Newport Polo Club

May 1st, 2008, Newport, RI, …The social highlight of Newport’s 2008 summer polo season will be the 8^th annual

International Polo Ball charity gala to benefit the Newport Polo Education Foundation. The annual black tie gala will be held on

Friday, Aug. 1^stat one of Newport’s most glamorous locations ~ Rosecliff .

Guests of honor will be the Egyptian Polo Team. The evening, themed Friday Night Fever, will include cocktails on the terrace overlooking the gardens and sea, gourmet Pharaoh’s feast, disco dancing in Studio 548, and a live and silent auction with fabulous items on which to bid, with proceeds to support the Newport Polo Education Foundation,

The popular summer soiree, now in its eighth year, attracts polo players and enthusiasts from the US and abroad for a weekend of fun in the glamorous seaside resort. Festivities continue the following day, Sat., Aug. 2^nd with a Tribute Match between USA and Egypt in the Newport International Polo Series. The match will conclude with an award ceremony and an authentic New England lobsterbake.

Early-bird pricing for advanced ticket purchases includes a $25 discount off the full ticket price of $175/person through June 15^th. (Tables of 10 also available.) Dinner tickets include cocktails, dinner, & dancing from 7:00pm-midnight.

Cocktail tickets are also available for $75/person for cocktails & dancing from 9:30-midnight. Tickets can be purchased online at www.poloeducationfoundation.org or by calling (239) 989-2011 or (401) 847-7090. Dinner seating is limited.

Lodging is reserved at Pearls of Newport boutique hotels for out of town visitors. For booking, please call 401-848-0061

or email: ray@pearlsofnewport.com

Gala co-chairs Dori Burner & Matthew Fonseca from the Newport

Polo Club anticipate a very entertaining event, adding, “We are dedicated to helping

the Newport Polo Education Foundation foster the sport here in Newport, polo’s

American birthplace, and we are grateful to the community for supporting Newport’s

grand polo tradition." Proceeds from the gala benefit the Newport Polo Education

Foundation, a non-profit 501[3]c organization registered in Rhode Island with a

mission to support and develop training and educational programs surrounding the

sport of polo, as well as other charitable causes.

The gala will take place at Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue in Newport,

the premier estate amidst America’s finest collection of gilded age mansions.

Commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, architect

Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of

French kings at Versailles. After the house was completed in 1902, at a reported

cost of $2.5 million, Mrs. Oelrichs hosted fabulous entertainments here, including

a fairy tale dinner and a party featuring famed magician Harry Houdini.

Tickets to Saturday’s polo match and lobsterbake are sold separately by the Newport International Polo Series. Lobsterbake reservations must be made in advance by calling (401) 847-7090 by July 29^th. Polo match tickets are available at the entry gates, which open 2 hours prior to the start of the match. The polo match is at 5pm on the polo grounds of Glen Farm on the outskirts of Newport, located at 715 East Main Road (aka Route 138) in Portsmouth, RI

Designer Polo Rugs Become Collector’s Items

March 11, 2008, Newport, RI: …After a successful two-year run, American designer Claire Murray is retiring her polo rug designs. The remaining pieces will be the last of their kind available, and the limited edition rugs will officially become collector’s items, bolstering their market value.

This month Murray’s regional wholesale director Tori McNally presented a check for $550.00 to the Newport Polo Education Foundation as the result of the second year of the polo rug’s donation program. The designer, taken with the ambiance of the polo scene in Newport and the annual fundraising efforts of the Newport Polo Club to support noteworthy community causes as well as the sport’s continuity in its American birthplace, conceived a series of rugs specifically to sell at the Newport International Polo Series, allocating 10% of sale proceeds to the Newport Polo Education Foundation.

Remaining rugs are available through McNally at tmcnally@clairemurray.com or (401) 556-7409 in three sizes, each with a unique pattern: the large rug is 64”x89”; the medium rug is 40”x63”; and the small rug is 24.5” x 36”, and sale proceeds will honor the donation program.

Known world-wide for her signature New England designs and rich color palette, Murray’s classic hand-made polo rug designs are 100% wool with both latex and cotton backing for prolonged life. Murray splashed onto the designer home textile scene after moving to Nantucket and reviving the traditional crafts of rug hooking and the needle arts, which has developed into a flourishing international wholesale and retail business.

