New Aiken Polo Venue – Crestview Farm – to host 2010 USPA Silver Cup Finals
Barrington takes on Orchard Hill for highlight of 302 Polo season on Sunday October 17th
AIKEN, SC — Crestview Farm, Aiken’s newest world-class polo field, provides the backdrop for the 20-goal USPA Silver Cup finals presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta on Sunday. It will be the first time the Silver Cup finals have been hosted at Crestview Farm, an impressive 152-acre polo facility located on Cooks Bridge Road, in the rolling countryside, east of Aiken.
Crestview Farm’s Alan Meeker, from Fort Worth, Texas, purchased the property just 18 months ago after playing several polo seasons in Aiken. Development was overseen from start to finish by General Contractor JD Cooper of Cooper Home & Stables who found the parcel of land and brokered its purchase.
“Alan Meeker is very happy to host the USPA Silver Cup finals at Crestview Farm this year,” said Cooper, himself an amateur polo player with an extensive record in development of golf course country clubs, custom built homes and barns. “The field is magnificent and very spectator friendly.”
The initial concept for the polo facility was sketched on the back of a napkin at The Willcox hotel as Meeker and Cooper began the extensive planning process involving a custom built, state-of-the-art polo barn; landscaped paddocks; a courtyard-inspired private residence and the expansive polo field itself.
“The property was perfect for what we wanted,” Cooper explained. “At the heart of the acreage was a 20-acre crop field that lent itself to a polo ground.” Local polo field specialist Nigel Allcock was brought in as consultant on its construction. The field is positioned north to south with a rustic, majestic pavilion at its heart and during the construction process the natural crown of the land was removed during a cut and balance process leaving a flat surface that gives spectators an unimpeded view of play.
Several local players will be among the first to perform in front of tailgaters on Sunday as Barb Uskup’s Barrington – winners of October’s 20-goal Monty Waterbury Trophy – featuring Aiken residents Tommy Biddle, Julio Arellano and Antonio Galvan look to add a second 20-goal win to their fall 302-polo season. Michigan’s Steve Van Andel and his Orchard Hill team provide the opposition once again – having finished runners up to Barrington in the Monty Waterbury – lining up Lucas Criado, Nicolas Roldan and Chris Stratemann.
Crestview Farm is located at 894 Cooks Bridge Road, Aiken, SC. Gates Open 2pm. Game time 3pm. General admission $10 per person. Visit www.302polo.com for more information.