254 A RETROSPECT. [Chap. X. 



somewhat lesser degree. Besides the crowds at 

 Hurlingham and Ranelagh, polo w^as going on at 

 the same time at the other six grounds already 

 mentioned. 



Although there were not more than twenty regular 

 frequenters at Hurlingham, now, eleven years later, there 

 are always over a hundred men playing at the different 

 clubs, in and near London on a Saturday afternoon 

 during the season, j As a result of this overcrowding 

 at Hurlingham and Ranelagh, the grounds are far too 

 much cut up, and it is a great treat, when the London 

 season is over, to play on smooth country grounds 

 which have been comparatively at rest during the 

 months of May, June and July. It is to be hoped that 

 in future, polo players will have more room, and that 

 London polo may be made still more attractive by the 

 formation of a third big club at Roehampton, which is 

 close to Ranelagh and which will provide three new 

 grounds. 



The constant change of opponents in a series of 

 matches gives a charm to London polo which can be 

 found nowhere else. All the best players in England 

 and most of the best ponies congregate in London ; 

 match succeeds match and tournament follows tourna- 

 ment to such an extent that, provided a player can get 

 into good teams, his fun will be limited only by the 

 endurance of his stud. The ball of tournaments is 

 generally set rolling in May, with the Social Club Cup 

 at Hurlingham, which is quickly followed by the Hunt 

 Cup at Ranelagh, the Open Champion Cup, the 

 Ranelagh Open Cup, the Regimental Tournament and 

 the Subalterns' Cup for soldiers, the Novices' Cup for 

 second-class players, the County Cup for county 



