Calgary Polo Club

The 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 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

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

Calgary Polo Club

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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.

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.

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1 Gordon Ross leads the pack 2 Anne Evamy versus Rob Foster 3 Daniel Roenisch manned by Rob Foster 4 Tiffany Burns 5 Enthusiastic spectators out to watch high-goal polo at the Calgary Polo Club

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.

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1 Frank Galdon pursued by John Cross 2 Fred H. Mannix at the Calgary Polo Club 3 John Rooney hunting down Kyle Fargey 4 Candice Crosby earns a smile from polo pro Kyle Fargey 5 The ubiquitous Derek Dalton 6 A large crowd for the Polo Match for Mental Health fundraiser