Playing PoloBy Jamie Whiteley

Deciding To Play

• When I started studying at the University of Warwick, I had never ridden a horse before.

• I got on well with the head of polo, Ben, at the sports fair and he convinced me that I should give it a try.

• However, I started playing polo in my first term.

Starting Out

• The first lesson was a bit daunting.• Our Zambian coach, Grant, firmly believed in learning by doing! It was a trial by fire.

Winter National Competition 2012

• My first national competition was a good experience but not a very successful one.

• It left me desiring of more and I became determined to win the tournament before I left university.

Summer National Competition 2012

• The summer of first year brought a new dimension, playing on grass, rather than in the all-weather arena.

• There was also another national tournament.

• There was some improvement but not much as we still finished towards the bottom of the table.

No Longer A Beginner

• My second year saw me living closer to polo and more determined and committed to enjoy it and be successful.

• I was now in the novice catagory however, rather than beginner. This made my objective even more difficult but spurred me on to do better.

• My team won our intra-university Christmas tournament. My first taste of silverware.

• I was not normally competitive, but this first victory gave me a passion to succeed at the sport and to win the national competition.

Commitment• We practiced in all weather. It

was not as glamourous as people might imagine.

• I took some tumbles along the way.

Winter National Tournament 2013

• The second year winter national tournament, and my first one in the more difficult novice category, seemed much more competitive and serious.

• It went ok, with my team reaching the mid-table, but still I was a long way off my target. • Our team was also not the

most harmonious. Some personalities clashed.

Training Trip: Honing My Skills

• Easter, however, brought the opportunity to practice under the eyes of a pro, Olivier Girard, and a chance to improve my game.

• I travelled to Aix-en-Provence with some teammates to hone my skills and refine my swing.

• And we practised all day, every day.

Olivier Girard

Summer National Tournament 2013

• The summer tournament in 2013 clashed with exams and it was difficult to focus on it.• It was still very successful

however and we managed to come 4th.

• My objective finally seemed to be within sight.

Returning After 6 Months: Re-Focussing

• After a long 7 month hiatus from the sport, due to studying abroad in Venice, I returned to the sport more than a little rusty. • I had little time to prepare for

the winter national tournament, but was very focused and determined. Our team was perfectly balanced and we were optimistic of our chances.

Winter National Tournament 2014: Victory At Last• Finally I achieved my objective.

Winter national champion for the Novice-2 division. I had achieved what I set out to do.

• The Joys Of Success!

Summer National Tournament 2014: Fun But Humbling

• One final tournament to finish off my polo university experience. Despite a slight reshuffle in the team, we had high hopes of achieving the same glory as 6 months ago.

• However, illness and tough competition humbled me once more and demonstrated the difficulty of our previous achievement. Still a good result, coming 3rd and a good place to end the saga.

•More polo awaits.

What this taught me and how it has helped me to develop• All in all, during 3 years, I played in 6 national tournaments, winning 1

and coming third in another.• I learnt that if I set my mind to a goal and keep being determined

enough to work towards it, it can be achieved. • I learnt better how to work with people I did and did not get on with. I

was able to be successful either way. • I learnt how to accept defeat and pick myself up, but also how to

handle success, and stay focused.

• All these skills have contributed to my personal and professional development.

Thanks

• Thanks to all the people I played with who made the whole experience so good, in victory and defeat!• Thanks to all the friends who took all these photos over the years!