Proceeds benefit the Newport Polo Education Foundation, a non-profit 501[3]c organization registered in Rhode Island with a mission to support and develop training and educational programs surrounding the sport of polo, as well as other civic and charitable causes. Details of those programs may be furnished upon request or on its web site: www.poloeducationfoundation.org.

Overseas Report: Destination Jamaica By Leslie-Ann Masterton-Fung Yi

March, 2008….The annual Jamaican tour by team USA included Dan Keating, Matthew Fonseca, John Wigdahl and Christer Still. It was great to see our friends from the Northern climes and try to outdo each other on and off the polo field. As tours go, it was not without its dramas.

The first match, scheduled for Chukka Blue, was relocated last-minute to the St. Ann Polo Club grounds when the baked pitch in Hanover cracked from draught. So, after closing down Montego Bay on their first night, the team left the comfort of Toby’s Resorts and headed up the coast to Chukka Cove for their first competition with the Jamaicans. The field at Chukka Cove was in great shape for the visitors to try out the horses that they would also play on Saturday against the St. Ann Polo Club. This was followed by a lively jerk dinner where the team renewed its love affair with Jamaican cuisine and local rum before moving on to Amnesia, also the name of a dance club in Ocho Rios.

They spent much of Friday recovering, swimming and relaxing at the Melville’s Villa at Chukka Cove to work up an appetite for dinner at Blenheim, the Masterton estate where their intended strategy was an early night for the big game on Saturday. An attempt to sneak out to Margaritaville was thwarted when the headlights on the getaway car refused to work . . . Monsoons set in during the night and continued throughout Saturday, flooding any chances of the match that all of Jamaica had stakes in. Consequently the visitors had Dunne’s River Falls to themselves for the day, and the rest of their energy reserve was spent at the Irish Pub jigging and swigging before finally moving on to Margaritaville, where “Trini” Alan Tam continued to impress the locals with his dancing skills.

In the morning the team headed to Kingston where the sun and breeze were drying the field for their much anticipated match against the Kingston Polo Club, represented by Tarik Felix, James Robertson, Paul Lalor and Randy Mair, The visitors jumped out to an early lead in the first chukka with Fonseca opening the scoring with a 60 yard penalty followed up by a couple of classic goals by Wigdahl. Towards the end of the second chukka Still jumped on a ball backed out of the line up by Fonseca and carried the bouncing ball down the field and scored to increase the Newport lead to 4 goals to 0. However, his moment of glory did not last long as his horse tripped on the way back to the centre after the goal and he fell, landing on his head and was briefly knocked out. Although, he vowed that he was fine he was dispatched to St. Andrews Memorial for a thorough check up and Joel Azan took his place. The 3^rd and 4^th chukkas remained scoreless as the Kingston team came to life, but were unable to convert their opportunities and the Newport team adjusted to their new team mate who put his team further ahead in the 5^th chukka by scoring a neat, opportunistic goal. Lalor then came to life scoring twice in the 5^th to bring Kingston into the game and although they kept the pressure on with another goal by Robertson, Newport held on to win by 5 goals to 3.

Team USA was proud to accept the Newport/Kingston trophy for the first time, presented by the Hon. Dennis Lalor, and is grateful to the Masterton family, including Leslie-Ann, Doc, Paddy, and William, Stevie Fung-Yi, Shane Chin and his family, Danny Mehlville, Paul and Dennis Lalor, Mark Wates, John G, James Robertson and all their Jamaican hosts for the hospitality received and wonderful horses that they were given to play and look forward to hosting the Jamaicans in August.

Overseas Report: Destination Chile: USA Women Fight the Good Fight February 2008, Curico, Chile: … One of the largest crowds of the season gathered at the Club de Polo Curico in southern Chile on Sat. Feb. 23 to witness an ambitious American women's team from the Newport Polo Club in an impressive display of bravery and gusto in a 4-chukker match against one of the top women's teams in South America. The match was slated the main event of the day, following several under card matches on the balmy 75° sunny afternoon.

