The San Francisco call., 1904-02-08
NOTED POLOIST
At BURLINCAME
Neil Haig, One of the Most
Prominent English Players,
Here to Take Part in Games
MATCHES FOR THIS WEEK
-Four Teams VIII Meet in a
Tournament Preliminary to
the Coming Del Monte Affair

The colony Of poloists at Burlingame
Country Club has been materially
strengthened during the past week by
the addition of the English players who
have been in Southern California
Messrs. Garland, F. ]. Mackey and
Neil Haig. The latter ranks second to
w. S. Buckmaster of England, who is
considered the worlds greatest poloist.
Mr.. Haig weighs go pounds, and how
fourteen and half hand ponies carry
him in a fast game is difficult TO un-
derstand
As a preliminary to the coast cham
pionship polo tournament, which opens
at Del Monte on the 18th inst, a series
OF games will be played at Burlingame
tomorrow, Thursday and Sunday. Six
teen players, divided into four teams,
viii take part and the outcome will
give line on the possible strength of
the Burlfngame representatives in the
international match.
All critics OF the game agree that the
BurliDgame men have gone in too
much for individual playing TO the
neglect Of team work. Walter Hobart
set the fashion in this years ago and
il is still the vogue.
The California enthusiasts have not
abandoned hope Of seeing some of the
Eastern experts here next month. 1t is
possible George ]. Gould and his sons
may come. and FoXhal Keene is also
a likely visitor. Harry Payne Whit
ney intended coming, but the death of
his father upsets his plans.
An Eastern writer discussing polo
says:
Under the revisions Of the playing rules to
be made by the Hurlingham Polo Club. aside
from better codificauOn, there is a firm
or swinging OF the mallet new clause is
that when two players are riding abreast, no
player SHAH strike at the ball over or under
the BODY or across the legs OF an adversary s
pony. Also. player who drops or breaks his
stick. may, under the proposed code, borrow
one from one of his own side. The latter point
Is ard important. II Will be more ef-
pertinent has been tried in playing No. l with
our a maIet than in this country. for in of
side play No. 1 needs his stick often
any Of the bunch. On the contrary. under
the no-of-side rule. No l is chiefly useful in
riding of the back, for, should he get chance
TO run with the ball. the back has only TO
occasions may arise however, in our game
when the team might gain an advantage
OF forcing the player who is minus 70 dismount
TO pick up his mallet or ride 70 the side lines
Marquis de Vfllavieja Of the societe de Polo
Of Paris who was in consultation last week
with Chairman Herbert and Secretary Hazard
OF the Polo Association, Is stlil hopeIul that an
American team VIII 60 over in June for the
International tournament for the James Cor
don Bennett cups at the Bagatelle grounds, al
though he realizes that this is to be an event
ful year Tor the game over here. The coDd-
tions Of the Bsgatelle tournament favor the
hopes Of the marquis for they permit the
presence OF but one top -noteher on team. and
this may bring a pickup four OF touring
Americans 10 the contest.
The toQnotchers those whom we would
term here nine or ten goal men. for while
our handicap system is not used by the Hurl-
ingham Club. the best players here are named
each season on its recent form list and
those so rated are barred from certain re-
etricted competitions at Hurlingham and else
where The five who went over in 19O2-the
Waterburys. Agassfz, Cowdin and Keene-were
put on this list. acknowledgment of their
skill in the high school Of polo, and it is also
not generally known that L. Waterbury played
back in that year in the team that won the
Hurlingham championship cup. the others
being Harold Brassey. A. Rawlinson and W.
: Buckmaster. Two Of our players c. H
Nsckey and Foxhall Keene. were on the team
10 win the Paris international tournament in
1900 The Hamburg Polo Club has written to
Secretary Hazard asking for advice regarding
the shipment of its ponies 10 st. Louis II is
expected that a definite announcement about
the coming Of a Hurlingham team VIII be
made at the annual meeting Of the Polo Asso-
citation in April.