History of Polo by MediaEdge

THE SPORT OF P O LO I N C A N A D A

A CANADIAN POLO ASSOCIATION INITIATIVE

BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CA VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB O PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTO SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NI POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO P POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POL POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLU CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GR CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TO OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NAC POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIP NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND PO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN PO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREAT POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRA BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CA VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB O PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTO SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NI POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO P POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POL POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLU CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB G CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TO OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NAC POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIP NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND PO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN PO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB G CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TO OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NAC POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIP NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND PO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN PO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB G CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TO OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NAC POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIP NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND PO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN PO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB G CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TO OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NAC POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIP NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND PO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN PO GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB G CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TO OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NAC POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIP NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND PO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN PO

B SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREAT ALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TOR OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NA ORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WIN IAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POL POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLU LO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB UB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLU VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYA REATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIA TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKAN CIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POL PEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO OLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO OLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLU VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYA TER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POL O CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLU ANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VIC UB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREAT ALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TOR OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NA ORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WIN IAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POL POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLU LO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB UB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLU B VICTORIA POLO CLUBBLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYA GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIA TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKAN CIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POL PEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO OLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO OLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLU VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYA GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIA TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKAN CIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POL PEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO OLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO OLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLU VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYA GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIA TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKAN CIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POL PEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO OLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO OLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER 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PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO OLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLU VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYA GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIA TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKAN CIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POL PEG 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THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

An Artography The Clubs, The People and The Ponies A CANADIAN POLO ASSOCIATION INITIATIVE

Copyright © The Canadian Polo Association, 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission from the Canadian Polo Association.

Contents 6

Foreword: A Message from the Production Team

8 Welcome Note from Don Pennycook, President of The Canadian Polo Association 10

Introduction: The Story of Polo in Canada

The Great Canadian Road Trip

4 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

CLUBS 22

Black Diamond Polo Club

Calgary Polo Club

Club Polo Nacional

Grande Prairie Polo Club

Greater Niagara Polo Club

Okanagan Polo Club

Ottawa Polo Club

Royal Winnipeg Polo Club

Springfield Polo Club

Toronto Polo Club

Vancouver Polo Club

Victoria Polo Club

PEOPLE & PONIES

158 International Events

168 After the Games

Canada’s Got Talent!

106 Canadian Women in Polo

172

Ten Things We Bet You Didn’t Know

116

174

Thank You to the Sponsors

Youth Polo in Canada

128 A Celebration of Polo Ponies in Canada

177 Acknowledgements

140 For the Love of the Horse 144 Special Events 154 Snow Polo in Canada

THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 5

Mike Egan. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Foreword A Message from the Production Team When I first approached Melinda Brewer with the idea of producing a book about polo in Canada, it was in part to highlight the various clubs and people across Canada, but also to pay tribute to Melinda’s artwork, which has chronicled the sport of polo and the amazing equine athletes of North America for decades. Melinda has produced several high-quality books for the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, so I knew this would be a good partnership. Once the Canadian polo clubs came on board and became engaged in the project, it soon became clear that there are so many great stories to share about polo in Canada, amazing people to honour, and horses to remember. I thank the clubs for sharing this with us and helping us tell the story. I also thank the production team for putting it all together, and Melinda for painting the picture of polo across the country. One of the goals of this book was to raise money for youth polo in Canada, something I strongly support as it leads to longevity and growth of the sport. I am extremely grateful to the sponsors of this book, as without them it could not have happened. Over the years I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to play polo in many different countries, but I can honestly say that some of my fondest playing memories are from right here, in Canada. In a country as large as ours, it can be difficult to bring polo people together. I hope that this book helps to unite polo enthusiasts across the nation as we collectively celebrate “The Sport of Polo in Canada”. Mike Egan, Founder and Executive Producer

The sport of polo in Canada is as diverse and as vast as the country. From west to east, this unique horse sport has found a home on the prairies, the farm fields, the forest clearings, sports fields, from backyards to farm yards. The history of polo in Canada is a story of immigration, importing a game from a foreign land and bringing it home. It is a game of dedication and perseverance (against the odds of climate and fortunes) and passion for those that have upheld the traditions of the clubs and the sport since the turn of the last century. This book sets out on a journey to celebrate the sport of polo in Canada through stories and photos and art. We want to share the unique qualities and spirit of each polo club and despite the diversity of our landscapes across the country, the sport has a similar feeling that could only be described as Canadian. What is remarkable throughout this journey has been a spirit of sharing, of sportsmanship and despite our vast geography, players come together from across the country to play on visiting teams or with home teams becoming part of the Canadian polo family. When we began this project, we asked each polo club to submit a story and photos to reflect their unique experience of polo, to share the spirit of family and sportsmanship and the love of ponies on and off the field. We were rewarded with this generous collection of photos and stories that celebrate the tradition of polo in Canada. We hope you will enjoy this journey as much as we enjoyed it! Melinda Brewer, Co-Founder, Producer, and Artist

On behalf of the entire polo community across Canada, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike for initiating the idea of capturing our collective experiences playing and enjoying polo life at each of our local clubs. Mike’s stewardship of this project and the tireless efforts and commitment of Karen, Melinda and their colleagues left little doubt that the outcome would be a complete success. We were thrilled to have been selected to co-produce this unique pictorial history of polo, and the timing for us was perfect. We welcomed the opportunity to work on something quite different and outside our usual periodical publishing routine. I would also like to thank our award-winning team of Annette Carlucci, art director, Erin Ruddy, executive editor, and Rachel Selbie, account manager, for their amazing creative talents. We much appreciated the kind consideration and friendly collaboration with the Polo Canada team in developing this commemorative book, which beautifully showcases the sport we love. Kevin Brown, President, MediaEdge

This project started out for me as something I thought would be interesting, yet straightforward to compile. Little did I know it would become such a fascinating and consuming part of my life for six months. A wonderful distraction from Covid, the more I uncovered about polo across our country, the more I wanted to know. Compelling stories and photographs began to pour in, telling a story that was so like my home club in some ways, yet so distinctly different in others. I thought we, at Toronto Polo Club, faced big challenges to play polo – sometimes playing in -10-degree weather during the winter indoor season. I had no idea there were so many other ‘polo nuts’ scattered across the country, also going to great lengths to play the game we all love. To say I have enjoyed this project is an understatement. I have made new friends across Canada, and I look forward to expanding my polo travels in the future to visit some of these amazing clubs. I have also had the privilege of working with a fantastic production team, Melinda, Molly, Rachel, Annette, and Erin. I truly hope that anyone who reads this book gets the same pleasure as I have had being part of its creation. Karen White, Producer and Editor-in-Chief

THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 7

“Bonita” owned by Don Pennycook. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Sport of Kings A Welcome Note from Don Pennycook

olo has been called “the Sport of Kings”, but for me it is “the King of Sports”. The level of teamwork required between players and ponies, and the four players on each team, is incredible! This book is for polo fans young and old, but it’s dedicated to youth polo in Canada. After all, today’s young players are the future of our beloved sport. Canadian weather contributes to a relatively short outdoor season, making indoor arena polo a popular alternative in the colder months. Our short summers and long winters have also inspired many players to travel to other countries for the enjoyment of polo. As Winston Churchill said, “A polo handicap is a passport to the world.” Several of our Canadian players have even gone on to play professionally, including Fred Mannix Jr., one of the world’s highest rated players. Polo is an ancient game, and some may be surprised to learn that Canada has hosted matches since the early 1880s. It’s an exciting, energetic sport fuelled by passionate players and fans. This book delves into that rich history, reflecting the polo community’s collective love for its equine teammates, the families engrained in the sport, and the friendships that have developed both on and off the field. Many people contributed to this book, and I thank them all—Mike Egan, Melinda Brewer and all those who submitted memories and photos. Special mention and thanks goes to Karen White who worked tirelessly on coordinating the content and making this beautiful book happen. I hope you enjoy it, and feel our enthusiasm for the sport of polo reflected in its pages. Don Pennycook President, Polo Canada

THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 9

Canadian-born 10-goal player Lewis Lacey with his team at Meadowbrook, Long Island, 1931 Left-Right: John Miles 8, Juan Benitz 9, David Miles 9, Lewis Lacey 10

Introduction

olo in Canada has a long and rich history. While this is not intended to be a dense chronicle of the past, the incredible story of how many of today’s clubs came to be needs to be shared to appreciate how far we have come. The continuity of family associations and the dedication of polo enthusiasts across the country have led to the rise of many great polo clubs in Canada. This book is intended to give a glimpse into the culture and history of these clubs, while showcasing their diverse landscapes, climates, and structures. It is also meant to be a celebration of the devotion, camaraderie, and passion for the game shared by all the clubs as they continue to grow and promote the sport of polo in Canada. POLO: A BRIEF HISTORY Polo is a game that originated in Persia and spread throughout Asia over the centuries. The first polo fields were likely barren campgrounds used by nomadic warriors over two thousand years ago.

Valuable for training cavalry, the game was played from Constantinople to Japan by the Middle Ages. Known in the East as the Game of Kings, Tamer Lane’s polo grounds can still be seen in Samarkand. British tea planters in India were first to witness the game in the early 1800s, but it was not until the 1850s that the British Cavalry drew up the earliest rules. By the 1860s, the game was well established in England. James Gordon Bennett, a noted American publisher, balloonist, and adventurer, was captivated by the sport and brought it to New York in 1876 where it caught on immediately. It was shortly after this that polo came to Canada. THE HISTORY OF POLO IN CANADA Polo was first played in Canada in 1878 by British garrison officers stationed in Halifax. The game was more widely played in Western Canada, however, and by 1889 weekly matches were organized in Victoria between garrison teams and British naval officers. The oldest polo club in Canada is the Calgary Polo Club; it is also the only club in Canada that has continually operated since its inception in 1890. English

T H E S P O R T O F P O L O I N C A N A D A \ 11

Introduction

4 6 12

2 1 8

9 3 7 10

5 GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB 1

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officers and gentlemen who had gone into ranching put together polo teams for leisure and sport. Because horses and ranching were such a large part of everyday life in Alberta, the sport took off in popularity. The game provided entertainment and social gatherings between neighbouring ranches and towns. Historical records show that although polo was first introduced through English and military origins, it was by no means restricted to the privileged. Early membership rosters from clubs across Alberta showed members who were homesteaders, cow hands and store clerks. Polo was a cowboy sport in the Canadian West and existed long before organized rodeo events came to be. By 1909, the sport had become so popular that the number of polo clubs in Alberta alone numbered 14, and there were over 20 polo clubs between Vancouver and Winnipeg. Back in the East, polo was primarily played by the upper classes and the military. The first Montreal club was formed in 1899 by members of the Canadian Hunt Club, and a pool was formed to buy polo ponies and to cover other expenses. A train car load of shaggy horses from Western Canada arrived with some saddle broke but little more. In Montreal, the horses were selected, sent to be trained, and the fields were prepared at Mr. George Simard’s farm (Simard, being the force behind the club). Their first game was far from brilliant, and the ball was missed far more than it was

hit. However, as the play got better, the membership grew slowly and there were games played against teams from Toronto. While there are no formal records of when many of the Eastern clubs were established, there were teams from Montreal and the Back River clubs (Rivière des Prairies area) that played games in the early 1900s against other clubs from Quebec and Toronto. After 1902, the teams began to move further afield for their games, including to the United States. The Toronto Club created an international tournament in 1903, and the International Cup would be awarded to the winning American or Canadian team annually. In 1905, the High River team (Calgary) won both the Canadian and American championships. In 1904, the Eastern Canadian Polo Association was formed, initially with just the Montreal and Toronto clubs, but later joined by the Back River and Kingston clubs. Then in 1907, the Western Canadian Polo Association was formed, as teams began to travel outside of their local areas. Hurlingham rules were adopted as the standard of play. It was not until many years after the two wars that the Canadian Polo Association was finally established. WWI saw the end of polo in Canada for a few years since many of the players were in the military. However, after the war the game started up again with fervour and great interest. Sometimes polo matches

Arena polo at the Sifton’s farm in Toronto

Polo was first played in Canada in 1878 by British garrison officers stationed in Halifax. The game was more widely played in Western Canada, however, and by 1889 weekly matches were organized in Victoria between garrison teams and British naval officers.

Founding members of Toronto Polo Club

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Introduction and players came from most unusual circumstances. After WWI, the American and British West Indies Squadron was stationed in Bermuda and they sent a flotilla that went up the St. Lawrence River to visit Canada annually. As there was an active Royal Naval Polo Association, they always managed to put together teams on borrowed polo ponies to play with local groups three or four times during these trips. Between the world wars, Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops, and Calgary were strongholds of polo in the West, and Montréal the leading city in the East. After WWII, the sport suffered immensely amidst economic depression. Many clubs were decreased in size, some disbanded entirely. By the early 1950s, polo was revived in Vancouver, Victoria, and Calgary; then in the 1960s clubs in Southern Alberta banded together to form the Calgary Polo Club. In Toronto, polo was revived in 1958, and that city has since become a strong year-round centre for the sport. POLO TODAY While many of Canada’s original polo grounds have all but disappeared, converted to golf courses or housing developments, the equestrian boom in the 1970s and 1980s saw a resurgence of members and infrastructure to many of the existing polo clubs, as well as the development of new clubs that still flourish today. Dr. Ross Fargey brought the game back to Winnipeg

in 1974, starting the Springfield Club. That same year, Dr. Cledwyn Lewis moved from England to Grande Prairie, Alberta, and founded the Grande Prairie Club. In Saskatchewan, Michael Sifton reintroduced the game and began the Saskatoon Polo Club. The Okanagan Polo Club was founded in 1986 by John Price after he moved from Toronto. It was the first club in the area, even though nearby towns Kelowna and Vernon had supported polo teams at the turn of the century. Newer clubs, such as The Greater Niagara Polo Club (est. 2019) continue to pop up as polo grows across Canada and becomes increasingly accessible to the masses. There are numerous Canadian families that are well into their third generation of polo players, and amazingly the Roesnisch family celebrates four generations of players. Clinton “Kirk” Roenisch began playing in 1933 in Calgary and instilled a passion for the game that has lived on through his family for over 80 years. HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN POLO ASSOCIATION The last time polo was played in the Olympics was just before WWII, in 1936. After that, the sport was removed from the official program, as its popularity had declined. By the 1970s, a world-wide movement had started in the global polo community to reinstate polo as an Olympic sport. To accomplish this,

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each country had to have its own polo association—and since Canada was part of the United States Polo Association at the time, Michael Sifton and John Emery, both from the Toronto Polo Club, decided to start up a separate one for Canada to help further the Olympic cause. Red Armour, a 9-goal player from the U.S. was brought here by Michael Sifton to coach the group of players that had been

selected for the national team. This was the initial push that got the association going, and although the sport to this day is not an Olympic sport, the association has successfully fielded national teams year after year to represent Canada at the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Cup. In addition to helping establish a national team, Michael Sifton recognized the need

INTRODUCTION

to link the clubs across the country, and personally funded many initiatives to grow the sport nationwide. John Emery, the first Polo Canada Secretary, went on a ‘drumbeat across Canada’, travelling the country to help start up new clubs, teach clinics, and share his passion for the sport. Often accompanied by George Dell, John produced early training manuals and led the way for great things to follow. Fred P. Mannix became the next president of the Canadian Polo Association. He held this title for many years and played an integral role in further developing the national association while supporting the national teams, as well as promoting and growing the game. Justin Fogarty followed on as the next president, bringing more new initiatives to the Canadian polo scene. Don Pennycook is the current president of the Canadian Polo Association and is dedicated to developing programs that will help sustain the sport of polo in Canada for years to come. Since the turn of the century, polo enthusiasts across Canada have overcome many challenges to continue playing the game they love. The miles travelled between clubs to play tournaments is staggering. In a country with diverse landscapes, and often harsh climates, this is no easy feat. From the early pioneers to the people that make it happen today, one can’t help but admire the passion and devotion of all those who have helped shape the sport of polo in Canada.

Since the turn of the century, polo enthusiasts across Canada have overcome many challenges to continue playing the game they love.

Crowds cheer from the viewing platform at Sifton’s arena, Toronto

Fred Mannix Sr., Julio Zavaleta, Bobby Barry, and John Emery at the inaugural USPA sanctioned Canadian Open at the

Upper Canada Polo Club, Toronto T H E SP O R T O F P O LO IN C A N A DA \ 15

The Great Canadian Road Trip Tales from an unforgettable journey through Western Canada: Summer 2010 By Garrett Smith, Springfield Polo Club, with foundation by Dan and Sarah Brewin, Black Diamond Polo Club

hen you Google the term “road trip”, you get a vague definition of “a journey made by a car or bus.” This clearly does not take into account the trials and tribulations of Western Canadian polo teams, otherwise it would include the word “chaos”.

Picture this: a three-and-a-half-week journey across the four western provinces with ten designated stops, several unplanned stops, two truck and trailer rigs, twelve people, two dogs and twenty-one horses. What could go wrong? Our first stop after leaving Winnipeg was the Saskatoon Polo Club where things kicked off with a combined birthday celebration for fifteen-year-old Garrett and thirteenyear-old Sarah. After a very social stay, which included a friendly polo game against Chandler Howe and the Basaldua brothers

16 \ T HE SPO R T O F PO LO IN C A N A DA

of Mexico, we were fortunate to be joined by the Saskatoon Club for the next leg of our journey. Given that the Brewin family have connections and relatives scattered throughout the Canadian West, many of our stops and horse accommodations were graciously provided by Brewin family members wanting nothing more than a good visit in exchange for their hospitality. The Jones Hereford Ranch near Calgary hosted our horses at our second destination, while all the guests stayed and visited with the Brewin cousins.

Next up after Calgary was the Grande Prairie Invitational, a classic mid-July tournament with participants from Kelowna, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Calgary, Black Diamond, and of course, Grande Prairie. GP’s annual tournament, founded by one of polo’s all-time most entertaining characters, Cledwyn Lewis, has drawn players from Springfield for decades and some of our members have attended this tournament all their lives. Topped off by a killer costume party, it is a tournament that embodies Canadian polo on the prairies as well as any

The Okanagan Summer Tournament THE GREAT CANADIAN ROAD TRIP

weekend could. The Springfield team of Spencer Smith, Garrett Smith, Dan Brewin and Isaias Palma Franco were fortunate enough to be victorious that year, a proud moment the club has experienced many times at GP Invitationals. After the tournament, our SPC team arranged to swap trailers with Chad Howe from Saskatoon so we could haul more horses to our eventual destination of Kelowna. We endured our first major breakdown about an hour outside of Whitecourt when one of our trusty Fords (the 6.0, wouldn’t you know) decided it wasn’t so trusty with this new, larger trailer. If you happened to be driving on HWY 43 on July 20, 2010, you would have caught quite the show: an empty trailer at the side of the road, horses grazing in the ditch, a tow truck hooking up, two kids climbing trees, and some weary travellers in lawn chairs sipping ice-cold drinks. We were stuck there for about two hours as the other group continued to Whitecourt, unhitched and unloaded their luggage in the rain, then returned to collect the rest of us. With all the back-and-forth trips to the top of the hill, we hope the hitchhiker we repeatedly passed knew it wasn’t some kind of a prank. Our journey through Alberta continued with a few planned stops, including a night at the Brewin family cabin on Sylvan Lake where we were thrilled to do some water skiing and tubing. Does anyone ever think water tubing is going to be as dangerous as it ends up being? Though recounts of the story vary, the consensus is that Garrett found himself able to fly for a short time when the wake bounced him some dozen feet in the air. Meanwhile, Grandma Marge showed the kids how to whip up some homemade ice cream to top off the fresh Alaskan salmon that an old friend had brought to the gathering for dinner. Proving quite a helpful friend, he also arranged for a place to keep

the horses, enabling us to have a practice in the indoor arena. While polo was always on our minds, sleeping in those bunk beds at the tranquil lakeside cabin was a moment that stood out on our polo-centric journey. After being lake people for a short time, we then went on to Jasper where we transitioned into tourists, in awe of the spellbinding beauty. We were headed to a family ranch near Lac La Hache, B.C., when we discovered that large rigs loaded with horses, tack, luggage, dogs, and travellers do not jive well with impressive mountain passes and deep valleys. The drive left us thinking that a flat prairie road might be exactly what we’d wish for if Aladdin appeared with his lamp. Mountain goats found space to perch on the mere feet that bordered the road and the gorges beneath, and on many of those long, slow climbs we had plenty of time to examine them in their unbothered peace. In a move that shows just how dire things became, during the ultrasteep climb at Little Fort in 30+ Celsius heat, we resorted to short advances up the slope while cool-down rests were provided to the truck by hopping out and wedging an angled block behind the truck tire. Upon our late arrival in Lac La Hache— situated near Carey Price’s hometown of William’s Lake, which is well west and north of our tournament destination in Kelowna— the visiting continued with more cousins and