USA's Amy Rice, captain at #1, Jenn Mitchell at #2, Brooke Still at #3 and Heather Rasulis, player-coach at #4 were trying out horses and practicing twice a day since their midweek arrival in Chile to prepare for the match, in addition to team-bonding on a white-water rafting trip in the Andes, getting saddle-fit trail riding in the mountains, limbering up on the dance floor, acclimating by the poolside, and being well nourished around the clock by their exuberant Chilean hosts to psych them up in anticipation of facing a team of Chilean women that has played together since childhood and tours all of South America to defeat every challenger that beckons.

Playing for Chile were Alicia Gonzalez at #1, Marley Neumann at #2, Ina Weber at #3 and Sofia Hamilton at #4. Given a three-point handicap at the outset of the match to make up for the strength of their opponents, the USA team fought hard despite rattling last minute horse and lineup changes ordered by Don Felix Garrido, honorary coach, host and mascot, and never lost heart even though lady luck failed to show up on their bench, causing narrow misses and shots stopping short of the goal line.

In the first chukker, USA succeeded in effectively stopping the game plan of the Chilean team, holding them scoreless with good defensive work including blocking two penalty shots, which enabled USA to put some good offensive plays into action. Tensions heightened when USA's anchor, Rasulis had a brush with doom but remounted without hesitation after a dazzling tumble that frightened onlookers to their feet. In the second chukker, the Chileans regrouped and found the goal but the Americans continued to play tough and responded to the increased pressure. Without a half-time breather, the third chukker was ramped up a notch in speed as the Americans now showed greater confidence in their mounts, made stunning saves at goal and continued offensive threats as well, keeping the Chileans on the run. The fourth chukker surpassed the first three as the Americans played their hearts out, blocking and passing beyond their wildest dreams, but the Chileans managed several more points before it was all over. The Chilean coach admitted his marked impressions after the match ~ 'you made me suffer'. The final score was 6-3 but does not reflect the satisfaction of all 4 Americans who reached deep and left it all on the field, playing the match of their lives. Trophies and eloquent kudos were presented by Garrido and others field-side with the beautiful mountain range as a backdrop to the pitch that holds fond memories for Newporters and Chileans alike. The Americans each accepted their honors with expressions of gratitude for the hospitality and camaraderie of the club and their hosts. Local television media covered the event, and a generous bar-b-que concluded the day's festivities.

Chilean teams have participated in the Newport International Polo Series several times since its inception in '92, including the Chilean women's team of 2006 in the first all-woman international match in the history of the Polo Series. USA has played in Chile in 1998 and 2006, and in Chile's international women's tournament of 1998.

The USA team is grateful to their hosts Patricia and Felix Garrido Concha and their family especially Felix Chico, and friends including Christian Oportus, and Eduardo Hamilton Sr. and his family especially Sofia and Eddie Hamilton Jr., and all the members of the Club de Polo Curico for their warm hospitality.

Shown from left: Heather Rasulis, Brooke Still, Felix Garrido Concha, Amy Rice and Jenn Mitchell at beautiful San Isidro.

Overseas Report: Destination Ireland
Jan., 2008, Wicklow, Ireland ... The annual New Year’s tournament in Ireland added a new chapter to its annals, beginning on Sat. Dec. 28 with a bleary-eyed landing in Dublin. Team USA soon found solace in the efficiency and relative calm of the Dublin airport at dawn. A modern freeway system leading to Wicklow was sufficiently deserted for a beginner’s lesson in driving on the wrong side of the road and left-handed shifting, no pun intended, southward into the pale sunrise.

The enthusiastic Herbst clan greeted the early arrival at their spacious clubhouse with plenty of warm embraces and Guinness on tap for an Irish breakfast to start the day off right, especially if there was to be polo in the afternoon. "The second Guinness is optional." reassures Mickie. The brilliant wit and charming brogue on the odd visitor in America is stamped on every Irish soul! Laughter abounds, singing, dancing, storytelling and merrymaking is the Hiburnian pursuit.

As the Irish sun ascended to its winter apex barely above the treetops, dazzling shades of green came to life in lush mosses, ferns and grasses growing on every hill, dale and burm in the mildness and moisture of the Irish winter. Indoors, glowing fires crackled, velvety soups simmered and whole grain breads crispened to welcome and nourish the traveler for Irish adventure and polo. Conversations of the latest polo matches and polo ponies bridged to country events, and then to world events, and back again to polo.

