I. Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it contributes to your personal and professional development

1. Playing Polo
By Jamie Whiteley

2. Deciding To Play
• When I started studying at the University of Warwick, I had never ridden a
horse before.
• I got on well with the head of polo, Ben,
at the sports fair and he convinced me
that I should give it a try.
• However, I started playing polo in my
first term.

3. Starting Out
• The first lesson was a bit daunting.• Our Zambian coach, Grant, firmly believed in
learning by doing! It was a trial by fire.

4. Winter National Competition 2012
• My first national competition
was a good experience but
not a very successful one.
• It left me desiring of more and
I became determined to win
the tournament before I left
university.

5. Summer National Competition 2012
• The summer of first year
brought a new dimension,
playing on grass, rather than in
the all-weather arena.
• There was also another
national tournament.
• There was some
improvement but
not much as we still
finished towards
the bottom of the
table.

6. No Longer A Beginner
• My second year saw me living closer
to polo and more determined and
committed to enjoy it and be
successful.
• I was now in the novice catagory
however, rather than beginner. This
made my objective even more
difficult but spurred me on to do
better.
• My team won our intra-university
Christmas tournament. My first taste
of silverware.
• I was not normally competitive, but
this first victory gave me a passion
to succeed at the sport and to win
the national competition.

7. Commitment
• We practiced in all weather.
It was not as glamourous as
people might imagine.
• I took some tumbles
along the way.

8. Winter National Tournament 2013
• The second year winter
national tournament, and
my first one in the more
difficult novice category,
seemed much more
competitive and serious.
• It went ok, with my team
reaching the mid-table, but
still I was a long way off my
target.
• Our team was also not the
most harmonious. Some
personalities clashed.

9. Training Trip: Honing My Skills
• Easter, however, brought the
opportunity to practice
under the eyes of a pro,
Olivier Girard, and a chance
to improve my game.
• I travelled to Aix-en-Provence
with some teammates to
hone my skills and refine my
swing.
• And we practised all day,
every day.
Olivier Girard

10. Summer National Tournament 2013
• The summer tournament
in 2013 clashed with
exams and it was difficult
to focus on it.
• It was still very successful
however and we
managed to come 4th.
• My objective finally
seemed to be within sight.

11. Returning After 6 Months: Re-Focussing
• After a long 7 month hiatus from the sport,
due to studying abroad in Venice, I returned
to the sport more than a little rusty.
• I had little time to prepare for
the winter national tournament,
but was very focused and
determined. Our team was
perfectly balanced and we were
optimistic of our chances.

12. Winter National Tournament 2014: Victory At Last
• Finally I achieved my objective.
Winter national champion for
the Novice-2 division. I had
achieved what I set out to do.

13. Summer National Tournament 2014: Fun But
Humbling
• One final tournament to finish
off my polo university
experience. Despite a slight
reshuffle in the team, we had
high hopes of achieving the
same glory as 6 months ago.
• However, illness and tough
competition humbled me
once more and
demonstrated the difficulty
of our previous achievement.
Still a good result, coming 3rd
and a good place to end the
saga.
• More polo awaits.

14. What this taught me and how it has helped
me to develop
• All in all, during 3 years, I played in 6 national tournaments, winning 1
and coming third in another.
• I learnt that if I set my mind to a goal and keep being determined
enough to work towards it, it can be achieved.
• I learnt better how to work with people I did and did not get on with. I
was able to be successful either way.
• I learnt how to accept defeat and pick myself up, but also how to
handle success, and stay focused.
• All these skills have contributed to my
personal and professional development.

15. Thanks
• Thanks to all the people I played with who made the whole
experience so good, in victory and defeat!
• Thanks to all the friends who took all these photos over the years!