US Polo Association Announces the 2010 National Interscholastic Championship

April 21, 2010 (Ithaca, NY) – The Cornell University Oxley Equestrian Center in Ithaca, NY will host the 41st annual USPA National Interscholastic Championship from April 21 – 24, 2010.  The annual polo competition is organized by the United States Polo Association (USPA).  Teams scheduled to compete include Culver Military Academy, Eldorado, Poway, Toronto, and Virginia Junior Polo Clubs and Cowtown Work To Ride (WTR). The Cowtown WTR program is part of a 501 c3, non-profit community-based prevention program that aids disadvantaged urban youth though constructive activities centered on horsemanship, equine sports and education located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.

The National Interscholastic Championship is part of the USPA’s Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) program.  One hundred and twenty-six teams participated in the program during the 2009/2010 season. The teams compete in regular games throughout the season to qualify for tournament play.  Fourteen interscholastic Girls’, 25 Interscholastic Open, 28 Intercollegiate Women’s and 16 Intercollegiate Men’s teams played in seventeen preliminary and regional tournaments throughout the country, all culminating in the national championships.

David Eldredge, coach of Cornell’s polo teams, said, “This annual championship series is a representation of the best youth polo in the US has to offer.  This year’s finalists are a diverse representation of commitment to competition and training and true testament to the growth of polo in the US.”

“The students in the USPA’s I/I Program work very hard throughout the year, not only on their playing skills but also on their academics, horse care and stable management,” Eldredge continued, “The abilities and dedication of these young people are very impressive.  The skills, friendships, and experiences from their time in the I/I Program stay with the students for a lifetime.  The National Championship brings teams together from all areas of the country and is a great ending to a wonderful season of polo.”

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, April 21
7:30 PM Game 1 Virginia Jr. vs. Toronto
9:30 PM Game 2 Poway vs. Cowtown

Thursday, April 22
11 AM Coaches’ Sub-Committee Meeting
2 PM USPA Panel Discussion – Best Western Conference Room
5:30 PM Game 3 Eldorado vs. Winner Game 1
7:30 PM Game 4 Culver vs. Winner Game 2

Friday, April 23
6:30 PM USPA Sponsored Banquet at the Ithaca Yacht Club
Saturday, April 24
2 PM Final Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

About United States Polo Association (www.uspolo.org)
The USPA was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.

About the Cornell University Oxley Equestrian Center (http://cornellbigred.com/sports/2007/7/30/OxleyEquestrianCenter.aspx)
Riding facilities at Cornell University have existed since the 1930’s. The facility we are currently in was built in 1988. The Oxley Equestrian Center maintains two modern well-lit barns. The larger barn houses 25 lesson/equestrian team horses and 30 polo ponies. It is insulated for winter comfort and has rubber matted stalls, team lockers and a wash area with hot and cold water available to all facility users. The smaller barn accommodates 19 boarders, 5 equestrian team horses and their equipment.  The Oxley Center also has a heated indoor arena which measures 250 feet by 90 feet and two outdoor sand arenas for jumping and dressage. The indoor arena features mirrored walls, restrooms with showers, laundry facilities, offices, video and meeting room and AHSA regulation jumps. The arena also has a polo practice cage and bleacher seating for 350 spectators.