America’s Cup of Polo brings the best UK and US players together in a mega match with the shared goal of developing the journey to find the cure.
(Leesburg, Loudoun County, VA) – For the very first time, polo teams from the United Kingdom and the United States will meet on the historic grounds of Morven Park to raise funds for the Journey for the Cure Foundation at America’s Cup of Polo on May 12, 2007. The foundation is dedicated to finding cures by providing grants to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Multiple Sclerosis Society and will also support the preservation of Historic Morven Park.
Charles (“Charlie”) Muldoon, an international 6-goal polo professional and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor, is the Director of Polo for America’s Cup of Polo – an event that is expected to draw an unprecedented 5,000 attendees.
Although he’s been around horses and polo his entire life, the 38 year-old professional remains awed by the athleticism and skill required by the ponies and their riders, especially at a match of this caliber. “A
thoroughbred on the race track runs an average of 1 _ to 2 minutes. A polo pony runs for 7 minutes. He not only does what a racehorse, reining horse, and dressage horse do, but also continues it for 7 minutes. That’s longer than any other of these horses and it requires the same kind of movements,” marvels Muldoon. “What’s so amazing is that in races, a racehorse is going 30 miles an hour, but they’re only going in one direction. In polo, the horses are going in different directions within the group. They actually will head towards another horse. They’re not only athletic, they’re fearless,” Muldoon continues.
Part of Muldoon’s responsibility in organizing the epic match, is bringing together the United States team. He’s picking only the best for this match. “At the highest level, polo players are real professionals. Polo is hockey on horseback. You have to be precise with a ball like a golfer, while going 30 miles an hour,” he explains.
America’s Cup Chairman, Tareq Salahi, also serves as Team Captain of the U.S. Polo Team. Salahi played on the National Champion polo team at the University of California at Davis where he helped lead his team to win various national titles. Later, he played at Potomac Polo Club with polo professional, Charlie Muldoon, followed by time at Great Meadow Polo Club and has played internationally against HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry and other top players in the U.S., Australia, Mexico
and Argentina.
As a U.S. Team Member, Muldoon is unable to disclose the names of the entire team ahead of the match to prevent the United Kingdom team from taking advantage of the opportunity to study the tactics of the United States team.
Meanwhile, the formidable father and son duo of Julian Hipwood and Max Hipwood are heading up the United Kingdom’s team. Julian is the captain of the United Kingdom’s team and will be putting together the U.K. plan of attack. Julian has been one of the highest rated polo players in England for many years, has served as captain of the English national team for 15 years, and has played in every high level tournament in the world, according to Muldoon. “He’s amazing – a legend on his own team. We’re very
honored to have such a distinguished gentleman playing in the match,” says Muldoon. He describes Julian’s son Max as “one of the up-and-comers in polo.” Currently, Max is a 4-goal player.
Muldoon is also responsible for selecting the ponies, which will be supplied by a number of prime local horsemen from the pristine horse country of Loudoun County, Virginia. Each player will have 6 horses. The U.K. team will be riding professional polo horses supplied in part by sponsor, DestinationPolo.com, owned and operated by Doug Barnes, a polo professional from Texas. “I will be responsible for helping their team figure out which horse is best for each player,” says Muldoon.
“It all comes down to the spirit of charity. Everyone attending, sponsoring or playing is cheering for their country on America’s 400th Anniversary, but in the end, it’s about the charity,” says Muldoon.
Establishing an annual tradition, the America’s Cup International Polo Committee will select the country whose team will compete against the U.S for the 2008 America’s Cup of Polo. Next year’s country will be announced at half time of this year’s America’s Cup of Polo match.
Historic Morven Park is located in Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia and is just a 20-minute drive from Washington Dulles International Airport.