Yesteryears

Buffalo polo

Western New York club was one of the country’s first

The Buffalo Country Club Polo Team included William G. Schoellkopf, Harold C. Bickford, Seymour H. Knox and Harry B. Spaulding.

The Buffalo Polo Club, founded in 1877 by the Rumseys, Carys and Scatcherds, was one of the very first polo clubs formed in this country. The club was absorbed into the Country Club of Buffalo, founded by the same families, in 1889. Golf was added in 1894, the first hole created by digging a hole and inserting a tomato can for a cup. It eventually was expanded to 18 holes. The club grounds (and all of the Rumsey lands) were the site of the Pan-American Exposition in 1901.

Polo continued to be an important factor in the life of the club until around 1915, when it was allowed to die out. Fortunately for the club, when the game got started again in 1921, the principal polo field was more or less intact, with the turf in fine condition. The stables had to be entirely remodeled. The largest stables accommodated 47 ponies in box stalls, and there were 16 more stalls in an adjoining stable.

The club started back up 1922 with 14 players, including Richard S. Allison, polo coach and manager, and with 50 playing ponies. The members wanted to develop enthusiasm for the game more than a polo team, so they seldom used the same lineup twice in games with other polo clubs. Every one of the players was given the opportunity of taking part in at least one of these matches, and this greatly increased their enjoyment.

During the season, the club played 16 matches both at home and abroad, and were successful in winning considerably more than a majority. Games were played with the Toronto Polo Club, Miami Valley Polo Club of Dayton, Ohio; Detroit Riding and Hunt Club and Lake Shore Hunt Club. A team was entered in the Thousand Islands polo tournament in August of that year.

The season ended with the final game for the Averill Cup, played with the Toronto Polo Club, Sept. 25 at Buffalo. This is an old and important cup in the Country Club history, and years before had been won twice by Toronto and twice by the Country Club. The matches were always played without handicap. Buffalo won the last and final match, 4-1. Playing for Country Club was Harry B. Spaulding; Seymour H. Knox; Harold C. Bickford; Lawrence Rumsey. Toronto fielded Gordon Beardmore; Gen. James MacBrien, Allen Case and Col. R.K. Marshall.

Several of the best American players started to play polo at the Country Club, including both Milburns and the late C.C. Rumsey. Polo continued to be played at the club until 1935. •