But even those of us less nautical and more interested in beautiful objects on land got their show. Sailing along the coastline of Newport offers wonderful views of some stunning mansions overlooking the bay, with some very prominent buildings like the Newport home of the New York Yacht Club or Hammersmith Farm, the childhood home of Jackie Kennedy and the site of the reception for her 1953 wedding to U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy.
Back on land it was time to get ready for the next highlight of the tour. How better to prepare for a big match then attending yet another party and dinner by our hosts! The Sky Bar on the roof top of The Clarke Cook House on Bannisters Wharf presents a wonderful setting for a late summer party, overlooking the bay and enriched by excellent food and wine. The good turnout for the event by the members of Newport International Polo Club gave us yet another opportunity to make new friends among the players community.
Needless to mention that the self imposed bed time target was quickly raised by all the players and in fact the bar and dance floor was heavily used until the early hours of match day! We mutually agreed to postpone the strategy and tactics discussion originally scheduled for that evening to 10 minutes before the first throw in!
Match day itself turned out to be a more overcast day, which we immediately saw as an advantage for us. Not only did it feel like a typical English summer day but we also would not have to face the heat and humidity we had been warned of by Nicholas. So what possibly could go wrong now? The beautiful Glen Farm, a place going back in history to 1630, when colonists settled there for the first time for its desirable location and geographic features, is home to the Newport International Polo Club these days.
60 HPC • THE LONDON POLO CLUB
Arriving at its gates already set the tone of the afternoon. An unbelievable number of cars lining up to bring families big and small, dogs and coolers to the picnic areas around the ground. A true Labor-Day weekend party atmosphere was in the air.
By the time we HPC players got together for our pitch inspection (we wouldn’t leave anything to chance!), the surroundings almost felt like a music festival to us. The club house area, the boxes and the picnic sections filled to the last seat and piece of lawn, families spreading across 3 and 4 generations gathering for a fun afternoon of polo. The music from the speakers and William Crisp’s pre match commentary added to the exhilarating atmosphere and anticipation of the match.
Dressed in our perfectly ironed HPC coloured team shirts (thankfully Ed didn’t forget to pick them up at the Ham polo office pre departure) and in brand new designer whites which Omar had flown in from LA, the HPC team was looking perfectly dressed for the occasion (surely Annie must be proud of us!) and ready to attack!
Newport had answered Nicholas’ call for a challenge with an equally strong line-up. Michel Nseir and Heather Souto were joined by club manager Dan Keating and club pro Rory Torrey.
Two competitive teams on perfectly turned out ponies: Let the battle commence!
USA versus England. No other way to start then by singing the national anthems of these two great polo nations, performed live by Dennis Jeter. The honour of the first throw in was given to Lucy Ratcliffe of the HPC entourage and off we went!
HAM POLO CLUB
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