first race is at 2pm.

Some well-known local riders competed at the horse trials at Breckenbrough, Thirsk.

This was the first time affiliated British Eventing horse trials have been held there.

“We had 400 entries, good weather and fantastic going,” said organiser Helen Bell. They hope to run the event again next year.

Winners of BE100 sections included Nicola Wilson, Jamie Atkinson, Rhona Smith and Libby Soley.