2020 Highlights
2020 - FALL SEASON
2020 FALL CLOSING PARTY @ THE GRAND OAKS
A storm was not what we were counting on for our last event of the fall season, but we were able to move it to the following week, and still have some of our favorite players attend, even though many of them had traveled on after the last match. This event was fun, entertaining and a safe "social distancing" event and a great way to end what was a difficult year for all. We were welcomed with music and vocals by Joe Hand and Lord Lyall during cocktail hour and then a lovely dinner inside the open air arena by the staff at The Grand Oaks, who took the time to make it a special event enjoyed by all who attended. We shared our tables with some of our favorite players and celebrated the 89th birthday of one of our most avid fan and booster members, Claire Iovino. There were carriage races with players using their bodies to manipulate the carriage around the curving course. The winner......Paige! When it came time for the players to move the ball around the course, Nick decided that carrying it was the way to go!
2020 FALL CLOSING PARTY @ THE GRAND OAKS
This event is always very popular, especially with our new booster members. This season was a bit tough as we had to limit attendance due to the space available in the barns. There were three classes and a players panel for all to enjoy. The first barn had Dale Gavin, (who is also our announcer at our stadium games) showing us a demonstration of dentistry on the horses, and answering questions from the audience. In barn two, we were treated to our favorite player, Nick Johnson and his assistant Lulo, showing us what is involved with getting a horse ready for a match, which included braiding the tail and wrapping their legs for protection. In barn 3 was Marcelo Torres, player and groom, demonstrating the art of putting shoes on a pony. The Players panel was composed of Page Boone, player and director of The Villages Polo Club, Frankie Bilbao, player and Manager of The Villages Polo Club, Lord Lyall, player and Liaison with The Booster Club, and Charlie Quincoces, player extraordinaire, aka: The Sly Fox! They answered the boosters questions about the game of Polo, along with questions about how they got started with polo. We enjoyed a BBQ from Sonny's along with beer and wine while being entertained by Joe Hand and Lord Lyall under the beautiful Live Oaks which were lit as we were watching another beautiful sunset in The Villages.
PHOTOS BY KEITH FRANKLIN AND GUS SCHETTINI
2020-FALL OPENING PARTY AT THE STADIUM
What a great way to start the fall polo season! Members got the opportunity to participate in the planned events. We had a lot of new Booster Club members at this event. It was great to see some new faces,
along with those who are always an enthusiastic part of our events. Lord Lyall aka: The Lord of Polo, entertained us with his commentary, which always keeps us engaged. We started off with a "shooting match between booster members and players, to see who could hit the ball thru the cones. We then had an exhibition match with our regular players, before we were treated to a match with the polo school students. What a great event that was for them to hear you all cheering them on. We enjoyed a box lunch by Panera while being entertained by Lord Lyall and Joe Hand.
PHOTOS BY KEITH FRANKLIN AND GUS SCHETTINI
2020-OUR FIRST POLO EVENT OF THE FALL SEASON - THE OXFORD POLO CLUB
A wonderful time was had by all. It was a beautiful setting, the sky filled with dark clouds that floated past us. We were seated under beautiful Live Oaks, while keeping a comfortable social distance. It was Oxford Polo Club Vs Team Resolute. Team Resolute was the winner today, (Oxford Polo Club was the winner Friday night and Sundays game tomorrow at The Florida Horse Park will decide the winner). We were so fortunate to have Steve Lane doing a play by play, pointing out penalty's, explaining safety rules, players positions etc. Joe Hand entertained us throughout the day with his music. We even got to see the buffalo grazing in the fields on the way in. Thank you Lord Lyall for opening up your club for us, to Joe Hand for entertaining us throughout the match and to Steve Lane for sharing his incredible knowledge of the sport of polo.
2020-SUMMER POLO
Our mentor, Lord Lyall was able to pull off a summer program for us to enjoy some arena polo at The Grand Oaks Resort
ARENA POLO AT THE GRAND OAKS RESORT
POLO AT THE FLORIDA HORSE PARK AND TAILGATING
STADIUM POLO AT THE GRAND OAKS RESORT
2020 - SPRING SEASON
OPENING PARTY AT THE STADIUM
Our spring season was a short one, just one event and one weekend of Polo. Covid 19 took away our weekend polo, our planned trip to Sarasota, trip to Wellington, the auction, the derby party and our closing party. It was a tough Spring.
Our topic of discussion was rules of Polo