Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-10
POLO CONTEST IS
BEGUN IN GOTHAM
English Team in an Attempt to
Regain Possession of Trophy
Won in 1909.

New York, June 10.-The most i'm
portant event of the year in interna-
tional sport was staged at Meadow
Brook. L l., this afternoon when the
American and English polo teams gal
loped out on the held for the initial
game of the sixth match for the inter
national polo chollenge cup. Play for
this prize ranks second only TO the
races for the Americas yachting tro-
ply, in competitions which have to
date brought together representative
amateur sportsmen of the United
States and Great Britain.
Lacking somewhat in the traditions
and prestige surrounding the battles
for possession of the famous blue rib
bon OF ocean regattas, the polo cup
has the advantage of thai man-to-man
element of sport which thrills the spec
tators, who watch the game progress
ing in a confined area Immediately be-
fore them.
A game which requires courage,
team work, physical strength and en-
durance, combined with control of
temper and ability TO sink personality
in favor of combination advancement,
arouses the greatest interest among
! followers of modern sport. In the
coming polo matches are found all
these requisites spiced by the add
/ tional elements of International tinge
and the speediest ponies ever collect
ed for polo play.
! There are still other angles which
add interest to the attemp. OF the
/ English team TO regain possession of
/ the polo trophy wrested from England
/ in 1909. The polo authorities of the
challenging country have spent vast
sums of money and devoted TWO years
| to preparing for the play now in prog
ress. Fully aware of the preparations
being made abroad, the American asso
! citation has kept pace with the result
that an outlay amounting 10 close to
/ $1,000, 900 has been necessary before
the opening contest. For England, the
duke of Westminster, prime mover in
the efforts to recover the cup, is said
personally to have contributed about
100000 and secured $500 from fel
low polo enthusiasts throughout the
British empire.
With this sum. the world outside o
the United States, has been currieC
for ponies suitable in speed and STAN
ina for worlds championship play
The mounts of the English team show
the results of widespread search. 70,
hey have come from England, Aus
tralia, Egypt, New Zealand, Argentina
and India FOrty-four is the total O
the squad, and since the ponies are tn.
pick of almost 5000 offered, it is SAT-
to say that the real valuation is in eX
cess of the $1,000 placed upon then
for bonding purposes.
The members of the English team
also represent the best polo playing
talent that the British empire cal
; boast Composed of Captain R. G. Ri
son, Ellisldning dragons, who lead
the team: Captain Leslie St. Georg
, Cheape, Kings Own dragons: Car
tain A. Noel Edwards, Ninth lancerl
and Captain Vivian Lockett, 18th LAM
ers. the combination is one of PLAYER
who have spent years of their life i
the saddle. In Lord Wodehouse an
: F. u. Freake England has two reser'
lists who have played in previous int
national matches and are by exper
ence and training ready to act in tn
capacity of substitutes should thei
: services be required.
S This team, selected from more tina
4 1000 players from all parts of til
!. United Kingdom, is most formidab
I polo four. Captains Cheape and T.
O wards were members of the cnallen
ing team of 1911. Mr. Freake an
I ! Lord Wodehouse played on the Gu
s defending team of 1909. Captain RI
/ son is noted for his riding and remar
p able wrist work with the mallet. Ca
tain Cheape's strong forte lies in h
hitting and Craftsmanship. Captai
? Edwards combines both accuracy ar
length in his strokes and also is note