schoolsthatrock
Equestrian Polo. Benjy Coventry, student from St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown, is a Polo player. Equestrian Polo, often referred to as the “sport of kings,” is a thrilling equestrian game played worldwide. Teams of four players on two opposing teams try to score points by striking a small, hard ball through the opponent’s goal. They use long-handled wooden mallets while on horseback often at breakneck speed. Polo is considered one of the world’s oldest known team sports. It showcases a unique blend of athleticism, teamwork, and equine skill.
As Benjy has grown up in a family that eats, sleeps and talks polo, he has also learned how to ride and play polo since he could walk. His great grandfather, Bevis Coventry was a founding member of polo in Mazabuka, Zambia. He started the family trend of representing their country across the world. Benjy has also excelled at schoolboy level in Zambia playing representative polo for Zambia U18 schools for 3 successive years from 2022 to 2024.
Zambia A side
Last year was special as Benjy, with his elder brother Jake and cousin Mitch all played for the Zambia A side. They beat the higher ranked South African polo team, making for a very memorable sporting moment for Benjy, and the Coventry family. He is currently a 1.5 handicap out of 10, Handicaps of each player on the team are added together; resulting in a handicap rating for that team, so that a lower rated team is then awarded the number of goals separating its total from the higher rated foursome.
Benjy has one more year in which he is eligible to play for Zambia U18 Schools, after which he hopes to travel to New Zealand to gain more experience with polo and training horses.
Benjy has incredible achievements in the sport of Polo and a tangible reminder that hard work and discipline also do pay off flying the Zambian flag high at these international events. As a school we are proud of all that he has achieved.
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