Evening star., 1914-05-31

contest will take place, followed by g
second June 13, and II third is neces-
sary it will be played the Saturday
following. All the games will be played
at the Meadowbrook Club, Westbury, l.
1. This cup, for which the two nations
are struggling. was originally onered by
the Westchester Polo Club OF Newport
was won by the English team in two
games. The next contest for the cup tool
place at Hurlingham, England. when ar
American visiting team, four years later
lost in a single match by score OF
to . Two years later a third match
game was played at birmingham and
here the Americans. although still unable
to bring the cup back to this country
did little better, for they won one ou1
Of the three games. Seven years elapsed
and then our notable team, MADE up o.
Harry Payne Whitney, Devereaux Mill.
burn and the two Waterburys. crossed
the water and in 1909 brought the cur
back by taking two straight games, the
first, to 5. and the second, to 2 Two
matches have been played since then
first was won by the same American
team and without great difficulty. Last
year. however. owing to accidents and
general breaking up of the team, II was
not until the last moment that the amer
ican four was brought together into such
shape az to stand chance of winning.
and although they decisively won the
first game the second was nerve racking
and was only decided by fraction OF
goal, but fortunately that fraction was
in our favor.
While at this writing it would look as
though Harry Whitney and his committee
will conclude that H. C. Phipps at No. l.
Monty Waterbury at No. 2. Millburn at
3 and L. Waterbury. back, is the strong
est combination. they will still hold in
I.aM0ntAgne. j.
S. Phipps and Malcolm Stevenson The
fact that Capt. Cheape and Lockett and
John Trail of the Argentine Club have
finally decided to help out Baron Win
teresting and with Maj. Barrett and
Capt. Bingham really strong four
should be developed.
Polo to the average onlooker seems
very simple game. "Shinney on horse
back we have heard it called, and there
is little doubt but that perfectly safe
estimate would be that not 20 per cent
even in the crowd that watch the inter.
national polo contest know tae amount OF
Individual and team skill required to de-
velop successful polo team. Pernaps
a brief resume Of a few Of the salient
points may serve to make the witnessing
of the contest more interesting to the
spectator.
In the first place, the question has
many times been asked. ana sometimes
derstand the game. Perhaps the best
answer is that a good polo pony thor
oughly understands his rider and the
rider thoroughly understands his pony.
It is true that the ponies do become ex-
cited in a hot scrimmage and that many
a good polo pony has shown every indi-
cation Gas far as a horse maV that he
understands the game itself, and Is some
times quite disgusted with the man on
his back for not knowing more. But one
Inust remember that these strokes in
polo require far more skill than a stroke
in tennis. because q stroke with the NAL
let. on account of the size of the head
and the leverage. is much more delicate
than q stroke with q racquet; also that
instead of standing on his own feet. as
in tennis, a player is placed on a flying
steed. It is then possible to gafner some
idea Of the combination OF riding and
skill that the game requires. as Wen a
the thorough cooperation between playe.
and pony.
ly easy, but not to one VINO as noe q
fhorough horseman. and also familiar
Witt Yielding the stick. It consists sim
ply OF riding straight ahead. raising the
arm practically to it's fullest reach and
bringing the mallet down with a sweeI
almost like a single-handed golf stroke
for fine power depends upon the speed
witt, which the mallet head is going wher
II reaches the ball and for this a follow
through Is essential. A backhand stroke
is a far more difficult accomplishment
Tor tho pony b going IN the opposite
6irsctaou and No one knows. except The
-,,1 r-No Hea trfaS r. how rnnn1- f4-,,e<