February 3, 1859
Bangalore Badgers play first match
In the February of 1859 a victorious polo team hailing from Bangalore, burst onto the scenes and stole the headlines and hearts of the nation. Originally thought to be an all Women’s team, due to a mistake with uniform printers turning out their team shirts as The Bangalore Beavers.
February 22, 1859
Bangalore Polo Club officially formed
Thanks largely to the support of the Maharaja, The Bangalore Polo Club, and their highly acclaimed team The Bangalore Badgers, enjoy to this day, financial security that is the envy of all others bar none. It is not just money that has afforded this team numerous titles and trophies, it is the culture of the four funding members of aggression and sheer bloody mindedness that has been built upon by all team members since their first victory in February of 1859.
December 7, 1860
Club House opens
Thus setting the first specific polo field in history. An impressive Club House was opened with an exhibition match between the Bangalore Badgers and the 15th Lancers from Calcutta. Such a resounding and savage beating was delivered to the team from Calcutta that they refuse to travel to Bangalore and have hosted the Badgers on very few occasions.
September 2, 1862
The Joker, plays last game
The young Maharaja plays his last game as the disguised stable hand nicknamed “The Joker”, before been “outed” as the Maharaja, thus putting an end to a short yet stunning career as a Number 3. Ever the practical joker, the Maharaja continued to haunt all other Number 3’s, inventing such classics as the loose saddle, the uneven stirrups, chili powder in the underpants and his personal favourite, the pre-match laxative.
August 16, 1863
Last horse to be executed during play
In a final and dramatic protest at the new International Rule (forbidding the carrying and discharging of firearms during play) Captain Catapult fires his last shot on field executing the opposing teams prized attacking horse “Achilles”. At his trial the Captain successfully argued self-defense and then proceeded to play all future matches with a holstered replica, much to the disgust and fear of all opposing teams.
May 1, 1864
Mascot experiment fails
To celebrate the latest extension to the Club House, the Duke arranged for a live Honey Badger to be gifted to the club as a team mascot. Released before the game against The Dragon Guards, the experiment fails as the Badger promptly attacks one of the horses with a fatal consequence and then disappears into the club-house only to be found by the cleaners in the early hours. Upside down in a trophy full of champagne.
July 19, 1865
First recorded "streak" in Polo ends in tragedy
When attempts by a group of young women to gain the attentions of The Bandit went unnoticed, the women streaked on to the field. Whereupon one young women “Aayushi” (ironically meaning “One with long life”) was struck and killed instantly by what would have most certainly been an equalizing goal by the Bandit. Instead, the game was halted, never to be resumed, and perhaps most importantly, never recorded as a victory to the opposing team, thus maintaining The Badgers unbeaten record.
March 16, 1871
Brigadier Grimshaw scores
During a particularly heated battle against Jodphur, drawing towards a hard fought one - nil victory, the Brigadier scores his first and only goal. The short-sited defender seized upon an opportunity in the final chucker, splitting the field with a deafening war cry, dodging two defenders (his own) and scoring between the posts in style. Unfortunately it was an own goal. This has not deterred the Brigadier from revealing in his stick-work and telling all about his prowess, neglecting to mention his actions resulted in the only draw in the history of the Bangalore Badgers.
October 22, 1876
Team song penned in England
The London Chronicle is credited with penning this verse after the Badgers had handed a particularly ferocious beating to the local team at Hurlington resulting in the hospitalisation of three of their players and the death of the referee.
Remove your boots and stow your pride
The Badgers are out, they came to ride
Unsaddle your horse and away your mallet
Swig that drink to settle your palate
I’ve told you once and I’ve told you twice
The Badgers are out, run for your life
Aggressive, impressive, fearless and brave
You ride against them, you ride to your grave
November 11, 1882
The Indian Polo Association
The Bangalore Polo Club assists with the formation and funding of the national body The Indian Polo Association. Further fuelling debate that they (BPC) control and own the game in India. However, it was this very astute move and investment that allowed BPC to withdraw from administrative duties and focus on the game itself. Without the establishment of The Indian Polo Association, the game may have faulted during Wold War II, only reinvigorating interest in the game with new rules and exhibition style matches that BPC had proved were so popular with the masses.
April 20, 1883
The Inter-Regional Cup Final
It was the Bangalore Polo Club that devised the regional competition and put forward the Cup, therefore earning the right to host the final on home ground against the fiercely competitive Dragon Guards. Captained by Lieut Winston S. Churchill, a young cavalry officer at the time, The Dragons came to play and were a worthy adversary. Succumbing only in the last second of the final chukka.
April 20, 1883
The Bangalore Polo Club burns down
With a dislocated shoulder, three lame horses and a penchant for flicking smouldering cigar butts at opponents, “the great club house fire of 62” is blamed on Lieut. Winston Churchill.
June 2, 1884
Club House re-opens
The Dragon Guards are invited for an exhibition re-match to which they decline. Instead, the famous Jodhpur club accepts an invitation and brings with them a worthy opponent along with hot as mustard form. With upwards of 150 000 strong crowd and two teams at their peak a thrilling match is narrowly won by the Badgers, in a game that is often described “as the best ever”.
31 December, 1889
Founding Members Retire
After 30 years riding together, 300 victories, 7 World Cups, The Kings Cup, The Queens Plate, The Delhi Durbar Cup, The Tiger Shield, and The Inter-regional Trophy all safely locked away in the cabinet the remaining three founding members retire from The Bangalore Badgers at the stroke of midnight 1889. They remain heavily involved in The Bangalore Polo Club and their reputation as fearless players and champions of the game is legendary to this day.