Tag Archives: Polo

April 11, 2018 · 9:22 pm

POLO: U.S. OPEN – GAMES ONE AND TWO

Balladeer’s Blog’s coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport continues with this look at the first two clashes in this year’s 115th U.S. Open.

FlexJet polo shirtGAME ONE: FLEXJET VS COLORADO – Part of the fun of Polo is the way that men and women often play on the same team. In this instance, Melissa Ganzi led Flexjet – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Aviators – against Colorado – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Red Sleeves.

FIRST CHUKKER – This opening Chukker was VERY defense-oriented, with only one Goal being scored. That lone Goal was knocked between the Uprights by Flexjet, as the Aviators grabbed a 1-0 lead. 

SECOND CHUKKER – Defense was still the watchword in this Chukker, but as a sign that both offenses were beginning to find their rhythm, each team swatted in a Goal this time around. The Flexjet lead over Colorado now stood at 2-1.

THIRD CHUKKER – The Red Sleeves made some major noise now, outscoring the Aviators 3 Goals to 1 in what was still a low-scoring affair overall. Colorado’s stunning play this Chukker gave them a 4-3 edge going into Halftime.  Continue reading →

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April 9, 2018 · 2:00 pm

POLO: THE BASICS

Polo Teams In ActionPOLO IS THE OLDEST TEAM SPORT IN THE WORLD. When Alexander the Great’s men played Polo it was already centuries old. 

We are at the time of year when BALLADEER’S BLOG covers Polo’s U.S. Open.

For Polo newcomers here is a brief look at how the sport works:

A QUICK POLO PRIMER:  

Polo 2Instead of “Innings” or “Quarters” or “Periods” a Polo Match is made up of “Chukkers”.

There are six Chukkers to a Match. After three Chukkers comes Halftime.

Each Chukker lasts 7 minutes plus up to a maximum of 30 additional seconds to complete a play in progress when the Chukker ends.

There are four riders on each Polo team, wearing numbers 1-4 depending on the position they play.

Polo 3The field in a Polo Match is 300 yards long by 160 yards wide.

The object of the game is for the Polo players to score goals by moving the ball around the field by hitting it with their long mallets while remaining mounted at all times.

A goal is scored by hitting the ball so that it passes between the two 10 feet tall uprights in the opposing team’s End Line (End Zone).

As with field goals and extra points in football the uprights theoretically extend far above their actual height. The ball may pass high above the uprights but still counts as a goal as long as the official in the End Line judges it to have passed within the uprights.

Prince Charles playing poloFor some penalties a free shot is awarded to the opposing team. Depending on the severity the shots can be taken from the 60, 40, 0r 30 yard lines. The player rides up to the ball to strike it but their horse cannot pass whichever yard line applies to that particular penalty shot.

A mounted Referee tosses the ball onto the T at the center of the Polo turf to begin play, similar to “dropping the puck” in Hockey. After each goal is scored both teams return to the center of the field for another “Toss In” or “Throw In”. Continue reading →

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May 4, 2017 · 9:27 pm

POLO: THE UNITED STATES QUALIFIES FOR THE WORLD CUP

United States Polo AssociationU.S.A. Polo joined Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile in qualifying for the next FIP Polo World Cup, to be played in Sydney, Australia from October 17th-30th this year.

America secured entry with our 9-7 victory over Mexico. Felipe Viana led the U.S.A. with 5 of those 9 Goals.

Polo is the world’s OLDEST team sport.

FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE  

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April 28, 2017 · 4:46 pm

POLO: AUDI WINS HALL OF FAME CUP

Polo Silhouette LogoHALL OF FAME CUP: AUDI VS COCA COLA – Audi – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Bavarians – did battle for the 2017 Hall of Fame Cup against Coca Cola – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Red Colossus.

Audi Hall of Fame CupFIRST CHUKKER – Coca Cola – which has the female player Gillian Johnston on its team – seized a 3-0 lead off of 1 Goal from the field and 2 scores on Penalty Shots. Audi squeezed in 2 answering Goals of its own before the Chukker ended with the Red Colossus on top 3-2. 

SECOND CHUKKER – The Bavarians took the opening Toss-In of this Chukker and tied things up at 3 Goals apiece. From there Audi and Coca Cola played each other move for counter-move and score for score. The count was now 5-5.

THIRD CHUKKER –  Compared to the virtual orgy of scoring to start the Match, this time around the defenses dominated. Neither team was able to sneak the ball between the Uprights and they rode into Halftime with the score still knotted up at 5 Goals apiece. Continue reading →

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April 26, 2017 · 5:45 pm

POLO: VALIENTE WINS U.S. OPEN TO COMPLETE POLO’S TRIPLE CROWN

Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE  

Valiente 2017 u.s. open winCHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: VALIENTE VS ORCHARD HILL – Valiente – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Valiants – came into this 114th U.S. Open having already won the first two titles in this year’s American Triple Crown. History was on the line as Valiente mounted up to face the Defending Open Champions from 2016, Orchard Hill – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Clubmen.

valiente shirtFIRST CHUKKER – On the opening Toss-In of the Match Orchard Hill’s Facundo Pieres received a pass from Polito Pieres and swatted in a Goal. After that the Clubmen and Valiente would alternate scoring on Penalty Shots, ending the Chukker with things knotted up at 2 Goals apiece.

SECOND CHUKKER – With the intensity doubling this time around the two teams matched each other blow for blow and knocking in Goal for Goal. The score now stood at 4-4.

