Polo in the Park

So this weekend I put on my best dress, pinned up my hair and donned my sunglasses for ladies day at Chesterton's Polo in the Park.

Taking place at the prestigious Hurlingham Park in Fulham the three day polo event, the biggest of its kind in the world, draws in the crowds to watch some of the worlds best polo players battle it out over the weekend to be crowned victors. Over 10,000 spectators stood by on Saturday and watched as teams from Hong Kong, Davos, London, Lagos, Ireland and Abu Dhabi competed against one another to make it through to the final on Sunday. Top international players were in action and there was even an Irish Earl aiming for glory.

Now in it's 8th year, Polo in the Park, doesn't exactly play by the same rules as traditional polo. Firstly, instead of four players there are only three on the field. Secondly, the field is a lot smaller than your average polo field, for your reference a polo field is the size of six football pitches, which means we can get a lot closer to the action - perfect for selfie fanatics. Finally, as we are closer to the action, the ball is of course a lot lighter and thank goodness as the VIP tent and a few spectators got a little closer to the game than they anticipated as rogue balls went flying.

For those who don't know what polo is, it dates back centuries to Persia and the Middle East. In the late 19th Century polo was popularised in India with British tea planters setting up the first polo club in Calcutta. The game was later imported to England in the late 1860s and the first game was set up by Edward Hartopp, 10th Hussars in Hounslow. Although it was originally called "hockey on horseback" it's popularity spread and now it's played across the world and even Prince Harry is a regular player.

On a personal level, my only experience of polo (which I am a bit ashamed to say) is Pretty Woman.Yes it's probably the worst example, so therefore it seemed apt that I should experience the real deal. 

With champagne tents, a Pimms bus, sky high heels, fashion parades galore and according tot he commentator the world's longest pop up bar I felt like an extra in an episode of Made in Chelsea. Yes, it did take ages to get served a G&T (a sloe gin and tonic if ever there was one), but that couldn't dampen the mood of the day.  

Next stop the Cartier Queens polo. Where can I get a ticket?

Polo in the Park is over for another year, but there's always next year. For more information visit http://www.polointheparklondon.com/.

If there's one thing I can take away from the polo and give to you, it's the unusual lingo.

Here are my top five:

1. Hired Assassin: Not a secret agent or 007, but a professional polo player 
2. Divots: Turf kicked up by the ponies. Often ladies are invited on to the field to tread the divots back in. Sadly we didn't get the chance to have a go
3. Chukka: One of four periods during a polo match, each lasting seven and a half minutes
4. Bump:When a player bumps in to another player to ruin the shot or take them out of play. The angle of the attack can't be more than 45 degrees
5. Dash: A Polo in the Park twist to the start of the match which involves a player from each team galloping to the centre to try and get to the ball