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another opportunity to relax and escape the vehicle. The duration of this layover was over a week as we kept busy until the Kelowna tournament weekend. We exercised the horses during the days and went on a few scenic trail rides through the mountainous pastures of the aptly named Springfield Ranch where the horses were kept. With Grandpa Tim Brewin managing the horses at that ranch, we stayed at the Buckskin Ranch alongside the famous Fraser River Ranch. Since we essentially had the run of the place, we decided to make use of the outdoor arena to remember how the sport of polo was played. Unfortunately, it was full of weeds so Dan Brewin fired up the

1. WINNIPEG, MB 2. SASKATOON, SK 3. CALGARY, AB 4. GRAND PRAIRIE, AB 5. WHITECOURT, AB 6. SYLVAN LAKE, AB 7. LAC LA HACHE, BC 8. BARKERVILLE, BC 9. KAMLOOPS, BC 10. KELOWNA, BC 11. SWIFT CURRENT, SK

haybine and cut everything down before we could play. Have you ever heard of someone mowing the arena before the game? Aside from our horse-related activities, we spent several evenings in town swimming at the beach along Lac La Hache. One day, we headed out in search of ‘Till Lake’ and this adventure unexpectedly became one of the best experiences of the trip. While we had planned to simply play in the water and have a picnic, some local kids knew of a rope swing on the other side of the lake and were kind enough to boat us over. We spent hours swinging off that cliff, and true to the theme of our alpine lake surroundings, we even caught sight of a mama bear and

T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 17

THE GREAT CANADIAN ROAD TRIP

her two cubs. After pushing off from Lac La Hache, our next rest day was spent at Barkerville learning how to pan for gold and about the importance the gold rush played to the region’s history. Lastly, and perhaps most profoundly, we also learned what an overpopulation of tourist-fed gophers looks like. It had been ten days since our last polo game, and we were now headed down to Kelowna for the club’s August long weekend tournament. If the challenging drive wasn’t nerve-racking enough, a moose crossing the highway certainly got everyone’s eyes popping. After stopping traffic in both directions then carrying on toward the high fence where it was blocked, we were all stunned when the moose turned and started galloping back toward the highway. Spencer was driving, his pleas of “No moose, no!” escalating to screams of “NO MOOSE NO!!!!” as it jumped the divider, landing in the lane next to us, then jumped onto the hood of our truck. Evidently the moose was as able as it was crazy since it then proceeded to clear the high fence intended to keep all wildlife away from the highway and disappeared back into the forest. In typical Spencer fashion, he promptly phoned the Brewin truck and told them: “We could all count the hairs on that thing’s a$$!” Following the traumatic moose encounter, we continued on to Kamloops where we had our next major breakdown (the 6.0 again!). This time we were so close to our final destination, yet too far that it didn’t make sense for the other truck to drive to Kelowna, then come back and get us. As it pushed on and our truck got towed away, once again our trailer could be seen parked on the side of the road as the horses grazed in the ditch and the weary travellers sat in lawn chairs

next to a cooler of cold drinks. But thanks to some of the Western Canadian polo family’s finest, Kelowna club members Marty and Alec Wales, we were rescued and brought to Kelowna some two hours later. Kelowna consistently has some of the hottest weather in Canada and we were thrilled to be in such a paradise right at the height of summer. We were able to get to the beach a few times during our stay to enjoy the sandy freshwater shores and experience the vibe of this “Canadian California.” To start off the tournament, the kids played an enormous walking mallet game that must have lasted several hours and left everyone sore and exhausted. Following the fun-filled introductory night, three great days of polo and socializing followed, leaving a wonderful

18 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN C ANADA

THE GREAT CANADIAN ROAD TRIP

impression that more than made up for our time sitting on the side of the road. The polo tournament at the Okanagan Polo Club in Kelowna is always fun and competitive, and a great opportunity to catch up with lifelong friends. Kelowna to Winnipeg is no short haul, but we had spent enough time together in the truck that the parents were determined to make it home in two days. On our final night, we had plans to stay at a ranch in a Cypress Hills valley outside of Swift Current, Saskatchewan where Smith family cousins, the Fiddlers live. Despite our best-laid plans to arrive in the late evening we pulled in after midnight and unloaded the horses while the sleepy kids filed into the house to find a full turkey dinner with the fixings still warm and waiting. We sure knew how to pick our hosts! Having dealt with at least 10 flat tires throughout the 8,000-kilometre journey, with 94 hours of cab time pulling horses from destination to destination, we had tire changes down to a science—but even more importantly we had the support of friends and family to help us all along the way. With our extraordinary requirement for accommodations to suit 21 horses, including two Welsh ponies requiring a separate pen and two truck-loads of wild travellers, the hospitality, wonderful meals, memorable polo, and countless laughs were all the more meaningful and truly represent what Western Canadian polo is all about. Although we all travel at least once per summer for tournaments, and some of us four or five times at a minimum of nine hours each way, the commitment to a trip as outrageously ambitious as that 2010 venture could only be explained with one word: polo!

Polo trailers line the field

Black Diamond

The Okanagan summer polo tournament

Summer road trip 2008 with the Springfield team

Nelsons and Brewins win the Loretta Thomson Cup at Grande Prairie

Stephen Cobb beating up on Team Grande Prairie at

Field-side after the games in Kelowna T H E SP O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 19

“Pink Knot”. Painting by Melinda Brewer

BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB

Black Diamond Polo Club

he Black Diamond Polo Club is a unique, family-oriented club set in the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies in Black Diamond, Alberta. The club first opened in 1999 after Rob Peters had the vision of starting a polo club that would attract and welcome members from all backgrounds who may have thought polo was beyond their reach. The goal was to extend the member base

and ensure polo’s broader participation in Western Canada. The Black Diamond Polo Club is a one-field club with a field-side clubhouse. Games are enjoyed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from mid-May through mid-September, and the focus is on fun, lower-goal, family-oriented polo. There are typically barbeques hosted after most days of play. At Black Diamond, many members are fortunate to have horses appropriate for new players, and they are always keen to help attract newcomers to the game. The

LEFT: Rob Peters, Founder of Black Diamond and Will Schneider, 3rd generation player RIGHT: Stephen Cobb, retired President of Black Diamond Polo Club

THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 23

Black Diamond Polo Club players source their horses through a variety of methods: approximately two thirds choose to buy “made” horses while the remaining members choose to start their own, either off the track or through breeding. For new players, lessons are available, and Black Diamond has slower chukkers and green horses. Club chukkers vary from a zero to 4-goal level of play. FACILITIES, MAINTENANCE & MANAGEMENT The club has an exercise track and paddocks to support members who choose to board their horses, but approximately half of members trailer them in from their nearby ranches. Players are fortunate to have access to the beautiful Black Diamond Land & Cattle Ranch where they can exercise their horses or enjoy trail riding. Many of the horses are multi-dimensional, as members will often use them for trail rides, jumping on the fall hunts or rounding up and roping cattle at brandings.

24 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

CLUBS

The club is supported through a mix of avenues and has a strong volunteer component. While the members participate in running, planning and managing club operations, maintenance of the field is provided by Black Diamond Land & Cattle, the Peters family ranch where the club is located.

Dylan Foster at Bar U Ranch

CLUB TOURNAMENTS The Black Diamond Polo Club hosts a number of tournaments and matches throughout the summer, including the Polo Canada Tournament (co-hosted in July with the Calgary Polo Club), and the USPA NYTS tournament. The Benson’s Best match, named for Rob Peters’ late grey and

Father-daughter team Mackenzie and Dan Brewin

Mackenzie Brewin, Walker Watt and Stephanie Davidson his field at Rocky Mountain Ranch

favourite horse, is held annually in August, while the club’s signature tournament takes place on Labour Day weekend. Players typically travel from all over Western Canada for this signature event, which includes a zero-goal flight named for Loretta Thomson and a 4-goal flight named for Bill Leslie. Bill was the original

Benson’s Best Winners Walker Watt, Sebastian Ayciena, Stephanie Davidson, Dan Brewin and Laura Hutton

Greg Schindel, Brittany Wise, Jack and Jessica Schneider in the Bill Leslie Memorial Tournament

Ruth Peters after her game

Players are fortunate to have access to the beautiful Black Diamond Land & Cattle Ranch where they can exercise their horses or enjoy trail riding.

David Watt,

Rob Peters’ family playing polo on his birthday at

Black Diamond Polo Club

club manager of Black Diamond Polo Club, known for his ability to get new players to try their hand at the game back in the early days. Loretta was a Western Canadian: a polo player, a passionate horse lover, and an amazing woman who passed away too soon while playing the sport she loved. She adored grey horses and always wore pink. Winning a pink Black Diamond Polo Cap is now a coveted prize! Meanwhile, Black Diamond players also travel to other clubs for their signature events; this is a big effort as often the drive

can take between eight and 15 hours— with horses in tow. But travelling to other clubs and hosting players during the summer is not only for the love of playing polo, but for the camaraderie and life-long friendships that have been fostered. A FAMILY CLUB Back Diamond has a strong family focus to it, with several families that play together. This family focus was something Rob Peters instilled from day one. Rob’s wife Ruth, his children and grandchildren, are

all keen members of the Black Diamond Polo Club, as are the Brewin and Watt Families. In fact, it is uncommon to have players on the field who aren’t related to each other. There is also a strong focus on junior polo at the club, as many of the youth players spent their summers playing polo and subsequently working there. Mackenzie Brewin, Matt and Will Schneider have each played in the East and West Polo Canada tournaments, as well as Black Diamond’s USPA NYTS qualifier tournament, along with Grace Tanton.

Members are involved on many levels, whether it’s lending a horse to attract a new player, organizing a tournament, coaching or managing. Walker and Selina Watt are not only valued club players, but they are also equine veterinarians. The Black Diamond Polo Club has raised awareness for the sport within the community by inviting members of the media to a “Learn to Play Polo” day. This effort has led to coverage in print, radio and even on TV. Some of the members also appeared in an episode of “Heartland”

Members are involved on many levels, whether it’s lending a horse to attract a new player, organizing a tournament, coaching or managing.

26 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

CLUBS

involving polo in the storyline. Mackenzie Brewin, Dylan Foster, Will Schneider, Walker Watt, Leslie Tims and Brittany Wise were all cast as stunt riders, while Jack Schneider both rode and had a speaking role in the episode. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Along with playing in Canada, Black Diamond players have played throughout the world. Stephen Cobb, past president of the

club, learned to play in the British Military. In the winter, some members have gone to Indio, California, and Costa Careyes, Mexico, while others have travelled further abroad to Barbados, Argentina, Ghana and New Zealand. Through hosting players from South Africa, a number of Black Diamond’s players were lucky to travel there for a ladies tournament. Members were treated to an amazing trip, touring the beautiful

South African countryside and city of Johannesburg. Back at home, the Black Diamond Polo Club has become much like a summer cottage for its players. It offers a beautiful setting in the Alberta Foothills for members and visitors to enjoy. The friendships that have been formed through the game of polo, both at home and around the world, are the greatest gift the sport has provided.

Spectators look on at the Bill Leslie and Loretta Thompson Memorial Tournament over Labour Day weekend

The Black Diamond Polo Club has become much like a summer cottage for its players.

Marty Wales and Jack Schneider colour commentary

Junior polo clinic

THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 27

Calgary Polo Club

he Calgary Polo Club is one of the oldest polo clubs in North America, established in 1890 by A. E. Cross, who was also one of the founders of the Calgary Stampede. Not only did the club survive two world wars and the Great Depression, it thrived. The early years were a whirlwind of matches played by pioneer ranchers, military men and charismatic oil and gas titans. One of the new cattle kingdom notables, Colin

LEFT: The Calgary Blues polo team with DK Yorath, JB Williams, James B Cross and FM Pardee, circa 1930. Photo source: University of Calgary Archives and Special Collections RIGHT: The Palmer Family and Team Blizzard, winners of the JC Palmer Memorial

28 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

Ross, received gushing coverage from the Los Angeles Times while he played tournaments across North America in 1907, writing him up as the millionaire polo player with the unbeaten team. Female members have been encouraged throughout the club’s history. During the 1920s, the women’s team travelled to New York for the first international women’s tournament. In 1992, member Julie Roenisch made history as the first woman to play in the U.S. Open. As the city of Calgary grew and developed, the polo club moved from Elbow Park, to a location in Hillhurst and

High goal polo at Calgary Polo Club

SUBHEAD

THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 29

Calgary Polo Club

30 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

on to Chinook Park. In 1959, Jim Cross, son of A. E. Cross, helped the club put down its final roots by donating the land just south of Calgary’s border in Okotoks. Originally just two fields and a clubhouse, the club’s footprint expanded a few decades later. Enthusiastic player and club member Ron Greene acquired 40 acres next door in the early 1990s, adding a new polo field and a stick and ball field. Next, Fred P. Mannix acquired adjacent acres to the east and to the west, developing more fields, barns and adding the Ranch House. Formerly a mess hall, Mannix had the structure transported from the Sarcee Indian Reserve military base, then equipped it with his own special touches: a custom wood bar, trophy cases and a river rock fireplace. The Calgary Polo Club hosted the first Canadian Open Tournament in 1978. As the years progressed, international teams including Coca Cola, Audi and Vancouver International Polo summered in Calgary to take part in 20-goal games throughout the season. World-renowned visiting high-goal pros included Joe Barry, Julio Zaveleta, and Nic Roldan. The generational pull of polo has been strong throughout the club’s history. Several club members today are the second, third and even fourth generation polo players, while many current members’ children play in junior polo. Historic trophies dating back to the 1890s are still used in club tournaments today. And, another sign of history coming full circle, new member John Cross, grandson of A. E. Cross, has recently traded in some of his western saddles for polo saddles.

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TODAY The Calgary Polo Club is situated on 300 acres in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just a short drive from downtown Calgary. With seven full-sized playing fields, a stick and ball field, a school field and an outdoor arena, it is the largest polo facility in Canada. The club also boasts a 1.5-mile exercise track bordering part of the property and barns for up to 350 horses, plus a hitting cage. The grounds are impeccably maintained by a professional facility manager. Members enjoy several levels of play in different leagues with professional umpires, accompanied by a play-byplay announcer over the club’s superb outdoor audio system. Three of the club’s Kentucky bluegrass fields offer viewing from the top of a hillside with dedicated benches, where the natural acoustics allow

spectators to hang on every word uttered by competitors on the field. Each year, pro players make the pilgrimage to the club from Argentina, South Africa, the United States and other countries around the world, as do visiting teams. The club also has a vibrant social membership, who enjoy taking part in a busy calendar of activities each year, including formal dinners at the field-side Ranch House, Argentine-style asados at the field-side Cantina and tailgates each weekend during regularly scheduled games. The club offers high-end tent and chair rentals, available with catering. In addition to a season that runs from June through September, each year the club hosts special events. Favourite tournaments for players and spectators include the Western Canadian Invitational, Canada Day, Fish Creek Junior Polo, the Kimo Cup and the Canadian Open.

Gordon Ross leads the pack

Calgary Polo Club

Anne Evamy versus Rob Foster

Daniel Roenisch manned by Rob Foster

Tiffany Burns

Enthusiastic spectators out to watch high-goal polo at the

Calgary Polo Club MEMBERS The Calgary Polo Club has the largest playing membership in the country, a diverse group of women and men from all walks of life, from locales across Southern Alberta. Most travel to their matches by car or truck, but a few commute by plane and helicopter. Almost every member is an entrepreneurial force, either a captain of their own company or a leader in their industry. Those industries range from oil and gas to the law, medicine, real estate, marketing, media and the arts. Whether members have just one pony or an entire string, the club is profoundly inclusive in its commitment to the sport of polo. The Alberta reputation for legendary hospitality shines through in the club’s members. Everyone takes the time to explain the rules of the game to newcomers, usually accompanied by the offer of refreshments at the nearest tailgate. The club’s enthusiasm for the sport binds the membership together in a way like no other. CPC’s players share the love of horses and a deep respect for sportsmanship, which shines through at informal gatherings after every game; competitors on the field, friends off the field. THE MANNIX LEGACY Calgary-raised polo star Fred H. Mannix is the highest ranked Canadian polo player and one of the best in the world. Learning to play at eight years old, Fred’s hard work and dedication to the sport led him

to great accomplishments early in his career, playing for Team Canada when he was just 16. He is the first Canadian in 65 years to take part in all three legs of Polo’s Triple Crown, and believed to be only the second Canadian to play in the Argentine Open. With his team, Alegria, Fred’s regular circuit includes Argentina, England, Florida and Calgary, with additional tournaments played as far away as China, Australia and South Africa. Fred’s brother Julian also plays at an elite level with his team, Fish Creek. He has won the U.S. Open and the Cámara de Diputados. Each brother has a breeding program producing top horses for highgoal matches, thanks to their father, Fred P. Mannix, whose passion for polo inspired him to begin breeding ponies. Fred P. Mannix, an avid player since 1957, was competitive in Canada and the U.S. for decades, with polo career highlights that include playing alongside Prince Charles at Guards Polo Club in England. In addition to being a driving force behind the growth of the Calgary Polo Club, Fred P. Mannix has always been an advocate of new players. The Mannix family sponsors the club’s Fish Creek Junior Tournament, named for the part of Calgary where Fred P. Mannix grew up. Polo is now a three-generation passion in the Mannix family—Fred H.’s children play in junior polo with the Calgary Polo & Riding Academy.

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CALGARY POLO & RIDING ACADEMY Many of today’s Calgary Polo Club members were introduced to the sport through the Calgary Polo & Riding Academy. The Academy fosters the unique excitement of polo adrenaline to 150+ students each year, with vibrant Coaching League matches from May though September. Helmed by 3-goal polo pro Kyle Fargey and instructor Megan Kozminski, the Academy offers private and group lessons for all levels, including several junior polo tournaments and camps each year. Students range in age from six to 70. Many come from other riding disciplines, while others have no riding experience at all. Established in 2002, the Academy provides students with tack, mallets and ponies. With a solid string of quiet school ponies, it’s one of the largest polo academies in North America.

Frank Galdon pursued by John Cross

The ubiquitous Derek Dalton

Fred H. Mannix at the Calgary Polo Club

John Rooney hunting down Kyle Fargey

Candice Crosby earns a smile from polo pro Kyle Fargey

A large crowd for the Polo Match for Mental Health fundraiser THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 33

Club Polo Nacional

he Montreal Polo Club, a precursor to Club Polo Nacional, was first organized in 1899 by several members of the Canadian Hunt Club. Iris Clendenning’s book entitled, “The History of the Montreal Polo Club 1900 - 1940”, published in 1987, carefully documents those early years, stating: “In the summer of 1899, they formed a pool for the purchase of ponies and other initial expenses and Mr. Simard imported a carload of polo ponies

from the West, a few of them saddle broken, but most entirely wild.” A field was prepared the following summer and practice commenced in 1901. During that same year, Montreal played the Toronto club and was soundly defeated. In 1907, three new members joined the club, all of whom had learned to play either in England or the West, and the skill level significantly improved. Although the club disbanded in 1910, several members joined the Back River Club, which had been formed in 1905 by another group of Montrealers including Hartland MacDougall, a highly regarded

Andreas Cup winners Will Schneider (Bl.D.PC), Pierre Verville, Elisabeth Halle, Alfredo Viel

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Club Polo Nacional

hockey player in the pre-NHL era and an honoured member of the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. Others in the group included Bartlett McLennan, A.E. and G.L. Ogilvie, George Hooper, and Hamilton Gault. In 1920, the club changed its name to the Montreal Polo Club, however it disbanded at the beginning of World War II. Polo was revived in the Montreal

area in 1980 when avid polo player Fred Choate of South Carolina was transferred to Montreal. After contacting Dr. Gilbert Hallé and reaching out to some local equestrians, the Lake of Two Mountains Polo Club was formed, and renamed the Montreal Polo Club in 1985. Over the years the club grew, attracting not only local equestrians, but others

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who were interested in the sport, like Montreal Canadiens’ hockey stars Larry Robinson and Steve Shutt. In 2002, Don Pennycook, a member of the Montreal Polo Club, and Justin Fogarty of Ottawa, established Club Polo Nacional to encourage new, young members. The Montreal Polo Club subsequently disbanded and several of its members

joined Club Polo Nacional. Some of those early members are still part of the club today, including Don Pennycook, Elisabeth Hallé, Jocelyne Groulx and Patrick Menegoz. THE PLAYERS Club Polo Nacional’s players primarily from the Montreal

are and

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Ottawa areas. Most years, the club has professional players who come for the season, or to give clinics. These include: Major Hugh Dawney, an acclaimed polo coach from the United Kingdom; Rege Ludwig, an acclaimed U.S. polo coach; Mark Gutierrez of the U.S.A; Justo del Carril, Pablo Falabella, Santos Perkins, Alfredo Viel, Jean-

Jacques Humbert, all from Argentina; Martin Ingham of Australia; Dave Offen of Canada; and Fred Mannix Jr. also of Canada. Since its inception (with the exception of 2020), the club has held a major fundraising tournament for a notable cause each year. For ten seasons, Polo for Cedars raised money for breast

The club’s season runs June through mid-September and games are played on three polo fields owned by Don and Carol Pennycook, and Gilbert and Elisabeth Hallé.