The first match was on tap for the afternoon in the opening round of the annual winter classic, a best-of-three arena polo tournament at Wicklow Polo Club’s world-class facility, perched high atop Kilpool Hill overlooking the Irish Sea. Hearty introductions take place in the entry foyer where both teams amass their gear, discuss strategy and dress in layers for the chilly and damp conditions. An hour later, USA's Steve Smith at #1, Nicola Foley at #2 (substituting for Dan Keating, delayed in travel) and Christer Still at #3 overcame their jetlag for a first-round victory against Ireland's Sophie Patton at #1, Neville Keaton at #2 and Siobhan Herbst in the #3 position. (For Play by Play, go to Dec. 29). Congratulatory whiskies and cigars were plied heavily on the winners late into the night.

The second day on Irish soil started rougher than the first. As hangovers were nursed, adding to a more rare form of Irish flu plaguing the locals, team USA was resuscitated by the morning news of the Patriot’s perfect season conclusion, and struck a new strategy for the second match, sure to be increasingly challenging. The weather remained clear and dry for the match, bringing out a lively crowd of local supporters to cheer from the mezzanine. USA's Steve Smith at #1, Dan Keating at #2 and Christer Still at #3 took an early lead and kept the pressure on the hometown favorite Irish team of Sean Reynolds at #1, Dennis Connolly at #2 and Aiden Farrell at #3 for a competitive match resulting in USA's second victory in the tournament. (For Play by Play, go to Dec. 30).

Once again, the celebrations began at the Wicklow Polo Club’s bar and ensued until dinner reservations could no longer be avoided. Come as we were, a champagne cocktail reception awaited in Wicklow where the headcount doubled with more Wicklow polo enthusiasts before being poured in to Wicklow’s most sympathetic Italian trattoria for sustenance, and eventually making our way home, stopping only once, in the fateful pub that fell in our path.

A polar bear plunge beckoned on the third day, chaperoned by Michael Herbst to a private paradise on the shore for a frolic with foot mallets and dogs. An inspection of the Guinness tap at Wicklow Golf & Country Club on the return route was de rigueur to fortify the final round of polo in the coming hours.

The final match was played on New Year's Eve at half two in the afternoon, preceded by an exhibition gender dual of 2 on 2, pitting Siobhan Herbst and Minnie Keating against Sean Reynolds and Dan Keating, the results of which have dissipated into the sea mist. In the main event, with three days of Irish hospitality, Team USA began showing signs of excess as their Irish hosts, in fresh supply of ace relievers, captured the finale in the final moments of play and secured the silver cup to rest in sanctity ~ dust in tact ~ in its place on the Wicklow Polo Club's well-stocked trophy shelf. House rules require a trifecta of victories to claim the prize. USA's Steve Smith at #1, Dan Keating at #2 and Christer Still at #3 were equally matched by the Irish team’s Dennis Connolly at #1, Nicola Foley at #2 and Michael Connolly at #3 for a nail-biting contest, with anxious supporters clamoring in suspense from the balcony throughout four chukkers of play, and embraces of appreciation amongst the players at its conclusion ~ an Irish victory in the tournament finale. (For Play by Play, go to Dec. 31).

A lively 'fancy dress' costume party hosted by the Herbst clan ensued to ring in the New Year with a bountiful feast, live music and dancing. The Irish team will visit Newport in July ’08 to defend last season’s victory on USA’s home turf in the Newport International Polo Series.

Many thanks to the Herbst Family, including Mickie, Wendy and Siobhan and friends for their Irish hospitality, food, drink, horses, and polo.

May 1st, 2008, Newport, RI, …The social highlight of Newport’s 2008 summer polo season will be the 8th annual

International Polo Ball charity gala to benefit the Newport Polo Education Foundation. The annual black tie gala will be held on

Friday, Aug. 1st at one of Newport’s most glamorous locations ~ Rosecliff .

May 1st, 2008, Newport, RI, …The social highlight of Newport’s 2008 summer polo season will be the 8^th annual

Friday, Aug. 1^stat one of Newport’s most glamorous locations ~ Rosecliff .