# The Varsity Polo Match

The Varsity Polo Match is an annual polo match between the Oxford University Polo Club and the Cambridge University Polo Club, played between teams of four players. Historically it was known as the inter-University Challenge Cup or inter-Varsity polo match. It is also known as the University Polo Match or by a title that includes the name of its current sponsor (1982 Champagne Taittinger University matches; 1984 Krug Champagne Varsity Polo; from 2007 to 2014, the Jack Wills Varsity Polo, and from 2016 onwards the La Martina Varsity). Members of both teams are traditionally known as Blues, with Oxford in dark blue and Cambridge in light blue.
The polo match is held annually, attracting normally around 500 up to 5000 spectators due to royal participants. It usually takes place at the beginning of June at Guards Polo Club. The Varsity Match was most recently contested in June 2024, and was won by Oxford by a margin of 5-3. As of 2024 Oxford has won the match 68 times and Cambridge 57 times.

## History

Historically speaking, the Varsity Polo Match is the second oldest continuing polo match with the inter-regimental match preceding it by only 7 years. The first Varsity match was played in 1878. The event has been held annually with the exceptions of the two World Wars as well as 1894, 1900, 1960–61, 1963 and 2020. The match was originally played at Hurlingham Club on the Monday after Ascot, but moved to Woolmers Park as well as to Cowdray Park after World War II. From 1962 onwards, the venue for the match was decided annually, with the choice alternating with each university. Since 1994, the Varsity Match is played at Guards Polo Club. The Match is played for a Challenge Cup presented by the Hurlingham Club in 1920.

## Competitors

The match format is extremely unusual as it is played open (handicaps are not taken into account). Teams are also mixed which is a rare opportunity amongst the Blues sports of both universities. The original conditions are:
   No player eligible who has been a member of his University for more than four years, or who has not been in residence during the term in which the match takes place. Instituted in 1878. Played generally at Hurlingham, in June. (Modern Polo, 1896)
   No player eligible who has been a member of his University for more than four years, or who has not been in residence during the term in which the match takes place. The Cup shall be held by the winning University in each year until May 1st in the succeeding year, when it shall be returned to The Hurlingham Club. Play – 6 periods. (The Polo Yearbook 1939)

## Old Blues Match

The main varsity match is preceded by a match between the two Old Blues teams. This match has a similar tradition to the Varsity Match as it is held annually and its records go back to 1879 (with major gaps in the statistic). It was known by the title Old Oxonians vs Old Cantabs. In the past, both teams helped to promote British polo not just on Varsity Day but also in other tournaments and events and were seen as one of the strongest British polo teams until World War II brought an end to that.

## Results and statistics

A selection of the more frequently cited statistics includes:
* Number of wins: Oxford, 68; Cambridge, 57
* Most consecutive victories: Oxford, 9 (2015-24)
* Match record: Oxford, 2016 winning 19 – 0

