"There is a sense of timelessness about Julian Hipwood."

—Sarah Eakin, Horse & Hound

Julian is one of the defining figures of British polo.

Captain of the English National Team for 20 years, Julian was field captain for the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, during the seven seasons they played together on Guy Wildenstein’s Les Diables Bleus and Galen Weston’s Maple Leafs.

He and his late brother, Howard Hipwood, share the highest British handicap since the Second World War: nine goals.

The son of an RAF engineer, Julian spent his early childhood in Pakistan. Returning to England, he learned to ride at his grandfather's riding school and went on to play football for Bournemouth’s reserve team.

He caught the eye of legendary polo player Rao Raja Hanut Singh, son of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, who brought him to play polo at Cowdray Park. An invitation to play in Calcutta followed, marking his choice of polo over football; he returned to India for seven seasons. 

A two-time finalist, Julian became the first foreigner to reach the Argentine Open Final, the sport’s most prestigious championship, where he received a standing ovation to chants of 'El Inglés! El Inglés!'

His iconic blue helmet has since given way to a signature Panama hat. He remains involved in the sport as a coach and mentor. Julian lives in Wellington, Florida, with his wife Tasha and their corgi Birdie. 

Sign Up

for occasional updates, stories from the archives and future projects.