Opening Night event will showcase exciting polo matches, a
fashion show and activities for players and fans of all ages
The polo season is about to heat up in the D.C. area, and Great Meadow Polo Club is kicking things off with a bang by hosting its Opening Night of Twilight Polo on Saturday, May 19, in The Plains, Va. The special event will include three exciting polo matches featuring kids, amateurs and pros, along with tailgating, a fashion show sponsored by Jordache and the U.S. Polo Assn. brand, and an after-party. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. EST and the cost is only $30 per carload.
In celebration of the big Opening Night event and the beginning of polo season, Great Meadow Foundation will bring the community together for the entire week, May 13-19, for a variety of activities around the area. The organization’s ‘Countdown to Polo’ features special evening events that will take place at a number of popular local establishments including Nick’s Riverside Grill in Washington, D.C., Iron Bridge Restaurant in Warrenton, Va., and Living An Artful Life in The Plains, Va., among others. Local polo pros will be present at select events and various giveaways will be offered. Individuals who visit all seven events will earn a season pass to Great Meadow Twilight Polo.
Nestled in Virginia’s piedmont countryside just west of D.C., Great Meadow Polo Club thrives on a 250-acre field events center and steeplechase course operated under stewardship of the Great Meadow Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of open space for community use. Over 40 events are held at the venue per year, which welcomes over 150,000 people annually. Great Meadow Polo Club also offers one of the only public polo venues.
“We can’t wait for opening night and the start of another great season here for the folks in Northern Virginia and D.C.,” said John Gobin, Great Meadow Polo Club manager. “This event has been a huge success in the past and helps us generate a lot of excitement and momentum as we start the year. It is a great way to get more people involved in polo, while enjoying all the sport has to offer with fellow players and fans as well as family and friends.”
Great Meadow Polo Club is unique in that one of the sport’s most esteemed players manages the polo club and teaches lessons. Gobin, who led Team USA to the 2011 FIP Polo World Championships in San Luis, Argentina, can be found on the polo grounds from April until November when he is not traveling the world to compete.
The club has been a haven for polo players and fans in the area for 18 years, and welcomes over 2,500 spectators every Saturday night from May through September for Twilight Polo. Accredited by the U.S. Polo Association, polo’s national governing body, Great Meadow Polo Club offers numerous programs dedicated to introducing the sport to new players and fans including individual lessons, a beginner polo school and a variety of matches for players from all ages, genders and skill levels. It also hosts top-notch professional matches with competitive play that has helped generate the resurgence of polo in the U.S., which was recently illustrated in a 60 Minutes special.
“Great Meadow Polo Club has shown incredible commitment to polo and you really get a sense of that from the way the community responds to special events like the Opening Night of Twilight Polo,” said Peter Rizzo, CEO of the U.S. Polo Association. “With lessons and learning opportunities for beginners to go along with its competitive matches and special events, the club truly offers something for everyone to enjoy.”
To receive more information on polo, or to get in on the action and schedule a lesson, just fill out the online form atwww.PlayPoloinDC.com and a Great Meadow Polo Club representative will contact you with more details.