### Full results by year

| No. | Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Oxford total | Camb total | Old Blues Match |
| 1 | 27 November 1878 | Oxford | Oxford | 5–0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | 14 June 1879 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 1–2 | 1 | 1 | Oxonians |
| 3 | 29 May 1880 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 4–1 | 2 | 1 | Draw |
| 4 | 18 June 1881 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 0–3 | 2 | 2 | |
| 5 | 17/ 22 June 1882 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 2–3 | 2 | 3 | |
| 6 | 16 June 1883 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 4–1 | 3 | 3 | |
| 7 | 14 June 1884 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 2–4 | 3 | 4 | Oxonians |
| 8 | 20 June 1885 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 4–0 | 4 | 4 | |
| 9 | 12 June 1886 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 8–2 | 5 | 4 | |
| 10 | 18 June 1887 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 6–7 | 5 | 5 | |
| 11 | 16 June 1888 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 2–10 | 5 | 6 | |
| 12 | 22 June 1889 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 0–7 | 5 | 7 | |
| 13 | 28 June 1890 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 5–4 | 6 | 7 | |
| 14 | 20 June 1891 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 4–1 | 7 | 7 | |
| 15 | 29 June 1892 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 1–12 | 7 | 8 | |
| 16 | 1 July 1893 1894 no match | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 1–6 | 7 | 9 | |
| 17 | 14 June 1895 | Oxford | Cambridge | 1–8 | 7 | 10 | |
| 18 | 22 June 1896 | Oxford | Cambridge | 3–5 | 7 | 11 | |
| 19 | 8 June 1897 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 12–0 | 8 | 11 | |
| 20 | 13 June 1898 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 15–0 | 9 | 11 | |
| 21 | 12 June 1899 1900 no match | Hurlingham | Oxford | 11–1 | 10 | 11 | |
| 22 | 24 June 1901 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 8–2 | 11 | 11 | |
| 23 | 23 June 1902 | Oxford | Oxford | 14–0 | 12 | 11 | |
| 24 | 20 June 1903 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 14–1 | 13 | 11 | Cantabs |
| 25 | 20 June 1904 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 3–4 | 13 | 12 | |
| 26 | 26 June 1905 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4–9 | 13 | 13 | |
| 27 | 25 June 1906 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 4–3 | 14 | 13 | |
| 28 | 24 June 1907 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 2–9 | 14 | 14 | |
| 29 | 29 June 1908 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 1–6 | 14 | 15 | |
| 30 | 1 July 1909 | Wembley Park | Cambridge | 4–5 | 14 | 16 | |
| 31 | 29 June 1910 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 10–2 | 15 | 16 | |
| 32 | 30 June 1911 | Roehampton | Cambridge | 3–8 | 15 | 17 | |
| 33 | 3 July 1912 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 6–5 | 16 | 17 | |
| 34 | 21 June 1913 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 9–5 | 17 | 17 | |
| 35 | 20 June 1914 1915–1919 no match | Hurlingham | Oxford | 19–1 | 18 | 17 | |
| 36 | 19 June 1920 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 3–4 | 18 | 18 | |
| 37 | 23 June 1921 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4–7 | 18 | 19 | |
| 38 | 24 June 1922 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 1–5 | 18 | 20 | Cantabs |
| 39 | 23 June 1923 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 3–6 | 18 | 21 | Oxonians |
| 40 | 21 June 1924 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 7–5 | 19 | 21 | Cantabs |
| 41 | 4 July 1925 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 2–8 | 19 | 22 | |
