The Varsity Polo Match

The Varsity Polo Match is an annual polo match between the Oxford University Polo Club and the Cambridge University Polo Club, played between teams of four players. Historically it was known as the inter-University Challenge Cup or inter-Varsity polo match.^[1][2] It is also known as the University Polo Match or by a title that includes the name of its current sponsor (1982 Champagne Taittinger University matches; 1984 Krug Champagne Varsity Polo;^[3] from 2007^[4] to 2014, the Jack Wills Varsity Polo,^[5][6] and from 2016 onwards the La Martina Varsity^[7]). Members of both teams are traditionally known as Blues, with Oxford in dark blue and Cambridge in light blue.

The Varsity Polo Match
The La Martina Varsity Polo Match

Trophy for the event in 1920
Tournament information
Sport	Polo
Established	27 November 1878; 145 years ago (1878-11-27)
Venue	Guards Polo Club, Windsor
Participants	Cambridge University Polo Club (CUPC) and Oxford University Polo Club (OUPC)
Tournament statistics
Largest margin of victory	Oxford, 19 – 0 (2016)
Current sponsor	La Martina
Trophy	The Challenge Cu presented by the Hurlingham Club in 1920
Current champion
Oxford

The polo match is held annually, attracting normally around 500 up to 5000 spectators due to royal participants.^[8][9] It usually takes place at the beginning of June at Guards Polo Club. The Varsity Match was most recently contested in June 2024, and was won by Oxford by a margin of 5-3. As of 2024 Oxford has won the match 68 times and Cambridge 57 times.^[10]

History

Historically speaking, the Varsity Polo Match is the second oldest continuing polo match with the inter-regimental match preceding it by only 7 years.^[11] The first Varsity match was played in 1878. The event has been held annually with the exceptions of the two World Wars as well as 1894, 1900, 1960–61, 1963 and 2020. The match was originally played at Hurlingham Club on the Monday after Ascot,^[12] but moved to Woolmers Park as well as to Cowdray Park after World War II. From 1962 onwards, the venue for the match was decided annually, with the choice alternating with each university. Since 1994, the Varsity Match is played at Guards Polo Club.^[13] The Match is played for a Challenge Cup presented by the Hurlingham Club in 1920.^[14]

Competitors

The match format is extremely unusual as it is played open (handicaps are not taken into account). Teams are also mixed which is a rare opportunity amongst the Blues sports of both universities. The original conditions are:

No player eligible who has been a member of his University for more than four years, or who has not been in residence during the term in which the match takes place. Instituted in 1878. Played generally at Hurlingham, in June. (Modern Polo, 1896^[15])

No player eligible who has been a member of his University for more than four years, or who has not been in residence during the term in which the match takes place. The Cup shall be held by the winning University in each year until May 1st in the succeeding year, when it shall be returned to The Hurlingham Club. Play – 6 periods. (The Polo Yearbook 1939^[16])

Old Blues Match

The main varsity match is preceded by a match between the two Old Blues teams. This match has a similar tradition to the Varsity Match as it is held annually and its records go back to 1879 (with major gaps in the statistic). It was known by the title Old Oxonians vs Old Cantabs. In the past, both teams helped to promote British polo not just on Varsity Day but also in other tournaments and events and were seen as one of the strongest British polo teams until World War II brought an end to that.^[17]

Results and statistics

A selection of the more frequently cited statistics includes:

• Number of wins: Oxford, 68; Cambridge, 57
• Most consecutive victories: Oxford, 9 (2015-24)
• Match record: Oxford, 2016 winning 19 – 0