Trophy presentation at ‘Polo avec Coeur’

Don Pennycook

Stabling

Action at Polo avec Coeur

Fred H. Mannix playing at Club Polo Nacional

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Club Polo Nacional cancer, and more recently, Polo avec Cœur has raised money for heart arrhythmia research and treatment at the Montreal Heart Institute and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General. Fred Mannix Jr., Canada’s highest rated player, has generously donated his time for several years to play in the tournament and offer a clinic to club members.

Many club members have travelled to play in tournaments in Toronto and the Northeastern circuit of the United States, while some play in Florida during the winter season. The passion for polo has taken members even further abroad to England, France, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Argentina, South Africa, Ghana, India, Pakistan and Australia.

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The club’s season runs June through mid-September and games are played on three polo fields owned by Don and Carol Pennycook, and Gilbert and Elisabeth Hallé. Aside from regular games and tournaments, the club offers lessons for beginner players. Social events, asados and barbeques are hosted by club members, providing ample

opportunities for them to get together and enjoy each other’s company off the field. In addition to the club’s major charity event, Polo avec Cœur, the club has supported local community fundraising by presenting a polo match for events organized by towns in the area and the University of Montreal Veterinary college.

Don on “Casa Serrada”, Jay Oland on “Fortuna”, Kevin Loiselle on “Tampita”, Carol on “Lucita”

Hawaiian party

Trophies at ‘Polo avec Coeur’

Don and godson Andreas Guilbault

Tents at ‘Polo avec Coeur’

Poney Parade

Presentation at ‘Polo avec Coeur’

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SUBHEAD

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Victory hug

Grande Prairie Polo Club

n the late 1880s, after an inf lux of British investors and American ranchers expanded the cattle industry into Southern Alberta, “Prairie Polo” was introduced to the world. This new breed of polo was not restricted to the privileged elite, as it was in other parts of the world, but

it included businessmen and officials playing alongside ranchers and farm hands. The Albertan form of polo best exemplifies the determination and grit of the game on the Canadian Prairies, which has spread in popularity since its inception over a hundred years ago. Despite its rich history, polo is still unfamiliar to many, and most people

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Grande Prairie Polo Club

are surprised to learn that it is alive and thriving in their own backyards. This is especially true of the Peace Country of Alberta. ORIGINS OF THE CLUB The Grande Prairie Polo Club, found in the heart of the Peace Country, was established in the early 1970s under the vision and leadership of Dr. Cledwyn Lewis. Dr. Lewis learned the game as a

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young man while serving as a medical doctor in the British army. In 1974, he immigrated to Canada and settled his family in Grande Prairie where he opened a family medical practice. With the wide-open spaces of the Alberta farmlands and the horse interest in the area, Dr. Lewis found himself contemplating the idea of a Grande Prairie polo team. By 1978, he was able to generate enough interest from

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some of the local horse lovers to start regular chukkers and clinics. By 1982, the Grande Prairie Polo Club was established and competing in local polo matches on the f lat prairies surrounding the area. Dr. Lewis and his late wife, Loretta Thompson, were both accomplished riders and polo players. It was their shared love of polo, along with an ambitious and eclectic group of

Craig Nelson

supporters, that formed the backbone of the Grande Prairie Polo Club. Together Cled and Loretta made it a priority to foster relationships with other polo clubs across Canada and around the world. They were both proud of the unions they made through polo, linking local players to the United States, Latin America, Mexico, Argentina, Europe, Africa, India and New Zealand. In 2013, the polo

Cled Lewis and Loretta Thompson

Tina Nelson

Cled Lewis

Dan Nelson

community lost a true patron of the sport when Loretta’s life came to a close doing what she loved most: playing polo on one of her grey mares. In 2016, after nearly 40 years as acting president of the Grande Prairie Polo Club, Cled retired from playing polo and declared a new president as only Dr. Cledyn Lewis could—he passed the responsibility and shenanigans that go with the job onto his protégé and

The Albertan form of polo best exemplifies the determination and grit of the game on the Canadian Prairies, which has spread in popularity since its inception over a hundred years ago. friend, Craig Nelson. Craig is currently acting president of the Grande Prairie Club and continues to attempt to fill the unique and peculiar set of boots left by his predecessor. Craig has watched the Grande Prairie Polo Club grow and mature over the years, and continues to play alongside some of the original members who now act as mentors to the beginner players, sharing their knowledge and passion for the game.

Founding GP Polo Club member Murray Sutherland with daughter Tia

Craig Nelson

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Grande Prairie Polo Club A CLUB OF FAMILIES The Grande Prairie Polo Club is proud to honour the memory of former players and friends by watching second and third generation family members take over the polo reins. The late Murray Sutherland was a founding member whose passion for the game not only inspired his children to play, but a number of extended family members, including over a dozen Nelsons. The collection of family and friends following by example on the polo field is a true testament to the influence and devotion the founding members of the club have established in the Peace region. Ross Adam is another one of the original Grande Prairie Polo Club members whose family exemplifies the familial aspect of polo. Ross, himself, and five of his children have developed into skilled polo players, part in parcel with Ross’ dedication to making polo a family sport. Valuable lessons in responsibility, horsemanship and hard work are virtues that have been passed down through generations of polo in the Peace Country of Alberta.

TRAVEL & TOURNAMENTS Polo is a big commitment for both the players and their families. A considerable investment must be made to acquire horses, tack and equipment, as well as

Valuable lessons in responsibility, horsemanship and hard work are virtues that have been passed down through generations of polo in the Peace Country of Alberta. 4 4 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

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a suitable truck and stock trailer for transportation to and from polo matches. Many of the members employ grooms to help train their horses in preparation for the tournament season, as well as weekly games and chukkers. Polo grooms typically have a polo background and come from as far away as Mexico and Argentina. They are skilled and valued for their hard work

Action shot

Founding member Lyas Abbas

and dedication to horse, rider and the game itself. Many grooms return year after year for the polo season and become like part of the family. The Grande Prairie Polo Club is fortunate to have had Fernando Pliego from Queretaro, Mexico as Club Manager over the last several years. From May through September, Fernando brings

The bleachers

Craig Nelson

his experience and passion for the game of polo to the club. Fernando has played polo as a professional for over 30 years and is a distinguished horse trainer. He is recognized across Mexico and throughout the United States and Canada for his love and leadership in the sport of polo. Polo families travel long distances to compete in tournaments across Western Canada, heading as far as Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. With the club’s more recent focus on youth polo, an annual “East vs. West” tournament has become a favourite. Players and families alike look forward to the start of a new season and to reuniting with the players and friends that have become like a second family. Lifelong friendships have blossomed through the polo connection and the commitment associated with playing the game separates those with a mere interest in the sport from those that love it enough to dedicate the necessary time, energy and funds into becoming a successful player. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a horse lover, a sports nut, or just love the company of an amazing group of people, the game of polo has something to offer everyone. For most members of the Grande Prairie Polo Club, polo isn’t just a game, it’s a way of life.

Founding member Curtis Crough

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a horse lover, a sports nut, or just love the company of an amazing group of people, the game of polo has something to offer everyone. For most members of the Grande Prairie Polo Club, polo isn’t just a game, it’s a way of life.

Founding member John McArthur

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Greater Niagara Polo Club

he Greater Niagara Polo Club is situated on the Van der Burgt’s property in Wainfleet, Ontario. The club boasts one outdoor grass field, two auxiliary off-site fields, an indoor arena equipped with a digital scoreboard and audio system, a well-appointed clubhouse with a

viewing gallery, lockers, showers, change rooms and a moving ball hitting cage. CLUB CULTURE GNPC has a fun-loving, family-centric membership backed by strong community support. Polo is played four days a week, with a grass season that lasts seven to eight months and an arena season lasting five. Equipped with an online sign-up system and gameboard, members can sign up as late as

Phil Van der Burgt and Rob Campbell in Ottawa

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Greater Niagara Polo Club the night before, accommodating even the most hectic schedule. All four members of the Van der Burgt family are experienced coaches and umpires. As a travelling club, pros and horses accompany members to venues including New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Florida. Visiting teams and guests will find everything they need—accommodations, amenities, and attractions, including Niagara Falls, wineries, and Lake Erie beaches and resorts—within a 10-minute drive of the club. In addition to the interscholastic and intercollegiate programs it runs, GNPC has weekly club and coaching chukkers, and a monthly Ladies Night. Familycentered annual events like Canada Day Polo, a Halloween Polo party, the Boxing Day Birthday match, and New Year’s Day chukkers promote participation, inclusion and fun for all ages and abilities.

The idea of starting a family-oriented polo club came about when the Van der Burgts had children of their own.

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HISTORY The idea of starting a family-oriented polo club came about when the Van der Burgts had children of their own. In 1992, Phil met Tammy while Tammy was riding with the Governor General’s Horse Guard. Two years later, Phil picked up a mallet himself at a Neill Shewan clinic. And with that, Phil and Tammy became a polo-playing couple who spent the next five years travelling and playing at as many American and Canadian clubs as they could. After their

children, Hailey and Hunter, were born, the couple played closer to home. Then, when they kids were old enough to play themselves, the couple made the decision to start their own polo club, calling it “the only sustainable option” at the time. In 2005, the Van der Burgts started Cedar Valley Polo Club, located north of Toronto, for polo-playing families like themselves looking for youth development opportunities in polo. The club’s membership and youth participation grew as Cedar Valley ran programs for all ages. However, the transportation and time required to train north of Toronto and travel to tournaments in the U.S. was a barrier even to the most dedicated members, but especially for students. Daily commutes and winter driving were difficult for members living or working in the GTA. Furthermore, coaching, club travel, and the demands of professional playing, often split the Van der Burgt family. A new polo facility, closer to the U.S. border, was the answer. GNPC FACILITIES The new facilities in the Niagara region were designed to run a full program, host local, national, and international tournaments, train and condition horses, and play polo all year long. The Greater Niagara Polo Club, the only polo club of its kind in the area, opened for business in January 2019. The new club promotes the sport beyond its

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traditional membership and expands the field of competition for more experienced players. The move from a zone five to a milder zone seven climate in Niagara diminished winter driving and extended the grass season by more than a month. Additionally, the move closer to the U.S. border increased the possibilities for player development and competition in the USPA Northeastern division, as well as the Women’s International series. Being 90 minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport and 45 minutes from both the

The Greater Niagara Polo Club, the only polo club of its kind in the area, opened for business in January 2019. The new club promotes the sport beyond its traditional membership and expands the field of competition for more experienced players.

Hamilton and Buffalo airports, the club is ideally located for hosting national, and USPA Northeastern division tournaments. The location also facilitates international polo exchanges, where members host a visiting club at GNPC and, in turn, are hosted at the exchange club. TOURNAMENTS & SPECIAL EVENTS In its first two seasons, GNPC hosted national and international polo tournaments, including Women’s International, National

Phil Van der Burgt with son Hunter

Team Van der Burgt left to right: Tammy, Hailey, Hunter, Phil

Alex Suschinskij and Hunter Van der Burgt at ‘Polo For Health’

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Greater Niagara Polo Club Youth Tournament Series, the Knox National Cup, USPA II and IC preliminary and regional tournaments. The club also hosts annual local and charity events, such as the popular Polo for Health event, which supports the Niagara Health Foundation. Sponsorship comes from members and local businesses. Events like these allow the Van der Burgt family to give back to the community, while helping to promote the sport of polo throughout the region.

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YOUTH PROGRAMS Youth programming at the Greater Niagara Polo Club starts young, with year-round lessons and school break polo day camps designed to introduce the sport to beginners aged four to 12. Developing players can then benefit from co-op placements and internships, team travel and team training activities, practices, coaching chukkers, USPA rule and umpire clinics—all offered right at the club. Middle school, high school, and university teams, as well as the National Youth Tournament Series and special events provide youth of all ages plenty of opportunity to develop in the sport of polo, and in life. HORSES The range of teams, tournaments, and events at GNPC provide more players more play time, but the development of players is completely dependent on quality horses. Horses that have been trained and

conditioned at the club are available to all levels of riders, for all levels of play. These horses make it possible for novice, as well as experienced players, to develop and excel at the sport. The Van der Burgt family have both homebred horses and homemade horses that have made their mark at the club and around the globe. Hailey and Hunter, who apprenticed with their parents, now take on a greater responsibility for training and conditioning the horses. Many of the horses that play zero to 4-goal polo at GNPC also have experience playing professionally in South Carolina and Florida. MEMBERS The Greater Niagara Polo Club is fortunate to have a strong group of members, many of whom were completely new to the sport upon arrival to the club. By welcoming members of all levels, and providing the training needed to become a solid player, families are encouraged to play, and often members bring their parents or siblings out to learn the game. The club is comprised of 70% female players and prides itself on the opportunities it can provide to women, through its ladies’ nights, interscholastic and intercollegiate teams, and participation in women’s international tournaments. The club has introduced many riders from other disciplines to the game of polo, and it works hard to promote and grow the sport within the community.

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The Greater Niagara Polo Club is fortunate to have a strong group of members, many of whom were completely new to the sport upon arrival to the club.

Alex Suschinskij, Chris Wright, and Hunter Van der Burgt at Polo For Health

Hailey Van der Burgt playing snow polo

Brona Mayne, Claire Gillies, Hailey Van der Burgt at Polo For Health

Tammy Van der Burgt on “Saphira” at Polo For Health

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Okanagan Polo Club

lthough polo has existed in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley since the turn of the century, the Okanagan Polo Club as it’s known today, wasn’t formed until 1986 when John Price, a former member of the Toronto Polo Club, moved to the area and rounded up a group of local equestrians who were eager to give the sport a shot.

This formed the early foundation of the club’s membership. Initially matches were held at the Kelowna Riding Club before a new field was created just down the road on Benvoulin. In 2003, housing developments forced the club to relocate again, moving it to its present home on Bulman Road on the north side of Kelowna. This move was made possible by Dr. Duncan Innes, a member who wanted to see the club continue, and purchased the 60 acres of land along with some investment partners.

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Okanagan Polo Club FACILITIES The first season at the new location wasn’t pretty, as members were forced to play on a dirt field while the grass polo field was being seeded. Players were known to come off with raccoon eyes when they removed their goggles, and some had black teeth for days! A true testament to their commitment to the sport since the beginning. Today, the facilities are considered some of the best in Western Canada. Half of the Okanagan Polo Club property is dedicated to pasture, with horse boarding for more than 100 horses—complete with an exercise track. The field is managed by club members who hire staff for watering, mowing, and dayto-day upkeep. A former hitting cage was converted into the aptly named “Broken Mallet Clubhouse”, which provides welcome shade and shelter for after-game socializing. THE SEASON The season runs from mid-April until midSeptember, with games twice a week and stick and ball on Thursdays. Because of its warmer climate, the Okanagan Polo Club’s

season starts earlier than others, therefore players from neighbouring regions are invented to come and partake in the early season activities. In July, the club hosts an annual tournament considered to be one of the highlights on the Western Canadian polo calendar. Consisting of three flights of polo (a 4-goal, 2-goal and 0-goal flight) and often a kids’ game, 12 to 16 teams and 200-plus horses are involved in the tournament, with players and their families coming from all over Western Canada and the U.S. to participate. The after-party is known to last into the wee hours of the morning. Many a tale has been told at these festivities, but occasionally some good does come of it. For instance, the idea for the “East Meets West” Junior Challenge was drummed up sometime well after dark at this event. This grew to become one of the most popular Polo Canada initiatives, giving an opportunity for kids from Eastern Canada to meet and play with kids from Western Canada. In 2018, the Okanagan Polo

In July, the club hosts an annual tournament considered to be one of the highlights on the Western Canadian polo calendar.

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Joel Chailler with his son Exton, on “Smoke”

September Polo 2020

Joel Chailler on “Liza”

Jessica Wales, Alex Wales, George Wales, Brooke Wales, Marty Wales and Brad Buie 6

Dan Chailler, Dean Medwid, Joel Chailler, Dianne Chailler

Action at Okanagan THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 55

Okanagan Polo Club Club hosted the visiting juniors from the East and gave them a true Western polo experience set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. THE PONIES Every year, several families at the club hire international professional polo players, often from Argentina or Mexico, to come up for the season to help make green horses for the members. In addition to these horses, some pretty amazing ponies have come from the members themselves. “Dawn”, a horse made by Dan Chailler and ridden by Diane Chailler, was a force to be reckoned with. “Bobbi”, a horse ridden by Jessica Wales and made by Alex Wales, could go from a gallop to a stop, turn, and be off again in seconds. “Jiraffa”, a horse made by Jessica Wales, was one of Marty Wales’ best horses, and has now been claimed by his wife and daughter. Thoroughbreds are the most common breed at the club. The Bennett family has been breeding thoroughbred racehorses in B.C. for nearly 100 years, and over that time, many of them have found their way to the polo field. The club has also produced its share of “steady eddies”, which have been passed around from family to family and taught many a beginner to play polo. Often seen trucking young kids up and down the polo field, ponies like “Larry”, “Jessie”, “Doc” and “Reina” have played

instrumental roles in bringing new players to the club. FAMILY POLO For over twenty years, the Okanagan Polo Club has been family oriented. Families including the Chaillers, Wales, Bennetts, Flangans and Hardwicks have been involved since the club’s inception and

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continue to keep club activities going strong. Its members have travelled the world together, playing polo and producing the club’s next generation of polo players. Every weekend, members young and old come together to enjoy the games, followed by a feast of food and socializing that lasts until dark. As the club grows and develops, this foundation of family and fun continues to be at its heart.

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Every weekend, members young and old come together to enjoy the games, followed by a feast of food and socializing that lasts until dark.

Dan Chailler and Apache

Tractor for school

Lynn Wales and daughter Brooke on “Jirafa”

Jessica Wales as umpire

Marty Wales and Neve Nelson

The next generation

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Ottawa Polo Club

anada’s National Capital Region, which includes Ottawa (Ontario), Gatineau (Quebec), and surrounding urban and rural communities, is the geographic footprint of the Ottawa Polo Club. The club’s mission is to provide a fun, competitive polo experience that inspires players of all abilities to safely progress on the

2020, Ottawa Polo Club members and visiting players. Back Left-Right: Emma Hill, Sarah Gray, Barry Cloete, Alyson Bailey, Sean Taylor, Mel Gagnon, Edmond du Rogoff, Carol MacLeod, Linda Porebski. Front Left-Right: Robert Campbell, Dan Crosilla and Pat Menegoz (Club Polo Nacional), Ward Yaternick. Alice Campbell is missing from the picture. Photo credit: Stephen J. Thorne

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continuum of polo skill development. An inclusive and friendly environment along with affordable membership fees showcase the club’s core values. Bi-weekly matches are coed, multigenerational and multi-level, with experienced, higher-rated players supporting developing players in realizing their potential. Informal field-side barbecues foster strong relationships among players, families and friends. The sport of polo is promoted through

2020, Edmond du Rogoff, Mel Gagnon, Emma Hill, Dan Crosilla.

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Photo credit: Stephen J. Thorne

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Ottawa Polo Club tournaments, fundraising for charitable causes and social media marketing. The Ottawa Polo Club has a large presence in the Canadian polo community that belies its relatively small membership. 100% of members belong to Polo Canada, many of whom travel tirelessly to play in Polo Canada tournaments. Other members often provide support by grooming, hosting gourmet dinners, posting photos or simply cheering on players. FACILITIES & SEASON The Ottawa Polo Club leases two polo fields. The Manotick Field at 1600 Bankfield Road is exceptionally welllocated, 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa. The Burritt’s Rapids Field near Kemptville, Ontario, is situated beside the Rideau River and the historic Rideau Canal inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. From May through August, polo matches are scheduled twice a week on Wednesday or Thursday evenings, and Sundays. In September as the days get shorter, matches are held on Sundays only, with the season wrapping up the last week of the month. HISTORY In 1986, the National Capital Polo Club was founded by Cherry and Cameron Stobie. Prior to immigrating to Canada in 1981, Cherry Stobie managed a polo stable in

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The Ottawa Polo Club has a large presence in the Canadian polo community that belies its relatively small membership.

