Profile

With 30 years of playing the game and a thriving empire behind him, new Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) Chairman Stephen Hutchinson is setting his sights on different goals

ILLUSTRATION PHIL DISLEY

An experienced competitor, having played for 30 years, Stephen Hutchinson is looking forward to the new responsibilities ahead. ‘Polo is more popular than ever, and much of this can be credited to the excellent work carried out by the HPA over the years,’ he says.

‘This is due in no small part to the sterling efforts of my predecessor, John Wright, who has proven to be an extremely effective pair of hands for the past three years. Much has been achieved under his chairmanship, and I hope to continue the progress he has made in steering the association forward in the next few years.’

A qualified helicopter and fixed wing pilot, Stephen has been Master of South Tyrone Foxhounds since 1985, carrying the horn for 22 seasons. He enjoys shooting and is a keen game shot. Six years ago he became a Steward of the HPA and was confirmed in his position as Chairman at the HPA Council meeting last November. He was initiated into the sport more than 30 years ago in Phoenix Park, Dublin, and has played at various levels of the game, mostly with his family team, Tayto, which won the Archie David Cup at Guards Polo Club twice, the first team ever to have done so.

Formally playing off a 2-goal handicap, he has represented Ireland internationally in the FIP 8-goal European Championships in France, Holland and Spain, and played at the World Championship European Qualifier at Dallas Burston Polo Club in England. His personal highlight? ‘The Mundialito 24-goal in Argentina. It’s the highest level of polo I’ve played at, and I doubt I’m likely to surpass that at this stage of my career!’

‘Polo is an integral part of my life and, consequently, my family’s, says Stephen. ‘I met my wife Charlotte through the game when I was playing against her father in Kenya back in the 1970s. He was in the army and stationed there, I met his daughter and things progressed from there. My three daughters and son also share my love for the sport and play regularly. My son, Max, has represented Ireland and participated in the Gold Cup for UAE – a very proud moment was when he captained England at U21 level.’

Stephen’s business, Tayto Group – the largest British-owned crisp and snack manufacturer – has been in the Hutchinson family since his father founded it in 1956. The company has a portfolio of some of the UK’s most iconic brands, including Golden Wonder, Tayto, Mr Porky, REAL and Jonathan Crisp and produces 45 million bags of snacks each week across its five sites in Northern Ireland and England.

Stephen will continue overseeing the company direction, but employing the right people in the right positions on the ground to manage the detail of how to get there. Bringing in a hand-picked, highly-skilled management team is a strategy that has seen the Tayto Group grow dramatically in the past 10 years, today turning over nearly £200m annually, with 1,800 team members and international export links with 34 countries.

‘Every successful business depends on having really good people,’ says Stephen. ‘The HPA is no exception. A lot of hard work is carried out behind the scenes by the HPA executive staff, led by CEO David Woodd, at the Little Coxwell office. We have started to further strengthen that team – with professional expertise and volunteers – and that can only help in the future. Mind you, much of the work they do goes unseen by the members, and I hope to be able to shine some light on this area during my chairmanship. Our numerous committees are also vital to our success, with members in voluntary roles giving most generously of their time and expertise for the benefit of the sport while balancing busy careers.

‘With more people participating, it’s important we open as many channels of communication as possible, and I hope to work on that during my tenure. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard members ask what the HPA

does for them. I hope improving communication and bringing further transparency to our work and our organisation will help them to see what it is that they pay for. We need to demonstrate just how much bang for their buck our members get, and show clearly how we, as a body, are advancing and developing the sport.

‘UK Polo has grown steadily in popularity over recent years, with more than 2,750 registered players in 2015, compared with roughly 1,900 in 2000. The number of affiliated outdoor and arena clubs has doubled in the same time period, which shows the appetite for this great sport. This year looks to be an equally busy one for the community and governing body, with plenty to do.’

What are the first moves Stephen will be making? ‘In any new role, the most important things to do are to listen and learn. I intend to do both over the season; working to produce and then publicise a short- to medium-term plan.’

However, a plan can only be effective if the funds are there to implement it, and there’s no doubt recent years have been financially challenging for the world of polo. The new chairman is poised to address this thorny issue.

‘The economic climate has made things difficult for our sponsors and, consequently, for us; losing a key sponsor is hard for any sport,’ says Stephen. ‘However, it is important to note we have a multitude of opportunities available to us. The United States Polo Association has made a real success of licensing its brand, and I think we can learn from its experience as we embark on licensing agreements ourselves. It’s always helpful to be able to view a similar project that has played out elsewhere; then aim for their successes while avoiding their pitfalls. We shouldn’t expect it to work miracles, but we do need to see this as a really good opportunity.’

Another area in which Stephen is keen to engender change is female representation in the HPA. ‘I’m delighted Tae Ormerod has been elected as a Steward,’ says Stephen. ‘Anyone involved in the sport knows how many women participate regularly in all aspects of the game, and with their numbers increasing, it seems at odds that we should have so few involved in the management and organisation at senior level.’

The next four years promise to be busy for the new chairman as he sets out to tackle the many challenges and opportunities that the world of polo presents. However, with plenty of energy and enthusiasm – and a genuine passion and lifetime love of the sport – he seems more than equipped for whatever lies ahead.