Full results by year

No.	Date	Venue	Winner	Score	Oxford total	Camb total	Old Blues Match
1	27 November 1878	Oxford	Oxford	5–0	1	0
2	14 June 1879	Hurlingham	Cambridge	1–2	1	1	Oxonians
3	29 May 1880	Hurlingham	Oxford	4–1	2	1	Draw
4	18 June 1881	Hurlingham	Cambridge	0–3	2	2
5	17/ 22 June 1882[a]	Hurlingham	Cambridge	2–3	2	3
6	16 June 1883	Hurlingham	Oxford	4–1	3	3
7	14 June 1884	Hurlingham	Cambridge	2–4	3	4	Oxonians
8	20 June 1885	Hurlingham	Oxford	4–0	4	4
9	12 June 1886	Hurlingham	Oxford	8–2	5	4
10	18 June 1887	Hurlingham	Cambridge	6–7	5	5
11	16 June 1888	Hurlingham	Cambridge	2–10	5	6
12	22 June 1889	Hurlingham	Cambridge	0–7	5	7
13	28 June 1890	Hurlingham	Oxford	5–4	6	7
14	20 June 1891	Hurlingham	Oxford	4–1	7	7
15	29 June 1892	Hurlingham	Cambridge	1–12	7	8
16	1 July 1893 1894 no match	Hurlingham	Cambridge	1–6	7	9
17	14 June 1895	Oxford	Cambridge	1–8	7	10
18	22 June 1896	Oxford	Cambridge	3–5	7	11
19	8 June 1897	Hurlingham	Oxford	12–0	8	11
20	13 June 1898	Hurlingham	Oxford	15–0	9	11
21	12 June 1899 1900 no match	Hurlingham	Oxford	11–1	10	11
22	24 June 1901	Hurlingham	Oxford	8–2	11	11
23	23 June 1902	Oxford	Oxford	14–0	12	11
24	20 June 1903	Hurlingham	Oxford	14–1	13	11	Cantabs
25	20 June 1904	Hurlingham	Cambridge	3–4	13	12
26	26 June 1905	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4–9	13	13
27	25 June 1906	Hurlingham	Oxford	4–3	14	13
28	24 June 1907	Hurlingham	Cambridge	2–9	14	14
29	29 June 1908	Hurlingham	Cambridge	1–6	14	15
30	1 July 1909	Wembley Park	Cambridge	4–5	14	16
31	29 June 1910	Hurlingham	Oxford	10–2	15	16
32	30 June 1911	Roehampton	Cambridge	3–8	15	17
33	3 July 1912	Hurlingham	Oxford	6–5	16	17
34	21 June 1913	Hurlingham	Oxford	9–5	17	17
35	20 June 1914 1915–1919 no match	Hurlingham	Oxford	19–1	18	17
36	19 June 1920	Hurlingham	Cambridge	3–4	18	18
37	23 June 1921	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4–7	18	19
38	24 June 1922	Hurlingham	Cambridge	1–5	18	20	Cantabs
39	23 June 1923	Hurlingham	Cambridge	3–6	18	21	Oxonians
40	21 June 1924	Hurlingham	Oxford	7–5	19	21	Cantabs
41	4 July 1925	Hurlingham	Cambridge	2–8	19	22
42	17 July 1926	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4–7	19	23
43	13 July 1927	Hurlingham	Oxford	8–3	20	23
44	12 July 1928	Hurlingham	Cambridge	2–3	20	24
45	11 July 1929	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4–5	20	25
46	10 July 1930	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4–5	20	26
47	9 July 1931	Hurlingham	Oxford	9–0	21	26
48	7 July 1932	Hurlingham	Oxford	11–0	22	26
49	15 July 1933	Hurlingham	Oxford	6–4	23	26
50	12 July 1934	Hurlingham	Oxford	5–3	24	26
51	11 July 1935	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4–5	24	27
52	4 July 1936	Hurlingham	Oxford	4–1	25	27
53	10 July 1937	Hurlingham	Oxford	12–0	26	27
54	8 July 1938	Hurlingham	Oxford	8–4	27	27
55	9 July 1939 1940–1950 no match	Hurlingham	Cambridge	4,5 – 5	27	28
56	30 June 1951	Woolmers Park	Oxford	6–0	28	28
57	9 June 1952	Henley (Friar Park)	Cambridge	0–9	28	29
58	24 May 1953	Woolmers Park	Cambridge	0–4	28	30
59	20 June 1954	Woolmers Park	Cambridge	2–8	28	31
60	18 June 1955	Windsor Park	Oxford	3–2	29	31
61	23 June 1956	Windsor Park	Oxford	5–1	30	31
62	22 June 1957	Windsor Park	Cambridge	2–4	30	32
63	21 June 1958	Windsor Park	Oxford	6–5	31	32
