Exclusive interview with one of the best lady player in the world Nina Clarkin
Tell us a bit about yourself and how did you start your career?
My name is Nina Clarkin, I am a mother to 3 children who are 11, 6 and 3 and I have been playing polo professionally for 20 years. I started playing polo when I was 6 years old in the local pony club, progressed to club polo when I was about 14, and I started playing professionally when I left University at 21.
How did you get started in polo? Did you always want to become a professional polo player?
I started in the pony club which is a fantastic place to start. It was so much fun and it has also started some of England’s best players. I have always loved polo but I did think long and hard before deciding to commit myself fully to it. It was a tough decision but I am just so happy now that I chose to dedicate my life to a sport that I love and that has given me so many amazing opportunities.
How excited are you playing at Chesterton’s Polo in the Park this year and in which team will you be playing?
I will be representing England against Ireland on the Friday, I am so excited to be playing at Chesterton’s Polo in the Park. It is always an honour to represent one’s country and it never gets less exciting playing for England. We have a great team and I can’t wait to get out there and play.
What sort of physical training do you go through?
My training schedule changes depending on the amount of polo I am playing and where I am playing, but I have a personal trainer who I train with once or twice a week and do my own training around that for the rest of the week depending on my match schedule. I concentrate on strength and conditioning and cardiovascular work and work hard on my post-match recovery.
How do you prepare before a match?
I make sure that my ponies are prepared and ready and discuss with Elin, my groom, the order I will play them. I then arrive nice and early at the game and get myself warmed up and mentally prepared for the game. To be honest, my pre-match preparation changes all the time and often involves the school drop-off!!
What is your personal insider’s tip for striking the perfect hit?
Don’t rush, swing slowly, keep your head down and follow through.
What do you enjoy about polo?
Luckily I enjoy almost everything about the sport but I love the ponies, I love working closely with them and making sure I am as well mounted as possible. I love playing a team sport and working with my teammates to play the best polo we can. I also love the personal challenge of constantly trying to improve and play better as it is a sport that is very challenging.
What is the most important thing the game of polo has taught you?
It has taught me discipline, and how to get the best out of myself and my teammates but most of all it has taught me the joy of being able to do the thing you love as your job. I never take for granted, even on the tough days, that I play polo for a living.
