Established 1950
2016 Season
Brandywine Polo Club
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Three Convenient Locations – Open 7 Days a Week Routes 82 & 926 Kennett Square, PA 610-444-5679
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536 South Union Street Kennett Square, PA 610-444-4286
1252 Jacob Tome Mem. Hwy Port Deposit, MD 410-378-5000
Brandywine Polo Club
Contents 4 Message from the Board 5 2016 Polo Sponsors 7 Polo Gear 9 The Voice of Brandywine Polo 11 Understanding the Team 12 Brandywine Polo School 13 The Heart of Brandywine Polo 15 2016 Schedule 17 Reflections on the Equestrian Life 21 2015 Through the Lens 30 Polo Glossary 31 Polo Rules Simplified 36 The Trophies of Brandywine 39 Tournaments 42 2016 Club Members
COVER PHOTO: TISA DELLA-VOLPE PHOTOS: TISA DELLA-VOLPE
www.brandywinepolo.com
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Board of Directors Message Three years ago with the club struggling to survive and Mother Nature redistributing 16 tons of polo barn debris across the landscape, we talked about the sound of horses’ hooves on a polo field and its echoes in the thousands of years of polo tradition and the long history of Brandywine. We are now looking at a thriving club greatly improved in almost every respect. This has been accomplished by the hard work and dedication of a large number of people and organizations that believed in those echoes. This year our desire is to continue that trajectory, but also reemphasize the continuation of a haven of sociability and gentility that befits the history. We anticipate a great 2016 season with lots of polo, competitive polo, beginning polo and polo school…yes polo, polo, polo. Juan Martinez Baez will be returning as manager, and Daniel Gallegos as USPA Umpire. The facilities are improved, the fields are aerated, over-seeded, fertilized and treated. You will see a revamped facility when you come to the club. The facility clean up, maintenance and repair has been completed with a mind to improve our club for players, social members and spectators and present a professional face to our guests. One of the most important traditions of polo is sportsmanship and gentility, on and off the field. At one time sportsmanship was even part of the rating system for a player. The modern game developed under the Victorian principles of fair play, which require gentlemanly manners, unobtrusive umpires, and calls that must not be questioned. We may be insignificant in the grand history of polo, but we all embody and carry forward the tradition of the game whether we are players, spectators, sponsors, grooms, vets, farriers, breeders or trainers. Polo at Brandywine will continue to embody tradition and sportsmanship, and in this turbulent world Brandywine Polo Club will remain a haven of tradition and gentility as an apposite reflection of those echoes. What is also certain is that this summer, and hopefully for many more, there will be the sound of horses’ hooves charging down a sunny, grass field playing polo. So dress well, as Bertie Wooster would expect, bring family, friends and a fine picnic, and become part of the tradition. We will swing and stroke that white ball through the goal and we will all have fun. Meo regno pro equus Dixon, Nicholas and Lory
PHOTOS FROM TOP: 1, 3 AND 4 BY TISA DELLA-VOLPE; 2 BY JOHN PLECENIK
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Brandywine Polo Club
2016 Brandywine Polo Sponsors We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of our 66th season of polo: Title Sponsor Landhope Farms
Pavilion Sponsor Malvern Federal Savings Bank
Match Sponsors Chester County Hospital, Koncordia Group, the Jones Family, New Bolton Center, Ronald McDonald House of Delaware Red Shoe & Brew, The Willowdale Steeplechase
Advertising & Banner Sponsors Houppette Cosmetics & Accessories, The National Bank of Malvern, Sovana Bistro, Dickens Chimney Restoration Inc., Holly Peters Oriental Rugs & Home, B&D Builders, Meadow Springs Farm – Hicks Brothers, Eastern Horticultural Services, M.H. Eby Trailers, Kindred Skincare, George & Sons’ Seafood, Union Park Jaguar, G. Fedale Roofing & Siding, Janssen’s Market, Today Media, Cardinham Killigrew
Supporting Members Cecille and Greg Brant, Elizabeth T. Mehl, Elizabeth & Philip Gottshall, Richard Bickel, Shirley & Harry Zwicker, Lisa Scott, Tim Wilkens, Andrew Phillips, Stevi Richards, Knox Equipment Rentals, Heather Conway & Greg Schuck, Sara Doheny, Eastern Horticultural Services, Sharleen Walters, Cheryl Lamoreux
www.brandywinepolo.com
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Brandywine Polo Club Program
2016 Season Board of Directors Lory Eighme, Nicholas Place, W.B. Dixon Stroud Jr. Advertising & Sponsorship Sales Lisa Scott
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Program Coordinator Ricardo Barros Contributing Photographers Ricardo Barros, Jim Graham, Elaine J. Kucharski, Alex Pacheco, John Plecenik, Shirley Zwicker, Tisa Della-Volpe For information about this program, please contact the polo office or info@brandywinepolo.com.