THIRD CHUKKER – Orchard Hill’s offense exploded in this Chukker, putting no less than FIVE Goals between the Uprights. For their part the Valiants managed just 2 Goals in return. The Clubmen headed into Halftime holding a 9-6 lead. Continue reading →

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April 20, 2017 · 10:26 pm

POLO: U.S. OPEN SEMIFINAL RESULTS

Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE 

Orchard Hill Polo shirtSEMIFINAL ONE: ORCHARD HILL VS FLEXJET – Orchard Hill – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Clubmen – are the defending Open champions from last year. Their opponents in this Match, Flexjet – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Aviators – are one of the two teams from this year’s U.S. Open which boast a female team member.

FIRST CHUKKER – Melissa Ganzi and her Flexjet teammates demonstrated once again why they went undefeated in Pool Play and the opening Elimination Round. That earlier excellence earned them a Bye to the Semifinals and the well-rested Aviators shut out Orchard Hill to take a 2 Goals to None lead.  

International Polo ClubSECOND CHUKKER – The Clubmen showed the proverbial Heart of a Champion this time around, doing just enough to keep Flexjet from getting at their jugular so they could stay alive. Defense was the name of the game in the 2nd as each foursome swatted in just 1 Goal apiece. Orchard Hill now trailed by a count of 3-1.

THIRD CHUKKER – The defending champs not only shut out the Aviators in this Chukker, but they prevented them from getting off even a single shot on Goal from the field! Flexjet did score on a 30-yard Penalty Shot, however, but the Clubmen managed to keep pace with an answering Goal of their own. The teams went into Halftime with the Aviators on top 4-2.    Continue reading →

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April 17, 2017 · 8:40 pm

POLO: U.S. OPEN SEMIFINALS MATCHUPS SET

Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE 

Orchard Hill Polo shirtDAY FIVE, MATCH ONE: ORCHARD HILL VS AUDI – Orchard Hill – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Clubmen – are the Defending Champions from last year’s U.S. Open. Their opponents in this Match were the foursome from Audi – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Bavarians.

FIRST CHUKKER – Facundo Pieres led the Defending Champs in an opening Chukker assault on Audi which saw Orchard Hill double up on them. At the end of the 1st the Clubmen held a 2 Goals to 1 lead.

SECOND CHUKKER – The onslaught continued as Orchard Hill swatted 2 more Goals between the Uprights, all while shutting out their opponents. The Bavarians now faced a 4-1 deficit going forward.

THIRD CHUKKER – The Clubmen and Audi matched each other blow for blow and Goal for Goal this time around, exchanging 2 Goals apiece. The teams headed into Halftime with Orchard Hill on top by a count of 6-3. Continue reading →

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April 13, 2017 · 8:36 pm

POLO: U.S. OPEN – DAY FOUR RESULTS

Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE 

FlexJet polo shirtMATCH ONE: FLEXJET VS VALIENTE – Day Four of Polo’s U.S. Open began with this clash between the only two teams who remained undefeated in Pool Play. Namely Flexjet – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Aviators – and Valiente – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Valiants.

Flexjet is one of the two teams in this year’s Open which have a female member, in their case Melissa Ganzi. Valiente came into the Open having already won the first two titles in the American Triple Crown this year and need to win the tournament to complete the task.  

FIRST CHUKKER – The Aviators accomplished the seemingly impossible task of shutting out the usually hot-out-of-the-gate Valiente team. Meanwhile, Flexjet’s Gonzalo Pieres scored a Goal from the field and another on a Penalty Shot from 30 yards out. Melissa Ganzi and her three teammates held a 2-0 lead.

SECOND CHUKKER – Fans of the Valiants were no doubt pleased to see their team’s Ace, Deuce and Chevy contribute 1 Goal each for their squad’s effort. The Aviators managed just 2 answering Goals themselves but still led the Match 4 Goals to 3.  

THIRD CHUKKER – Flexjet continued keeping Valiente’s Diego Cavanagh very, very quiet. The Aviators swatted 3 Goals between the Uprights compared to the 1 scored by the faltering Valiants. Headed into Halftime, Flexjet was on top of Valiente by a count of 7-4.  Continue reading →

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April 11, 2017 · 8:48 pm

COLLEGE POLO CHAMPIONS FOR 2017: MEN AND WOMEN

Balladeer’s Blog’s coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport continues. Here are the men’s and women’s college Polo champions for this year.

Roger Williams University HawksMEN

National Champions – ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY HAWKS 

Runners-Up –  Southern Methodist University Mustangs

Score – The Hawks defeated the Mustangs 12-11.

2016 Champions – Texas A&M University Aggies  Continue reading →

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April 10, 2017 · 8:38 pm

POLO: U.S. OPEN – DAY THREE RESULTS

International Polo ClubBalladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. Polo had already been around for centuries when it was being played by Alexander the Great’s men.   

FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE 

Orchard Hill Polo shirtGAME ONE: ORCHARD HILL VS AUDI – Starting off Day Three of Polo’s 114th U.S. Open was a Match between Defending Open Champions Orchard Hill – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Clubmen – and Audi – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Bavarians.  

FIRST CHUKKER – Facundo Pieres of Orchard Hill was back in form, swatting in 3 Goals for himself in this opening Chukker of play. Audi replied with just 1 Goal of their own, making the score 3-1 in favor of the Clubmen going into the 2nd.

SECOND CHUKKER – The offenses virtually exploded for SIX Goals this time around, evenly divided into 3 Goals apiece. The score now stood at 6-4 with Orchard Hill still on top.

THIRD CHUKKER – The Bavarians began to make their move, thwacking in 2 Goals to the 1 scored by the Clubmen in this Chukker. The Orchard Hill lead had been cut to 7-6 headed into Halftime. Continue reading →

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