The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-22
1T Is NO EASY TASK
TO DEFEND POLO CUP
Captain Harry Payne Whitney and His Men Have Their
Work Cut Out-Candidates Must Practice Hard and In
cessantly-First Work Out of Defenders Will be on
Georgian Court at Lakewood

NEW YORK. Dec. 2l.---Acceptance
OF the challenge Of the birmingham
ciub Tor the international polo cup
pas been formally sent to England.
together with tentative days for the
contest. These will not be announced
BY the Polo association until they have
been accepted by the birmingham
club. The latter 10 at liberty to sug-
gest changes, but 1t IN certain that
the governing body here will respect
the wishes Of the challengers. Under
the deed Of gait a. revised the matches
must be played between June 1t, and
July 9Th. Last year they were sche-
du.ed to start on May 31st, with the
second game on JUre 4th and q third
on June 1th. II that should be neces-
sary. because of q tie. Weather con-
ditions. however. were such that the
first game was played on June 9Th.
no third game having bsen necessary
by reason OF the Meadow Brook club
team winning both games.
June LIST this year will come on
Sunday. 30 that the FIRST game possible
under the agreement could not be
played until Monday. June and. Eng
land desires that the matches be
played a. early A. possible 30 that
the members may return In time for
the champion cup ties on the Hurting
ham club grounds later in the month.
Last year the champion cup play was
started on Monday. June 18th. 1t
would be Impossible for the British
players to play at Meadow Brook and
get back In time to participate II the
fixture falls as early the coming sum
mer. 1t is most likely that when the
dates for Huriingham's 1913 season
are made up that the champion cup
series will be scheduled much later
in June.
International Matches.
Last years International matches
on Long Island aroused unprecedented
and quite unexpected interest all over
the country. Polo men came from the
Pacific coast and the Gulf to witness
the matches and remained In New
York during the long wait for possible
weather. Thousands who had never,
seen polo game were present in the
big Rrandstands, and II II expected
that next years matches Will draw
even larger crowdA While q big
gate IL not serious confederation
at such an extremely sporting event as
an International polo match. II IL
realized that a game on Saturday
would afford many persons an oppor-
matches, which they could not have
in the middle OF the week. For this
reason II Ia not unlikely that one
Of the dates suggested to the British
challenk ers would include 4 Saturday.
Having In mind the desire of the
British players to get back home ~
carly ~ posstbie, Il would not be 4
bad guess that the nrst match with
be played on Wednesday, June 9TH.
and the second on Saturday. June
eth. In case Of tie the third match
would then be played on wednesday.
June nth. This would give players
and ponies tVo days Of rest between
the ffrst two games and three days
In which TO recuperate between the
second and third Kamex.
Plans are now being completed to
handle tho details Of the invasion from
the American end. The first question
In the matter Of ponies. This 10 In
the hands Of the pony committee APP
pointed at the meeting Of the Polo as
sociation In New York last week Every
EFFORT win be mads to secure the best
mounts In America for the use OF the
defenders Of the trophy. In 1911
ponies were freely offered from all
over the country, and II 10 hoped by the
committee that owners will be Just al
generous next spring and ship their
hest 10 Lakewood to be tried out ny
the candidates for the team. America
viii need the best obtainAbie 70 re-
tain the cup. which was held last year
by the nArrowest Of margins ana the