Brandywine Polo Club 232 Polo Road Toughkenamon, PA 19374 Mail: PO Box 568 Unionville, PA 19375 Main Office: 610-268-8692 info@brandywinepolo.com www.facebook.com/BrandywinePolo www.brandywinepolo.com @Brandywine_Polo All product and company names are trademarked or copyrighted by their respective owners. All rights reserved. www.brandywinepolo.com Established 1950
Proud Member Since 1951 6
Brandywine Polo Club
Polo Gear
The Polo Helmet is required equipment most commonly made of reinforced, padded plastic with a cloth covering. They are modeled after the pith helmets the British wore in 19th-century India. Modern helmets are designed to fend off flying balls and to protect the head if the player should fall off.
The Mallet
The Team Jersey
is made of root manau cane. It can bend quite a bit, giving it a fair amount of “whip” during a hard swing. The head is made of tipa, a very hard wood. Both sides of the head are used to strike the ball.
sports the color of the team and the number of the player’s position (from 1 to 4).
The Bit Knee Pads provide protection from flying balls and rough ride-offs.
controls the horse. Polo players use many different kinds of bits. This one is called a “Gag.”
The Breast Plate fastens to the girth and keeps the saddle from slipping backwards.
The Martingale The Ball is made of hard plastic that dents a bit each time it is hit.
is the leather strap that runs from the noseband to the girth, and keeps the horse from raising its head too high.
Polo Plates
Leg Wraps
are special lightweight horseshoes made of iron. Polo plates have an inner rim and an outer rim, with the inner rim slightly higher than the outer rim, making it easier for the hoof to pivot in all directions.
provide support to tendons and ligaments as well as protection from flying balls and stray mallets. PHOTO BY JIM GRAHAM JIMGRAHAMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
www.brandywinepolo.com
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*Price shown is Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Excludes $995 destination/handling charge, tax, title, license, and retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Total Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price includes $995 destination/ handling charge and may include optional equipment but excludes tax, title, license, and retailer fees, all due at signing. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. **Class is cars sold by luxury automobile brands and claim is based on total package of warranty, maintenance and other coverage programs.
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Brandywine Polo Club
Photographic challenges accepted.
“The Voice” of Brandywine Polo
Ricardo Barros.com
www.brandywinepolo.com
This year marks the 9th season with Bradley Hendrix as our announcer. His endless energy, knowledge of the sport, upbeat personality and unique announcing style have endeared Bradley to casual fans and seasoned players alike. “I am honored to be announcing polo again and look forward to providing another year of fun and excitement,” Bradley says. “I try every match to give an overview of the rules and basic play so that even firsttime guests can understand and appreciate the game.” Bradley is a local DJ and hosts several quizzo/trivia games at area venues and also DJs weddings, benefits, special events, etc. Feel free to stop by the announcer stand and say hello!
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“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” - T. Alan Armstrong
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Brandywine Polo Club
PHOTO BY RICARDO BARROS
Understanding the Team A team consists of four mounted players, which can be mixed teams of both men and women. Each number assigned to a player has certain responsibilities:
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is the most offenseoriented position on the field. This position generally covers the opposing team’s Number Four.
www.brandywinepolo.com
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has an important role in offense, either running through and scoring themselves, or passing to the Number One and getting in behind them. Defensively, they will cover the opposing team’s Number Three, generally the other team’s best player. Given the difficulty of this, it’s not uncommon for the best player on the team to play Number Two so long as another strong player is available to play Three.
