July 2021 Polo Players' Edition- Polo Scene

ON THE LINE

Young player creates polo-inspired street fashion

Aleem Siddiqui, 13, plays on Battlefield Park’s interscholastic polo team. A YOUNG POLO PLAYER recently launched a clothing line based on the sport he loves. Named Chukker, the brand provides modern street wear that not only aims to help introduce people to the sport of polo but also to help improve society.

Aleem Rahman Siddiqui started playing polo four years ago at Battlefield Park Polo Club in Gainesville, Virginia, after several years of riding lessons.

Aleem Siddiqui, 13, plays on battlefield Park's interscholastic polo team.

“My mom went to a boarding school that had a polo program and she introduced me to horses and riding when I was 7,” he explained. “She took me to Battlefield Park Polo where I met Ms. Dori Burner. After lessons I would watch the polo team scrimmage in the outdoor arena. I kept working on my riding skills and decided that I would also like to play.” When he was 10 he played his first game against a Work to Ride team. Unfamiliar with the Work to Ride program, he started reading about it and talking to the kids on the team.

Siddiqui, now 13, participates on an interscholastic team in the fall and winter. In the summer he plays at the Great Meadow Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia. Last year, Siddiqui decided to create the brand. “I started Chukker in 2020 to provide modern apparel and bring more awareness to the sport,” he said. “I like to make designs that appeal to polo players and enthusiasts as well as those who haven’t been introduced to the sport.” He came up with a few design concepts that would help people understand polo better. “My first design was the anatomy of polo. In this design, I created a diagram of the horse, player and equipment,” he said. “It wasn’t as whimsical as some of my recent designs but I thought it was important for people to understand the basics.”

Siddiqui's first design was the anatomy of polo (above). More recently, he has added some whimsical designs (below).

Not only does he want to attract more people to the sport, Siddiqui wants to improve access to polo for all players. After learning about the Work to Ride program, he decided to support it. “I soon realized what an amazing program Ms. Lezlie [Hiner] has started and how many children she had impacted. When I started Chukker, I felt compelled to help support the program in any way possible,” he said. With that in mind, he has pledged to donate 10% of annual profits to Work to Ride.

For more information or to purchase, go to chukkerofficial.com, and follow on Instagram and Twitter.

VIRTUAL REALITY

Oklahoma State wins intercollegiate tournament

While the global pandemic prevented the National Intercollegiate Championship from being played for the second year in a row, organizers didn’t let that stop them from providing some fun competition for the teams. Many of the college programs had restrictions on competitions and travel so a virtual Tournament of Champions was created to keep teams engaged and connected throughout the season.

Each region competed in a series of three tasks. Points were earned in each category from first through fifth place. At the completion of each of the regional tasks, a regional champion was crowned. The four regional winners, along with two wild card teams, advanced to the national championship round. Advancing were Montana, Oklahoma and Oregon State Universities, Skidmore College, University of South Carolina Aiken and University of Virginia.

The national round consisted of an additional three tasks, each with point values first through fifth place. The team with the most points at the end of the three rounds was crowd winner of the virtual Tournament of Champions and received the grand prize saddle, complete with leathers and irons. Second and third place winners took home a box of arena balls.

Utilizing their equine backgrounds to their advantage, Montana State University (Bozeman, Montana) took a commanding lead in the first task, the Quiz Bowl. The win earned the team a $500 FarmVet gift card. In the second task, one player from each team shot penalties live via Zoom. Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, Oklahoma) showed off its penalty shooting skills, taking home 12 custom-made saddle pads. There was a four-way tie between Oklahoma and Montana State Universities, Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York) and University of South Carolina Aiken (Aiken, South Carolina) heading into the third round. The third task had a player from each team performing a mounted riding pattern, which was videoed and posted to social media. A panel of experts reviewed the videos and selected Oklahoma State the winner. The team received a grooming package, including a set of cordless clippers, valued at $500.

An Oklahoma State University pony models one of the new saddle pads and the new saddle the team won. The team also took home a grooming package worth $500 to pamper its string.

Oklahoma State, with first-place finishes in two tasks, was crowned overall champion. Skidmore College was runner-up and Montana State finished third.

Other awards included Rookie of the Year, won by Morehouse College (Tyrone, Georgia) that received a box of arena balls; Hermoine Most Studious Award, won by Montana State that received a set of stirrup leathers; Most Valuable Player of the Tiki Tiki Challenge, won by University of Virginia’s Jack McLean who received an Indo balance board; and Golden Snitch Team Spirit Award, won Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan) that received custom polo belts. All national participants won a grooming towel, courtesy of FarmVet.

Congratulations to all the winners!