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Club News: Lightening strikes again, at Prestonwood! The crow's nest was hit and damaged very badly recently. It's being rebuilt, this time complete with a lightening rod. They had just spent $50,000 on improvements and despite old wives tales to the contrary, lightening struck twice. (The first time it hit an umbrella held by a volunteer at the Polo on the Lawn game. Luckily, no one was hurt.)
USPA National Club Development Director Kris Bowman spent some quality time with the Wichita Polo Club this June helping new polo manager and instructor Dan Healy with the start up of the Great Plains Polo School. This is ex-USPA chairman, Jack Shelton's vision to start a regional training center for the Great Plains area. Things are going great so far, we heard that the grand opening party had over 65 attendees with lots of potential students.
Small but mighty...the Sugarbush Polo Club in Waitsville, VT recently held a match to honor a couple of the founders. Harlow Carpenter, who passed away last year, not only helped start the club but also was one of the founders of the Green Mt. Hounds.. The game was played on the tiny "Village Field" in downtown Waitsfield. The original owner of the field, Steve Flemer, who played a few chukkers himself, was also honored.
The three acre polo field was lined with spectators proving that polo is still in the hearts of the Sugarbush club. Most of their games have now moved over to Middlebury where Holly Ward now resides.
The Royal Winnipeg Polo Club would like to announce that Gerald Levin has been selected as one of the five nominees for "Manitoba Jewish Athlete of the Year". Gerald has been playing polo for more than 20 years, and has played in tournaments all over Western Canada and the American Mid-West. In 2008 he was a member of the team that won the United States Polo Association Amateur Cup held in Peoria IL.
The Seventh Annual Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament will be Saturday, September 12 on the polo fields of Dr. & Mrs. Phil Beegle at Cedargate Farms in Newnan, Georgia. The Kool Kidz Classic historically has benefited the Kool Kidz Foundation. As of January 2009, the Kool Kidz Foundation merged with FOCUS, a 26-year-old nonprofit that also serves children with disabilities. In addition to the 8-goal match, activities include a silent auction, a raffle, champagne and divot stomping, delicious food by well-known chefs, as well as an evening party with music.
The Dallas Fort Worth women's tournament played at Stonebriar Polo Club drew 8 teams for a delightful weekend of polo and parties. Victor Ramon, Robert and Tamara Payne, the Gleeson family, Oscar Bermudez and Catherine Campos were among the hosts who make the weekend special, but Roxy Keyfauver's organizational skills kept everything ticking along, mostly right on schedule.
Catching Up:
Ed McNamara says he's wrapped up his polo for the summer at The Villages and concentrating his energies on his duties as director of the Florida Horse Park - the Park is looking at two FEI events this net year, and that is indeed enough to keep everyone busy preparing!
Flag-carrying enthusiast Erin O'Brian has been asked to carry the American flag for opening ceremonies at Port Mayaca Polo next season. Let's see now, Southampton, Greenwich, Royal Palm (formerly) where else, Erin???
Cybelle Jordan reported in from Fish Creek saying it has been a blast this summer, and not without its share of excitement. Being Out West, the temptation to play polo in stock saddles is almost overwhelming for some of the guys.... "Sinaido had an exciting ride on a steel gray Fish Creek mare built like a brick sh**house. She reared up and went into a bucking sequence but he had ahold of his patented bucking strap on the front of his stock saddle and he rode her through it. The next day he was in a flat saddle and she was perfect!"
Maggie Boyle (many of you will remember her carrying the American Flag at IPC for three years on the horse that always "jumped" the center line) has qualified for her third year to compete at the National High School Rodeo Finals, July 19 - 26th, in Farmington, NM. She will represent the South Carolina HS team in Barrel Racing, with her 13 year old, 16.2H gelding, "Magnum Force GE". Maggie finished third at Nationals her freshman year and 11th last year. GO Maggie! Turn & Burn!
Recently Ron and Maryanne Reiss and Bob and Maurlene McKee went on a trail ride through Gettysburg. (You can go there with your own horses.) It appears that on this particular trip they got a guide who was a little slow, so Maryann's horse got so bored he decided to lie down with her on his back. OR, perhaps he was "re-enacting" himself.... Truly it really is usually a great thing to do on horseback...
Bumps and Bruises: Sidro Olivas hit his own patron Brian Wallis, very near the eye and then hit opposing player Pelon Escapite in the face during the finals of the Equest Cup at Polopalooza. New sponsor Dr. Max Adler on the scene and said Pelon would not need stitches. His face was swollen with a gash on the cheek but he played fiercer than ever to finish the game, ending the Savannah team's undefeated streak with a victory for Cross Oaks Ranch.
Lyle Graham was thrown in practice earlier the last week in May and suffered six broken ribs, a broken rotator and clavicle. Ooooh, ouch!
Brent Mirkitani had his hand practically pulverized during the match at Prestonwood. Polo has been a little rough out in Texas this summer.
We were pleased to hear that the Fish Creek Manager Mike Kerly, will be back in the saddle soon. He was sidelined with a bulging disc but had a successful surgery and is looking forward to riding again.
Claudio Manfrin begins a long rehab back after a debilitating motorcycle accident in May; the ranch manager and polo pro at Rancho Amistad Polo Club in Murrieta, Calif. Claudio has touched many lives and is a well known fixture at the club and around the Southern California polo tournament circuit. Now the medical bills are mounting as he embarks on his slow and painful recovery. His friends have created a website (www.claudiomanfrin.com) and The Claudio Manfrin Benefit Fund as a special way to give back to Claudio in his time of need. This fund has been created in his name at Bank of America to help raise money to pay for his medical care and to help ease his rehabilitation. Please donate today to help a friend and a fellow polo player in need.
And Lastly: In response to the unwanted horse problem in our country EquestrianCollegeRecruiter.com has developed a horse donation page on its website. Colleges across the country are in need of horses for their riding and breeding programs. If you have a useful horse looking for a new home you can list them on their website with pictures and video. THIS IS A FREE SERVICE! Colleges may send their "wish list" of what is needed in their program or check the website for available horses. Visit www.EquestrianCollegeRecruiter.com or call 352-746-5875 for more information..
Keep in touch! Asides wants you polo news and photos. Send us trophy and action shots, at 200 dpi, with everyone in the photo clearly identified in the body of the e-mail. Share your news with either Sam at samanthac@sidelinesnews.com or editor@sidelinesnews.com. Be sure to include your full name in the e-mail! We'd love to hear about marriages, engagements, tournaments, new ponies, puppies and personal adventures and triumphs. If you don't tell us, we can't share the fun!
