Polo team owner hit opponent

A property developer who sponsors a polo team has been suspended from the game after hitting one of his opponents with his polo stick at Windsor Great Park.

Paul Castle, who has made two fortunes and sponsors the Metropolitan Polo Team, hit the player during a game at the Guards Polo Club. This was reported to the sport's governing body, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), which on Monday found him guilty of "abuse of the stick" at a disciplinary hearing. He was banned from the game for nine months and fined pounds 5,000. The self-made businessman has been committed to polo since taking it up four years ago for health reasons.

His suspension came after an incident during a match against the Thurlestone polo team last Friday.

Buff Crisp, secretary of the HPA said: "Polo sticks are very dangerous. Not something to play about with."