Casa de Campo announces the celebration of the First Women’s International Polo Tournament this coming 17-22 November. Polo has been played at Casa de Campo since the early 1970s when the late Indian Prince Maharajah Jabar Singh brought the sport to the resort. Since then, polo seasons have been played from November to April on three polo fields, with over 90 well-trained ponies for low to medium-goal polo, certified umpires and a staff who play with ratings up to 5-goals.
For the men’s tournaments, players come from throughout Latin America, Europe and the US.
The November women’s event, aside from being a first for women in the DR, will be an international qualifying tournament, attracting some of the sport’s top female competitors. For the match to be a Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) qualifier, all players will be rated.
“The sport played well requires lots of skills – riding ability, hand-eye coordination, cool head at a gallop up to 20 mph, physical courage, a well-trained horse. It’s all very intense which is what makes the sport so attractive to both men and women,” said event organizer Tania Evans. “You have to have strong arms, legs, back muscles. You need to ride a few years before you can safely play – but many people come to polo at a later age, enjoying the horses, the team aspect and the thrill of speed. It’s an exhilarating sport and great to watch, too.”
Matches will be played in the afternoons until dusk.
For more information on the hotel, see www.dr1.com/directories/hotels/casa_de_campo.shtml
To contact event organizer Tania Evans, write to riverbendfarm@comcast.net or info@womenscaribbeanpolo.com