England, and she wanted to bring the same to the National Capital Region. The spark was lit when Edmond du Rogoff—an Argentine-born Professor at the University of Ottawa—organized an exploratory meeting that attracted nearly 100 local equestrians. After that, the National Capital Polo Club was born, although it was renamed Ottawa Polo Club in 1994 due to a name conflict within the polo community. Arena polo started at the Stobie’s farm in North Gower, Ontario, sometimes with improvised mallets! Cherry

Stobie served as a Founding Director of the National Capital Polo Club and the Canadian Equestrian Federation delegate to Polo Canada. In 1989, the growing club moved to a three-quarter-size field in the village of Kars, Ontario, facilitated by the Kars Community Recreational Association. The community was enthusiastic and local children often acted as volunteer grooms. Other clubs in the Polo Canada family shared their expertise and support. For example, in 1990 the Toronto Polo Club’s Michael C. Sifton led a popular

2020, Barry Cloete. Photo credit: Stephen J. Thorne

2020, Sarah Gray, Mel Gagnon, Sean Taylor, Parth Bhatt

2019, Jean François Bonin, Barry Cloete, Carol MacLeod. Photo credit: Alan Meyers

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Ottawa Polo Club regular co-operation with the Ganaraska Polo Club in Port Hope, Ontario, followed. New associated facilities were developed at Kilreen Farm in Manotick, Ontario, and at Augusta Stables in North Augusta, Ontario. In the late 1990s, a series of financial crises and other factors reduced polo activity considerably. The Ottawa Polo Club, as an organization, became dormant but members continued to play at other venues. In 2004, Ward Yaternick and his wife Denise

purchased part of the Kilreen farm property including its first-rate polo field. Around 2005, there was a renaissance when polo resumed in earnest at Huntingford Farm on Upper Dwyer Hill Road, near Carleton Place for several years before it was sold. International professionals taught and played including Memo Gracida, Major Hugh Dawnay and Rege Ludwig. In 2008, polo returned to its former field on Bankfield Road in Manotick, Ontario, and

clinic and players from the Montreal Polo Club frequently travelled to play in the club’s tournaments. By its fifth anniversary, the National Capital Polo Club enjoyed growth on all fronts. In 1991, it had 21 playing members, including eight women and 13 associate/social members.

The National Capital Polo Club was invited to play on a purpose-built, regulationsize field in Dalmeny Village donated by the Velthuis family. Members shared the workload for tasks such as field maintenance and editing a newsletter called “The line of the ball”. Years of intense activity and

Bi-weekly matches are coed, multigenerational and multi-level with experienced, higher-rated players supporting developing players in realizing their potential.

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gained momentum under the umbrella of the Manotick Polo Club. After a fifteen-year hiatus, the Ottawa Polo Club brand was revived as a notfor-profit corporation. The 2015 season was played on a new field developed at Thistlestone Farm in Beckwith, Ontario, and at the Burritt’s Rapids Field. Partnerships were forged to promote polo by way of events like the demonstration polo match for Ottawa Horse Day at

Wesley Clover Parks. The Ottawa Polo Club also partnered with the Rotary Club of Ottawa South and Wesley Clover Parks on “Polo in the Park” (2016-2018) which benefited charities including Wounded Warriors Canada, Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton (TROTT). The Manotick Polo Club amalgamated with the Ottawa Polo Club in 2017.

Partnerships were forged to promote polo by way of events like the demonstration polo match for Ottawa Horse Day at Wesley Clover Parks.

1997, Ganaraska Paddock Polo T

2020, Alice and Robert Campbell

2020, Pat Menegoz and Ward Yaternick. Photo credit: Estelle Yaternick EY Images

1989, Founding Director Cherry Stobie at Kars Field

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Royal Winnipeg Polo Club

he story of the Royal Winnipeg Polo Club is more like the tale of Robin Hood and his band of merry men and women, only it’s centered around the Ross Fargey sheep ranch, research lab, and polo farm in 1993. Long before that, Ross had brought polo back to Manitoba from his former life in colonial West Africa. Doing polo

2007, John Wayne shoot-out in Des Moines, IA (Gerald Levin in the lead)

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his way, he and his wife Mona started up a polo club with their neighbours in the 1970s called the Springfield Polo Club. The club caught fire quickly and expanded into a large 40-member club based in Birds Hill Provincial Park. Ross Fargey soon felt the need to move things in a more independent direction. With a handful of loyal friends and family, the Royal Winnipeg Polo Club was born back at the sheep ranch now renamed “Fargey Park”.

2005, Gerald Levin Kimo Cup, Calgary Polo Club

SUBHEAD

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Royal Winnipeg Polo Club Ross had brought back many exotic and ancient polo traditions from Ghana, Africa, including but not limited to: The Chiefs Festival Night, The Warriors Bonfire, Humble Beer, and the wildly popular Calcutta, which involved wagering on teams. Strict rule enforcement and fair play were the on-field military style. Much fun and good will was the standard. Another fine Ross tradition was constantly travelling thousands of miles with polo horses in tow—west to the Rocky Mountains, north to the Peace River country, south into the United States, and everywhere in between. Whether players could go or not, Ross always found a way to get a team on the road. After receiving an invitation from London, England, Ross and family left Winnipeg on a f light to Britain with two strings of polo horses on board in shipping containers. True to form. The Royal Winnipeg polo crew originally consisted of the Fargey family and the Levin family, along with the Gerrie, Sabourin, Walker, Enns, Phillips and Champagne families, among a few others. These men, women and children of all backgrounds and skill levels had one common goal: to play polo and have fun. And yes, the sheep kept the polo fields trimmed.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Sponsoring events is a great tradition at the Royal Winnipeg Polo Club— everything from staging games for local

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Since the beginning, the culture at the Royal Winnipeg Polo Club has been driven by the families behind it, the Fargey family being the first. cable television to providing horses and riders for local events and festivals. Involvement in the larger horse community with volunteer work by members is one of the foundations of the club. The return in support and a larger fan base has been very rewarding.

An article featuring Snow Polo in the Winnipeg Free Press entertainment section gained a wide audience, good exposure for the club and polo sport awareness. As a widely travelled club, it has been estimated that members of the RWPC have hauled horses more than one million

Bill Gerrie and “Dexter”

kilometres to attend polo tournaments over the years. Many trips south to the U.S. continue to draw members today. Gerald Levin has been the driving force for the past 15 years in keeping up the club’s presence on the road for tournaments. PRESENT-DAY FACILITIES The club now stands at Teske’s Equestrian Centre, in the southwest part of the city, which is the oldest riding facility still in operation in Winnipeg today. The stable dates back to the “golden era” of polo. Old mallets and trophies are still up in the rafters of the old clubhouse barn, going back a hundred years. The same family has run the facility for over a half century. The facility has a brand new arena with high side boards for fast play. It has a full staff of Equine Canada-certified coaches, and a polo instructor with 30-plus years’ experience. Horse board is available, thanks to a 30-stall barn attached to the arena. Miles of galloping trails and open stick and ball areas are nearby. The club operates 10 months a year, with a membership that f luctuates given some only play road tournaments while others only play outdoors and close to

Dayelle and Kyle Fargey with polo legend Bud Tyler, 80 years old, David Williams and Gary Walker

upper mid-west, at the Des Moines Polo Club in 2007

Sunset at a polo practice

RWPC on the road with players, grooms, and families from the

Fargey Cup 2001 in Winnipeg, back row, left to right: Ted Grower, Gerald Levin, Ross Fargey, Mona Fargey,

Kyle Fargey, Bobbi Enns. Front row: Bill Gerrie, Paul Phillips THE SPORT OF POLO IN C ANADA \ 67

Royal Winnipeg Polo Club home. Currently, the club’s emphasis is on arena polo and new player development. As in the past, it has developed a credible training program in conjunction with Polo Canada. The club has hosted dozens of polo clinics and travelled far and wide to riding stables, Pony Clubs, 4-H organizations, and other equestrian gatherings to spark interest.

THE HORSES The vast majority of polo horses coming into the club come from the local racetrack. Assiniboia Downs is a fine thoroughbred track with plenty of young stock being put up for sale, making it a great resource for polo. The players at the Royal Winnipeg Club like to train their own ponies when possible. Other breeds or crossbreeds can also turn out to be super polo ponies. One example was a large appaloosa named Dexter, owned by Bill Gerrie. With big feet and big bones he had the speed and endurance to run with the thoroughbreds but the dexterity of a kid’s pony that played the game for you—which Dexter did for many beginners for 25 years. Another exceptional pony was Tiger, a big thoroughbred gelding trained by Kyle Fargey, who never had a bad chukker in 15 years of play. Fast, nimble, and rugged,

Currently, the club’s emphasis is on arena polo and new player development.

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As a widely travelled club, it has been estimated that members of the RWPC have hauled horses more than one million kilometres to attend polo tournaments over the years. 2

he was a dependable “go to” horse for his owner, Gerald Levin, in his wide tournament travels. The Fargey family, with Ross, Dayelle and Kyle, trained a large number of quality ponies over the years, with many moving on to new owners. Their list of noteworthy ponies is too long to mention here. THE PEOPLE Since the beginning, the culture at the Royal Winnipeg Polo Club has been driven by the families behind it, the Fargey family being the first. Over the years, it has grown into a diverse membership made up of people of all ages and skill levels. The club was

originally conceived as a strictly nonprofessional organization, concentrating on fun and competitive polo for all, and has continued with this philosophy. After finishing their education, both of the younger Fargeys developed into highly accomplished professional players, with both Dayelle and Kyle representing Canada in world championships for the Federation of International Polo. They have also played in Africa, Jamaica, Mexico, the United States and China. Kyle now manages the polo school and plays at the Calgary Polo Club, as well as the Eldorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. Meanwhile, Dayelle continues to train horses and enjoy her professional career in Calgary and California.

Carol and Gerald Levin at Club Polo National, Montreal, QC

Going for a goal

Focused at speed

With the inspiration coming from Dayelle Fargey, Carol Levin, Bobbi Enns, Cass Henry and others, Royal Winnipeg Polo Club coordinated the first all-women polo games in Western Canada. This caught on immediately and spread elsewhere into a larger woman’s tournament. For the last few years, the club has moved on to playing mostly arena polo at home, with Gerald Levin and others continuing the club’s tradition of travel, and garnering multiple tournament accomplishments. As support staff goes, four of the young grooms who worked for club members have moved on to become Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, specializing in equine medicine.

At Black Diamond PC

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Garrett Smith, Isaias Palma Franco, Dan Brewin, and Spencer Smith in 2013

Springfield Polo Club

anitoba has a long polo history stretching back to 1894 when the first match was played in Winnipeg. Beginning in 1907, the military played polo at three locations: Polo Park (now Winnipeg’s premier shopping centre), Whittier Park (now the home of the Festival du Voyageur) and at the prestigious St. Charles Country Club. Polo faded from the scene for some time

following the First World War and the Great Depression. Years later, polo was reintroduced to Manitoba by Ross Fargey, who learned to play in Ghana, West Africa, while spending several years teaching at the Accra University. Upon his return to Springfield, Ross stirred up excitement for the sport by placing an ad in the local Clipper. This resulted in 12 founding members from the Springfield area who drafted an official charter in the summer of 1973. Of those 12, Ross brought the polo and experience, John Paulsen implemented structure and formalized the club by arranging the charter, and Jack Brow fostered

SPC founding members

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Springfield Polo Club 1

an emphasis on public relations that he soon shared with Jim Page when he joined. The club image was well-managed from the beginning, despite its members being quite a wild group that placed a high importance on the social aspect of the club. “Ross and Rob’s Disco” was present anywhere the club gathered to ensure the party was always going strong. THE EARLY YEARS The first home of the Springfield Polo Club was at the Thunderbird Ranch belonging to founding member Reg Gibson, a popular country music artist and television personality. Reg owned an arena that he previously used with his cutting horses, and this controlled environment was selected for the club’s first match. The problem was that the ceiling was too low and this resulted in more light bulbs broken than goals scored! Enthusiastic, undeterred, and still with no idea what they were doing, the club continued practicing in a small pasture behind Reg’s arena throughout their first season. Many a polo day was concluded around a campfire with Reg playing and singing late into the night,

beginning to bond this ambitious group of local horsemen. Moving forward, Ross Fargey’s nearby sheep pasture was used for practice games while Reg hosted Sunday Polo matches. Both properties are located within a half mile of the Birds Hill Provincial Park boundary, and within its first two seasons, the club found its ideal home on a natural sand-based field in the centre of the nearly 9,000-acre park. Sunday matches were played in the park while Tuesday and Thursday evening practices were held at Fargey’s. The proximity of all these fields was important because none of the club members owned a horse trailer, requiring that everyone rode to and from the games. It was a real game of neighbours. As the club grew in membership, newcomers from the area swarmed by horseback and simply joined into the action on whatever horse they had access to with all different breeds, shapes, and sizes learning the game as their riders learned simultaneously. The SPC would ultimately grow to a playing membership of around 50 members by the mid 1990’s as the club began to shift toward a focus on higher calibre horses to improve

the level of play. While any horse would do in the early days, many of the players that took the game up were cowboys with cutting horses that transitioned well into the polo that they were trying to play. To limit the number of miles players had to ride to and from the games, the club eventually purchased a two-horse trailer. In an organized fashion, members would drop their horses at the playing fields then drive to the next member’s property and leave the trailer there for them to use until all dozen or more members had their horses at the fields. Since the process of shuttling horses was used for the trips home as well, it was not a good thing to have the last turn in line! In the following seasons, individual members began to invest in their own two-horse trailers or come up with creative ways to move horses by repurposing buses or using grain trucks. Very few members even owned a pick-up truck so cars were used for towing, most notably Robert Chernetz’s ‘68 El Camino and Guy Kling’s ‘71 Mustang Convertible. The rag-tag introduction of horse transportation throughout the SPC membership would soon prove useful for longer distance travels.

The energy that was spent chasing the highs of polo in the club’s early days was truly remarkable and several of the second generation players who started young continued to play for over four decades as the club evolved.

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“THE BEULAH BLUES” Guy Kling was a founding member of the Springfield Polo Club in 1973, and his three sisters, Hedy, Merryann and Jean, all followed, as did his brother, Wilf, who is still an active member today. When Guy moved to Birtle to take up farming in 1976, he commuted back and forth to the Springfield Polo Club at 3.5 hours each way to play as often as he could. Determined to reduce his time on the road, he formed a small off-shoot club of SPC members in their farming community. For a number of years, the “Beulah Blues,” as they were called, played as a travelling team in Springfield tournaments, while also hosting their own tournament the entire Springfield club would attend. An active alfalfa field was used, and in order to play, visiting players would need to help move the Kling’s hay. All visitors would head out to the tournament on the Friday and follow the baler to stack thousands of 100-pound round bales by hand onto horse-drawn wagons. The field was then mowed once it was cleared. The energy that was spent chasing the highs of polo in the club’s early days was truly remarkable and several of the second generation players who started young continued to play for over four decades as the club evolved. CURRENT CLUB FACILITIES After those early seasons at the Thunderbird Ranch and Ross Fargey’s sheep pasture, the club’s current location at Birds Hill Provincial Park has served it well for 45 years and undergone extensive improvements. The

natural sand that lies beneath most of the nearly 9,000-acre park provides exceptional drainage, but the club found out early that it also requires irrigation if it is going to play host to a nice polo field. In the late 1970s, the first irrigation system used by the SPC was a series of aluminum pipes that required considerable labour amongst club members. This system was replaced when the club pooled resources to buy its first travelling gun irrigation system in the late 80s. Further big changes came when the Pan Am Games arrived in 1999. In 1995, SPC member Paul Hrynchuk Jr. was serving as the President of the Manitoba Horse Council. Both he and SPC President Bruce King played an integral role to involve the polo club in the upcoming event by arranging to have some of the club’s space used for the Pan Am cross country course. This required an expansion of the area, and the result was a second field added beyond the one-and-a-half that existed already. If the levelling and creation of a new field wasn’t noteworthy enough, a six- figure irrigation system with 5-inch underground pipe running 400 yards along the end zone of both fields was installed, along with a brand new well and pump provided with its own power source. With testing in preparation for the Pan Am Games estimating 300 feet of sand beneath the Springfield Polo Club’s fields, the fields were determined to be ideal in that they could handle rain as well as a lack of rain using irrigation. The Hrynchuk and Page families both maintained the fields for many years, along with Wilf Kling and then Dan Brewin in the mid-2000s. The Smith family

Bud Tyler, Mona Fargey, Dayelle Fargey and Kyle Fargey at Twin City Polo Club, Minneapolis, MN

Glen Greenaway Memorial

took over the field management around 2014, with Spencer running the sprinkler and his children, Garrett, Katie, and Regan, dividing the mowing duties until Garrett took over the sprinkler responsibilities in 2018. THE TOURNAMENTS Polo tournaments have been a part of the Springfield Polo Club fabric since the club’s origin nearly 50 years ago. The Canada Day Invitational has been the longest standing

1970s club photo

tournament at the SPC, dating back to the beginning years and running up to present day in 2020. Shortly after the SPC became mobile, reciprocal relationships were forged by travelling to other clubs. Duluth and Minneapolis (Minnesota), Sioux Falls and Pierre (South Dakota), along with Iowa City and Des Moines (Iowa) were all common destinations in the upper U.S. circles and in return, the clubs all came to SPC’s Canada Day Invitational. Relationships also developed

Gary Senft on “Jupiter” and Blake McClarty

Jonah, Colleen, Paul, Salsa and Hannah Hrynchuk alongside Cesar Basaldua THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 73

Springfield Polo Club 2

throughout Western Canada to include reciprocal visits to and from Calgary and later Black Diamond, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Kelowna, and eventually Saskatoon. The Canada Day Invitational has hosted as many as eight visiting teams competing with three or four local teams in the upper level, and several home and away teams in the middle and lower levels. Tournament dinners typically involved 150 people. Throughout the decades, many seasons featured four or five local tournaments for SPC members. A women’s tournament was often held at the club, although not always annually. Additionally, the Accra Cup, The Black Ice Cream Cup (for two decades), and later the Realtors Cup and Greenaway Cup

(for a decade each) were all named events that helped fill the SPC membership’s summer weekend schedules. Success with the SPC’s ‘Wind’er Up and Shut’er Down’ tournament, held in September, began to overtake the Canada Day weekend in popularity by the mid-2000s, becoming the tournament that the majority of long-distance travellers would reserve for their weekend in Springfield. Recently, the September tournament was moved to late August and renamed the Spencer Smith Memorial in 2019. Spencer’s wife Sue organized a large dinner and developed a new trophy topped by his Rich Roenisch bronze, while his son Garrett made the polo arrangements. Since Spencer was the primary energy behind SPC

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THE PONIES As the club’s game of polo sped up and the thoroughbred horse became the breed of choice, many trips to the Assiniboia Downs racetrack have been made to select from a constant flow of high-quality horses looking for a second home. These retired racehorses make up the majority of the club’s horses alongside select homebreds.

tournaments for decades, it was Garrett’s turn to ensure that everything was in place for the guests, and the tournament was played on well-prepared fields with a professional umpire present. With the gracious generosity of several hosting families, both present and past members of the club, the enthusiastic commitment of so many travelling and local players, and the help of SPC’s remarkable sand fields, it is a tournament that the entire club is very happy with and thankful to have had such support in creating.

POLO SCHOOLS In 2014, the Hrynchuk family started a polo

Regan Smith with “Big White” and “Little White”

Isaias

Regan Smith chases his sister Katie

and Davis McClarty

Polo Club in 1993. Rafael (Canelo) Silvestre and Isaias Palma Franco have each been members of SPC’s polo family for the past 20+ years, improving the level of play and calibre of horses with training methods learned from the renowned Gracida family in Mexico. The Hrynchuk and Brewin families brought in additional pros in the mid-2000s, and Wilf Kling continues to employ Chava Pina Reyes to present day. In 1991, Bruce King assumed the role of Captain for the Springfield Polo Club and has remained Captain, or Vice-Captain, alongside Spencer Smith, since then. Gary Senft is the longest running consecutive playing member of the Springfield Polo Club. With 47 seasons of playing under his belt so far, along with announcing games he isn’t in, Gary has further helped as the SPC’s representative within the Manitoba Horse Council. Paul Hrynchuk Sr. was a founding member and their family became the first three generation family of playing members at the SPC when Jonah Hrynchuk began playing in 2014. All of these families have been pillars in the club since the point when they each joined the SPC and bought into the shared reward of great times spent alongside even better friends by playing, holding leadership roles, hiring pros, travelling to away tournaments, hosting parties, and hosting out-of-town guests and horses. The SPC’s newer families, such as the Bulls, Kellers and Savards, have all come through the polo schools and help to keep the Springfield Polo Club a great place for family-oriented fun, and competitive polo.

school at their Bar 5 Polo Farm under the instruction of their Mexican professional, Cesar Basaldua. The school enjoyed much success for three seasons with a considerable number of new prospects trying out the great sport of polo. In order to help build the membership of the SPC, Rocking S Polo (Spencer & Sue Smith and family) stepped forward to carry the momentum that Bar 5 had gained and help the club continue to offer a polo school. Rocking S Polo School began in 2017 under the instruction of Garrett Smith with assistance from his brother, Regan, and support from their long-time Mexican professional, Isaias Palma Franco. In 2020, there were almost 20 students who took lessons, ranging in age from 12-76! Along with regular lessons, many students enjoy the “Saturday Slow Chukkers” that are in place for those students who are ready for game-type action in a coached environment. The students have brought a new vibrancy to the club and many are out lending a helping hand during Sunday games as well as bringing yummy treats to the barbeques, all of which adds to the wonderful culture that exists at the Springfield Polo Club. THE FAMILIES The Fargey family began a club that has remained incredibly strong over the years, thanks to the help of so many passionate families. The King, McClarty, and Smith families have been bringing pros in consistently since they first endeavored to bring Alan Friedman up from the Sarasota

Ricardo Garcia hooks Rafael (Canelo) Silvestre in the SPC’s Wind ‘er up and Shut ‘er Down tourney

Isaias Palma Franco, Garrett Smith, Spencer Smith, Bruce King, and Regan Smith in Grande Prairie

Spencer Smith on “Jackie” 7

Canelo hooks

Rafael (Canelo) Silvestre, Megan, Blake,

Smiths and Brewins in Grande Prairie THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 75

Toronto Polo Club

olo in Toronto was played prior to the turn of the century, and then more actively in the 1920s and 30s at Woodbine Racetrack and the Armoury on Avenue Road. Activity ceased during the war years but was later revived in the 50s when a group of equestrians— including Colonel Michael Sifton, Jim Elder, Tom Gayford, Gary Smellie, and Major

Colonel Michael Sifton and sons Derek, Mike and Cliff

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Kindersley—decided that polo would make a great arena game to fill the void of equestrian events throughout the winter months. They began to play in the arena on the estate of Sir Clifford Sifton, located at Lawrence Avenue (now the Toronto French School), and brought in Doc Roberts, the coach at Cornell University, to help them out. By 1960, the Toronto Polo Club was reinstated in the United States Polo Association. In 1965, Colonel Michael Sifton purchased Fox Den Farm in Gormley, just North of Toronto, which in time became

Indoor arena action at Fox Den with Kingsley Ward Jr.

