Oxford University Polo Club Varsity Teams | |
Official website | |
University | University of Oxford |
Location | Oxford, England |
Founded | 1874 |
First Varsity Match | 27 November 1878 |
Known as | Dark Blues |
Biggest win | 2016 winning 19 – 0 |
Biggest defeat | 1999 loosing 1 - 13 |
Highest handicap of a team before 1945 | 1910 with +13 |
Highest handicap of a team after 1945 | 1972 with +6 |
Highest handicap of a player before 1945 | 1910 James Joseph Pearce with +5 |
Highest handicap of a player after 1945 | 2013 with Lanto Sheridan with +4 |
First female player | Claire Tomlinson (née Lucas) in 1962 |
First female captaincy | Claire Tomlinson (née Lucas) in 1966 |
Trophy | The Varsity Trophy given by the Hurlingham Club in 1920 |
Team Colour | Dark Blue #002147 |
This list details the Oxford University Polo Club Varsity teams that have competed in the Varsity Polo Match against Cambridge University since its inception in 1878.[1]
Members of the teams are traditionally known as Blues, or Oxford specific as Dark Blue. 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[2])
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[3])
Teams are selected from students of all colleges within the university. Women began participating in 1962, a notable development in the history of the event. An official rules change in 1963 followed, allowing mixed-gender teams which is still a rare opportunity amongst the Blues Sports of both universities. The first female captaincy was in 1966. However, only four out of 125 Varsity teams have been captained by a woman yet (1966, 1994, 2019, 2024).
In the following table, team members are listed from left to right in their respective positions (1 to 4) including their college affiliation, possible captaincy, and polo handicaps, which ranges from -2 to +10.