Following the Cambridge University Polo captain, Weldon Whitener's ready agreement to a polo match in Delhi, a team from Oxford and Cambridge arrived to play against Team Army at the Army Equestrian Centre, Delhi Cantonment on the 4th of March. It was a delightful setting. The Oxbridge team captained by Tom Mayou (Mansfield, Oxford)included Tessa Lord (St Caths, Oxford), Maximillian Kirchoff (Harris Manchester, Oxford) and Lucy Surridge (Homerton, Cambridge). Max was earlier an undergraduate at Downing when he captained the Cambridge Polo team for two years. Weldon unfortunately could not make it.
The team arrived a day early to join the Oxford and Cambridge Society of India in its Annual Dinner celebrations at the home of the British High Commissioner, Sir Richard Stagg. The match was thrilling and closely contested ending with three goals for each side. Tom Mayou scored all three goals for the Oxbridge side. Max set up the final goal and there was excellent play also from Tessa and Lucy who both provided a fierce defence. The commentary given by Pradeep(Bogie) Rao (Lincoln, Oxford) was outstanding. Amir Singh Pasrich (Worcester), ex-Polo captain of Oxford, was one of the umpires together with Major Ravi Rathor of the 61st Cavalry. The match was followed by a skilful display of tent pegging by members of the 61st , the only mounted regiment of its kind in the world. The band of the Maratha Light Infantry entertained the crowd between each chukker and marched past at the end of the display. Trophies to all the players were presented by Lady Arabella Stagg. The evening ended with tea, cucumber sandwiches and kababs.
As Lucy, the only Cambridge participant, had to don Oxford colours for this historic game, a suitable Vedic purification ceremony, performed by a Brahmin pandit, was organised before the Dinner that followed the match at Iqrup and Sumant’s home.
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