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Toronto Polo Club

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the headquarters for the club and one of the best indoor polo facilities in North America. Outdoor fields were added to the mix at Fox Den Farm, allowing members to enjoy both summer and winter polo. By 1969, membership had grown to 40 members. An outstanding Canadian in the worlds of business, the military, sports, and countless charitable and volunteer works, Colonel Sifton had a vision to make polo accessible to all by sharing the game he loved so much, and he graciously opened his family farm for club members to use. He also saw the potential of using polo as a forum to raise money for charity. In 1979 he started the Polo For Heart charity series, which continues to be the highlight of the Toronto summer season and has raised over $6 million dollars for heart and stroke related charities. Colonel Sifton was president of the Toronto Polo Club until his death in 1995, and his three sons, Mike Jr, Cliff, and Derek—who are all excellent horsemen and players in their own right—continue his legacy. Cliff is the current club president and the honourary chair of Polo For Heart. Many of the original members of the Toronto Polo Club were local and kept their horses at home or at nearby farms, trailering or riding over to Fox Den Farm to play. Neighbours, including the Offens, Smellies, Emerys, Calverlys, Phillips and Strawbridges

were regulars at the club. A fun story that’s often told recounts the time Dr. Harry Strawbridge arrived at the field, only to realize he had not hitched up his trailer, and it was still back at the farm with his horses on board, ready and waiting! Strawbridge was one of the original club members who continued to play well into his eighties. One of the club’s annual trophies has been named in his honour.

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Another legendary member of the Toronto Polo Club is the late Dr. Tom Offen, who passed away in 2018. Renowned for his incredible chiropractic talents, he was a healer to horses and players alike. His equine chiropractic services extended from treating polo ponies to Olympic athletes such as showjumper “Big Ben”. The Offen family farm was next door to Fox Den Farm, and the Offen children—Dave, Todd, Kelly, and Robyn—were all avid players in their youth. Dave and Todd went on to become two of Canada’s highest rated professional players who played on high-goal teams throughout the U.S. Many of Dr. Offen’s grandchildren also took up the sport, with his grandsons Rob and Brendon going on to become professional players, as well. The legacy Dr. Offen left at the Toronto Polo Club was his passion for youth polo. He was always on the sidelines offering advice to the younger players. He loved to

Mich Ward and Andrew Begg at Polo For Heart 8

near Alliston. Dave Offen spearheaded the formation of the Upper Canada polo fields, locating the land and organizing the group of founding shareholders. This was made possible by the White family who agreed to owning 50% of the shares. These fields have since become the hub of tournament play, and are some of the nicest playing fields in North America. Over the next two decades many changes came to the Toronto Polo Club as the facilities grew to accommodate the new members and different levels of play.

watch the kids play and progress. Every year he sponsored the Dr. Tom Offen Junior Challenge, a tournament which brought kids, aged eight to 18, out for a day of games, followed by a party. This tournament continues to be one of the most popular events on the Toronto Polo Club’s summer calendar. As the club grew in the eighties, Dave Offen set up a boarding and training barn at his family farm to help bring in new members. Later in the nineties, Scott Weir and King Ward also set up a boarding and training facility at the South Farm at Fox Den. The club was expanding, as members started to come from all over. It was clear that more facilities were needed. John Daniels opened his field up for club play every spring, since his farm was situated on high land and the field was often dry early in the season. Another polo field was developed in Kleinberg on conservation land. This field was eventually replaced by the Upper Canada polo fields,

Snow polo at Bancroft Farm

meeting with King Ward, Mike Sifton, Cliff Sifton, Derek Sifton Kingsley Ward Jr.

THE FACILITIES Today, the Toronto Polo Club offers the possibility of polo in every season. It has a solid indoor arena season, which runs from November until March, and an outdoor grass season that runs from May until September. The recent addition of two outdoor arenas now makes it possible to play polo in the spring and fall. Since it first relocated to Fox

Den Farm in 1965, the Club has expanded dramatically. There are essentially three sets of facilities, with three different ownership groups (with some crossover) that allows the club access to seven outdoor fields, two outdoor areas, and one indoor arena—all within a 60 km radius of Toronto. Fox Den Farm, owned by the Sifton family, offers three grass fields, a stick and ball field, an indoor arena with heated viewing lounge, and an outdoor all-weather arena. Fox Den Farm is home to the club’s annual charity events, such as Polo for Heart, Polo Under the Stars, and Polo For the Cure. Just west of Fox Den Farm is Bancroft Farm, owned and operated by Brian and Wendy O’Leary. Bancroft Farm offers an outdoor arena, a grass field (that traditionally has been playable up to Thanksgiving weekend), a stick and ball field, and ‘The Polo Shack’—a rustic wood cabin that has been renovated and is now the hub for club parties and socials. Bancroft Farm is

MC Sifton Memorial Challenge Cup Champions Nicole Offen, Scott Weir, Derek Sifton, King Ward

Aerial view of Polo For Heart

Asado after the games

Team

Founders Cup Champions Brian O’Leary, Evan White, Evan White Jr.,

Early days of the 12-Goal league with Rob Follows, Evan White, Pablo Falabella, Fernando Massalin, Bobby Genovese, Mike Egan, Cliff Sifton, CJ Sifton, Marcos Bignoli THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 79

Toronto Polo Club 2

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also home to a large polo school and polo management boarding facility. Housing over 100 horses on the property, Bancroft Farm runs lessons, clinics, and training leagues year-round. It also offers full- service polo boarding and training, which is a benefit for many members who live and work in the city. The polo school at Bancroft Farm has helped to bring many new players to the Toronto Polo Club over the years. North of Fox Den Farm and Bancroft Farm are the Alliston playing fields. Owned by Evan White and partners, these are some of the club’s best fields. Formerly a potato farm, the property was converted into three polo fields, all with excellent drainage and a state-of-the-art irrigation system. Several club members have built barns and apartments around the fields, as most of the high-level tournament polo is played here during the summer. It is not uncommon on a Sunday to find all three fields active with games, and over 20 horse trailers surrounding the

perimeter. The facility also has a snack bar area, and an asado pit for after-game social gatherings. TOURNAMENTS In 1992, Dave Offen began the USPA sanctioned Canadian Open at the Upper Canada fields. This was a 16-goal tournament that was played for many years in Toronto, and then in Vero Beach in 1995. Bringing high-goal professional players to Toronto, this tournament paved the way for a more competitive level of polo at the club. For years after there have been high-goal leagues organized every summer, hiring professional players from Argentina and the U.S.A. Sign-up and team entry tournaments are offered year-round at the low-goal and medium-goal level. There is also a women’s tournament and a fundraiser, Polo For The Cure, every July. The club owns a wonderful collection of perpetual trophies, many of which have been donated

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by club members, and are presented every week at the finals of each tournament. In addition to the games, the tournaments are usually followed with a party or asado. The Toronto Polo Club has been fortunate to have excellent resident umpires, such as Dave and Cody Offen and Scott Weir, who have helped out with tournaments and overseen the club’s umpire program. POLO FOR HEART & OTHER CHARITY EVENTS Since its inception in 1979 by Colonel Sifton, Polo For Heart has become Canada’s largest and longest running charity event. Polo For Heart celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019. This is a jam-packed weekend of polo, half time entertainment, shopping, and an enormous hospitality tent that holds up to one thousand guests. The longevity of Polo For Heart is helped immensely by the support it gets from Toronto Polo club members. In recent years, Mike Egan, and then Derek Watchorn, stepped up as event Chairman. They have helped to take the event to the next level by leading the sponsorship drive, and by inviting international teams and celebrities. King Ward is credited with his huge efforts in continuing the legacy of the ‘Black & White Polo Ball’ for many years, and now more recently ‘Polo Under The Stars’. These are both glamorous evening parties intended to promote the Polo For Heart weekend and attract the downtown crowd.

In addition to Polo For Heart, the club supports many other great events for charitable causes. Every September, club members travel to Niagara-on-the-lake to support a fundraiser held on the commons at Fort George. George Dell continues to spearhead this effort, which raises money for the Friends Of Fort George Historical Society. For almost a decade Maureen White ran a successful annual charity fundraiser for the local hospital called ‘Polo For Health’. Matey Nedcov was Chair of ‘Polo For Palliative Care’ for many years. Donna Malloy and Keri Weir continue to organize ‘Polo For The Cure’, which is now in its 15th year, and is Canada’s longest running women’s polo tournament and fundraiser. THE PONIES You see all kinds of horses at the Toronto Polo Club—off-the-track racehorses, rescues, and more commonly in the last two decades, polo ponies brought over from Argentina, or

Ryan Roy rides off Annabel Begg at Polo For The Cure

Polo for Palliative Care

they can’t feel the tips of their fingers for the cold, or that beckons them back even after they missed the winning penalty shot! There is a camaraderie amongst members of the Toronto Polo Club that can be seen on the field, as well as after the games with a shared beer and a laugh (or a cry). The club has over 60 active playing members comprised of men, women, and children of all ages. It is not uncommon to see several generations of families playing together. The club is committed to youth development, which is key to its sustainability. The younger players are becoming better and better, as the older players take a step back. The offspring of many of the original members are now taking on larger roles of responsibility within the club. Karen White has been the club manager for over 20 years and has seen it evolve into a diverse and dynamic club—one that offers something for everyone who loves the sport of polo.

bred by resident professional Pablo Falabella. Falabella has a huge breeding farm just minutes away from the Alliston Polo Fields. Here he imports and breeds high quality Argentinean polo ponies, which are then sold to players across North America. He has been part of the Toronto Polo Club for several decades, and has shared wonderful Argentinean traditions with members, as well as some great polo ponies. THE PEOPLE Just like the ponies, there are all kinds of people at the Toronto Polo Club, from all walks of life. There are members who do it all themselves, with their own farms, trucks, and trailers, as well as members who work and or live in the city and must rely on boarding services to care for their ponies and get them to and from polo. The one quality that is common amongst the members is a passion that keeps them coming back; a passion that drives them to indoor polo when

Father-daughter team Kevin and Kerrigan Brown

Dr. Tom Offen and the polo kids

Outdoor arena at Bancroft Farm

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Bill Dillane on “Zebra”. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Andrew Rivkin. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Paige Sullivan leading some sets to the dyke on Boundary Bay

Vancouver Polo Club

olo has been played in Vancouver since 1913, when the original Vancouver Polo Club was established. During the 1950s and 60s, polo games were held on Sunday afternoons with a small price for admission. The polo field was originally on land that is now part of McCleery Golf Course, but in 1957, a new field was created at the Southlands Riding Club. In 1970, the main polo group left Southlands for a larger field in Delta and it would be another 17 years before a new group formed. This group of interested members lobbied to bring polo back

to Southlands Riding Club. Sunday matches resumed in 1988 and lasted for several years. A hiatus followed and no organized polo was played in Vancouver for almost two decades, until today’s Vancouver Polo Club was founded in 2011. In the initial years, the budding club consisted of just two members—Claudia and Tony Tornquist, who travelled far and wide to play polo with other clubs in the Pacific Northwest. The launch of the Pacific Polo Cup in 2014, a polo spectator event with the Southlands Riding Club that has since become an annual fixture in Vancouver’s social calendar, kick-started the growth of the Vancouver Polo Club.

Tents ready for the Pacific Polo Cup

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Vancouver Polo Club 2

Membership grew as spectators turned into players. The early days saw plenty of improvisation, including hunter-jumpersturned-polo-ponies and a dozen beginners playing rather crammed games on halfacre makeshift polo fields. 2016 marked an important milestone as the Vancouver Polo Club moved to its own premises in Delta, just 20 minutes outside of Vancouver. Owned by the Sullivan and Tornquist families, the property was originally a 20-acre defunct farm. To turn it into a playable field with a clubhouse, a

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Facebook request was sent out asking for volunteers to lend a hand, and many responded, including existing players from the Southlands Riding Club. With this army of volunteers and a great deal of assistance from local farmers and their heavy equipment, a significant investment was made, and the field took form. But anyone who has started a polo field knows that growing grass is not always easy, especially on a field located just above sea level. The first year, the polo field was a mix of dirt and

grass. By the 5th year, the field came a long way largely due to investments in irrigation and mowing equipment. THE CLUB TODAY The Vancouver Polo Club today remains at the Delta location. The property is on a quiet farm road that dead ends to a sandy beach known as Boundary Bay, where miles of dikes provide for a scenic option for sets, walks and bike rides. The club has one full size playing field and a small practice field. The field is

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other pros and grooms, as well as a sizable clubhouse facility with a kitchen for parties and events. Membership at the Vancouver Polo Club has grown rapidly in the five years since the new field was developed. At present there are 12 playing members and a large number of regular beginners who play in the All-Star league or take private lessons and clinics. Club chukkers are played every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. All-Star chukkers are typically played on Saturdays. The club boards about 40 horses per year on the property. To encourage new members, existing members will offer their horses into a “pony pool”. This pool is to complement the few club-owned horses, and allow

maintained by members who volunteer their time to keep it smooth and mowed, and the surrounding facilities in great shape. Only four years old now, the field is improving every year with ongoing improvements made each spring. There is a sentence on the previous page that says more or less the same as this sentence, except it says the field is five years old. I would either delete the sentence here, or change four to five. A two-bedroom house provides accommodation for an Argentine professional and his family. In 2018, one of the club’s sponsors, AMACON Developments, donated a sales centre from one of their development projects. This 3,000 square foot building was finished to provide a three-bedroom suite for

for new players to take group clinics and play in All-Star games without having to invest in their own horses right away. It is common at the club for clinics of four people or more to occur several times a week. Once All-Stars are comfortable at a canter, they are rapidly moved into slow club chukkers with members. Most years, at least one All-Star is turned into a horse owner.

High-five for the crowds at Pacific Polo Cup played at the Southlands Riding Club

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Tornquist family celebrating a win at PPC

Claudia and Tony Tornquist sharing strategies

A polo clinic forming part of a corporate event at VPC

Paige Sullivan celebrates a goal

Paul and Grant battle for the ball

HORSES In year two of the new Vancouver Polo Club, an interesting event changed the trajectory of its growth. Bobby Anderson, a thirdgeneration polo rider and horse trainer who owned Boot Ranch in Yakima, was the source of some initial ponies for a few members. In the spring of 2017, Paul Sullivan did a

weekend visit to Boot Ranch. On this visit Paul learned that Bobby’s husband Blake had been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer and needed immediate surgery. Bobby then put out an offer to the Vancouver Polo Club members to sell them 10 horses, F350 flatbed, and a 10-horse trailer. With so many new members at VPC, and the Tornquist’s owning most of the polo horses at the time, there was serious interest. That Sunday, on return from Yakima, an emergency call was made between all the new members of the club. The following day a group of eight members chartered a jet and set off to Yakima to test ride the unshod horses, who were fresh out of winter pasture. In the two days they were there, the new members rode many

Sunsets and Mount Baker views make evenings stunning at the

Paul Sullivan, Grant Lockhart and Benson Hurlbut IV attending a tournament at George Dills in La Conor

Nico Lambias, one of many Argentine pros who have worked at VPC for the summer season THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 87

Vancouver Polo Club

horses, and much to Bobby’s credit no one came off. Bobby and her Boot Ranch crew provided some of the best hospitality you could hope for and the VPC rolled out of Yakima horsed up for the season. PROFESSIONALS For the first two years, VPC operated with a single pro named Ernesto Mana Balbastro. It was a tough job when there were some 20 horses on the property and just Ernesto and a hired mucker to

feed and care for them. The members all did self tacking and helped out as much as possible. The big field was freshly planted, and the club spent most weekends travelling around the Pacific Northwest playing tournaments with other clubs. The learning curve was very steep at this time, and the addiction to polo was rippling throughout the small membership. For the past three seasons, VPC has taken on Nico Maciel as the club

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professional and manager. With over a dozen members and some 40+ horses on the property, Nico convinced the board to bring on two additional working professionals from Argentina, as well as grooms. The influx of talented professionals at the club have allowed for high level club chukkers and also resulted in the training of many future members. For the past couple of years, VPC has spent more weekends at their home field to build on their membership.

THE PACIFIC POLO CUP The biggest event every year at the Vancouver Polo Club is the ‘Pacific Polo Cup’. This event is hosted in the city of Vancouver and attracts crowds upwards of 1,000 people. High-end food and beverage service, combined with VIP tents and significant sponsors, has grown this event every year. Corporate sponsors often buy cabanas and bring their office for a summer event in the sun. This has been a rich source of new members, who

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are often several drinks brave and end up at the polo clinic to follow. Aside from a selection of sponsors, the VPC board and members greatly value the charitable partnerships they have established over the years. Their primary charity partner is currently Canuck Place, a hospice for sick children. This hospice is located in facilities throughout the province and only accepts children under the age of 18 with acute or terminal illness. A variety of fund-raising activities

form part of every event the club hosts, and the club is immensely proud of the funds they have raised over the years for their partners in society. MEMBERS Family is a core value at the Vancouver Polo Cub, with several families having multi generations currently playing. More often than not Sunday polo is followed by an asado for friends, family, and spectators. Vancouver is a

Summer walk along the dyke on Boundary Bay

Gary and Suzanne Warner celebrating their wedding anniversary at VPC

The early years of VPC playing at the Southlands Polo and Equestrian Club

Dexter Tornquist chilling out after a game 7

rich multicultural city, and with VPC now on the map and a simple Google search required to find it, the club is truly fortunate to have attracted players from around the world. The growth potential is exponential in light of all the interest, and what is needed next is another field! A selection of club members has taken the Vancouver Polo Club brand and set up winter polo in Indio, California. The season in Vancouver is June to

Many matte sunsets

Claudia working the crowds at PPC

Much work to do getting 40 ponies ready to go

September, so many members who want to play the winter season at Eldorado and Empire polo clubs send their horses south at the end of September. The competitive play in California has been a fantastic experience for many members, and no doubt is helping take the membership roster to a new level of play especially considering many members have only ridden/played polo for a few years, or since the start of the new club in Delta.

Celebrating the win at West Coast Classic

Claudia making some moves on “Paige” as they storm down the field THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 89

Victoria Polo Club

eports of polo being played in Victoria date back to the 19th Century; however, it wasn’t until the 1930s that the original Victoria Polo Club was established. Based at the Willows Racetrack (now Carnarvon Park), Victoria had three teams while neighbouring Esquimalt and Duncan

3 generations; Mike, Dan and Joshua Adey

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had two, combining to create an impressive seven squad league. Polo in Victoria took a hiatus during World War II and wasn’t resurrected until 1961, when veterinarians Dr. Bill and Dr. Barbara Powell purchased their dream property on Vancouver Island. As one of Canada’s highest ranked polo players who also played internationally, Bill and his wife cleared their new land and turned it into the polo field that would become the Vancouver Island Riding & Polo Club.

The Lieutenant Governor Cup

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Victoria Polo Club The Victoria Polo Club is a familyoriented, casual, and fun polo club with a welcoming ambiance.

