2021 SPRING SEASON
We are working on some fun (member exclusive) events for the spring season that will allow for social distancing,
Due to the uptick in Covid19, we have decided not to participate in our annual trips to Barbados, Wellington and Sarasota. We will instead focus on all the safe events we can participate in, here in our hometown.
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WILL ALLOW FOR THE LARGEST GROUP AND SOCIAL DISTANCING
2021 SPRING OPENING PARTY @ OXFORD POLO CLUB - March 13th-10am
RULES AND STRATEGY AT THE STADIUM - LIVE DEMO
APRIL 6th - BASIC
APRIL 8th - ADVANCED
(Tickets go on sale March 11)
SPRING CLOSING PARTY @ FIELD 5 - THE ARENA- THE BARNS - MAY 15TH
RULES AND STRATEGY CLASSES
These two classes were a delight to all who attended. Our first class, Basic Rules was presented by USPA Umpire Rob Yakley, who is also a polo player with a history of playing at The Villages Polo Club and Arena Polo. Rob took this class beyond what they would have experienced in our Polo 101 class. He explained how the rules are to protect the players and ponies along with keeping the game moving. He used analogies that we could relate to, as he explained why the rule existed, and the severity of the penalties associated with it. A question and answer session ended with a game of polo trivia.
Our Advanced class was lead by Lord Lyall with a panel made up of Paige Boone, Frankie Bilbao, Nick Johnson, Nate Berube and Eden Omerod. A lively discussion about strategy, handicaps, horses and personalities kept us all entertained. Paige went into details about the different classes of handicaps; ea: Mixed, arena, woman's and woman's arena, and stated that she has 4 different handicaps. The panel also explained that picking their teams is done long before the season starts and that once the teams are announced, the strategy starts. Nick offered that about 95% of the polo players handicap is 1 or below and that there are only eight 10 goal players in the world. Most players want to stay below 5, as there is a better chance for them to play. It was also explained that a handicap is not based just on goals scored, but on how well they play the game and aid in their teams success. After a brief break for lunch, Eden went down to the field and showed techniques for training and communicating with a horse. It was an absolutely fascinating presentation where he compared it with parents or teachers relating and encouraging their children to be engaged on a level comfortable to both and connecting with mind and body language.
Our Advanced class was lead by Lord Lyall with a panel made up of Paige Boone, Frankie Bilbao, Nick Johnson, Nate Berube and Eden Omerod. A lively discussion about strategy, handicaps, horses and personalities kept us all entertained. Paige went into details about the different classes of handicaps; ea: Mixed, arena, woman's and woman's arena, and stated that she has 4 different handicaps. The panel also explained that picking their teams is done long before the season starts and that once the teams are announced, the strategy starts. Nick offered that about 95% of the polo players handicap is 1 or below and that there are only eight 10 goal players in the world. Most players want to stay below 5, as there is a better chance for them to play. It was also explained that a handicap is not based just on goals scored, but on how well they play the game and aid in their teams success. After a brief break for lunch, Eden went down to the field and showed techniques for training and communicating with a horse. It was an absolutely fascinating presentation where he compared it with parents or teachers relating and encouraging their children to be engaged on a level comfortable to both and connecting with mind and body language.
SPRING SEASON OPENING PARTY AT OXFORD POLO
Our 2021 Spring Opening party at Oxford Polo Club was enjoyed by about 160 people. It was a beautiful day with a sunny sky, slight breeze under the shade of the big oaks, while being entertained by Joe Hand.
Our members pulled out all the stops with their elaborate tailgating displays, dressed for the occasion and some even handing out wine to other attendees.
OUR TAILGATING WINNERS
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1st Place 
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2nd Place 
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3rd Place 
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4th Place 
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1st Place - Michael Tighe, Marie Montvilo, Rita & Jerry Kelly, Rena & Michael Bonczek & Ginny McLoughlin
2nd Place: Bill & Susie Thesier, George & Betsy Yates and Rosemary Karpovich
3RD Place: Katherine Limimg and Lisa Dattilo
4th Place: Tami Fratis, Howard Baker and Gus Schettini
PHOTOS BY: Keith Franklin
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Prizes for tailgating included: Picnic baskets or backpacks filled with place settings, flatware, wine glasses, a bottle of wine along with a ticket for a tailgating spot at a Polo Match in March. Trivia prizes included Polo tickets, coasters, beverage cozzy's, shirts and aprons. |
The event started with a match played by our Polo School students. It was great to see how much they have improved their game since the last time we saw them.
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Our Polo School players were: Red - Angie Watt, Mike DeAmbrose, Beth Millwood and Lou Pendas. Blue - Kim Smith, Gus Schettini, Petra Harden and Mike Harris
Paul and his horse won for the best matching mane and helmet.
The next event was an educational event with Lord Lyall showing the different equipment for tacking a pony for play, along with a game of house trivia. Prizes included tickets to polo matches in March, polo coasters, beverage cozies and shirts. Our next event was a match by Oxford Green played by Sherry Wedgemuller, Miguel Lis Planells, Camron Smart and Murad Ismail vs Villages White played by Irene Lis Planells, Todd Randell, Paul Wadsworth and Lupe Castro. Our umpire was Nick Johnson and our favorite announcer Dale Gavett . Joe Hand and Lord Lyall entertained us with some great music under the shade of the oak trees.