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is the tactical leader and must be a long powerful hitter to feed balls to Number Two and Number One as well as maintaining a solid defense. The best player on the team is usually the Number Three player, usually wielding the highest handicap.
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is the primary defense player. They can move anywhere on the field, but they usually try to prevent scoring. The emphasis on defense by the Number Four allows the Number Three to attempt more offensive plays, since they know that they will be covered if they lose the ball.
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Brandywine Polo Club
Learn to play
POLO!
o A safe but exciting introduction o o o o
for the beginner. Affordable. Convenient. Professional instruction. Horses with an understanding temperament provided.
Brandywine Polo Club
Orientation to Polo • During this fun introductory course we will lead you in a group lesson with other new players through a graduated program covering the rules, tactics, polo swing and riding skills on a polo pony geared to your level of riding experience - from the occasional rider to the experienced rider of all ages. • You will be introduced to proper mallet strokes on our wooden horse! You’ll practice your malletwork under the careful watch of our qualified instructor. • You will be mounted on quiet, safe horses matched to your abilities. First you’ll focus on polo riding, then on hitting the ball. A fter successfully moving, stopping and turning your pony, you’ll ‘stick and ball’ at your own pace in our arena. End with a tournament! • Join us, have fun! 12
FORMAT: 4 sessions plus a tournament OR 3-day weekend clinic. Class size limited to 10; first come, first served. REQUIREMENTS: Riding helmet, boots (tall boots or paddock boots), and gloves (golf, baseball or polo gloves). Mallets will be provided. AFFORDABLE: $350 CONTACT: Lory Eighme Tel: 610-310-0931 Email: info@brandywinepolo.com 232 Polo Road Toughkenamon, PA 19374 www.brandywinepolo.com PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE Brandywine Polo Club
Everyone’s favorite player, Juan Martinez-Baez, will be returning to Brandywine this year for his thirteenth season with us. A native of Tecámac, Mexico, Juan started riding at age six. His father, who rode and worked in polo, taught him to play. Young Juan followed his father’s footsteps, riding and working polo in Mexico, then moved to the United States in 1991. He has been a sought-after professional ever since. Juan is presently handicapped at 5 goals in the arena and 4 goals on the grass, ranking him among the strongest players on the East Coast. He plays professionally for us during the summer, and on the Louisiana and Florida circuits in winter. You’ll also find him in tournaments in Louisiana, Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and lots of places in between.
Yet Juan’s polo skills and equine prowess are not the qualities we value most in him. Juan’s interaction with fellow players is the epitome of sportsmanship. He treats players of all levels with courtesy and respect. Juan is quick with helpful suggestions for those ready to learn. He generously passes the ball to keep everyone involved, and he ramps up the challenge for those with a more competitive spirit. And, should any of us fixate on the scoreboard, it is Juan’s soothing demeanor that restores perspective to our play. Look closely as Juan comes galloping past, or search for his pictures within these pages. You’ll find Juan playing with a smile and an infectious laugh. We all agree: Juan Martinez-Baez truly is the heart of Brandywine Polo Club.
Juan is a respected horseman and trainer. He “makes” green ponies and fine-tunes the performance of more experienced mounts, enhancing his and other players’ strings. Juan’s horses outrun the wind, then they turn on a dime. PHOTO: JIM GRAHAM
www.brandywinepolo.com
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BISTRO
Locally Sourced. Seasonally Inspired. 696 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348 Tel: 610.444.5600 - www.sovanabistro.com Mention this ad on Sunday evenings during the polo season (May 30-Oct 2nd) and 10% of your total check will be donated to the Brandywine Polo Club.
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Brandywine Polo Club
2016 Season Schedule
All Friday matches start at 5:30 unless specified otherwise. All Sunday matches start at 3:00 unless specified otherwise. Schedule subject to change. Visit www.BrandywinePolo.com or call 610-268-8692 for updates.