| 42 | 17 July 1926 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4–7 | 19 | 23 | |
| 43 | 13 July 1927 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 8–3 | 20 | 23 | |
| 44 | 12 July 1928 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 2–3 | 20 | 24 | |
| 45 | 11 July 1929 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4–5 | 20 | 25 | |
| 46 | 10 July 1930 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4–5 | 20 | 26 | |
| 47 | 9 July 1931 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 9–0 | 21 | 26 | |
| 48 | 7 July 1932 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 11–0 | 22 | 26 | |
| 49 | 15 July 1933 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 6–4 | 23 | 26 | |
| 50 | 12 July 1934 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 5–3 | 24 | 26 | |
| 51 | 11 July 1935 | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4–5 | 24 | 27 | |
| 52 | 4 July 1936 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 4–1 | 25 | 27 | |
| 53 | 10 July 1937 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 12–0 | 26 | 27 | |
| 54 | 8 July 1938 | Hurlingham | Oxford | 8–4 | 27 | 27 | |
| 55 | 9 July 1939 1940–1950 no match | Hurlingham | Cambridge | 4,5 – 5 | 27 | 28 | |
| 56 | 30 June 1951 | Woolmers Park | Oxford | 6–0 | 28 | 28 | |
| 57 | 9 June 1952 | Henley (Friar Park) | Cambridge | 0–9 | 28 | 29 | |
| 58 | 24 May 1953 | Woolmers Park | Cambridge | 0–4 | 28 | 30 | |
| 59 | 20 June 1954 | Woolmers Park | Cambridge | 2–8 | 28 | 31 | |
| 60 | 18 June 1955 | Windsor Park | Oxford | 3–2 | 29 | 31 | |
| 61 | 23 June 1956 | Windsor Park | Oxford | 5–1 | 30 | 31 | |
| 62 | 22 June 1957 | Windsor Park | Cambridge | 2–4 | 30 | 32 | |
| 63 | 21 June 1958 | Windsor Park | Oxford | 6–5 | 31 | 32 | |
| 64 | 30 June 1959 1960–1961 no match | Cowdray Park | Cambridge | 1–4 | 31 | 33 | |
| 65 | 30 June 1962 1963 no match | Cowdray Park | Cambridge | 4–5 | 31 | 34 | |
| 66 | 6 June 1964 | Windsor Park | Oxford | 5–3 | 32 | 34 | |
| 67 | 13 June 1965 | Woolmers Park | Cambridge | 6–7 | 32 | 35 | |
| 68 | 19 June 1966 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 7–0 | 33 | 35 | |
| 69 | 18 June 1967 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 12 -1 | 34 | 35 | |
| 70 | 9 June 1968 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 2–1 | 35 | 35 | |
| 71 | 8 June 1969 | Woolmers Park | Oxford | 4–1 | 36 | 35 | |
| 72 | 7 June 1970 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 5–0 | 37 | 35 | |
| 73 | 6 June 1971 | Woolmers Park | Oxford | 3–2 | 38 | 35 | |
| 74 | 4 June 1972 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 11–1 | 39 | 35 | |
| 75 | 17 June 1973 | Woolmers Park | Oxford | 5–2 | 40 | 35 | |
| 76 | 9 June 1974 | Kirtlington | Cambridge | 3–4 | 40 | 36 | |
| 77 | 8 June 1975 | Woolmers Park | Cambridge | 2 – 5 | 40 | 37 | |
| 78 | 13 June 1976 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 2 – 1 | 41 | 37 | |
| 79 | 12 June 1977 | Woolmers Park | Cambridge | 2 – 3 | 41 | 38 | |
| 80 | 26 May 1978 | Kirtlington | Cambridge | 2–3 | 41 | 39 | Oxonians |
| 81 | 1979 | Kirtlington | Cambridge | 3–4 | 41 | 40 | Oxonians |
| 82 | 17 May 1980 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 11–1 | 42 | 40 | Draw |
| 83 | 14 June 1981 | Carver Barracks, Saffron Walden | Oxford | 4–2 | 43 | 40 | |
| 84 | 13 June 1982 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 8 – 1 | 44 | 40 | Oxonians |
| 85 | 12 June 1983 | Kirtlington | Oxford | 7 – 0 | 45 | 40 | Cantabs |
| 86 | 9 June 1984 | Kirtlington | Cambridge | 3 – 6 | 45 | 41 | Oxonians |
| 87 | 23 June 1985 | Rutland | Cambridge | 4 – 5 | 45 | 42 | |
