The Cambridge University Polo Club was founded by the Hon. John Fitzwilliam in 1873, making it one of the oldest surviving polo clubs in Europe. In 1879 the University players felt strong enough to enter a team in Hurlingham’s Champion Open Cup, which was the premier competition of the time and is equivalent to the modern day Gold Cup. Although they were quickly defeated, the experience served them well and they returned to Hurlingham later that year to defeat Oxford in the first Varsity match. From that date until the outbreak of the Second World War, the Varsity match was contested annually at the Hurlingham Polo Club and played
host to many great players from both universities.

In recent years, HRH The Prince of Wales and Antony Embiricos, whose Tramontana team has won the Gold Cup a record number of times, have been the most distinguished polo players to wear the light blue jersey.

Cambridge University Polo Club continues to thrive, with a solid base of about 45 members regularly playing this year. There has even been the beginning of a turnaround in the female domination of the club. Now there are as many as two boys on the committee of ten! There is also now a strong element of players at an intermediate level who began the sport at Cambridge. This reflects a central aim of the club: opening up this sport, stereotyped as elite, to those who might otherwise not have had the chance to play. During the two winter terms, arena polo coaching is provided by the more experienced members of the club on the club’s own ponies, culminating in the National Universities Arena Tournament in February. This year the club’s Novice and Beginners teams were both well placed. Our outdoor season provides the main opportunity for the Blues team to practise, through frequent tournaments. In the build up to the VarsityMatch, the help of professional players is invaluable to the improvement of individual skills as well as teamwork.