Opening Day Match: Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 3PM Friday Night Polo
Sunday Polo May 30
Opening Day Match - Memorial Day
June 3
Grass Polo
June 5
Grass Polo
June 10
Grass Polo
June 12
Grass Polo: Chester County Hospital Cup
June 17
Grass Polo
June 19
Grass Polo
June 24
Arena Prelims
June 25—Saturday - 0–2 Goal Arena Tournament Final June 26
Grass Polo
July 1
Grass Polo
July 3
Tournament: McHugh 4 Goal Tournament Final
July 8
Grass Polo
July 10
Grass Polo
July 15
Grass Polo
June 17
Grass Polo
July 22
Arena Prelims
July 23—Saturday - Arena Tournament: 2–4 Goal Tournament Final July 24
Grass Polo
July 29
Grass Polo
July 31
Tournament: USPA/WCT Women’s Final
Aug 5
Grass Polo
Aug 7
Grass Polo: 4–6 Goal Landhope Farms Challenge Cup
Aug 12
Grass Polo
Aug 14
Grass Polo
Aug 19
Grass Polo
Aug 21
Grass Polo: New Garden Air Show
Aug 26
Grass Polo
Aug 28
Tournament: USPA Polo Ponies memorial 6–8 Goal Final
Aug 2
Grass Polo
Sep 4
Tournament: Gerald Balding 6–8 Goal Final
Sept 9
Grass Polo
Sep 11
Grass Polo/Willowdale Steeplechase Day
Sept 16
Grass Polo
Sep 18
Grass Polo/UK Combined Services Team Match
Sept 23
Grass Polo
Sep 25
Grass Polo
Sept 30
Grass Polo
Oct 2
Richie Jones Memorial Match
Tournaments and Special Events 0-2 Goal Arena Tournament Final, June 25 New Garden Air Show August 21
McHugh 4 Goal Tournament Final, July 10 2-4 Goal Arena Tournament Final, July 23 USPA/WCT Women’s Final, July 31 4-6 Goal Landhope Cup, August 7 USPA Polo Ponies Memorial 6-8 Goal Final, August 28 Gerald Balding 6-8 Goal Tournament Final, September 4 Grass Polo/Willowdale Steeplechase Day, September 11 Grass Polo/UK Combined Services Match, September 18 Richie Jones Memorial Match, October 2 PHOTO: JIM GRAHAM
www.brandywinepolo.com
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Reflections on the Equestrian Life By Dixon Stroud We are fortunate to live in a bucolic part of the country where equestrian sports abound. The equestrian community in our own backyard offers some of the most amazing opportunities for anyone interested in horses. Whether your passion is eventing, dressage, foxhunting, jumping, driving, steeplechasing or polo, it’s a fantastic place to be. Horses are great sport, no matter what discipline you choose. Everyone always seems to crack a smile when they think of their favorite horses or favorite equestrian memory. There is something magical about horses and no better thrill than riding a great one. For me, it’s always been about jumping and polo. I’ve had my fair share of wins and losses in steeplechasing, and I’ve had some great experiences playing polo. In steeplechasing, there is nothing more thrilling than leading the pack, clearing the jump and knowing that your competitors are right behind you. In polo, the excitement comes when your team is working together, you’ve taken the “man” from the play, the ball is carried down the field and a goal is scored. The cheer “golaso!” is probably the best thing you’ll hear when you’re out on the field. I am very excited to be playing polo this year, and I look forward to a successful season at Brandywine Polo. I hope you’ll relax, enjoy the facilities and have fun cheering us on!
www.brandywinepolo.com
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Food Bank given $75K Bank of America donation will help feed those in need
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Photo by Ron Dubick
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In this issue
After the Fox Side Saddle
First Look .......................... 3 Business News .............4-11
Years on the Riverfront
Viewpoint .........................18 Spotlight...........................21
Market Watch
DBT Book of Lists: Century Farms ....................23 Smartboard ......................26
Dover office units in spotlight
Market Watch...................27
Page 27
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T H E H U N T M AG A Z I N E
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2015
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Brandywine Polo Club
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Brandywine Polo Club
2015 Through the Lens
PHOTOGRAPHS BY TISA DELLA-VOLPE , JOHN PLECENIK, SHIRLEY ZWICKER AND JIM GRAHAM
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Line of the Ball
Polo Glossary
The Line of the Ball, or “Line,” is the straight path traveled by the ball at any instant, extended forward and backward from the ball. A player’s claim to hit the ball, or to address an opponent, is affected by the player’s position relative to the Line. A new Line is formed with every deflection of the ball. This constantly changing reference requires players to make complex, split-second decisions throughout the course of play.
