IN the Valley

By Ara Jansen

Thundering hooves and mallets hitting balls with a loud thwack means it’s time for Polo in the Valley.

Fierce but fun is how Glen Gilmore describes polo. The 40-year-old Queenslander will still be riding to win when he mounts his horse to play on a team as part of Barbagallo Polo in the Valley.

The dramatic sport of kings will be kicking up the grass at the private estate of Duncraig Stud in Middle Swan in April. In what promises to be an exciting day, it’s also a perfect introduction to those who have never seen the sport live before.

A polo game is divided into six chukkas, each lasting seven minutes. Players in teams of four and mounted on ponies (which are really thoroughbreds), use long mallets to drive a ball into their goal.

For spectators, a day at the polo is of course never complete without the Divot Stomps, a la Pretty Woman, plus a male and female dash, fashion parades and best-dressed competitions.
Glen has been a professional polo player since he graduated from university at 22 and has made his living in the fast-moving sport.

“I play polo for a living and also represent Australia, which is an amazing opportunity,” says Glen, the captain of the Australian Polo Team for the last 10 years. “At the same time I also play for other teams around the world.

“I get paid to play. The people who own polo teams tend to be wealthy individuals that use polo to keep fit but also to have a lot of fun with.”

Glen is based in England for about half of the year and has recently competed in China, Thailand and Melbourne and says the game continues to offer a busy circuit. He can play up to 150 games a year and rides everyday, even if there isn’t a game to play.

“The audience for polo is really growing and it has become a lot more accessible for people who want to watch – and we certainly want people to come and watch. Not only do we want people to play but we also want more people to come and see what for many of them is a new sport. It might even get some people into riding.”

Just to make it a little harder on himself, Glen often acts as commentator during the game at the same time as playing.

Barbagallo Polo in the Valley happens on April 17. For tickets and more information: www.polointhevalley.com.au