Hounslow
and they played the first interregimental match on Hounslow Heath. The following report of this historic game, as published in a London daily newspaper, will perhaps never lose its interest :- "Nearly all fashionable London journeyed from town to Hounslow on Tuesday to witness a new game called 'hockey on horseback,' between the officers of the 10th Prince of Wales' Hussars, from Hounslow Barracks, and the officers of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, who had come over from Aldershot. "The game took place on Hounslow Heath, and the various equipages quite surrounded the space allotted to the players.
Four upright posts, some twenty feet apart, marked the goals, through which the ball (a small sphere of white bone) had to be driven by the players before either side could claim any advantage. The sticks in front of their respective goals, the ball was thrown up in the centre of the ground by a sergeant major of the 10th Hussars, who then galloped off, when each side immediately galloped for the ball at best pace of their ponies. "The 10th appeared in blue and yellow jerseys, and the 9th in particoloured shirts of blue and red, and both sides wore mob caps with different coloured tassels attached. The game, which has been imported from India, and which has been for a long time in vogue among the Munipoories, one of the frontier tribes, was watched with the keenest interest by the numerous and aristocratic company present.
The game lasted for an hour and a half, with an interval of ten minutes, when half time had been played. The players, who number eight on each side, and who were mounted on active, wiry little ponies, about 12½ hands high, were as follows :- 10th Royal Hussars.
Captain Barthorp Captain Bulkeley Captain St. Quintin Captain Okeden.