Virginia Polo Defends Its Title With Thundering Hooves

November 2, 2022 • By Matt Kelly, mkelly@virginia.edu Matt Kelly, mkelly@virginia.edu

November 2, 2022
Polo rider riding on a horse

Katie Define gallops after the ball in the Virginia Polo arena. Unlike a traditional polo pitch of grass, the arena surface is made of crushed stone and sand that drains easily and provides good footing for the horses. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)

The University of Virginia men’s and women’s club polo teams showed why they are national champions, dominating a round-robin arena tournament last week with visitors Cornell University and Southern Methodist University.

Under an overcast sky, UVA swept the first day of the tournament, downing Big Red 8-6 in the men’s game and 10-2 in the women’s competition. Sunday’s contests saw UVA downing the SMU teams, 20-3 for the women and 18-7 for the men. On Friday, SMU women overcame Cornell 8-5 and the Cornell men downed SMU 9-7.

The University’s club polo teams are winding down the fall season – the teams’ 69th – and preparing for next year’s platinum anniversary.

Here are some photographs from last week’s Virginia Fall Invitational.

Horse stables
Virginia Polo is celebrating its 69th season while starting to prepare for its platinum anniversary next year. The enterprise is funded solely by donations; students tend the barn and care for the horses. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo players on horses getting mallets
Alana Benz, a second-year student from Oahu, Hawaii, selects a mallet before the match. The mallets are between 51 and 54 inches long and hang on the arena fence during the match in case a player needs a replacement. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
Two Polo opponents going after a ball on horses
Team captain Katie Define of Charlottesville chases after the ball, blocking out a Cornell player. Most students come to Virginia Polo with some riding experience, but they don't need to have any polo experience. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo player hitting a ball while her horse is in full gallop
Alana Benz and her polo pony run down the ball during the Sunday match with Southern Methodist University. Players new to the team are put through polo “boot camps” in the fall and spring. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo players going after a ball against their opponents
Elizabeth Owens leans over for shot at the ball ahead of SMU players. A polo ball for the arena is larger than a ball for grass. It’s made of leather and inflated so it can more easily rebound off the boards. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo players on horses going after ball against opponents
Alana Benz is in control in a rideoff with an SMU player and lines up a shot on her near side. Sometimes visiting teams bring their own horses, but most often they ride horses provided by the Virginia team. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
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UVA polo players talking while sitting on horses
UVA players Jim Deal, Parker Pearce and Vlad Tarashansky let their horses cool down after a chukker, or period of play. Arena polo features three players per team, one fewer than polo played on a larger grass pitch. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo player defends ball during a match
Team captain Parker Pearce swings on the near side to advance the ball. Two mounted umpires in black and white striped tunics monitor play on the field, while a third judge overlooks the field from the announcer’s stand. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
four horses and polo players going after a ball
Parker Pearce follows through on a difficult tailshot to hit the ball behind the horse toward the goal. The horses’ tails are bound and their manes trimmed to keep from getting tangled up with the mallets. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo player and horse running full speed after the ball
Jim Deal taps the ball into the 10-by-15-foot goal. The ball has to cross a chalk line and dip into the recessed goal. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)
UVA polo player during a matching swinging to hit the ball
Jim Deal takes a swing for the ball along the edge of the arena. The Virginia Polo arena is a 400-by-150-foot oval. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)

Media Contact

Matt Kelly

University News Associate Office of University Communications

Article Information

December 17, 2024

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