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In 1969, the club moved to another locale in Central Saanich where it developed under the name Victoria Polo Club. Managed by two polo club patriarchs, Tony Yonge and his fatherin-law, Captain Basil Parker (“Nip” as he was known), the club offered regular matches that began to attract new spectators and members. Nip was a World War II amputee who regularly

played with a prosthetic leg. Tony was a 2-goal English expat who was a passionate champion of the game and a proud club spokesman. Tony would go on to captain the first Canadian team to visit the U.K. and continue to play polo well into his eighties. In 1979, polo moved back to the Powell’s farm under the banner Victoria Polo Club (VIPC). New members Steve

Mann and Gordie Randall got hooked on the sport at once. After travelling to Indio, California, and being inspired by the high level of polo there, Steve and Gordie returned to Vancouver Island and purchased 20 acres on Wallace Drive in the farmlands between the B.C. ferry terminal and downtown Victoria—the site of the huge field and facility the club uses today. Over

time, amenities were added, including extensive stabling, a practice field, a round pen, an outdoor polo arena, a modern clubhouse, and the most significant innovation of all, a laserleveled polo field, bringing the club to a whole new level. The club in its current rendition was established in 1982 after an amalgamation of the Victoria Polo Club

Steve Mann, Club President

FIP Ambassadors event winners, flanked by Deborah and Derek Wolstenholme, with BC Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon in centre

Brent Hoeppner, Steve Mann (Isabella Adey in front)

The clubhouse

Kelly Harley with “Bumblebee”

Dan Adey, Mike Adey,

Matt McNeil and Alison Lagan (mounted), and Kelly Harley on foot THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 93

Victoria Polo Club 2

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and the Vancouver Island Polo Club. The season runs from May through September, with members all doing their part to help with field and facility maintenance. THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CUP At the end of each season, the club attracts players from across Western Canada and the U.S. to play in the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup. The cup itself was given to the Victoria Polo Club by the late Colonel Clarence Wallace, a former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia who enthusiastically played in Vancouver with his four sons during the 1930s. Once played for in Vancouver

David Harris umpiring

RCMP Musical Ride, 2009

with the “Old Country” team winning in 1929, and the “Maybe” team in 1930, it was resurrected on the island as ‘The Lieutenant Governor’s Cup’ in 1984. That year, the winning team was Los Aztecas with Tony Yonge, his son Nigel Yonge, and Salvador Solorzano from Mexico. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS In addition to its annual Lieutenant Governor’s Cup tournament, the club has hosted several other notable events. In 2005, the Victoria Riding for the Disabled partnered with the Victoria Polo Club for a fundraising event that brought hundreds of spectators in to

Polo in the early 60s at Powell’s field

Frank Van Veggel

CLUB CULTURE The Victoria Polo Club is a familyoriented, casual, and fun polo club with a welcoming ambiance. Because of the small population on Vancouver Island, new players are not always easy to find, but when someone does show an interest, the members of the Victoria Polo Club are more than willing to help them get started. The club is built on families. Michael Adey has three generations currently at play: himself, his son, and his grandson. Without this family aspect, the club would not exist. The Victoria Polo Club is proud to continue the long and rich history of polo on Vancouver Island.

watch the games. In 2009, the RCMP Musical Ride performed at half time, which brought over 2,000 spectators to the Victoria Polo Club. In 2013, the club held the Rotary Centennial Cup, a polo match and high tea hosted by the Rotary Club of Victoria, celebrating 100 years of service. This event raised $18,000 for the Mustard Seed Food Bank. In 2015, Derek Wolstenholme, an ambassador for the Federation of International Polo, and his wife Deborah, hosted the first FIP event to be held in Canada. This brought players from as far as Iran, Costa Rica, Switzerland, and across the U.S. to Vancouver Island.

The Lieutenant Governor Cup Tournament, 2012

Father and son, Dan and Joshua Adey

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Max Torokvei. Painting by Melinda Brewer

BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN “Pink Knot”. Painting by Melinda Brewer POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB BLACK DIAMOND POLO CLUB CALGARY POLO CLUB CLUB POLO NACIONAL GRANDE PRAIRIE POLO CLUB GREATER NIAGARA POLO CLUB OKANAGAN POLO CLUB OTTAWA POLO CLUB ROYAL WINNIPEG POLO CLUB SPRINGFIELD POLO CLUB TORONTO POLO CLUB VANCOUVER POLO CLUB VICTORIA POLO CLUB

PEOPLE & PONIES

Rob Stenzel playing for Team Canada at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup in Tianjin, China, 2015

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Canada’s Got Talent! Professional Polo Players

ost polo players in the world carry a handicap of two goals or less, with very few ever advancing beyond three-goal status. In fact, 75% of USPA members are considered lowgoal players. To reach professional status in polo is on par with making it to the National Hockey League, or the PGA Golf Tour.

High-goal polo is truly global in scope and played in most countries and continents. Argentina is considered the premium spot in the world for highgoal polo, but the game is every bit as intense in the U.K. and the U.S. There is a very small and elite group of players in the world who have actually made it to 10 goals, and most of them come from one of the top three polo meccas. That being said, Canada has produced a 10-goal player back in 1887 by the name of Lewis Lacey. The truth

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FIP WORLD CUP & CANADA’S PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

is, Lacey was born in Canada but did most of his playing in Argentina. The current highest rated Canadian polo player, Fred Mannix Jr., is well and truly Canadian-made. Fred and his younger brother Julian Mannix (5 goals), grew up playing at the Calgary Polo Club with their father, Fred Mannix Sr. At sixteen years of age, Fred became a member of Team Canada and was one

of the youngest polo players to compete in the 2001 Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Championship in Australia. He is now the captain of the Alegria Polo Team, Canada’s only highgoal polo franchise. Fred is the first Canadian in 78 years to have competed in the coveted Argentine Triple Crown— the sport’s most exclusive and respected tournament—and only the second

in 122 years to have competed in the prestigious Argentine Open. Mannix is an accomplished 7-goal player in North America and a 9-goal player internationally; he is the highest ranked Canadian on the World Polo Tour. Over the last three decades there have been a few other Canadian professional players that have reached a handicap milestone of five goals or higher. They

include Brandon Phillips, from Toronto (highest handicap 6 goals), Daniel Roenisch, from Calgary (highest handicap 5 goals) Dave Offen, from Toronto (highest handicap 6 goals outdoor, 9 goals arena), Julian Mannix, from Calgary (highest handicap 5 goals) Rob Roenisch, from Calgary (highest handicap 5 goals), Steve Dalton, from Calgary. (highest handicap 6 goals),

Mannix is an accomplished 7-goal player in North America and a 9-goal player internationally; he is the highest ranked Canadian on the World Polo Tour.

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FIP WORLD CUP & CANADA’S PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

FIP zone playoffs, Wellington Florida, 1999. Left to right: Colonel MC Sifton, Red Armour (coach), Derek Sifton, Clifff Sifton, Dave Offen, Rene Vlahovic, Rob Roenisch, Dave Calverley, Mike Sifton Jr.

Derek Wolstenholme and Don Pennycook present their host Mr. Pan with a bronze from Rich Roenisch at the FIP China Snow Polo World Cup

at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup 2013

FIP Team Canada: Marcelo Abbiati, Fred Mannix, Rob Stenzel

Professional player Julian Mannix celebrates his win of the U.S. Open Championships in 2014. Photo courtesy of Alex Pacheco

Rob Stenzel, Cody Offen, Kyle Fargey, Brandon Phillips

FIP Team Canada 2008: Marcelo Abbiati,

FIP zone playoffs, Wellington, Florida, 2004 Team Canada: Steve Dalton (coach), Michael Matz, Brent T H EMirikitani, S P O R TTodd O FOffen, P O LCliff O Sifton IN CANADA \ 101

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and Todd Offen, from Toronto (highest handicap 7 goals).

FIP Zone Champions, Mexico 2008: Rob Stenzel, Brandon Phillips, Marcelo Abbiati, Kyle Fargey

Wellington, Florida, 1991. Team Canada: Cliff Sifton, Steve Dalton, Todd Offen, Derek Sifton 102 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

FIP WORLD POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS There are many accomplished players from across Canada who may not have reached five goals or higher but have still made their mark representing Canada on FIP teams over the years. The Federation of International Polo (FIP) is the International federation representing the sport of polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Since 1987, the FIP World Polo Championships take place once every three years in a different location around the world. It is a competitive tournament, from 10 to 14 goals. Horses are provided by the host and pooled among participating nations to give teams equal conditions. The nations are split

Opening Ceremonies at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin, China, 2013

FIP zone playoffs,

Canada’s current highest ranked polo player, Fred H. Mannix Photo courtesy of Katerina Morgan

FIP WORLD CUP & CANADA’S PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

Part of the North and Central America Zone, Canada has won its zone playoffs twice to advance to the World Championships.

into five zones with over 19 countries competing to be among one of eight teams that will advance to the World Polo Championships. The Canadian Polo Association has sent a team to compete almost every year since the tournament’s inception. Part of the North and Central America Zone, Canada has won its zone playoffs twice to advance to the World Championships. The first time was in the year 2000 in California with Fred Mannix Jr., Steve Dalton, Daniel Roenisch

and Jamie Mirkitani. The second time was in 2008 in Mexico with Marcelo Abbiati, Brandon Phillips, Kyle Fargey, Rob Stenzel, and Cody Offen. FIP SNOW POLO WORLD CUP The FIP Snow Polo World Cup is an invitational snow polo tournament that was launched in 2012 and is held annually at the Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China. The Canadian Polo Association sent a team to compete from 2013 through 2016.

LEWIS LACEY (1887-1966) Born in Canada to a family of Irish origin, Lewis’ father, William Lacey, was a former cricket player who had been hired by the newly established Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires to teach sports to the members. In 1888, at the young age of 28, William, his wife, and their three children, left Canada for Argentina. It was there Lewis learned to play polo and developed into one of the best polo players in Argentine history. His first major victory was in 1915 when he won the Argentine Open with his team “El Palomar” along with teammates Lindsay Holaway, Samuel Casares and Charles Lacey, his brother. In 1922, he was awarded a 10-goal handicap from the Hurlingham Polo Association in England. He was Argentina’s first 10-goal player.

Opening ceremonies at the FIP Snow Polo World Cup, Tianjin, China, 2015

Back row: Derek Wolstenholme, Steve Dalton, Dave Offen 10 4 \ THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA

FIP Zone playoffs in Mexico: Marcelo Abbiati, Rob Stenzel, Cody Offen, Kyle Fargey, Brandon Phillips.

Baljit’s horse “Chevala”. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Canadian Women in Polo

hough traditionally polo was a male-dominated sport, women have been playing the game since it first arrived in North America. In the 1920s, the Calgary Polo Club fielded a women’s team to play in New York at the first international women’s tournament. It was a sign of things to come, but it

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would take a few decades. Women were not even permitted to join the United States Polo Association until the mid-1970s. The last fifty years have brought about significant changes. Women players now represent one of the largest growing sectors of polo today, accounting for approximately 40% of registered players with both the Canadian and the United States Polo Associations.

Professional Canadian player Dayelle Fargey flying down the field

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WOMEN IN POLO

Pioneer women players in the 1970s at the Toronto Polo Club, such as Kelly Offen and Sue Smellie, paved the way for females to play at the club. Similarly, in Western Canada, Julie and Jan Roenisch were also the catalyst that brought serious women’s polo back to the Calgary Polo Club for the first time in fifty years.

Calgary

Coming from avid polo families, these ladies showed the men that females can be worthy contenders on the polo field. Loretta Thompson was instrumental in pioneering women’s participation at the Grande Prairie Polo club. In fact, a mutual love of horses and polo was what brought her and her husband, Cledwyn Lewis, together.

Loretta Thompson, from Grande Prairie

Not only did they encourage women players, but they also made it a priority to foster relationships with other polo clubs across Canada and around the world. Thanks to the perseverance and determination of these amazing pioneer women players, most Canadian polo clubs today have a large roster of females. The

One of the early Canadian Women’s tournaments at Toronto Polo Club in 1982

Statehood Day Womens tournament. Team Canada: Hailey Van der Burgt, Jessica Wales, Catie Van Bakel, Jenna Tarshis, Selena Watts 6

‘Polo for the Cure’ is held every summer at the Toronto Polo Club. The tournament is now in its 15th year and is also a fundraiser for breast cancer research and treatment at Southlake Regional Health Centre. To date over $1 million has been raised for this cause.

Canadian team participated in the 4th Manipur

Julie Roesnisch makes the cover of ‘Polo’ Magazine

Polo For The Cure action with Laura Wilson and Alix Begg THE SPORT OF POLO IN CANADA \ 109

WOMEN IN POLO

Greater Niagara Polo Club membership is comprised of over 70% women and girls. The club has successful women’s interscholastic and intercollegiate teams that compete on the USPA circuit. It

also runs a weekly ‘Ladies Night’—a fun and supportive polo match of 12 to 16 women players, followed by a boisterous potluck with food, drink and a lot of laughter in the clubhouse. Tammy and

Jessica Schneider on “The General”, Black Diamond Polo Club

Battle of the sexes’ charity match at Polo In The Park, Ottawa, 2018. Women’s team (sponsored by Three Wild Women Fashion Boutique)

and supporters. Left-Right: Elizabeth Hearn, Carol MacLeod, Ruth Armstrong, Anne Marie Lebrun, Robyn Oliverio, Tiffany Armstrong, Kate Johnston Riggs, Dayelle Fargey, Carol Pennycook 11 0 \ T H E S P O R T O F P O L O I N C A N A D A

Ladies team at Club Nacional Elisabeth Hallé, Abby

Emily Hurst, Toronto Polo Club

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Hailey Van der Burgt provide coaching and mentorship, and it is the ideal space for women to learn, gain confidence, and develop in the sport. WOMEN’S-ONLY TOURNAMENTS As the number of women players grows, so does the number of women’s-only polo tournaments. There have been several highly competitive women’s tournaments held at the Calgary Polo Club over the last few decades, attracting top women players from around

the world. In 1991, the Ottawa Polo Club held the first Eastern Canadian Women’s Tournament, bringing women players from Ontario and Quebec. Today, the Ottawa Polo Club membership is comprised of 50% women players. ‘Polo for the Cure’ is held every summer at the Toronto Polo Club. The tournament is now in its 15th year and is also a fundraiser for breast cancer research and treatment at Southlake Regional Health Centre. To date over $1 million has been raised for this

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cause. The tournament brings between 10 and 12 teams of women every year, with two flights of games. Polo For The Cure was developed by two members of the Toronto Polo Club, Keri Weir and Donna Malloy, and continues to live on as the longestrunning annual women’s tournament in Canada. Women’s tournaments have been a regular occurrence at the Springfield Polo Club over the years, although not always annually. In 2006, Sue Smith,

along with Colleen Kelly-Hrynchuk and Bobbi Enns, organized a women’s tournament with incoming players. Reciprocal polo trips with many clubs across Western Canada for mixed polo had created a “polo family” of friends and it was the women among them who got together in mid-August at the Springfield Polo Club. In 2007, the tournament grew from three to four teams. Club theme parties continued, and the tournament enjoyed five good

WOMEN IN POLO

Ryan Roy, Toronto Polo Club

Winning team from Greater Niagara Polo Club Annual Womens Challenge: Left to right: Julia Northcott, Katlyn Gaulin, Claire Gillies, Hailey Van der Burgt

Springfield Polo Club women’s tournament

Toronto women’s interscholastic team: Molly Houlton, Jessica Friedberg, Clare Hearn, Samantha Hussey 5

Teams at Polo For The Cure Tournament

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WOMEN IN POLO

With the growth of women’s polo in Canada, many strong female players have come up through the ranks and stood out for their exceptional talent. years. In 2019, a women’s match was revived due to the inf lux of female members playing at the Springfield Polo Club. With the growth of women’s polo in Canada, many strong female players have come up through the ranks and stood out for their exceptional talent. Julie Roenisch, from the Calgary Polo Club, got to a 2-goal handicap, and in 1992 became the first woman to ever play in the U.S. Open. Manitoba born Dayelle Fargey is currently the only

female professional player in Canada, and also made it to 2-goals (6 goals women’s handicap). Dayelle plays professionally in the U.S. during the winters, and at the Calgary Polo Club in the summers. There are countless strong women players scattered across the country that have represented Canada on the International playing field over the last few decades—too many to highlight just a few! However, in the short but glorious history of modern-day women’s polo, it is fair to say that women’s polo is alive and well in Canada.

Girl gone wild! Champagne presentation at Polo For The Cure

Tournament action at Polo For The Cure, with Keri Weir, Penny Davey and Marianne McBean

after winning the Intercollegiate Preliminaries in 2020, with coach Hailey Van der Burgt 114 \ T H E S P O R T O F P O L O I N C A N A D A

University of Guelph women’s team

Carol Pennycook’s horse “Jaycee”. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Youth Polo in Canada

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olo is not just a sport, but a lifestyle, so it only seems natural that families do it together. Polo kids grow up spending a lot of time at the side of the polo field, forming strong friendships that last a lifetime.

Bedtimes don’t matter much during the summer polo season, as kids run wild after dark enjoying the freedom of warm summer nights. Horsing around— quite literally—at polo camps, peewee polo programs, and on interscholastic teams, the kids of polo learn the ropes from an early age. Having the younger generations interested in the sport helps to sustain memberships at many

Kids polo at Okanagan Polo Club

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clubs across Canada. Because polo is not age or gender restricted, it is not uncommon to see several generations of families playing together. INTERSCHOLASTIC AND INTERCOLLEGIATE POLO Some of the clubs located in the East, like the Toronto Polo Club and the Greater Niagara Polo Club, have made a concerted commitment to the development of young players with a

resurgence of their interscholastic and intercollegiate programs. Spanning three decades, the Toronto Polo Club has had at least one interscholastic team representing it nearly every year. Many times, these teams have won at the Preliminary and Regional levels, to advance on to the Nationals. The club boasts a remarkable eight National Interscholastic Championships (1977, 1979, 1984, 1987, 1988, 2006-2008) and one National Intercollegiate

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YOUTH POLO IN CANADA

First Toronto Interscholastic Champions. Don Bolton (coach), Dave Calverly, Mike Sifton Jr., Cliff Sifton, Dave Offen, Michael Sifton (coach)

Sifton, Todd Offen

First Toronto Intercollegiate Champions (representing York University): Bruce Creber, Dave Offen, Cliff Sifton

Interscholastic Champions Brendon Stenzel, Cody Offen, Rob Stenzel, Rylie Begg

Toronto Interscholastic Champions Todd Phillips, Derek

Will Schneider from Black Diamond Polo Club

Toronto

Matt Schneider from Black Diamond Polo Club T H E S P O R T O F P O L O I N C A N A D A \ 119

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Brian and Connor O’Leary, painting by Melinda Brewer

Nelson

Neve Nelson from Grande Prairie Polo Club

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Championship in 1980 by Toronto Polo Club members Cliff Sifton, Dave Offen and Bruce Creber, representing York University. In 2016, an intercollegiate team of Toronto players representing Western University, reached the semifinals of the National Intercollegiate Championships. Scott Weir has been the coach of teams representing Toronto for more then 15 years and has helped many young players develop.

Jack Venhuizen from Toronto Polo Club

Zack Nelson from Grande Prairie Polo Club

Likewise, the relatively newer Greater Niagara Polo Club has had a large presence of youth members. The club has hosted two North American Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) and runs regular lessons and clinic programs with a strong focus on developing junior players, coached by Phil Van Der Burgt, and his daughter Hailey and son Hunter. Highly active within the United States polo Association, the club

Macie Nelson (Grande Prairie) wearing a jersey in memory of her dad, Kirk

Will Schneider from Black Diamond Polo Club

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YOUTH POLO IN CANADA

regularly hosts middle school, interscholastic and intercollegiate tournaments. Their girls’ interscholastic team won the Northeastern preliminaries in 2019, and their women’s collegiate team, representing the University of Guelph, won the Northeastern Preliminaries in 2020.

The University Of Guelph women’s polo team is the first (and currently the only) women’s collegiate team in Canada. This is due to the determination of its founding members, Jara Mrdja, Amy Woolsey, Synthia Korosztos, and Nicole Does. In 2012 the Ontario Collegiate Equestrian

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Association (OCEA) did not recognize polo, so the fledgling team had to apply to the student union to start a new polo club. With no budget, no funding, and no school support, the team was undeterred. Twice a week they made the long trek from the university to the Cedar Valley Polo Club

to train. In 2015, with eager dedication from the players and unrelenting advocacy from the Van Der Burgt family, the Guelph women’s polo team finally qualified for its first USPA intercollegiate season, and eventually established a place for polo within the OCEA.

