GTs
Well-Known Member
Here is an article on the Harvard Polo Team:
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Get ready to stomp the divots, pop your collar, and mix a dirty martiniHarvard Polo is back and better than ever. The 150 year old tradition has found a new advocate in graduate student and Captain Mike Svestka. Stemming from lack of interest and funding, the Harvard polo team dissipated over a decade ago. While Svestka had not come to Harvard with the intention of resurrecting the polo team, after playing competitively in Virginia for the past few years, he found himself longing for the sport he has come to love. Coached by New England polo legend Crocker Snow Junior, Harvard mens polo has arrived and is ready to compete.
The Crimson polo players come together with a variety of backgrounds. Growing up in Virginia, Svestka used to ride friends horses for fun. He became interested in polo a few years ago and has been hooked ever since. Iain Holmes brings more diverse and extensive riding experiences to his game. Born and raised in rural England, until he moved to California at the age of 11, horses were the toys of the countryside. He has done everything from fox hunting to show jumping to polo. Since he did not know how to play water polo or American football, the equestrian world gave the quick-witted Brit a place to flex his competitive muscles. The most experienced member of the team, Nick Snow, Coach Snows son, brings some good old fashioned polo lineage to the team. He plays with an extensive polo history and a 4 handicap.
When Svestka began lobbying for the reinstatement of this New England tradition, he had no idea his newly assembled club team would attack and conquer perennial Ivy rival and polo powerhouse Yale University. On November 9, a classic New England fall day, surrounded by red and orange foliage, the Harvard Crimson won their polo team a little respect. For the first time in 45 years, Harvard beat Yale by a score of 13-7.
The historic and esteemed Yale Polo and Equestrian Center, built by the army in 1916 to serve as a cavalry training site, was also the site of the Harvard upset. From the opening whistle, both teams were really going at it, according to Svestka. The match proceeded at a furious pace with both teams incurring their share of bruises. Along with bruises, falls are frequent during a polo match. Rarely is a fall the issue of concern, but rather how sever the fall is. Moments into the match Yale Captain Christian Barjum was thrown from his mount into an arena wall. The players held their breath when he did not rise immediately. Taking a second to collect himself, Barjum dusted off his britches and got back on his pony. Barjums fall did not seem to slow either team down, though, and the match continued with as much vim as it had started out with. Indeed, Holmes enjoyed the match because it was good, clean polo. Plus, he added slyly, it was great to be a part of that rivalry. Both sides incurred several penalties and the lead changed hands quite a few times before Harvard finally pulled away in the final chukka. Snow scored 11 of Harvards 13 goals. As Svestka observed, It was like Pele had come back to play in a college match. He was just awesome. Yale did not go down easily, and fought until the final chukka whistle blew. Victorious and tired at the end of the match, both teams graciously shook hands, awaiting a potential rematch.
While the team has already found success, several obstacles still exist in the path to a viable and enduring program. Svestka and Holmes recognize they are facing an uphill battle and that building the newest club team at Harvard is a slow process, one prone to discouraging setbacks. Because the intercollegiate polo season is played year round, it must be played indoors. Without a plethora of places and ponies to practice indoors, the team is in danger of losing momentum during the harsh New England winter. So their skills do not get too rusty during the snowy winter months, they are hoping to receive permission to practice at the University of Connecticuts facility in Storrs.
Another hurdle every new team faces, particularly non-varsity programs, is funding. Unfortunately, due to current University sponsorship rules they had to decline a generous offer from La dolfina Polo, a professional team from Argentina, to sponsor the team providing expensive jerseys and equipment. The guys are working hard to recruit new members and are developing a womens team, trying to get them up to competition level. Svestka and Holmes applied for a grant from the Polo Training Foundation and were awarded money to send current team members and prospective team members to Texas over winter break to learn polo basics. And even if polo isnt your thing, but you are desperate to support the new team, Salmoncove.com will be manufacturing what else but a polo shirt in support of the newest Harvard team. Pop the collar and there is the Crimson logo.
The team has two scheduled matches left this season. They will take on the University of Connecticut and the University of Virginia. Best of luck to the men and enjoy the martini.
