Conditions Of Playing Membership And Tournament Entry 2020

Please also note specific conditions found in the Hurlingham Polo Association Blue Book for particular level of play.

A. GENERAL CONDITIONS:

1. Playing Memberships

  1. All Players must be members of the HPA
  2.  The Club reserves the right to charge interest on any amounts due after 3 months at a rate of 10% above base interest per month until paid plus any penalty the Club imposes for non-payment. Should collection efforts be required, the account holder shall be fully responsible for payment of all costs of collection including any legal fees.
    iii.  All invoice queries must be raised within 14 days from date of invoice.

    2. Hard Hats: All persons (Players and Grooms) must wear a hard hat whenever on horseback that complies with the 2018 ruling on hard hats at Beaufort Polo Club grounds.  The standards that must be met are as follows:
    From 01 January 2018, helmets must be type approved to the standard PAS015:2011 with CE mark (type approval must be performed by a UK headquartered Noted Body for Personal Protective Equipment), SNELL E2001, VG1 01.040 2014-12, or UTAC/CRITT 04/2015 and any newer version of the same standard.
    3. Vaccinations and Pony Passports.All ponies must have, by law, a passport, which may be obtained through the HPA. Each pony must also have a valid vaccination certificate, which undeniably relates to the pony, completed, signed and stamped on each line by a MRCVS. For ponies registered with the HPA before 31st December 2013 it must state that the pony has received two injections for primary vaccination against Equine Influenza given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart. Thereafter, booster injections must be given annually. The first injection for primary vaccination must have been given before the pony may play at any club or in any tournament. For ponies registered in 2014 or with no vaccination history the passport must state that the pony has received two injections for primary vaccination against Equine Influenza given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart plus a third booster within 3 to 7 months of the second vaccination. Thereafter, booster injections must be given annually. The first injection for primary vaccination must have been given before the pony may play at any club or in any tournament.

  3. Disputes:Decisions of the Tournament Committee will be final in regard to any dispute.
    5. Safety Zones:Spare ponies are only allowed in the designated areas in four boxes at the corner of the grounds, during play and are not permitted to change in the safety zones.
    6. Umpire Ponies: Each team will provide a suitable umpire pony fit for purpose (two per team for 15 goals and above) for each of its matches, saddled as for polo.
    7. Team Name: A team name may not be changed after the team has commenced playing in the tournament.
    8. Team Withdrawal: Once a team has entered the tournament and the draw has been published, it may not withdraw unless there are exceptional circumstances and the Tournament Committee agrees. Please note withdrawal of a team from a match without the permission of the Tournament Committee will be considered as misconduct.
    9. Ground Allocation: It is a condition of tournament entry that teams agree to play at any grounds, private or club, wherever scheduled.
    10. Prize-Giving: Whenever there is a prize giving/presentation at the end of any match in a tournament, each and every member of the specific two teams are to be ready and present no later than 10 minutes after the end of the match, dressed in team colours, whites and boots.

     

  4. Trophies:The trophy/cup is to be insured by the winning team from the day it is presented until the day that it is presented to the next winning team. The trophy is to be kept clean, in good condition, engraved and returned prior to the start of the tournament.
    12. Photography/Recordings:It is a condition of entry to Beaufort Polo Club tournaments that each and every team member agrees without formal formality:
    i.  to being photographed and/or recorded by film, video, television cameras and sound equipment at all times when they are present at any event relating to a tournament, whether or not such event takes place at the grounds of Beaufort Polo Club;
    ii.  to surrender all rights in respect of such photographs and recordings.
    13. No Play Dates: For all Tournaments the number of “no play/preferred play” dates to be limited to a maximum of four per team.
    14. Draw completed: Once the draw has been made matches cannot be re-scheduled, except at the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee. See also 18 & 19.
    15. Entry Forms: No entry will be accepted a.) Without payment (where applicable) b.) Without the names of all four genuine players and the signature and contact details of the Team Captain/Manager and that of the person who is responsible for paying the fees. The forms must also include full contact details of all non Beaufort Polo Club team members and indicating the team representative/captain. Entry forms will be available, hard copy from The Polo Office or online via the Beaufort Polo Club website.
    16. Entry Closure: Entries will close at midnight on the closing date as listed for each tournament.
    17. Entry Fees: Payment must be received with the entry form or prior to the tournament entry closing date. A team will not be entered into the Draw unless the entry fee for that tournament has been paid.
    18. Outside Hours: Teams wishing to schedule a game out of the Club’s normal playing hours (exceptional circumstances only) will be subject to a charge of £300.
    19. Change of Time: Having obtained permission from the Polo Office, a team requiring a change of time will be responsible for seeking the agreement of the other team(s), and will be subject to a charge of £240 or to cover any additional costs.
    20. Clash of Games: When Players have a clash of games, precedence will be given to the higher handicap tournament and an eligible substitute expected as a replacement for the lower handicap tournament.
    21. Tournament Draws: All tournaments will be played under HPA Rules unless otherwise stated. Draws will be emailed to team captains and will be available from the Club website.
    22. Grounds and Time: Game times and ground allocations will be available from The Polo office and website by 12 noon, on the day of the event.
    23. Warming Up: In order to maintain the best possible ground conditions, warming up and stick and balling on BPC grounds is restricted to immediately (15 minutes) before you play. There is plenty of additional warm up area outside the boards.
  5. Pony Welfare:All Players and Grooms are to adhere to the Hurlingham Polo Association Polo Pony Welfare Guidelines. It is Club Policy that all ponies are tied to the string and not directly to bars; that ponies are offered water to drink; and that studs are removed before leaving the grounds.
  6. Dress Code: Players must adhere to the dress code of white jeans, team shirt, boots, kneepads and polo helmet.
    26. Veterinary Surgeons:In the event of an equine emergency on the field, The Beaufort Polo Club on site Veterinary Surgeon will attend. Once the pony has been taken off the field the owner’s Veterinary Surgeon may be consulted with regard to ongoing procedures.

    B. ACCIDENTS & EMERGENCIES:
    Reporting of Accidents, Under new Health and Safety legislation it is now a patron’s responsibility as an employer to ensure that if their professional has a serious accident they report the accident to the relevant enforcing authority under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Patrons are also responsible for ensuring that any serious accident that they are involved in is also reported to the above body. All injuries should be reported as soon as possible, with injuries lasting longer than 3 days to be reported within 10 days. To report an incident, patrons should inform the Incident Contact Centre (ICC). The ICC is a ‘one-stop’ reporting service for work-related health and safety incidents in the UK. They can be contacted on: 0845 300 9923, Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm. Alternatively reports can be made online at: www.hse.gov.uk/riddor

    1. Following an accident, any player who is taken to hospital by air ambulance must make a donation to The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Service or Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

    C. MATCH TIMINGS:
    1. Polo Matches: Will normally start at 3.00pm mid-week and at 10:00am and 3.00pm on weekends.
    2. Weather:If the weather is inclement the Polo Manager will inspect the grounds at 8.00am, and make any necessary decision.

    D. PONY LINES:
    1. Players and grooms must NOT canter horses through the pony lines.
    2. Children are not permitted in the pony lines.
    3. All dogs must be on a lead in the pony lines and under control and not on the field during play.
    4. Litter must be put in the bins provided.

    It is the responsibility of the patron and/or the team captain to ensure that all players and grooms in a team are made aware of the above rules and conditions and have agreed to be bound by them. Although matches will be played under normal Hurlingham Polo Association rules, a degree of flexibility will be exercised at the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee, if required, to assist in the smooth running of tournaments.