Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-13
INTRODUCE POLO HERE
IN MILITIA AND CLUBS
First Virginia Cavalry Squadron
Members Take Up Sport and Inter.
est Others in Forming Team.
DEEP RUN HUNT MAY JOIN
Several Riders Express Enthusiasm,
and Team May BE Organized.
Signal Corps and Cavalry Players
Already Practicing.

formed in Virginia now is in PROCESS
os organization among members ot the
First Virginia Squadron If Cavalry.
Prospective members Of the club. which
will be composed of players from the
various troops, and will he known as
lie Richmond Blues Polo club, AL
ready are pract;cine. and expect to
begin regular play within short
time.
Polo one of the most expensive
sports engaged in. and known as the
sport of millionaircs, has been played
within the State numerous times at
Hot springs. White Sulphur and other
resorts. but in each case the competi-
tors have been Northern players, and
members OF Northern clubs who were
seeking reorca ton here
The game is made possible among
the militialnen by the fact that the
government recently furnished the
squadron its complete number OF
horses. many of which are the ideal
polo type, according TO Polo Captain
]. l.. r Coleman, himself an expo
rienced horseman and polo player. who
had been member Of several wash
inston organizations before joining
the First Virginia Squadron.
Not only Is it planned to form teams
in the various troops of the squadron.
but the officers probably will have
fifth team of their own, while Com
pany \. of the Signal Corps. likewise
expects to form team at All carly
date. Once the game is started here
among the mounted militia. it is ine
plan OF those in charge to organize
separate city club for polo. Members
Of the Deep Run Hunt Club have been
interested in the matter. and alreauy
have it under consideration. the prob
ability being they will take the gains
stage intcrtrOop Gnme.
Upon the organization OF the First
Squadron teams, intertroop play will
be started at once, and. when the on
portunity arises. a team picked from
the four troop teams and that of the
officers Will be selected to compete
with outside organizations. This p,;t,,
should give Richmond an opportunity
10 enter. in big way, a sport that
herct ofore has never been staged here.
While interest in the polo teams has
attained high degree among me,a-
hers Of the First Squadron. Troop b
is practically the only troop that nas
been able to engage in regular prac-
t!ce UP to this time. This troop IS
located at the squadron camp in Shc:-
wood Park, and It's members arc able
to use their spare time in training
their ponies and in learning the saInu
themselves.
However. Troop a is at Danvillc.
divided between Crew and Clarksviiic,
so that players in these divisions have
been unable to secure the advantage
NJ regular workouts UP 10 this time.
They arc pushing the training work ut
every opportunity. though. and when
brought together again probably Will
be ready TO start actual play.
Lieutenant Dean flaw and Sergeant
y. Beverly Campbell, OF the Signal
Corps. are developing the plans OF thar
organization for polo play. and report
considerable progress. The men OF
this company arc very much Interest,"
ed in the game and also are using their
spare time for training their ponies at
the State Fair Grounds
AT the present time the personnel
of Troop b Squad consists Of Lieuten.
ant y. II. Eludgins. squadron veteri-
marian. who is responsible at all times
for the way the horses are used. and
who, with j. l.. +. Coleman, captain.
has played polo in the past. Henry
Moncure, manager; j. T.. Wilkinson,
secretary treasurer; Fergus AIcRee,
Stanley watkins. w. B. Saunders. c.
r. Robertson and Charles L. REGISTER
Men Show Proficiency.
Troop has had squad out l:rac-
ticsng for the past few weeks ana
while the practice consists largely Of
teaching the ponies bride wisdoi;
starting and stopping quickly, and 81
familiarity with the flying mallots arid
balls. sill remarkable prohcierc: III
the game is being shown By the men.
Every man now in the Troop Il squad
was a horseman of proven ability. be-
fore the Blues were made cavalry. and
this fact will do away with months OF
learning to ride in polo fashion, always
necessary to beginner, making II nee
eSSary for the men to learn only the
many strokes in the game and to stand
the numerous bumps and falls. for
there ~ no place on polo team for Il
timid rider and one does not have the
time 20 make a choice of short cuts
10 the ball. the speed and enthusiasm
Of the players and ponies making IL
compulsory to squeeze through the
nearest place where an opening can
be forced and then probably ride off
an opponent who has already started
after the ball, all OF which means many
falls for the players and innumerable
Jolts for both horses and men.
4 polo pony Is usually not more than
fourteen and half hands high and
when taken green from the ranges, az
those OF the first squadron are, re-
1uire more or less rigid schooling: bu,
once the little fellows get the hang OF
the game, they will race after the
white balls with all the enthusiasm
OF their riders: in fact. the success
Of Il team depends rs much upon the
ponies knowledge OF the game as upon
the ability of the players to ride well
and hit hard
The ponies from the southwestern
section of the nation arc said to be
OF the best kind for polo play. and.
with the proper training. should pro-
vide the local players with excellent
mounts. Once the game is started here
on a sound basis. 1t is probable II will
jump Into immediate popularity. and
il is safe To predict that the new game
soon will be ranked among the most
Interesting sports open TO local ath-
letes.