H&C

4
Mar
2010

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Polo lessons a hit with children

Jodie Kidd with primary school pupils at Hurlingham Park

Supermodel Jodie Kidd, her brother Jack and other world renowned English polo players such as Kirsty Craig launched the New Twenty20 World Polo Series – 'Polo in the Park' at Hurlingham Park on Wednesday. The competition will be held on June 4-6, at Hurlingham Park

The team are launching a simplified version of the full sport, played on a smaller field, in an attempt to make polo more accessible and attractive to TV.

The Kidds are also organising free polo lessons for hundreds of primary school pupils at the sport's traditional west London home in a move to shed its elitist image.

Groups of 11-year-olds are learning to play each fortnight at Hurlingham Park in Fulham as part of their PE curriculum. The best will get to show their skills at the event in front of a crowd of up to 32,000.

Jodie, a former Strictly Come Dancing contestant said: “It is incredible to watch. The children need absolutely no riding experience. They are coached from a standing start to playing polo within an hour.”

The children come from schools in Hammersmith & Fulham and the initiative is backed by the council. Pupils from Fulham's Sulivan Primary School are among those taking part in the workshop.