The 3rd Annual POLO CHALLENGE MATCH between Patrick Smith’s COMMANDO LOCK TEAM and Roy Link’s LINK ENGINEERING TEAM was held on the beautiful grounds of THE DETROIT POLO CLUB. Over 150 sharply attired guests attended a delicious country barbeque held prior to the match. A Best Lady’s Hat contest was held in addition to the usual Best Playing Pony (BPP) and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. This year’s match was a round robin comprised of three teams – COMMANDO with Patrick Smith, Collin Mc Cosh, Paul Wheaton and Mark Frenchi. Bob Donahey brought his Cleveland, OH team in to play as LINK ENGINEERING – they were Will Donahey, Mike Gruobert, Craig Fraser and Bob Donahey. A team from & named KENTUCKY was comprised of Tanya Evans, Caleb Smith, Will Boland & Dan Lanham. It was a hard fought & evenly matched game that saw LINK ENGINEERING (Cleveland) pull ahead in the sixth chukker for a one-goal victory.
Will Donahey, Mike Gruobert, Craig > Fraser and Bob Donahey.
The total crowd of approximately 250 spectators enjoyed solid & highly competitive play by all teams for this fun polo challenge. The diverse crowd had spectators from all over Michigan & Ohio plus guests from Germany and Sweden. The weather was outstanding with temperatures in the low 80s. The Lady’s Hat contest (judged by 2008 winner Jennifer Mejia and Sandra Stalmack & Pamela Dangovian) was won by a polo player and new University of Michigan teaching staff person – KODI SCHEER. Runner up went to a beautiful Birmingham MI resident PATTY KAROUB with her happy & pretty 11 month old child SAMANTHA in her arms.
COMMANDO was the 2008 winner but this year’s victory & bragging rights go to LINK ENGINEERING. Best Playing Pony went to T/2 a seven-year old gray thoroughbred mare owned and played by BOB DONAHEY. A USPA best playing pony blanket went to T/2. CRAIG FRASER won silver for his MOST VALUABLE PLAYER performance. Ms. Scheer (who also won a silver USPA platter) presented the trophies to the winning team.
MERLE & VERA JENKINS (Merle is the founder of the Detroit club) were on hand to lead the crowd onto the field for “stomping’ in the divots” and enjoyed lots of good old Kentucky bourbon. Sande Weiler was time/score keeper and George Kuper and Jerry Hutcheson chose the MVP. Vera Jenkins selected the BPP. Roger Redman of Detroit & Sarasota FL polo was umpire. Jerry Hutcheson was the announcer/commentator.
The DPC has two back-to-back 8-goal polo tournaments coming late in August (including a employee scholarship fund sponsored by area 7-Eleven stores and Larry Penzien). The DPC is always happy to welcome out of town players or spectators. Their website is www.detroitpoloclub.com.