Backshot or Backhand
Mallet
Describes a shot in which the ball is hit in the opposite direction from how the horse is traveling. A backhand can be taken on either the offside or nearside and may be “tailed” or “cut away.”
The mallet is used to hit the ball. A mallet is generally between 49 and 54 inches long. The cane is traditionally made from root manau cane, although some players, especially arena players, may use canes of a fiberglass composite.
Chukker A period in a polo game, similar to innings or quarters in other sports. Typically, there are six chukkers in a game, although it is common to see four-chukker games at lower handicaps and in the arena. In outdoor polo, a regulation chukker can be as long as seven minutes and thirty seconds. At the 7-minute mark, a 30-second warning horn is sounded indicating 30 seconds remain. Play stops when the ball is hit out of bounds, touches the sideboards or the 30 seconds expires, whichever occurs first. The clock stops running for penalties, making the actual time that elapses during a chukker longer than the seven and a half minutes on the clock.
Cut Shot A shot or swing in which the ball is hit at an angle away from the horse. Typically a cut shot refers to a forehand while a backhand is more often referred to as away.
Foul A foul is an infraction of the rules. The most common types of fouls are right-of-way infractions, walking the ball, turning the ball, dangerous riding, rough or abusive play, improper use of the mallet and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Hook To use your mallet to impede the swing of an opponent. To execute a proper and legal hook outdoors, the opponent’s mallet must be below his shoulder when hooked. Otherwise, a foul is called for a “high hook.” In both outdoors and the arena, the player hooking must be on the same side of the opponent’s horse as the ball or directly behind. You cannot reach over, under or across an opponent’s horse to execute a hook. If you do so, a foul will be called for a “cross hook.”
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Marking a Man To have an opponent under your control to prevent him or her from making a play against your team.
Nearside A shot in which the ball is hit on the left side of the horse. A nearside shot may be either a forehand or backhand. A nearside forehand may be hit straight or at an angle under the horse’s neck, called a “neck shot,” or away from the horse, also called a “cut shot.”
Neck Shot Describes a shot in which the ball is hit on either side of the horse, at an angle, under the horse’s neck.
Ride Off A maneuver in which two players, traveling parallel and at the same speed, come together at the horses’ shoulders to attempt to move the other to gain or keep possession of the ball.
Right of Way The Right of Way is a zone of safe passage. Players on the Right of Way are entitled to proceed without risk of collision. Other players can only enter or cross the Right of Way when it is safe to do so. Who is entitled to the Right of Way is initially determined by each player’s position relative to the Line. Once a player assumes the Right of Way, he or she is automatically entitled to a safe exit from the Right of Way. This may mean that a second player up field, who has just deflected the ball and created a new Line, must wait for first player to pass and clear the old Right of Way before pursuing the ball he or she just deflected. The Right of Way is not to be confused with the Line of the Ball. Brandywine Polo Club
Po l
d S p ec By Ricardo Barros Illustrations by Ricardo Barros
www.brandywinepolo.com
RICARDO BARROS
th e
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S s i e m l u p
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1 A grass polo field is 300 yards long by 160 yards wide. Goals are scored when the ball passes between the goal posts at either end. Whenever goals are scored, the teams switch ends and attack in the opposite direction.
Game Watcher Tips • A match consists of six chukkers, each 7.5 minutes long. At the 7-minute mark, a bell or horn sounds to indicate only 30 seconds remain in the chukker. The chukker ends when the 30 seconds elapse, when the ball hits a sideboard or goes out of bounds, or when a goal is scored. • Each team consists of four mounted players. There is no goalie in polo. • Polo ponies are actually horses, but they are referred to as “ponies.” Each player rides several ponies during a match, changing them frequently to give every pony a rest. Generally speaking, any one pony plays a maximum of two chukkers in a match. Some players play eight to twelve ponies in a single match. • All polo players must hit the ball with the mallet in their right hand, including left-handed players. A stroke on the player’s right side is known as an “off side” stroke. A stroke on the player’s left side is known as a “near side” stroke. The ball is hit with the side of the mallet, not the mallet’s point, as in croquet. • The rules of polo are written to promote safety of both player and pony in a fast, exciting and competitive environment. Toward this end, the two principal concepts governing the game are the Line of the Ball (LOB) and the Right of Way (ROW). • With certain restrictions, it is permissible to hook an opponent’s mallet as he or she strokes at the ball. It is never permissible to strike any pony or other player with a mallet. • Rule infractions incur penalties, and these may range from a free hit at the ball to a direct shot at an open goal. An egregious foul may warrant the ejection of a player. • Two mounted umpires control the match on-field, and a “third man” referee off-field resolves the call should the two umpires disagree.