64	30 June 1959 1960–1961 no match	Cowdray Park	Cambridge	1–4	31	33
65	30 June 1962 1963 no match	Cowdray Park	Cambridge	4–5	31	34
66	6 June 1964	Windsor Park	Oxford	5–3	32	34
67	13 June 1965	Woolmers Park	Cambridge	6–7	32	35
68	19 June 1966	Kirtlington	Oxford	7–0	33	35
69	18 June 1967	Kirtlington	Oxford	12 -1	34	35
70	9 June 1968	Kirtlington	Oxford	2–1	35	35
71	8 June 1969	Woolmers Park	Oxford	4–1	36	35
72	7 June 1970	Kirtlington	Oxford	5–0	37	35
73	6 June 1971	Woolmers Park	Oxford	3–2	38	35
74	4 June 1972	Kirtlington	Oxford	11–1	39	35
75	17 June 1973	Woolmers Park	Oxford	5–2	40	35
76	9 June 1974	Kirtlington	Cambridge	3–4	40	36
77	8 June 1975	Woolmers Park	Cambridge	2 – 5	40	37
78	13 June 1976	Kirtlington	Oxford	2 – 1	41	37
79	12 June 1977	Woolmers Park	Cambridge	2 – 3	41	38
80	26 May 1978	Kirtlington	Cambridge	2–3	41	39	Oxonians
81	1979	Kirtlington	Cambridge	3–4	41	40	Oxonians
82	17 May 1980	Kirtlington	Oxford	11–1	42	40	Draw
83	14 June 1981	Carver Barracks, Saffron Walden	Oxford	4–2	43	40
84	13 June 1982	Kirtlington	Oxford	8 – 1	44	40	Oxonians
85	12 June 1983	Kirtlington	Oxford	7 – 0	45	40	Cantabs
86	9 June 1984	Kirtlington	Cambridge	3 – 6	45	41	Oxonians
87	23 June 1985	Rutland	Cambridge	4 – 5	45	42
88	7 June 1986	Kirtlington Park	Oxford	7 – 1	46	42	Cantabs
89	7 June 1987	Rutland Polo Club	Cambridge	2–3	46	43
90	5 June 1988	Kirtlington Park	Cambridge	2 – 5	46	44	Oxonians
91	18 June 1989	Kirtlington Park	Oxford	2–1	47	44
92	17 June 1990	Cambridge & Newmarket	Cambridge	1–4	47	45	Oxonians
93	16 June 1991	Cambridge & Newmarket	Cambridge	2–4	47	46
94	14 June 1992	Kirtlington Park	Oxford	3–2	48	46	Oxonians
95	13 June 1993	Cambridge & Newmarket	Oxford	10–2	49	46
96	11 June 1994	Guards	Cambridge	1–2	49	47	Oxonians
97	11 June 1995	Cambridge & Newmarket	Cambridge	3–5	49	48	Oxonians
98	16 June 1996	Guards	Cambridge	2–7	49	49	Oxonians
99	15 June 1997	Guards	Cambridge	5–6	49	50	Oxonians
100	6 June 1998	Guards	Cambridge	1–13	49	51	Oxonians
101	5 June 1999	Guards	Cambridge	2–4	49	52
102	10 June 2000	Guards	Oxford	6–0	50	52	Cantabs
103	10 June 2001	Cambridge & Newmarket	Cambridge	1–3	50	53	Cantabs
104	8 June 2002	Guards	Cambridge	3–4	50	54	cancelled
105	7 June 2003	Guards	Oxford	6–0	51	54	Oxonians
106	5 June 2004	Guards	Oxford	5–4	52	54	Oxonians
107	4 June 2005	Guards	Oxford	12–2	53	54	Cantabs
108	3 June 2006	Guards	Cambridge	1–6	53	55	Cantabs
109	9 June 2007	Guards	Oxford	9–5	54	55	Oxonians
110	7 June 2008	Guards	Oxford	4–0	55	55
111	7 June 2009	Kirtlington Park	Oxford	5–4	56	55	Oxonians
112	12 June 2010	Guards	Oxford	5–4	57	55	Oxonians
113	11 June 2011	Guards	Oxford	5–4	58	55	Oxonians
114	9 June 2012	Guards	Cambridge	2–13	58	56	Cantabs
115	8 June 2013	Guards	Oxford	11–3	59	56	Cantabs
116	7 June 2014	Guards	Cambridge	3–6	59	57	Oxonians
117	7 June 2015	Guards	Oxford	14–2	60	57	Oxonians
118	4 June 2016	Guards	Oxford	19–0	61	57	Oxonians
119	3 June 2017	Guards	Oxford	5–1	62	57	Cantabs
120	2 June 2018	Guards	Oxford	13–0	63	57	Cantabs
121	1 June 2019 2020 no match	Guards	Oxford	15–1	64	57	Oxonians
122	5 June 2021	Guards	Oxford	8–3	65	57	Oxonians
123	4 June 2022	Guards	Oxford	8–2	66	57	Cantabs
124	10 June 2023	Guards	Oxford	7–5	67	57	Cantabs
125	1 June 2024	Guards	Oxford	5-3	68	57	Cantabs