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Get ready to stomp the divots, pop your collar, and mix a dirty martiniHarvard Polo is back and better than ever. The 150 year old tradition has found a new advocate in graduate student and Captain Mike Svestka. Stemming from lack of interest and funding, the Harvard polo team dissipated over a decade ago. While Svestka had not come to Harvard with the intention of resurrecting the polo team, after playing competitively in Virginia for the past few years, he found himself longing for the sport he has come to love. Coached by New England polo legend Crocker Snow Junior, Harvard mens polo has arrived and is ready to compete.
The Crimson polo players come together with a variety of backgrounds. Growing up in Virginia, Svestka used to ride friends horses for fun. He became interested in polo a few years ago and has been hooked ever since. Iain Holmes brings more diverse and extensive riding experiences to his game. Born and raised in rural England, until he moved to California at the age of 11, horses were the toys of the countryside. He has done everything from fox hunting to show jumping to polo. Since he did not know how to play water polo or American football, the equestrian world gave the quick-witted Brit a place to flex his competitive muscles. The most experienced member of the team, Nick Snow, Coach Snows son, brings some good old fashioned polo lineage to the team. He plays with an extensive polo history and a 4 handicap.
When Svestka began lobbying for the reinstatement of this New England tradition, he had no idea his newly assembled club team would attack and conquer perennial Ivy rival and polo powerhouse Yale University. On November 9, a classic New England fall day, surrounded by red and orange foliage, the Harvard Crimson won their polo team a little respect. For the first time in 45 years, Harvard beat Yale by a score of 13-7.
The historic and esteemed Yale Polo and Equestrian Center, built by the army in 1916 to serve as a cavalry training site, was also the site of the Harvard upset. From the opening whistle, both teams were really going at it, according to Svestka. The match proceeded at a furious pace with both teams incurring their share of bruises. Along with bruises, falls are frequent during a polo match. Rarely is a fall the issue of concern, but rather how sever the fall is. Moments into the match Yale Captain Christian Barjum was thrown from his mount into an arena wall. The players held their breath when he did not rise immediately. Taking a second to collect himself, Barjum dusted off his britches and got back on his pony. Barjums fall did not seem to slow either team down, though, and the match continued with as much vim as it had started out with. Indeed, Holmes enjoyed the match because it was good, clean polo. Plus, he added slyly, it was great to be a part of that rivalry. Both sides incurred several penalties and the lead changed hands quite a few times before Harvard finally pulled away in the final chukka. Snow scored 11 of Harvards 13 goals. As Svestka observed, It was like Pele had come back to play in a college match. He was just awesome. Yale did not go down easily, and fought until the final chukka whistle blew. Victorious and tired at the end of the match, both teams graciously shook hands, awaiting a potential rematch.
While the team has already found success, several obstacles still exist in the path to a viable and enduring program. Svestka and Holmes recognize they are facing an uphill battle and that building the newest club team at Harvard is a slow process, one prone to discouraging setbacks. Because the intercollegiate polo season is played year round, it must be played indoors. Without a plethora of places and ponies to practice indoors, the team is in danger of losing momentum during the harsh New England winter. So their skills do not get too rusty during the snowy winter months, they are hoping to receive permission to practice at the University of Connecticuts facility in Storrs.
Another hurdle every new team faces, particularly non-varsity programs, is funding. Unfortunately, due to current University sponsorship rules they had to decline a generous offer from La dolfina Polo, a professional team from Argentina, to sponsor the team providing expensive jerseys and equipment. The guys are working hard to recruit new members and are developing a womens team, trying to get them up to competition level. Svestka and Holmes applied for a grant from the Polo Training Foundation and were awarded money to send current team members and prospective team members to Texas over winter break to learn polo basics. And even if polo isnt your thing, but you are desperate to support the new team, Salmoncove.com will be manufacturing what else but a polo shirt in support of the newest Harvard team. Pop the collar and there is the Crimson logo.
The team has two scheduled matches left this season. They will take on the University of Connecticut and the University of Virginia. Best of luck to the men and enjoy the martini.
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