ELAINE J. KUCHARSKI
• For an animated, nine-minute video by the author expanding upon the illustrations in this article, visit www.ricardobarros.com/polo
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Brandywine Polo Club
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The LOB changes whenever the ball’s course changes, such as when the ball is hit by another player or bounces off of a pony.
The ROW is a zone of safe passage. If a player is in the ROW, he or she has a right to proceed straight ahead without the risk of collision. It is a foul to impede the progress of a player entitled to the ROW. Other players in front of an advancing player in the ROW must yield their position if there is the slightest risk of a collision. In polo, a foul is called when the umpire perceives the risk of collision, regardless of whether physical contact is actually made. Other players can only enter or cross the ROW when it is safe to do so.
The LOB is the line traveled by the ball projected forward and backward at any moment.
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The ROW is not to be confused with the LOB and does not depend on who last hit the ball.
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6 Generally speaking, a player following the exact line of the ball and carrying the ball on his or her off side will almost always have the ROW.
When two players are approaching the ball from opposite sides and both are on the line of the ball, both players are required to stroke on their off side such that the LOB lies between them and there is no risk of collision. In this case, both players have ROW.
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7 Generally speaking, when two players are approaching the ball from opposite directions, the ROW belongs to the player who is following the ball.
9 When two players are following the ball, the ROW belongs to the player with the least angle to the LOB.
Brandywine Polo Club
11 10 The LOB is constantly changing in a game. The zig-zagging ball creates a new LOB and the opportunity for a new ROW with every deflection. When the ball is deflected to create a new LOB, the old ROW doesn’t just disappear. Players on the old ROW must be given the opportunity to safely clear the old ROW before another player asserts his or her right to claim the new ROW.
www.brandywinepolo.com
Under certain circumstances, it is permissible to ride off an opponent. Safety concerns dictate that contact must be made with the horses shoulder to shoulder, with the ponies moving at comparable speeds, at a narrow angle appropriate to the speed at which contact is made, and neither pony may be knocked off balance. It is an egregious foul to make a pony stumble or to knock a player to the ground.
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The Trophies of Brandywine By Nicholas Place Brandywine Polo Club has a rich tradition of high-quality polo. We hold many matches and tournaments throughout the year, culminating with two historic tournaments in late August and early September. These are the Gerald Balding and the Polo Ponies Memorial tournaments. We schedule these events consecutively, allowing Northeast teams to spend a couple of weeks at Brandywine on their way to Aiken and Florida for the winter season.
The Gerald Balding Trophy The Gerald Balding Tournament is eponymously named for a great English player of early 20th century. Born in 1909, Gerald Balding was the last 10-goal British player to date. Gerald and his two brothers, Ivor and Barney, played in the United States throughout
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the golden age of polo in the 1920s and 30s, mostly at the famous Meadowbrook Polo Club on Long Island. Gerald Balding went on to captain the British national polo team in 1936 and 1938. The Gerald Balding Tournament, first played in 1958, has traditionally been our most competitive trophy. Names of past winners are affixed to the wooden, custom-made trophy case. These nameplates make for interesting reading, as they include a large number of the great players and teams not only from Brandywine but also from the entire East Coast.
The Polo Ponies Memorial This tournament grew out of an unfortunate event. Play in the tournament represents a gesture of respect and remembrance. On a hot afternoon in 1966, lightning struck the Brandywine clubhouse and set it ablaze. The fire quickly spread to two nearby stables. Bob Connors, the club manager, braved smoke and flames to safely extract nine horses. Another seven horses were seriously burned and required treatment at the nearby New Bolton Center. This heroic effort notwithstanding, 18 horses perished in the disaster. The community banded together in support of the Brandywine Polo Club and, on July 17, 1966, over 5,000 people came to watch a “Polo Ponies Memorial� match. Cars lined up bumper to bumper on the entrance drive. Proceeds from this polo match helped our club rebuild the two barns, this time using fire-resistant, concrete cinder block. With our spirits rekindled by community support, we formally launched the Polo Ponies Memorial Tournament. The current trophy for the Polo Ponies Memorial Tournament, a painting by Genevieve Snyder, was first presented in 2007.
