Twenty-Four Budding Polo Stars Selected for an Opportunity to Meet, Train with the Sport’s Best
WELLINGTON, Fla. – Feb. 10, 2010 – The U.S. Polo Association (USPA) has selected 24 promising young people to take part in the new and highly-anticipated Team USA program, to be hosted by International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), Feb 13-15.
The Team USA concept was established by the USPA to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and to provide them the opportunity to grow their abilities by learning from and competing alongside former and current high-goal stars such as: Red Armour, Julio Arellano, Tommy Biddle, Jr., Jeff Blake, Luis Escobar, Sunny Hale, Hector Galindo, Charlie Muldoon, Stevie Orthwein, Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, Tommy Wayman and Jeff Hall.
“IPC is thrilled to be the host location for this extremely important program in its inaugural year,” said John Wash, IPC President of Club Operations. “Like the USPA, we are committed to preserving the tradition and history of polo and ensuring that our young people are nurtured to compete at the highest levels of international competition.”
“As the national governing body for the sport, the U.S. Polo Association’s most important goal for the Team USA program is to grow and sustain the sport of polo in America. The future of polo is in the hands of our young players,” said Peter Rizzo, USPA executive director.
Team USA candidates are ages 19 to 25 and represent a wide range of polo backgrounds from across the country. “One element that has been missing from American polo is the opportunity for young players to network nationally. By bringing the top talent together, bonds will be forged that will strengthen the polo in our country,” stated Charles Smith, chairman of the Team USA Selection Committee.
The three-day training and evaluation seminar will include three mounted sessions and a coached series of matches. There will be no cost for any of the participants for the event and funding will be provided for travel expenses to Florida.
Of the 24 attendees at the training and evaluation event, six to eight players will be selected to move on for an internship/apprenticeship with a top-ranked polo professional. In addition, all 24 Team USA selectees will be identified on the USPA website, www.uspolo.org, and polo team and polo club sponsors and owners will be encouraged to offer additional polo playing opportunities for these young individuals. More than 70 applications for the program were received.
About International Polo Club Palm Beach
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located in Wellington, Florida – in the heart of South Florida’s famed horse country. Founded in 2002, IPC is host to major tournaments and world-class events throughout the Palm Beach Polo Season, including the Highest Goal Polo played in the U.S. and such prestigious competitions as the Iglehart Cup, Joe Barry Memorial Cup, Ylvisaker Cup, C.V. Whitney Cup, and Piaget Gold Cup, culminating with the 106th playing of the coveted U.S. Open Polo ChampionshipTM. The world’s polo elite descend upon Wellington each season to enjoy their love of the sport and the lifestyle in the most prominent and well-equipped polo facility in the nation. IPC features eight manicured polo fields and the Piaget Field, the Nespresso Grande Pavilion, private boxes and viewing stands, tennis courts, a croquet field, a state-of-the-art spa, a lushly landscaped pool deck, après polo celebrations and a fabled gourmet Sunday brunch hosted by NYC’s Bistrot Bagatelle. The 2010 Palm Beach Polo Season begins on Jan. 3 and concludes on April 18. To learn more about IPC and their exclusive membership and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.