Victoria Polo Club

3 generations; Mike, Dan and Joshua Adey

Reports 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 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

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

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1 Steve Mann, Club President 2 FIP Ambassadors event winners, flanked by Deborah and Derek Wolstenholme, with BC Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon in centre 3 Dan Adey, Mike Adey, Brent Hoeppner, Steve Mann (Isabella Adey in front) 4 The clubhouse 5 Kelly Harley with “Bumblebee” 6 Matt McNeil and Alison Lagan (mounted), and Kelly Harley on foot

Victoria Polo Club

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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 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 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.

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.

1 David Harris umpiring 2 3 4 Polo in the early 60s at Powell’s field 5 Frank Van Veggel 6 The Lieutenant Governor Cup Tournament, 2012 7 Father and son, Dan and Joshua Adey 8 RCMP Musical Ride, 2009

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 PEOPLE & 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 PONIES“Pink Knot”. Painting by Melinda Brewer 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