COWDRAY Park Polo Club have launched The King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship 2020.

The tournament began on Wednesday and the final will be played at Lawns in Midhurst on Sunday, July 26.

Eight teams will take part this year with two teams making their Gold Cup debuts.

The tournament will be played with the usual speed and skill of high-goal polo, under modified rules which adhere to government regulations.

Encouragingly for the future of the sport, 2020 sees the highest number of British players entering the tournament in recent years. Among the young British players is 18-year-old Will Harper, who lives in Midhurst.

Chris Bethell, the Cowdray Park polo manager, said: “We are very much looking forward to play commencing – it has been a challenging start to the season.

“The grounds are in peak condition – there are some exciting team entries and 2020 has the potential for new talent to shine and perhaps an unexpected winner.”