a. ^{^} At the call of time the score was still one goal all, so the teams met again at Hurlingham a few days later, when Cambridge won by 3 goals to 2.^[18]

Notable players

• Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long, Oxford (1854–1924)
• Thomas Hitchcock Sr., Oxford (1860–1941)
• Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, Oxford (1861–1928)
• Walter Buckmaster, Cambridge (1872–1942)
• Frederick Freake, Cambridge (1876–50)
• Patteson Womersley Nickalls, Oxford (1877–1946)
• Devereux Milburn, Oxford (1881–1942)
• Harold Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray, Oxford (1882–1933)
• John Wodehouse, 3rd Earl of Kimberley, Cambridge (1883–1941)
• Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, Cambridge (1900–1970)
• Weetman Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, Oxford (1910–1995)
• George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig, Oxford (1918–2009)
• Claire Tomlinson, Oxford (1944-2022)
• Charles III, Cambridge (b. 1948)
• Redmond Watt, Oxford (b. 1950)
• Lanto Sheridan, Oxford (b. 1988)

References

1. Sporting Notes. In: Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday 27 June 1905
2. The Times. 12 June 1965, Woolmers Park p.1
3. Horse and Hound, June 18, 1982.
4. "Hijacking Our Heritage, The Tab".
5. "Guards Polo Club". Retrieved 12 August 2013.
6. "Oxford Sports Federation".
7. "Atlantic Polo". www.atlanticpolo.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2014.
8. The Inter-University Match. In: The Times. 11 July 1938, p.4.
9. Oxford Victory. In: Horse and Hounds. 12 June 1970
10. "La Martina Varsity Day 2022". Instagram Guards.
11. "British Army Polo". Retrieved 14 October 2016.
12. The Observer (27 June 1909). "Inter-Varsity Sport". p. 13.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
13. "Oxford Polo Club Archive". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
14. The Polo Year Book, 1925. London: Hurlingham Polo Association. 1925. p. 30.
15. Modern Polo. E.D. Miller. 1896. p. 399.
16. The Polo Yearbook. County Polo Association. 1939. p. 48.
17. Dale, T. F. (1905). Polo. Past and Present. Country Life.
18. "University Match". The Polo Monthly: 436. 1928.

External links

• Oxford University Polo Club
• Cambridge University Polo Club