Brandywine Polo Club
This tournament is an important part of the Brandywine tradition. Now as we approach our 49th annual contest, we look back with bittersweet pride at all the teams from up and down the East Coast who have played in the ponies’ honor.
Richie Jones Memorial Another of our trophies is awarded to winners of the Richie Jones Memorial Match. Richie Jones, an avid horseman throughout his life, was involved in all facets of the local community, both through his law practice and his philanthropic efforts. Although fox hunting and thoroughbred racing occupied much of his time, polo was his true passion. A past president of Brandywine Polo, Richie began his polo career at Yale, a career which spanned over 35 years. Richie won the Gerald Balding Tournament on at least two occasions, playing with his sons on the Doe Run team. This team also participated in numerous tournaments at Myopia, Saratoga, Millbrook and Maryland polo clubs, among others, during the 1980s and 1990s. Richie Jones was best known for his defense as “The No. 4 player that never missed a back shot.”
PHOTOS: FACING PAGE AND BOTTOM LEFT, RICARDO BARROS; THIS PAGE, TOP, NICHOLAS PLACE.
www.brandywinepolo.com
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Brandywine Polo Club
Tournaments
PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK
www.brandywinepolo.com
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WCT/USPA Brandywine Women’s Tournament
Left to Right: Marisa Bianchi Cindy Halle Posey Obrecht Liv Stringer August 2, 2015 PHOTO: SHIRLEY ZWICKER
Maryland Polo
USPA Polo Ponies Memorial Tournament
Left to Right: Sara Orthwein Tommy Huber PJ Orthwein Tom Huber August 30, 2015 PHOTO: SHIRLEY ZWICKER
Dovecote 40
Brandywine Polo Club
USPA Gerald Balding Tournament
Left to Right: Francisco Eddy Marcos Onetto C.J. Martin Sarah Runnells Martin September 2, 2015 PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK
Taylor Hill Farm
USPA Challenge Cup
Left to Right: Francisco Eddy Marcos Onetto C.J. Martin Sarah Runnells Martin September 6, 2015 PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK
Taylor Hill Farm www.brandywinepolo.com
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2016
Club Members PHOTO: HEATHER PEZZOTTI
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PHOTO: TISA DELLA-VOLPE
Top Left to Bottom Right 1.
Claire Bailey
12.
Kirk Hoffman *
2.
Ricardo Barros
13.
Simone March
3.
Nicolle DuHamell
14.
Carlos Martinez-Baez *
4.
Lory Eighme *
15.
Juan Martinez-Baez *
5.
Elle Elliman
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Joel McKeever *
6.
Kathleen Fowser *
17.
Denis O’Flynn O’Brien *
7.
Daniel Gallegos *
18.
Jesus Ontiveros*
23.
Dixon Stroud *
8.
Jasmine Gallegos *
19.
Nicholas Place *
24.
Brian Sweeney
9.
Brian Griffin *
20.
Lisa Scott *
25.
Victor Verano
10.
Melissa Harrington *
21.
Pat Sertich *
26.
Juan Vidal *
11.
Louis Hering
22.
Avajolie Sill
27.
Johanna Walters
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Brandywine Polo Club
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PHOTO: TISA DELLA-VOLPE
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Not Pictured
* Denotes Full Member.
Trevor Brant
Carter Costello
Shaun McCauley*
Belinda Brody
Joscelin Gallegos
Raj Mundy
Michael Bucklin*
Demitra Hajimihalis *
Tom Utter
Javier Bustos
Meryl Kern
Carly Costello
Stephen Lee
www.brandywinepolo.com
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Brandywine Polo Club
T H E 2 4 T H R U N th G OF THE Celebrate our 25 N I NAnniversary!
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Brandywine Polo Club
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