| 88 | 7 June 1986 | Kirtlington Park | Oxford | 7 – 1 | 46 | 42 | Cantabs |
| 89 | 7 June 1987 | Rutland Polo Club | Cambridge | 2–3 | 46 | 43 | |
| 90 | 5 June 1988 | Kirtlington Park | Cambridge | 2 – 5 | 46 | 44 | Oxonians |
| 91 | 18 June 1989 | Kirtlington Park | Oxford | 2–1 | 47 | 44 | |
| 92 | 17 June 1990 | Cambridge & Newmarket | Cambridge | 1–4 | 47 | 45 | Oxonians |
| 93 | 16 June 1991 | Cambridge & Newmarket | Cambridge | 2–4 | 47 | 46 | |
| 94 | 14 June 1992 | Kirtlington Park | Oxford | 3–2 | 48 | 46 | Oxonians |
| 95 | 13 June 1993 | Cambridge & Newmarket | Oxford | 10–2 | 49 | 46 | |
| 96 | 11 June 1994 | Guards | Cambridge | 1–2 | 49 | 47 | Oxonians |
| 97 | 11 June 1995 | Cambridge & Newmarket | Cambridge | 3–5 | 49 | 48 | Oxonians |
| 98 | 16 June 1996 | Guards | Cambridge | 2–7 | 49 | 49 | Oxonians |
| 99 | 15 June 1997 | Guards | Cambridge | 5–6 | 49 | 50 | Oxonians |
| 100 | 6 June 1998 | Guards | Cambridge | 1–13 | 49 | 51 | Oxonians |
| 101 | 5 June 1999 | Guards | Cambridge | 2–4 | 49 | 52 | |
| 102 | 10 June 2000 | Guards | Oxford | 6–0 | 50 | 52 | Cantabs |
| 103 | 10 June 2001 | Cambridge & Newmarket | Cambridge | 1–3 | 50 | 53 | Cantabs |
| 104 | 8 June 2002 | Guards | Cambridge | 3–4 | 50 | 54 | cancelled |
| 105 | 7 June 2003 | Guards | Oxford | 6–0 | 51 | 54 | Oxonians |
| 106 | 5 June 2004 | Guards | Oxford | 5–4 | 52 | 54 | Oxonians |
| 107 | 4 June 2005 | Guards | Oxford | 12–2 | 53 | 54 | Cantabs |
| 108 | 3 June 2006 | Guards | Cambridge | 1–6 | 53 | 55 | Cantabs |
| 109 | 9 June 2007 | Guards | Oxford | 9–5 | 54 | 55 | Oxonians |
| 110 | 7 June 2008 | Guards | Oxford | 4–0 | 55 | 55 | |
| 111 | 7 June 2009 | Kirtlington Park | Oxford | 5–4 | 56 | 55 | Oxonians |
| 112 | 12 June 2010 | Guards | Oxford | 5–4 | 57 | 55 | Oxonians |
| 113 | 11 June 2011 | Guards | Oxford | 5–4 | 58 | 55 | Oxonians |
| 114 | 9 June 2012 | Guards | Cambridge | 2–13 | 58 | 56 | Cantabs |
| 115 | 8 June 2013 | Guards | Oxford | 11–3 | 59 | 56 | Cantabs |
| 116 | 7 June 2014 | Guards | Cambridge | 3–6 | 59 | 57 | Oxonians |
| 117 | 7 June 2015 | Guards | Oxford | 14–2 | 60 | 57 | Oxonians |
| 118 | 4 June 2016 | Guards | Oxford | 19–0 | 61 | 57 | Oxonians |
| 119 | 3 June 2017 | Guards | Oxford | 5–1 | 62 | 57 | Cantabs |
| 120 | 2 June 2018 | Guards | Oxford | 13–0 | 63 | 57 | Cantabs |
| 121 | 1 June 2019 2020 no match | Guards | Oxford | 15–1 | 64 | 57 | Oxonians |
| 122 | 5 June 2021 | Guards | Oxford | 8–3 | 65 | 57 | Oxonians |
| 123 | 4 June 2022 | Guards | Oxford | 8–2 | 66 | 57 | Cantabs |
| 124 | 10 June 2023 | Guards | Oxford | 7–5 | 67 | 57 | Cantabs |
| 125 | 1 June 2024 | Guards | Oxford | 5-3 | 68 | 57 | Cantabs |
a. $^^$ At the call of time the score was still one goal all, so the teams met again at Hurlingham a few days later, when Cambridge won by 3 goals to 2.

## Notable players

* Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long, Oxford (1854–1924)
* Thomas Hitchcock Sr., Oxford (1860–1941)
* Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, Oxford (1861–1928)
* Walter Buckmaster, Cambridge (1872–1942)
* Frederick Freake, Cambridge (1876–50)
* Patteson Womersley Nickalls, Oxford (1877–1946)
* Devereux Milburn, Oxford (1881–1942)
* Harold Pearson, 2nd Viscount Cowdray, Oxford (1882–1933)
* John Wodehouse, 3rd Earl of Kimberley, Cambridge (1883–1941)
* Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, Cambridge (1900–1970)
* Weetman Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, Oxford (1910–1995)
* George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig, Oxford (1918–2009)
* Claire Tomlinson, Oxford (1944-2022)
* Charles III, Cambridge (b. 1948)
* Redmond Watt, Oxford (b. 1950)
* Lanto Sheridan, Oxford (b. 1988)