Hockey on horseback ...

Last Sunday was Father's Day and I was back home in the UK to see my family, including having lunch with Dad, Mum and my sister. We met in Midhurst, a small market town in the West Sussex countryside and had a very pleasant lunch at Seven Fish.

After lunch, at Dad's suggestion, we went to watch a polo match at nearby Cowdray Park. It was a first for Stephanie and me, though Mum and Dad had been many years before. Dad noted that the last time he was there, it was possible to get closer to the action (curse those modern health and safety rules). He recalled that he had been close enough to hear the Duke of Edinburgh, then a keen player himself, swearing.

We were able to drive in and park close by the edge of the playing field; I reversed the Land Rover in to the space so that I was able to open the tailgate and provide seating with a windbreak for two of us! But the weather was kind; a bright sunny day with a few fluffy clouds and little wind, so it was perfect for watching the action.

We were there to watch the Midhurst Town Cup, played between "Silver Spring 1870" and "Salkeld". Each team has four players, there are also two mounted umpires on the field. Here you see one of the players executing a back pass. As my regular readers will know, sport and me are not best friends, so I think it best that I forego any further attempt to explain the game, but instead I refer you to the Hurlingham Polo Association web site has a great explanation of the rules and regulations of polo.

However, one element which may be familiar even to those with only a passing knowledge of the game is the half time audience participation. A pitch invasion is then positively encouraged, unlike football in which such behaviour is somewhat frowned upon. This is for the stamping down of the divots - the pieces of turf kicked up by the ponies' hooves. Those who have seen the film "Pretty Woman" will remember the announcer's advice to "avoid the steaming divot"! The last picture shows my mum and sister indulging in this public spirited activity.

But, dear reader, I do realise that you may be thinking that this is all very interesting, but what does it have to do with Finland? After all, the blog is supposed to have a Finnish flavour. Well, as we wandered around the few stalls selling merchandise, we came across Hoads of Horsham, there selling wonderful outdoor bean bags and hammocks made by Fatboy. A Finnish company. And how we spotted them in the first place was because of their (Finnish) Marimekko design parasols. So, that's alright then!