Barny Webb

Former polo professional Barny brings to Brightling a wealth of experience gained through playing at all levels of the English game. Playing high goal polo in the 90’s with players such as Horacio and Gonzalo Heguy (Labergorce), Alfonso Pieres, Adolopho Cambiaso (Ellerston) Owen Rhinehart, and Adam Snow (CS Brooks Polo) gave Barny a grounding that would assist him in achieving a 3 goal handicap.

Career highlights include tournament victories in the coveted Archie David 8 Goal at Guards Polo Club (Ellerston Pink) as well as the Royal Windsor Medium Goal (Maple Leafs). Regular trips around the world (Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, France, India, Africa, etc.) working horses and playing polo preceded the foundation of the Southern Polo School with co-professional Tim Healy. Based at Ham Polo Club in the summer and Ash Farm Polo arena in the winter. The Southern Polo School helped many players start or greatly improve their polo game, a program which Barny is keen to replicate at Brightling.

“Polo is a fantastic sport, great fun with extreme highs (and sometimes lows). In order to achieve your full potential in the sport, it is important to get the fundamentals right. I agree with the consensus that for those starting out in the sport, riding is the most important factor and where one should spend the majority of ones time and effort. After all if you can’t get to the ball you can’t hit it.”

Now playing off 2 goals, Barny’s business commitments limit his involvement however he remains committed to his goal of working with the members at Brightling achieve their polo potential as well as having some fun along the way.

Caroline Giles

Caroline is a keen polo player and HPA instructor who was born into a polo playing family in the New Forest. She started playing polo at the age of 11, playing all the way through the pony club divisions and becoming 1 goals at the age of 19. Her love of polo has seen her play all over the country.

In 1991 Caroline won a place on the English Ladies Polo Team and reached the finals against Boston, USA. It was Caroline's goal in the last minute of that match that secured England’s 6 - 51/2 victory. Caroline also captained the a Ladies team that won their league in the IWPA National Women’s Tournament in 2004 and was also awarded the prize for The Most Powerful player. In 2006 Caroline was lucky enough to Captain England's Ladies Polo team in Iran. The team went on to win the tri-nation tournament.

As an instructor at Brightling polo club her aim is to enable others to learn to enjoy polo as much as she does. “We are very spoilt to have such a warm welcoming polo club in our area.”