IMLPs Network at Polo Match

Polo Match in Alpharetta, GA
Courtesy of Josh Johnson Photography

Polo. It's more than just an insignia of the Ralph Lauren variety.

It has been described as, "hockey, soccer and basketball on a horse, trying to hit a baseball with a stretched-out croquet mallet while speeding at 35 mph."

Intrigued by this game, a group of current IMLPs, FMPs and one IMLP alumni (from left to right: Allison Pearce, Lauren Mierley, Alana Edmunds & Tawny Barin) headed to Alpharetta, GA on a sunny Sunday to experience a match sponsored by the Ivy League Clubs of Atlanta.

The Colgate/Ivy Invitational Polo Match was held at the Chukkar Farm & Polo Club in Alpharetta, GA and sponsored by TeamIvy, the Atlanta Business School Alliance, and the alumni clubs of Cornell, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Columbia, Bucknell and Mount Holyoke.

According to Wikipedia, "Polo is a game of Central Asian origin, polo was first played in Persia (Iran) at dates given from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD. Polo was at first a training game for cavalry units, usually the king's guard or other elite troops.

Field polo requires two teams of 4 players. The field is 300 yards long, and either 200 yards or 160 yards wide if there are side boards—these are generally 6" high. There are lightweight goalposts on each side of the field spread 8 yards apart. The object of the game is to score the most goals by hitting the ball through the goal."

This fun event included the traditional "stomping of the divits" as well as other educational and fun activities for families.

Events included:

12:30 PM - Gates Open
1:00 PM - Childrens' activities start (petting zoo, coloring contest, etc.)
1:30 - Introduction to polo
2:00 - First chukkar
3:00 - Stomping of the divits
3:45 - Last chukkar
4:00 - Meet the players