YOUTH POLO IN CANADA

Nathan Keeper from Calgary Polo Club

Margaret Jean and Julian Mannix with the kids at Calgary Polo Club

Andrew Begg, Kingsley Ward Jr., Evan White Jr., Coach Scott Weir 6

Regan Smith and Davis McClarty from Springfield Polo Club

Phil Van der Burgt

Toronto Intercollegiate team representing Western University: CJ Sifton,

Team Nelson from Grande Prairie: Macie, Annika, Aimee, Lily, Jameson, Neve, Samual

USPA Interscholastic North Eastern Regionals hosted at Toronto Polo Club, 2014

2008 Interscholastic National Champions: Rob Stenzel, Cody Offen, Fernando Massalin Jr. from Toronto

Grande Prairie Kids tournament

Greater Niagara Polo Club summer camp with coach

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EAST MEETS WEST JUNIOR CHALLENGE Junior polo development and uniting young players across the country is something that the Canadian Polo Association has chosen to focus its efforts on. In 2018, Polo Canada President Don Pennycook introduced the first annual “East Meets

West” Junior Challenge, which was hosted by the Okanagan Polo Club. Four junior players from Eastern Canada were selected to travel to Kelowna to meet and play with four junior players from Western Canada. The players were mixed up to form balanced teams, and the kids played great polo throughout

East Meets West Junior Challenge at Okanagan Polo Club, 2018

Chet and Sam Nelson skins game with walking mallets

Polo Club

The kids of Okanagan Polo Club

the weekend. In addition to the games, a polo clinic, sightseeing opportunities, and some fun barbeques and parties were enjoyed by all. It was an incredible experience for the young Eastern players to see a new club and make new friends. In 2019, a reciprocal visit was planned for kids from the West to play

Cliff and CJ Sifton from Toronto Polo Club

Trophy presentation at Toronto Polo Club

at the Toronto Polo Club, with a similar format for the weekend. The Canadian Polo Association plans to use proceeds from this book to establish a Youth Development Fund that will ensure the “East Meets West” Junior Challenges continue to take place for the next 10 years, if not longer.

Peewee polo at Toronto Polo Club

Junior action at Toronto Polo Club

Lily Bozarth Nelson from Grande Prairie Polo Club

Scott and Ben Weir from Toronto

Regan Smith from Springfield Polo Club receiving the Sportsmanship award at the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS)

East Toronto 1 2 4 Junior \ T H Challenge E S P O R Tat O F P OPolo L O Club, I N C2019 ANADA

West Meets

YOUTH POLO IN CANADA

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YOUTH POLO IN CANADA

Toronto Girls Interscholastic Team at Cornell: Clare Hearn, Jenna Tarshis, Clare Littlechild, Molly Houlton

Stenzel, Cody Offen

Fred Mannix and Connor O’Leary (#1 fan)

Greater Niagara Polo Club

Susan Lapp from Okanagan

Lily Nelson on “Little White”

Dr. Tom Offen Junior Challenge Champions: Nicole Offen, Riley Begg, Dr. Tom Offen, Brendon

Painting of Brittany Emery (wearing dad John’s polo gear) by Melinda Brewer

Matt Schneider from Black Diamond Polo Club

Paige on “Marmol” at the

A Celebration of Polo Ponies in Canada

he term “polo pony” dates back to the late 1800s when polo ponies were actually subject to height restrictions. Specifically, polo ponies were not to exceed 14 hands 2 inches—the definition of a pony, with each hand representing four inches. When the United States Polo Association was founded in 1890, the set of standard

“Chapa Sonambulo” owned by Craig Nelson. Painting by Melinda Brewer

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rules established in Great Britain were adopted, among them the height restriction for a player’s mount. In 1915, the size limit was increased to 15 hands 1 inch, and by 1920 the ruling on height was dropped completely. Today, the term “polo pony” simply describes a horse that plays polo, and although many are still small in stature, it is recognized more as a “type” than a specific height or breed. A polo pony can come in various sizes and shapes, from 15 hands (or

The members of The Canadian Polo Association were invited to submit photographs of their own equine superstars to be featured in this book. In this celebration of the polo pony, we pay tribute to these great horses.

Caption

“Thelma” owned by Mike Egan. Painting by Melinda Brewer

PONIES

It is said that some of the greatest ponies seem to understand the game and the role they play in getting the player to the ball at the right time. smaller) to 16 hands (and appear much larger!). Certainly, the modern-day polo pony is unique in the equine world as it must be quick and agile, sensitive, and brave, athletic with stamina, and have a willing and generous temperament to withstand the demands of competition on the field. Additionally, a polo pony must

be able to focus and be attentive to the rider. It is said that some of the greatest ponies seem to understand the game and the role they play in getting the player to the ball at the right time. HORSE BREEDING Most polo ponies

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are

thoroughbred

or a thoroughbred-type, as many of the exceptional characteristics of the racehorse—like speed and stamina—are also good qualities for polo. However, many polo ponies can be crossed with quarter horses, or even ranch horses, which can lend the sturdiness, reliability, and steadfast temperament. Today there

are many breeding technologies and organizations that have encouraged the development of the “polo pony type”. Some polo ponies have pedigrees that can be traced back generations through the various breed registries, such as the Thoroughbred Registry and the Argentine Association of Polo Pony

PONIES

Some polo ponies have pedigrees that can be traced back generations through the various breed registries, such as the Thoroughbred Registry and the Argentine Association of Polo Pony Breeders (AACCP). 1

“Val” and “Loki” owned by Chris Wright. Painting by Melinda Brewer

“Loki” at Greater Niagara Polo Club

John Benitz on “King”

Heidi Clark on her favourite pony “Nina”

Gerald Levin on “Tiger”

Garrett Smith on “Ally”

‘Best Playing Pony’ award presented to Chris Wright’s horse

Retired polo ponies “Sienna” and “Paloma” babysitting the next generation T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 131

PONIES

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All the horses have wonderful stories. Some were exceptionally talented on the playing field, putting their hearts into every game they played. Others reached superstar status simply because of their outstanding temperaments. Breeders (AACCP). In the United States, the American Polo Horse Association is documenting the pedigrees of the polo pony. There are also some renowned polo ponies playing at all levels with unknown breeding or pedigree, perhaps discovered in a field or a backyard. This is what makes this sport so unique and the horses so special.

EQUINE SUPERSTARS The members of The Canadian Polo Association were invited to submit photographs of their own equine superstars to be featured in this book. The response was overwhelming. All the horses have wonderful stories. Some were exceptionally talented on the playing field, putting their hearts into every game they played. Others

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reached superstar status simply because of their outstanding temperaments. Many of the ponies lived well into their twenties and early thirties, carrying generations of players on their backs. All of them are special in their own way and are well-deserving of the love and respect of their owners or players. In this celebration of the polo pony, we pay tribute to these great horses.

PONIES

String of greys, owned by Craig Nelson. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Sifton. Photo courtesy of Marianne McBean

Penny Davey with “Acorn”

Versatile, multi-purpose horses are common in the West 6

Bill Gerrie on “Dexter”

Steve Flowers on “Dakota”

“Snake” owned by Cliff

Ottawa Polo Club member Linda Porebski and “Dot”, owned by Barry Cloete

PONIES

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PONIES

Hailey Van der Burgt on “Chianti”

Playing Pony Award at Club Nacional

“Saffira” and “Matita”, owned by the Van der Burgt family. Painting by Melinda Brewer 5

“Juicy Fruit” owned by the Houlton’s. Painting by Melinda Brewer

helped many people in the National Capital learn to play polo

“Pantera” owned by the Smith family

CJ Sifton on “Taba”

“Bonita”, owned by Don Pennycook, receives 2015 Best

“Jax”, owned by Robert Campbell and pictured with Ottawa Polo Club player Carol MacLeod, has

Molly Houlton on “Pompita” T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 13 5

PONIES

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PONIES

Garrett Smith on “Little White”. The sturdy little welsh pony taught the Smith kids how to ride and play

“Romeo”

Dianne Chailler on “Angel”

Hannah Tuplin with her horse “Muneco,” another former high goal pony who taught her how to play

Dave Offen on “Whisper” in the 1995 U.S. Open

Brad Buie on

“Travis”, owned by Ottawa Polo Club member Melissa Gagnon and pictured with Sean Taylor.

Photo courtesy of Stephen J. Thorne T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 13 7

Kevin Brown on “Pirata”

David Payne on “Mickey Mouse”. Painting by Melinda Brewer

For the Love of the Horse

arly mornings and late nights are the norm for those who care for polo ponies. Endless laps around the exercise track, tack cleaning, and mountains of polo bandages that always seem to need rolling. The people that spend the hours caring for polo ponies are like the pit crew at a NASCAR race. Equally as important as the driver, the team can make the difference. Many

of the polo grooms in Canada come from South America, bringing years of polo experience, and introducing new traditions to the North American culture. It is also not uncommon to see family-run polo operations, with parents and kids all involved in the management and playing of the ponies. Caring for polo ponies is a huge commitment, and a lifestyle all onto its own. What makes a person give their life to the horse? Quite simply a love and passion that goes far deeper than the hard work and sacrifice.

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man” - Sir Winston Churchill

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Exercising the ponies at Polo Management, Toronto

Caption

FOR THE LOVE OF THE HORSE

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Sets in the spring at Toronto

Tournament day at Okanagan

Argentina at Grande Prairie Polo Club

Walker and Selina Watt, Black Diamond

Nacho, Fernando and Ruben at Grande Prairie Polo Club

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Argentine grooms and players at Toronto

Enedino Tadeo Ramos, Black Diamond Polo Club

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Cool down at Okanagan

Sets in the snow at Toronto

Visiting grooms from

FOR THE LOVE OF THE HORSE

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Special Events

he Sport of Kings reigns as a world-class stage for philanthropy. At polo fields across Canada, polo continues to score big wins for worthy causes. Actionpacked afternoons filled with beautiful horses and riders captures the

Polo For Heart sketch by Melinda Brewer

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fascination of the public, far and wide. Polo is often referred to as “hockey on horseback” and is one of the most exciting horse sports to watch. The glitz and glamour associated with the sport definitely helps to draw crowds, who love to cheer on the teams and stomp the divots at half time with a glass of bubbly in hand. More and more polo clubs across Canada are hosting events

Polo Under The Stars at the Toronto Polo Club

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SPECIAL EVENTS

to raise money for good causes and to help raise the profile of the sport. At the Toronto Polo Club, giving back to the community is a legacy that Club Founder, Colonel Michael Sifton, began in 1979 when he started the very first ‘Polo For Heart’ event. He partnered with the Heart Action Committee of Toronto to host an annual charity weekend of polo games that has now become Canada’s largest and longest running charity event. Polo For Heart celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019,

and to date has raised over $6 million dollars for heart and stroke related charities. From its glamourous kick-off party ‘Polo Under The Stars’ on Thursday evening, to the final trophy presentation on Sunday afternoon, Polo For Heart is a jam-packed weekend of polo, half-time entertainment, shopping, and an enormous hospitality tent. Over the years the event has hosted many movie and television stars, sports figures, and even polo’s very own celebrity Nacho Figueras. Over 5,000 people pass

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through the gates each year to see the international teams, celebrities, and to watch the exciting game of polo. Although Polo For Heart may be the longest running event at 40 years old, there are many other notable charity events that take place around the country. Club Nacional, near Montreal, holds an annual ‘Polo avec Coeur’, with proceeds going to The Montreal Heart Institute and The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General Hospital. At the Ottawa Polo Club, ‘Polo In

The Park’ raises money for the Rotary Club of Ottawa South. The Greater Niagara Polo Club hosts an annual ‘Polo For Health’ event for the Niagara Health Foundation. ‘The Pacific Cup’ is the signature event at the Vancouver Polo Club, helping The Canuck House, a hospice for children. The Victoria Polo Club have hosted several fundraising events over the years, including an event that supported the Victoria Riding For The Disabled, and The Rotary Centennial Cup in aid of the Mustard Seed Food Bank.

SPECIAL EVENTS

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Champagne presentation at Polo Under The Stars, with King Ward (Chair) presenting

Robinson at Polo For Heart, Toronto

King Ward on “Carla“. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Veueve Cliquot Calgary Polo Classic, 2015 6

Picnic sidelines at Polo For Heart, Toronto

The Bar Car at Club Polo Nacional 7

Scott Weir with NHL player Larry

Polo In The Park, Ottawa, 2017. Left-Right players: Parth Bhatt, Sean

Taylor, Gonzalo Cabrera, Justin Fogarty, Wesley Clover Parks Executive Director Karen Sparks, Majic 100 radio personalities Stuntman Stu and Angie Poirier

The Duncan Innes Memorial Trophy, Okanagan Polo Club

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SPECIAL EVENTS

While hosting large public events is a great forum for fundraising, it is also crucial for promoting the sport and attracting new members.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

While hosting large public events is a great forum for fundraising, it is also crucial for promoting the sport and attracting new members. The Calgary Polo Club has hosted many special events over the years, as their Ranch House (a beautiful field-side clubhouse) is the ideal setting for charity functions, and high-goal polo matches such as the Canadian Western Open. These events draw huge crowds, which in turn can

Polo at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto

at the Toronto Polo Club 2010 8

attract new players. The Vancouver Polo Club holds a polo clinic on the Sunday after their annual ‘Pacific Polo Cup’ to keep the momentum going for spectators who catch the ‘polo bug’. In 2005, the RCMP Musical Ride performed at half-time at the Victoria Polo Club, bringing 2,000 spectators out to watch the game. The Okanagan Polo Club holds its signature tournament every July, which draws 12 to 16

Polo For Health, at the Greater Niagara Polo Club

Game commentators at the Okanagan Polo Tournament

teams from all over Western Canada and the U.S. Players travel from as far as Winnipeg (a 15-hour journey with horses) to play in this incredible event. Over 200 horses are stabled on the property for the weekend, which attracts huge crowds of spectators. The sheer enormity of this tournament makes it a oneof-a-kind event in Canada. In 2010, Justin Fogarty, Co-Founder of the international Lawyers Polo Tournament,

FIP Ambassadors Cup at the Victoria Polo Club

Nacho Figueras at Polo For Heart, Toronto

brought this world-renowned event to the Toronto Polo Club. The Lawyers for Polo Committee of Justin Fogarty and Eduardo Bereterbide, began this partnership in 2008 with the first event held in Buenos Aires, and subsequent years in Madrid, Canada, Dubai, Paris, Bangkok, Sotogrande and Morocco. Gathering every year in a different country, the Lawyers Polo Tournament brings poloplaying lawyers from all over the globe

International Lawyers Polo Tournament, held

Polo Training Foundation Canada Fundraiser at Club Polo Nacional

The Pacific Polo Cup, at the Vancouver Polo Club T H E SP O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 149

SPECIAL EVENTS

together for a weekend of competition and social activities. In 2015, Derek and Deb Wolstenholme hosted the Ambassadors Cup at the Victoria Polo Club. This was the first time that an FIP Event had been held in Canada, and it brought players from Iran, Costa Rica, Switzerland, and the U.S.A. to Vancouver Island, not to mention a whole lot of media coverage. Over the years, The Toronto Polo Club has put on a variety of promotional polo exhibitions at various hotspots in downtown Toronto, attracting front-page coverage in major newspapers with polo pony parades down busy city streets, and polo games in the

middle of the business district. In the eighties and nineties, the annual “Black & White Polo Ball” was one of the most popular and long lived of these events, bringing polo to the masses in a glamourous format, all at different downtown entertainment venues. The Black & White Polo Ball soon became the hottest party in Toronto. One of its most memorable locations was the Toronto SkyDome. Following the popularity of the ball came “Polo In The City”, also intended to bring awareness of the sport and club to the downtown demographic. Another successful publicity stunt for polo was the NHL Hall-Of-Famers game at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 2010. Brian

O’Leary and his team at Polo Management Services had only a few weeks to teach NHL alumni players the game of polo, which was showcased in a performance of “hockey on horseback” to the enjoyment of huge crowds at the Royal Winter Fair. This was not the first time that polo has showed up at the Royal. Periodically over the last few decades there has been a polo match included in the program. The most recent game happening in 2016 with an exciting Canada vs. U.S.A. Challenge that kept the crowds on the edge of their seats. The Black Diamond Polo Club have done an admirable job of reaching out to the media for their “learn to play polo” days, and

getting excellent print, radio, and television coverage. In 2020, several members of the Black Diamond Polo Club had roles in an episode of the popular television series “Heartland”. The episode was about polo, and the members demonstrated their polo and riding skills to a huge nation-wide audience. Whatever it takes, polo clubs across Canada have come up with innovative and original ideas to raise money for community partners and to raise the profile of polo within their community. These endeavours not only benefit charities, but in the long term benefit the clubs and the sport by attracting new players and supporters.

NHL Alumni Polo Exhibition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Left-Right: Brian O’Leary, Mark Napier, Brad Marsh, David Freedman, Daryl Sittler, Rick Vaive, David Wayne

Polo For Heart, with David Sculthorpe (CEO of Heart & Stroke Foundation), Mike Egan (Chair of Polo For Heart) and Sheila Clark (Vice-Chair Polo For Heart) Cup, Blackberry Polo Club, Chicago IL, 2018

Game action in front of the Polo Pavilion at Polo For Heart, Toronto

spectators at EtheS2nd 1 50 \ TH P Oannual R T OOttawa F P OMountbatten L O I N C ATournament N A D A in 1991

The Maharaj of Jaipur and his wife visit

Royal Winnipeg Team Champions, PTF Thomas Wigdahl

Pony parade in downtown Toronto for ‘Polo In The City’

Group picture at the Spencer Smith Memorial Tournament at the Springfield Polo Club, 2019

Donkey polo was a huge hit with the 400+

Crowds line the fields at Sunday polo in Toronto

SPECIAL EVENTS

T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 151

SPECIAL EVENTS

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Okanagan Polo Tournament, 2018

For Heart, Toronto

Vancouver Grand Prix

Cowboy polo demonstration at the Bar U Ranch. Black Diamond players vs. Cowboys

Polo For Heart Chair Derek Watchorn with Event Honorary Chair Lloyd Robertson

Coeur, Club Polo Nacional

Trophy table at the inaugural Spencer Smith Memorial Tournament, 2019

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Vancouver ponies in the city

Outdoor arena action in the rain at Polo For Heart, 2018

Sidelines at Polo

The mare and foal parade at Polo avec

Hospitality tent at Polo For Heart T H E SP O R T O F P O LO IN C A N A DA \ 15 3

Snow Polo Tremblant

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Snow Polo in Canada

n our Canadian climate, playing polo in the snow seems only inevitable. However, it takes a dedicated team and a great deal of planning and partnerships to create and develop an international-style tournament. Special shoeing for the horses, grooming for the footing, and sheltered areas for the spectators are only a small part of the preparation that goes into organizing an

event of this magnitude. But when it all comes together, snow polo is a unique and spectacular sporting event. The genesis of the idea for a snow polo tournament in Canada began with a snow polo exhibition match at the Winterlude Festival in the nation’s capital, Ottawa. This event was organized by Justin Fogarty, the then-owner of Kilreen Farms. Fogarty brought together fellow polo players Scott Weir, Jen Fentum, Brian O’Leary and Evan White. The snow polo

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SNOW POLO

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The snow polo exhibition was a hit at the festival and led the way for the development of a larger snow polo event.

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exhibition was a hit at the festival and led the way for the development of a larger snow polo event. In February 2015, the first annual “Snow Polo Tremblant” match took place at Mont Tremblant, a ski resort situated north of Montreal. The co-founders of the event were Herbert Ratsch, Marc

Perrault and Justin Fogarty. Their goal was to create an event equal to other winter polo matches held in Switzerland, Italy, China and the United States. The inaugural event turned out to be a great success attracting over 200 VIP guests and welcoming 2,000 spectators to the match, free of charge.

SNOW POLO

The inaugural event turned out to be a great success attracting over 200 VIP guests and welcoming 2,000 spectators to the match, free of charge. 10

David Payne (Toronto), Marc Perrault (Montreal), Chris McKewe (South Africa)

Organizers Herb Ratsh, Marc Perrault, and Justin Fogarty during the presentations

Polo on Lake Tremblant in front of the Hotel Quintessence Resort and Spa

Chris Mekewe (South Africa)

Pablo Falabella and Brian O’Leary

Pre-game parade through the village

Derek Sifton, Brian O’Leary, Rob Stenzel

Max Torokvei and Pablo Falabella

Marc Perrault, Scott Weir, Derek Sifton, Brian O’Leary, Rob Stenzel 10

Marc Perrault, Scott Weir,

Trophy presentation after the games, with Galen and Hillary Weston presenting T H E SP O R T O F P O LO IN C A N A DA \ 15 7

International Events

ever were truer words spoken, as anyone in the polo community would agree. On your travels just look up the local polo club, and most often you will be warmly welcomed into the familiar fold. Polo is truly remarkable in that even if you are thousands of miles away from home, the people you meet when you play abroad

“Don’s 3 greys” by Melinda Brewer

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are generally like-minded. They share a common passion of the game, and the many traditions that come along with it. Players and teams have represented Canada all over the World, and for many generations. Travelling for polo is a great way to see new places, experience different cultures, and make lifelong friends. Reciprocal visits are also commonplace in the polo world, and many Canadian clubs have been fortunate to host international visitors.

