Polo is one of the oldest sports in the world built on centuries of tradition. Today, polo is played in over 90 countries with countless clubs developing everyday. But, without this club’s influence, and its founding family’s continued dedication to the growth of the sport across the United Kingdom and beyond, polo would not be where it is today. With more than 100 years of history in the sport, the grounds of the Cowdray Park Polo Club are the epitome of polo tradition.
The Cowdrays
Michael Orlando Weetman Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray, is the owner of the Cowdray Estate and all the polo, parties, and pedigree that comes with it. Beyond being the proud owner of the 16,500 acre Cowdray Estate, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, Cowdray is also a proud father of five and a successful businessman on multiple fronts, including the Pearson publishing company, farming, therapy treatments, and general holistic practices. Although Cowdray’s success is largely tied to polo, the holistic management of the estate and all it produces is the family’s driving passion, which has helped cultivate not only the beauty of the polo paradise, but also its exponential increase in community engagement with sports and wellness. These core values at the heart of the Cowdray family shape all that the estate offers.
Cowdray Estate
Located in Midhurst, Sussex, the original Cowdray House, built in the 1500s, is located in the picturesque landscapes of South Downs National Park. Today, the ruins of the original manor can still be seen on the grounds as an homage to the resilience and history of the Cowdray Estate.
Beyond this symbolic feature, the estate also exemplifies a holistic approach to life and land management. The produce cultivated on the abundant acreage is used in the variety of bars, restaurants, and cafes on the property, as well as in local shops. Many guests also travel to the grounds for a variety of therapeutic retreats and meditation services provided at Cowdray, which are often coupled with a stay in the luxury cottages and lodgings available on the grounds. And though the estate has become synonymous with polo, it also has golf courses, a shooting range, and other events that encourage community engagement. But, much of these additions would not be possible without the heart of the estate; the Cowdray Park Polo Club.
Cowdray Park Polo Club
Founded in 1910 by the Pearson family, the Cowdray Park Polo Club began as a small country club. The growing estate, which already began hosting small professional games, was inherited by the 3rd Viscount, John Cowdray in 1933. However, with the onset of World War two, the entirety of the estate was given over to the war effort, which resulted in a momentary, sharp decline in the growth of polo at Cowdray. But, after returning from the war and surviving the loss of his arm, John Cowdray revitalized polo at the club by connecting the professionals competing at Cowdray to those in Argentina. This partnership was followed by the first Coronation Cup in 1953, which welcomed teams from Argentina, the US, the UK, and Chile, drawing more than 10,000 spectators to the grounds. Since this historic resurgence, the club now hosts about 450 matches a year, including the Cowdray Gold Cup, which attracts the single largest polo audience in the United Kingdom. Cowdray Park is the exemplification of polo tradition and continues to remain on the forefront of professional polo across the globe.
Written in collaboration with Lily Brennan