HISTORY OF HPA

History of The HPA

1869	The first polo match was played in England on Hounslow Heath between The 10th Hussars, and The 9th Lancers.
1874	The first polo match was played at Hurlingham in London.
1875	Hurlingham became the headquarters of polo and the Hurlingham Polo Committee drew up the first English rules.
1903	The Hurlingham Polo Committee was re-titled as the Hurlingham Club Polo Committee and expanded to include representatives on the Council from the Services, the County Polo Association (formed in 1898 to look after the interests of the country clubs and to run the County Cup Tournaments), the three London polo clubs – Hurlingham, Ranelagh and Roehampton – and from all associations within the Empire where polo was being played.
1925	The Hurlingham Club Polo Committee was re-designated as the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA).
1939	The Champion Cup and polo was played at Hurlingham for the last time. The grounds were turned over for agricultural use and after the war, were subject to a compulsory purchase order for building. No polo was played in London during the Second World War.
1949	The County Polo Association was amalgamated with the HPA.
1952	Polo restarted in England with the HPA based at Cowdray.
1989	HPA moved to Winterlake, Kirtlington with Buff Crisp as Secretary.
1991	The first H.P.A. Arena Polo Rules were issued.
2000	HPA moved to Little Coxwell, Faringdon with David Woodd as Chief Executive.
2004	HPA became an incorporated company, limited by guarantee.

1876	The Champion Cup was inaugurated at Hurlingham.
1878	Inter-Regimental and the Oxford v. Cambridge University Match inaugurated.
1885	The County Cup inaugurated.
1911	Coronation Cup presented on the Coronation of King George V when it was won by the Indian Polo Association. Thereafter, it was played for by the winners of the four major Open Cups until 1939.
1951	The Coronation Cup was first contested as an International Match in 1951 and 1953 and yearly since 1971.
1955	Polo ended at Roehampton. The Roehampton Cup was moved to Ham, now the only London polo club, and the County Cup to Cirencester Park Polo Club.
1956	Cowdray Park Gold Cup inaugurated.