Fairer sex lays claim to ‘Battle’ title
By DIANE HENSLEY
INDIO –The women’s team defeated the men’s team 6-5 in the controversial Battle of the Sexes Polo Game at the Eldorado Polo Club Saturday, a featured match of the weekend’s Ford Trucks Red, White and Blue Polo and Balloon Festival.
Hailed as the “strip polo match” by local media, the exhibition contest delivered everything it was expected to; right down to the removal of clothing. Rules, slightly modified by Polo America President Randy Russell, called for an article of clothing to be stripped by a team member for each goal scored in the match, sparking rumor and conjecture about what was to come.
Women’s team member Freddie Harris, reportedly, could be riding nude by the end of the match. And men’s captain Mark Register would allegedly wear additional layers of clothing on reports that the women really wanted to get the men’s clothes off. In reality, all team members kept their clothes on, except for two of the playing ponies. One pony from each team served as surrogate strippers in the match.
Following the four-chukker, four-goal match at noon, players assembled in front of the clubhouse crowd as grooms trotted out the surrogate “strippers.” Moving to the music of “The Stripper” blaring in the background, the women stripped first, pulling off six pieces of tack from their pony as the men looked on. Off came four pink bandages, the saddle, girth, and oh, an extra item, the saddle blanket. Then, in a form that even Carol Merrill would appreciate, the women showed off their handiwork as shutters snapped and spectators cheered.
“This was just fantastic fun for all of us,” Harris said after the match. “A really great event for a good cause.”
The women urged the men on as the team raced to strip the tack from their pony in an equally entertaining show. Blue bandages were strewn on the grass, the tail was untied and untaped and saddle and blanket were pulled away.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Register. “We enjoyed playing polo and having the chance to entertain these guys (Marines) who came out to watch. They’re all great men who are serving our country.”
California’s first “G-rated polo game,” according to Russell, went off without a hitch. Not so for the balloon launches, however, which were canceled due to weather.
Russell, who quarterbacked the men’s team, tied the match with the ladies at one apiece late in the first chukker. He feigned disappointment when asked about the loss.
“I’m sure I’ll recover,” he said.
Women’s team member Malia McCoy scored three goals in the match and tapped in the final offside tap-in to win the match with 28 seconds remaining. Teammates Kate Weber, Dawn Weber and Harris each contributed one.
“The men’s team played really fast, you could tell they were really out for blood,” said Dawn Weber. “I was happy to be part of the benefit, we all had a lot of fun.”
Contributions benefited the Marines from Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center.
Team members posed with about 30 visiting marines from the nearby base, including Pvt. Clark Fahringer.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a polo game. I’d like to thank everyone for their support. I can speak for myself and my friends here, and we all appreciate it” said Fahringer.