January 1, 1970

Introduced by Richard M. Langworth

‘He rides in the game like heavy cavalry getting into position for the assault. He trots about, keenly watchful, biding his time, a master of tactics and strategy. Abruptly he sees his chance, and he gathers his pony and charges in, neither deft nor graceful, but full of tearing physical energy—and skilful with it too. He bears down opposition by the weight of his dash….’ This is not a description of Churchill the war leader, but Churchill the polo player.

Churchill played his first chukka as a cavalry subaltern in 1895 and his last as a 52-year-old Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1926. He always played with his right arm strapped to his side to prevent it from ‘going out’ as a result of a dislocation in his youth. Even with his arm immobilized he was a serious threat on the field and in 1897 he was key to his regiment, the 4th Hussars, winning the Inter-Regimental Championship.

Read the full article here: ‘Churchill and Polo: The Hot Pursuit of his Other Hobby’ by Barbara F. Langworth, in Finest Hour 72, Third Quarter 1991, scroll to page 24.