“A polo handicap is a person’s ticket to the world” - Sir Winston Churchill

Pony Sets in Ghana

T H E SP O R T O F P O LO IN C A N A DA \ 159

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Justin Fogarty on “Gringita”. Painting by Melinda Brewer

Barbados-Canadian Open 2016 (Team Canada: Max Torokvei, Paul Knapp, Pablo Falabella, Brian O’Leary)

David Payne with Connor O’Leary in front)

Fred Mannix accepting the Coronation Cup from the late HRH Prince Phillip in United Kingdom. Photo courtesy of Katerina Morgan

Ireland Team at Polo For Heart

Barbados-Canada Open 2017 (Team Canada: Enrique Bauzada, Paul Knapp, Brian O’Leary,

Royal Jaipur Team at Polo For Heart

Team Mexico at Polo For Heart T H E S P O R T O F P O L O I N C A N A D A \ 161

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Fred Mannix and Team Alegria come second place at the Argentine Open Final, 2013. Photo courtesy of Katerina Morgan

2017. Photo courtesy of Katerina Morgan

Kingsley Ward Jr., Evan White Jr., CJ Sifton)

Fred Mannix and Team Alegria come second place at the Hurlingham Polo Final,

Canadian team in Australia, 2005 (Team Canada: Alfredo Vial, Don Pennycook, Scott Weir, Carol Pennycook) 5

Barbados-Canada Open 2020 (Team Canada: Mich Ward,

$100,000 International Gold Cup, Wellington, Florida, 1986. Alfonso Pieres, Calixto Garcia Valez, Paul Pieres, Dave Offen

Canada: Juan Sanchez Elia, Marcelo Abiatti, Pablo Falabella, Dave Offen)

Toronto hosts junior team from Ghana

Club Nacional hosts team from South T HAfrica E SP

9 O

Canadian team in South Africa (Team

Hanging inA Australia R T O F out P Oafter L Othe I Ngames CAN DA \ 16 3

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Canadian Junior trip to Australia and New Zealand, 2004 (Team Canada: Cody Offen, Mike Matz, Rob Stenzel, Blake Clarke)

Delegates Cup at Gulfstream, Florida. Matey Nedcov, Tod Rackley, Brandon Phillips, Dave Offen Ghana

Sightseeing safari in South Africa for Team Canada

Canada vs. U.S. game at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto (Team Canada: CJ Sifton, Kingsley Ward Jr., Mich Ward)

Fogarty) wins the Presidents Cup in Peoria, Illinois, 2012

Canadian team wins the 1997

Barbados-Canada open 2018 (Team Canada: Paul Knapp, Enrique Bauzada, David Payne, Mike Egan)

Julian Mannix and Hilario Ulloa celebrate their win at the U.S. Open Polo Championships, Wellington, Florida, 2014. Photo courtesy of Alex Pacheco

Hearn, Cliff Sifton, Matey Nedkov)

Rob Foster in

Canadian team in France (Team Canada: Mike Sifton, Beth 9

Canadian team (Cliff Sifton, Gerald Levin, CJ Sifton, Justin

T HE SPO R T O F PO LO IN C A N A DA \ 16 5

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Fred Mannix and the Commonwealth Team win the Coronation Cup in 2016, United Kingdom. Photo courtesy of Katerina Morgan

Val de Vie, South Africa

Ross Fargey playing in Ghana

Fred Mannix and team win the Queens Cup in 2004, United Kingdom

in United Kingdom, 1993 (Team Canada: Steve Dalton, Dave Offen, Todd Offen, Galen Weston Jr.) Canada in South Africa

Canadian team at the Cartier Cup ‘Silver Jubilee’ in the UK, 1993. (Team Canada: Galen Weston, Todd Offen, Dave Offen, Steve Dalton)

Marcelo Abiatti, Pablo Falabella, Dave Offen

Canadian team wins the Cartier ‘Silver Jubilee’ Cup 8

Polo

Canadian team in South Africa, Juan Sanchez Elia,

Canada (Cliff Sifton, Dave Offen, Galen Weston Jr.) vs. England (Julian Hipwood, Brian Morrison, James Lucas) Royal T H Eat Sthe PO R T Agricultural O F P O LWinter O I NFair, C AToronto N A DA \ 167

After the Games

hether it is an informal barbeque, an Argentinian asado, or a fully tented affair, the sport of polo in Canada is as much about the lifestyle around it as the game itself. In

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Canada, polo is very much a family sport, with many hours of preparation required before and after the play, often with the whole family in tow. Once the games are finished and the ponies are put away, the stories and tales begin. The plays are remembered, the fouls disputed, and the camaraderie continues long after the last horn has blown. Many a player has been blessed with summer polo nights, great food and beer, music, and

SUBHEAD

Asado after the games at Toronto Polo Club

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AFTER THE GAMES

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campfire, while members recount the days activities, and kids play in the background. All the clubs across Canada have their own distinct after-game activities. At Club Nacional it may be an asado cooked over open fire by the gauchos; at Springfield, the PA system will be blaring the sounds of U2 (the official soundtrack

of Springfield Polo Club); at Okanagan, it could be a potluck lunch at the ‘Broken Mallet Clubhouse’; and in Toronto, a party at the ‘Polo Shack’. Whatever the setting may be, the common theme that seems to prevail at clubs across Canada is friends and family enjoying the game they love.

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AFTER THE GAMES

“The Pink Link” at Black Diamond Polo Club

Brendon Stenzel and Scott Weir at Toronto home! Grande Prairie Polo Club

Ottawa Polo Club, Manotick Field

The kids at Toronto Polo Club

Hanging out on the boards, at Bancroft Farm, Toronto

Hippie costumes at the Springfield Polo Club Grotto party

Jessica Schneider and Craig Nelson 13

Pick-up truck pool at Grande Prairie

Good game! Canelo and Davis at Springfield Polo Cup

Happy winners!

GPR Elden Nelson, Fernando Pliego, Ernesto Sarasibar, Dana Sepulveda, Broggi, Craig Nelson

Team Offen after the game (Cody, Dave and Nicole)

Dancing at the ‘White Party’, Toronto Polo Club

Toronto polo kids cooling off in the pond after their game

Going

An informal post-match social at the

Former Black Diamond President relaxes hisAgame TH E S P OStephen R T OCobb F PO L O Iafter N C N A DA \ 171

10 things we bet you didn’t know about Canadian Polo

DID YOU KNOW… Elephant polo was played in Canada?

This was a promotional stunt with polo players Derek Sifton and Jean Cross at the Bowmanville Zoo, in Ontario, to promote Polo For Heart.

DID YOU KNOW… The first woman to play in the U.S. Open was Canadian?

Calgary Polo Club member Julie Roenisch made history in 1992.

DID YOU KNOW… Toronto has its name on the U.S.P.A. Interscholastic Trophy 8 times? The club boasts a remarkable eight National Interscholastic Championships (1977, 1979, 1984, 1987, 1988, 2006-2008) and one National Intercollegiate Championship in 1980.

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DID YOU KNOW… Canadian polo was featured on the CBC hit show “Heartland”? Members of the Black Diamond and Calgary polo clubs participated in Heartland, Season 14, Episode 7 “Courage”. The members included Jack Schneider, Mackenzie Brewin, Will Schneider, Dylan Foster, Lesley Tims, Walker Watt and Brittany Wise.

DID YOU KNOW… Several NHL players have traded in their hockey sticks for polo mallets? Montreal Canadiens’ hockey stars Larry Robinson and Steve Shutt both played polo in Montreal. NHL Alumni players Mark Napier, Brad Marsh, Daryl Sittler and Rick Vaive all learned how to play polo for a promotional match at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

DID YOU KNOW… There was a Canadian 10-goal player?

Lewis Lacey was born in Canada in 1887 and moved as a child to Argentina, where he learned to play polo. In 1915, he won the Argentine Open with his team “El Palomar” and by 1922 he had achieved a 10-goal handicap.

DID YOU KNOW… Over 200 horses and up to 16 teams compete at the Okanagan Polo Club’s annual summer tournament?

There is polo played from sun-up to sun-down, with three different flights. Players travel thousands of miles from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia to participate. Imagine that after-game party!

DID YOU KNOW… An international FIP event was held in Canada?

In 2015, Derek Wolstenholme, an ambassador for the Federation of International polo, and his wife Deborah, hosted the first FIP event to be held in Canada, ‘The FIP Ambassadors Cup’. This brought players from as far as Iran, Costa Rica, Switzerland, and across the U.S. to Vancouver Island.

DID YOU KNOW… Canadian Polo players travel thousands of miles to play at neighbouring clubs? It’s not unusual for Western players to travel up to 20 hours to attend polo tournaments, often crossing vast prairies and steep mountain passes. Ponies from the Victoria Polo Club must add another hour and a half on to their journey for the ferry ride to the mainland!

DID YOU KNOW… There are two Canadian artists who are internationally renowned for their polo art?

Rich Roenisch – A third generation polo player and rancher from Southern Alberta. Rich is renowned for his bronze polo sculptures, which are in many famous collections and are often used as trophies at major polo events. Melinda Brewer – A Montreal-based artist who has dedicated her life to chronicling the sport of polo and its equine superstars. She has been honoured with countless awards, and her artwork has appeared in galleries around the world. Melinda paints horse portraits for the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Wellington, Florida. She also produces an annual book, entitled “PoloStars”. T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 173

THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS Who helped to make this book happen NATIONAL SPONSORS Egan, Mike

Pennycook, Don & Carol

Mike Egan is a Canadian entrepreneur and businessman. He took up the sport of polo as an adult and has since become an active competitor at his home club in Toronto during the summer, and in Florida and Barbados during the winter. Mike also enjoys travelling and has had the opportunity to play around the world. Passionate about the game, Mike has been involved in many polo initiatives, including being the Chair of Polo For Heart, and the Founder, Executive Producer and Chief fundraiser for “The Sport Of Polo In Canada” book.

Don and Carol Pennycook have a deep-rooted involvement in polo. Aside from their busy careers, they run Club Polo Nacional from their home farm near Montreal. Every summer, they coordinate and host polo charity events and tournaments at the club. Passionate about horses, they also have a successful polo pony breeding program at their farm. Don is the President of Polo Canada and the Canadian delegate for The Federation of International Polo (FIP). As active players and avid polo travellers, Don and Carol have played polo all over the world, and Don has played in Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Chile, Dominican Republic, England, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, and the U.S.A.

Sifton Family For over 60 years, the Sifton Family has been involved in many aspects of polo, including organizing charitable and community events, and the development and promotion of the sport in Canada. Colonel Michael Sifton was the Toronto Polo Club President until his death in 1995. He was instrumental in building the Canadian Polo Association, and a national team to compete in the FIP World Cup. He also began Polo For Heart, which has just celebrated its 40th anniversary and has raised over $6 million dollars for charity. Colonel Sifton’s three sons have continued to contribute to the sport. Cliff is the current President of the Toronto Polo Club, honorary Chair of Polo For Heart, and a director of the Canadian Polo Association. He is also active with the United States Polo Association. Mike Jr. and Derek have been directors on the board for the Toronto Polo Club and committee members for Polo For Heart. The children of Cliff, Mike Jr. and Derek continue the family legacy and love of the game as they begin to take on more responsibilities within the club.

PATRON SPONSORS Benitz, John John is a 4th generation polo player, and a citizen of Canada and Argentina. He often plays in Argentina and California with his friend and legend Memo Gracida. John was introduced to the game by his father, who spoke often about the Benitz family’s association with polo in Argentina. John’s great-grandfather, John Benitz, was one of the founders of the Argentine Assoc. de Polo and winner of some of the first polo championships. His grandfather, a high-goal player and leading horse breeder, played in multiple Argentine and Hurlingham Opens with fellow Canadian and family friend, Lewis Lacey. The Benitz family continues to love polo today.

Brown, Kevin Kevin Brown is the President and Founder of the media and communications company, MediaEdge. He is an active player with the Toronto Polo Club and enjoys participating in pro leagues and tournaments at Toronto and in Florida. Kevin supports many charitable polo initiatives in Toronto, most recently the design and production of “The Sport Of Polo In Canada” book project.

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Bozzo, Riccardo Riccardo (“Ricky”) Bozzo B.A., LL.B, was born and raised in Toronto. He is the President and CEO of a real estate investment and development company. He is also the owner and operator of a film production studio. Riccardo is the co-founder of Silstar Foundation, a charitable organization that supports lung cancer research and patient care. In addition to his business, community and political engagements, Riccardo supports his wife’s, Dr. Emily Lai, medical career as a cardiologist. Together, they have two enthusiastic young sons, Adriano and Marcello. Riccardo is forever grateful for having been introduced to the sport of polo at the age of 14 by his late best friend and mentor, Frank Vlahovic. As a member of the Toronto Polo Club for over 30 years, Riccardo has played in Canada and the USA and had achieved a 2-goal handicap rating. Having taken a break from polo for several years, Riccardo has returned to actively playing.

Dillane, Bill

Emery, John

Bill Dillane has built a successful career in health care management. He is an active player with the Toronto Polo Club, and also enjoys playing in Barbados during the winters. Bill is an executive member of the Polo For Heart committee, helping to organize and fundraise for this annual event that raises money for heart and stroke related charities.

John Emery, a long-time member of the Toronto Polo Club, played polo for 37 years and was one of the founders of the Canadian Polo Association. He played an active role in the game’s development, travelling across Canada giving clinics, helping kick-start new clubs , and promoting the Mountbatten Series (an early Invitational tournament series). Fielding many competitive teams over the years, John has played all over Canada and the U.S., and enjoyed the pro leagues at the Toronto Polo Club.

Fogarty, Justin Justin Fogarty is a leading Canadian lawyer, and avid polo player. His many polo attributes include past President of the Canadian Polo Association, Co-founder of Snow Polo Tremblant, and Co-Founder of the International Lawyers Polo Tournament. Justin was an active player at the Toronto Polo Club, and Club Polo Nacional, until his recent move to Europe.

O’Leary Family Brian and Wendy O’Leary own and operate Polo Management Services, a large polo school and full-service boarding facility just north of Toronto. Both keen players, their young son Connor has also caught the polo bug and is already an impressive player. Brian is on the Board of Directors of the Toronto Polo Club, and the executive committee for Polo For Heart. He is also Chair of the Toronto Polo Club new membership committee.

Sierra, Baljit Baljit Sierra is a competitive 1-goal player with the Toronto Polo Club, participating in many tournaments and pro-leagues throughout the years in Toronto and Florida.

Genovese, Bobby Bobby Genovese is a successful businessman and a long-time friend and member of the Toronto Polo Club. He played for many years in Toronto and Florida with his team Vancouver International. His interest in polo has led Bobby to create multiple polo and equestrian clubs, including the BG Polo & Equestrian Resort in Ocala, Florida, and the Vero Beach Polo Club, in Vero Beach, Florida.

Payne, David David Payne is a recently retired lawyer who plays polo with the Toronto Polo Club. An active hockey player and equestrian all his life, David only recently found the sport that combines them both. Since learning to play polo, David has enjoyed playing competitive tournaments at Toronto. He played in the Snow Polo Tremblant event and has also played internationally in tournaments in Barbados and an FIP tournament in Asia.

Torokvei Family Bob, his son Max and daughter Asta, are members of the Toronto Polo Club. Asta is an accomplished equestrian in the world of show-jumping, and recently took up polo as well. Bob and Max have been playing polo for the last decade. Max is a competitive player in pro leagues and tournaments in Toronto and Wellington, Florida.

Offen Family The Offen family has been involved in polo since the early days of the Toronto Polo Club. The family patriarch, Dr. Tom Offen, left a legacy of talented players. His two sons, Dave and Todd, and grandsons, Robert and Brendon, have gone on to become professional players and have represented Canada on many teams. Dave Offen is the President of Polo Players Support Group, and the Vice-President of Polo Canada.

Rivkin, Andrew Andrew Rivkin is a Canadian entrepreneur and investor. He is an avid polo player and a long-time member of the Toronto Polo Club. Carrying a 1-goal handicap, Andrew enjoys playing in Toronto during the summer, and in Florida and England for the rest of the year.

Van der Burgt Family Phil and Tammy Van der Burgt own and operate the Greater Niagara Polo Club with their two children Hailey and Hunter. A true polo family, the Van der Burgts travel and compete all over North America. The family has a strong interest in making polo fun and attainable to all, as well as developing young players. They run many lesson programs, camps and tournaments throughout the year. T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 175

PATRON SPONSORS Ward Family King Ward and his family are active members of the Toronto Polo Club where King has been instrumental in developing and sponsoring significant polo charity events, including the Black & White Polo Ball, Polo In the City, Polo For Heart, and Polo Under The Stars. His sons Kingsley Jr. and Mich have represented Toronto on many interscholastic and intercollegiate teams and are both talented 2-goal players. His daughter Georgia is also an active member of the Club and is rapidly developing her polo skills. Kingsley Jr. has recently been appointed to the Toronto Polo Club Board of Directors.

Watchorn, Derek Derek Watchorn is a retired businessman and lawyer who remains engaged as a director of several public companies and not-for profit entities. He played polo with the Toronto Polo Club for many years. After hanging up his mallet, Derek continued to stay active with the club as the Chairman of Polo For Heart for eight years. Derek’s grandson Ryan continues the family’s involvement in the sport and is an accomplished 1-goal player.

Wright, Chris Chris Wright lives in Toronto, Ontario, where he works in the investment management industry. On weekends you can usually find him at the Greater Niagara Polo Club. Chris has ridden since the mid1970s and enjoyed polo since the mid-1990s.

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Bobby Genovese. Painting by Melinda Brewer

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this book:

The Senior Team

The Production Team

MediaEdge Team

Mike Egan, Founder and Executive Producer

Melinda Brewer

Rachel Selbie-Ricca, Production Manager

Melinda Brewer, Co-Founder, Producer, and Artist

Karen White

Annette Carlucci, Art Director

Karen White, Producer and Editor-in-Chief

Molly Houlton, Researcher

Erin Ruddy, Executive Editor

Contributing Sponsors

Photographers

Editorial Contributors

Black Diamond Polo Club

Thank you to all photographers who contributed to this book, and we apologize to anyone not listed.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this book, and we apologize to anyone not listed.

Christy Gunter

David Adey (Victoria)

Philip Lor

Tiffany Burns (Calgary)

Katerina Morgan

John Emery (Toronto)

Tina Nelson

Justin Fogarty (Toronto)

Alex Pacheco

Bill Gerrie (Royal Winnipeg)

Deb Pigeon

Gerald Levin (Royal Winnipeg)

Stephen J. Thorne

Carol MacLeod (Ottawa)

Julia Vigneon

Tina Nelson (Grande Prairie)

Susan Wales

Dave Offen (Toronto)

David Wayne

Carol Pennycook (Club Nacional)

Don Pennycook, President, Canadian Polo Association Kevin Brown, President, MediaEdge

Calgary Polo Club Club Polo Nacional Continental Press Bill Gerrie (RWPC) Grande Prairie Polo Club Greater Niagara Polo Club Gerald Levin (RWPC) MediaEdge Communications Okanagan Polo Club Ottawa Polo Club Springfield Polo Club Toronto Polo Club Vancouver Polo Club Victoria Polo Club Wales Veterinary Services

Jack Schneider (Black Diamond) Cliff Sifton (Toronto) Garrett Smith (Springfield) Paul Sullivan (Vancouver) Claudia Tornquist (Vancouver) Phil Van der Burgt (Greater Niagara) Marty Wales (Okanagan) T H E S P O R T O F P O LO I N C A N A DA \ 17 7

Canadian Polo Association, The Sport of Polo in Canada

Design and Production, MediaEdge Communications

Executive Producer, Mike Egan President, Kevin Brown

Polo Canada President, Don Pennycook Producer Editor in Chief, Karen White

Polo Canada

Design, Annette Carlucci

Managing Director, Melinda Brewer

180 Renfrew Drive, Suite 100 Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 9Z2

Production Manager, Rachel Selbie

Original Artwork created by, Melinda Brewer

Executive Editor, Erin Ruddy

Toronto (Head Office) 2001 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 500 North York, Ontario M2J 4Z8

SUBHEAD

History of Polo

Articles inside

Thank You to the Sponsors

After the Games

Special Events

Snow Polo in Canada

For the Love of the Horse

Canadian Women in Polo

Canada’s Got Talent

A Celebration of Polo Ponies in Canada

Victoria Polo Club

Vancouver Polo Club

Toronto Polo Club

Royal Winnipeg Polo Club

Springfield Polo Club

Okanagan Polo Club

Ottawa Polo Club

Greater Niagara Polo Club

Introduction: The Story of Polo in Canada

The Great Canadian Road Trip

Foreword: A Message from the Production Team

Grande Prairie Polo Club

Black Diamond Polo Club

Club Polo Nacional

Calgary Polo Club

Welcome Note from Don Pennycook President of The Canadian Polo Association