ROBERT CHIN
Jamaican hero Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee’s polo life By Ava-Rose Hinkson
Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee Born: May 3, 1960 in Kingston,
Jamaica Top Handicap: 3 goals (A local handicap, which was eventually discarded, was 7 or 8 goals) Current Handicap: 1
Writing about the living legend Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee and her illustrious legacy is a daunting enterprise. Her tall and erudite stature is reflected in both her accomplishments and her physique. There are few well-established polo clubs around the world that have not hosted the Godmother of Women’s Polo. From the genteel formality of a royal ball to the dark and precarious streets of Kingston, Jamaica, Lesley-Ann is always well-equipped to handle any conversation or plight. To know Lesley-Ann is to understand the total respect she demands from her horses. Although seldom, the endowment to perform upon the back of her most prized possessions is willingly entrusted to the few that are approved. My family and Lesley-Ann have been close friends for many years, so naturally my infatuation with her philosophies, charisma and abilities started at a young age. When Lesley-Ann speaks even the horses stop chewing. Her advice on and off the field is passionate, intense and accurate. When in doubt, falling back
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upon her guidance is always a strong course of action. In the world of athletes, to say she is achieved in her field fails to truly credit all her astounding feats. How many sportsmen or women have a photograph on a postage stamp? How many equestrians are skilled enough to ride on an international level in several different disciplines? Who else runs a family business while traveling the world playing, coaching and teaching all ages of the polo-playing community? In this interview, Lesley- Ann gives a detailed look inside her incredible life journey. Her no-nonsense upbringing along with the love of horses and polo have produced an Olympic-level athlete. Her story begins early on in the movement for women’s polo. She is one of the distinct few women who helped hold down the gates for other women. Lesley-Ann can make it all look easy, but her story has moments of trial and hardship that made her grow as a person and as a horsewoman. While Lesley-Ann has worn many hats in her lifetime, she has spent most of her professional life
