Kevin Fawcett was presented the 2008 Carlton Beal Umpire of the Year Award immediately following the finals of the US Open on April 26, 2009, a game which he umpired. The award, named in honor of Carlton Beal was presented by his son Kelly Beal, PTF Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane, and USPA Director of Umpire Services Rick Sears. “Kevin has been in the professional umpire program for four years, and he really stepped up to the very top level of umpiring in 2008,” said Sears. In addition to umpiring in Florida during the high goal season including the Open, Kevin has umpired in the past three Opens and spent the last four summers umpiring during the high goal seasons at the Bridegehampton and Greenwich Polo Clubs in New York and Connecticut. When not on the umpire circuit Kevin calls Point Clear, Alabama home.
Villa del Lago Hosts College All Stars
For the second year Villa del Lago hosted four collegiate all star players the weekend of April 24-26, 2009. Chris Collins – Colorado State University, Charlie Hutchinson V – University of Connecticut, Steven Stimmel – Texas Tech University, and Wiley Uretz – Westmont College, flew in to West Palm Beach on Friday evening and settled into their quarters. The four players who had only met each other on one other occasion spent the evening getting acquainted.
On Saturday they attended the USPA-PTF Networking Day at the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame where they helped USPA Intercollegiate-Interscholastic Program Director Kim Syme tell attendees about the I-I tournament program and what their collegiate and in some cases high school experiences were.
Saturday afternoon the all stars took on an eight goal Villa del Lago team in a four chukker match. It was a wonderful game and the four players looked like they had been playing together the entire season. Although they lost 8-4, they felt pretty good about the match since they were a four goal team against eight. After the game, Villa del Lago hosted a reception for the PTF Board of Directors, and the USPA Board of Governors. Chris Collins was presented the MVP award, a lovely Piaget saddle pad by Piaget Assistant Vice President Retail Lauren Duffy.
Sunday morning the group wanted to tour all the polo tack and mallet stores. Since the Tackeria was the only one open on Sunday a considerable amount of time was spent there, checking out mallets and other polo goodies not readily available in college towns. The final highlight of the weekend was spent watching the 2009 US Open Championships from fieldside seats right on the midfield stripe. This year there was a lot of action near midfield so the all starts got to see lots of polo up close.
Summer Grass Roots Polo
Summertime is when the bulk of players in North America rediscover their riding muscles, leg up their horses, dust off their mallets, and hit the polo field or arena with a renewed enthusiasm, sometimes bordering on the sheer glee like that of a child waking up to a room full of presents on Christmas morning. Much of this polo is grass roots polo where several players have banded together, found a field and formed a club. They play practices during the week and try to schedule games on the weekend, and maybe even put on a tournament or two over the course of the season. Sometimes they get a little more ambitious and recruit some naïve newcomer into trying this addictive activity called polo. This scenario is exactly what it takes to grow the sport. The new PTF-USPA joint venture regional centers are meant to be a hub to encourage just this type of growth at the many clubs in their regions. The PTF already has programs in place to help these grass roots clubs. Player and umpire clinics and even overnight camps are available through the PTF. Below are some of the options out there to make your grass roots experience just a tiny bit better.
Club Player and Umpire Clinics
In conjunction with USPA member clubs, the PTF will co-sponsor one pre-approved player or umpire clinic at any club by paying half the cost up to a maximum reimbursement of $1000. For player clinics, clubs can hire their own instructor or have the PTF locate an instructor. For umpire clinics, the instructor must be pre-approved through Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane. Steve has been in polo since he was big enough to wield a mallet and has been professionally involved with umpiring and umpire training since 1992. In addition to teaching many clinics himself Steve is often assisted by a corps of umpire instructors including Bob Stuerzebecher, Rick Sears, Dan Healy and Billy Sheldon. For more information on this program contact the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email: dscheraga@polotraining.org. For scheduling an umpire clinic, contact Steve Lane: 717-645-8793 or email: slpolo9@aol.com.
Youth Clinics with Wilbur O’Ferrall
Wilbur O’Ferrall also has played polo since he was ten. While at UC Davis he won four Western Regional championships, captained the 1989 National Championship team, and won the PTF Player of the year award after leading his team to the National finals in 1990. He has been a Field Director for the PTF since the fall of 1996 emphasizing youth training. Wilbur’s clinics can be for a group new to polo such as a Pony Club or a 4-H group and he can also accommodate a full fledged junior program at a USPA member club. There is no charge for these clinics other than his travel expenses, and housing and feeding him while he is at your location. To reach Wilbur call: 717-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.
Brushy Creek Camp
Instructed by Robin Sanchez
Robin Sanchez is no stranger to managing and teaching. The daughter of the late renowned polo instructor Buzz Welker, Robin was practically born with a mallet in her hand. Her first lesson was with the late great 9-goaler Dr. Billy Linfoot and she has continued to contribute to every aspect of the sport from training horses to officiating games, and has played tournament polo up to the 16 goal level. Brushy Creek camps are 5 days of total immersion in the polo including horse care as well as all aspects of polo horsemanship, hitting, rules and playing. Robin has also added adult and family weekend camps to the Brushy Creek experience and runs several specialty clinics throughout the year. For more information in these acclaimed camps and clinics contact Robin at 717-645-8778 or email polodutoit@yahoo.com. The $995 Early Bird special deadline for prepaid enrollment has been extended until May 1, 2009. The regular camp fee is $1200.
Additional Inquiries
For any other questions regarding polo training or polo in general feel free to call the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email dscheraga@polotraining.org.
