The Olympic matches had little relevance in the overall context of the 1908 international polo season. From May to August there was a non-stop round of tournaments in such fashionable places as London, Paris, Ostend and Cannes and Olympic polo held no special place in this social and sporting calender. Fewer than 30 high-handicapped players formed the core of the variously styled teams who played both with and against each other throughout the summer and all the Olympic players had been both teammates and opponents in recent weeks. For the Olympic tournament an entry of only three teams, two from England and one from Ireland, meant that just two matches were played. The English teams entered under the names of their respective clubs and it was appropriate that the brothers Charles and George Miller, who owned and founded the Roehampton club, were on the winning team. Contrary to certain reports this was not a round-robin tournament. The Irish team never played Hurlingham and qualified for the final by drawing a bye in the first round. The winning Roehampton team was awarded the Hurlingham Trophy, in addition to their gold medals.
GBR