SEBASTIAN Dawnay, a fully qualified umpire since 2005 as well as a professional in the sport since 2002, was at Polo Wicklow recently presenting a clinic on umpire skills and for 10 of the people there, time to sit their written Rules Test.

The Dawnay name is well known in polo circles and it’s no surprise that Sebastian features strongly in his late father Major Hugh’s first book, Polo Vision.

“Along with my dad’s history, teaching is a big thing for my future. I want to move the level of Irish polo rules and coaching. Tactics are born from the rules and they change every year.”

What is crucial is that the governing bodies in polo– the HPA (Europe’s Hurlingham Polo Association), the USPA (United States Polo Association) and the FIP (Federation of International Polo) are all moving closer together in agreement with the rules: it is a long-term project, and part of it entails mutual agreement on ‘positive play’ where the umpire interferes as little as possible.

“Why rules?” asked Sebastian when he opened his clinic. “The rules are there first of all for the pony, and then for the player. They are not there just for fun.”

Weaving is another ‘negative’ skill, endangering everyone in their lanes who are moving at the pace of traffic to get to where they want to go.

“If there is traffic, you have got to be very wary,” Sebastian explained. “You are limited in what you can and can’t do.”

Lanes of traffic should never be crossed aggressively, even in polo. Horse and rider can easily sideswipe an opponent at speed, head-on, at a sharp angle or by cutting off an opponent; the horse and rider become a potentially lethal combination and this is where the umpire is essential.

“Did the guy cross the line to save his life or did he do it on purpose?

“That is the art of a really good umpire.”