Kathy Lundberg, owner of Scio Church Stables, wrote a great article for AnnArbor.com that mentions Detroit Polo Club.

What do you think of when you hear “polo”? A short sleeved shirt? Aristocratic young men romping before a crowd of well-dressed spectators wearing fancy hats?


Think again. Polo is a sport for today, for men, women and kids, played by different cultures from around the world. It is for people looking for an exciting sport featuring comraderie between human and equine competitors. We are fortunate in southeast Michigan to have a vibrant and growing polo community.

Check out the rest of the article, Polo is a sport for all who enjoy horses, camaraderie and friendly competition, at AnnArbor.com!

Cecilia Lundberg

It was round robin play on a cool, sunny afternoon on Detroit’s smooth fields. The Ladies Invitational drew 16 players. The group was comprised of wise players like Em Wheaton, Katie Johnson and Tania Evans as well as 2010 polo converts such as 13-year old Cecilia Lundberg, playing in her very first official game.

A junior player at Detroit this summer, Cecilia has found polo a pleasant addition to her horse endeavors. I asked her to rank polo among horse sports. She said, “I like it better than jumping and dressage.” Cecilia has done both for four years. A thoughtful person, she paused and then added, “I really like driving and I have a great driving pony named Cheyenne. I guess I like polo and driving the best.”

Achieving our goal of a regional draw, players came from Michigan clubs Detroit and Grand Rapids, from teams at Michigan State and University of Michigan and from middle and high schools in Ann Arbor and Hartland. Prizes were donated by Dexter Mill and Detroit Polo.

DPC Board President George Kuper said, “Play got really competitive by the middle of the match and there was fierce competition and hard riding. Brilliant strategy exercised by U of M player Olivia Fajen. Watching her play was a real pleasure. There is really a lot of improvement by several players who were working students or who participated in our summer junior program.”

DPC’s junior program is growing quickly, with a dozen teenagers participating under the tutelage of co-club manager Em Wheaton.

The Winning Team (L to R): Sara Heaton (MSU), Andi Slick (U of M) (MVP), Tania Evans (DPC), Cate Flechsig (MSU)
Photo By: Tania Evans of www.riverbendphoto.com

The winning Commando Lock team with sponsor and Detroit Polo Club President, Patrick Smith
Photo By: Tania Evans of www.riverbendphoto.com

The Meadowview Farms team led by Katie Johnson
Photo By: Tania Evans of www.riverbendphoto.com

The Detroit Blues team led by Em Wheaton
Photo By: Tania Evans of www.riverbendphoto.com

Join us for the third annual “Polo at the Pavilion” challenge match between the University of Michigan polo team and the Michigan State University polo team. The two university teams will face off on September 23rd, 2010 at 6:00pm and will be followed by an exhibition match between two professional teams from the Detroit Polo Club and Meadoview Farms Polo Club. The event will also feature a silent auction. All proceeds from the event will benefit the MSU and U of M polo teams.

Mark your calendars now as this promises to be a fun-filled evening for the entire family: beautiful horses, exceptional horsemanship, and the fast thundering action that only equestrian polo can deliver!

Ticket are $10.00 for general admission and $5.00 for students. Email msupolo@msu.edu for your tickets today!

Directions to the MSU Pavilion

From Left to Right: Stacy Stover, Collin McCosh, Paul Wheaton, Patrick Smith

The final game of the USPA President’s Cup tournament was hosted this past weekend at the Detroit Polo Club. The Detroit Polo Club team of Stacy Stover, Paul Wheaton, Collin McCosh, and Patrick Smith met the Derry Heir Polo Club team of Craig Fraser, Paul Knapp, Ricky Bahr, and Will Donahey.

It was a close match throughout all six chukkers. Derry Heir led in early play but Detroit took the lead in the third and through the concerted effort of all four players, were able to hold onto the lead for the rest of the game. Final score: Detroit Polo Club 11 / Derry Heir Polo Club 9

Best Playing Pony went to Craig Fraser’s mare, “Emmy.”

Congratulations to both teams for a great day of polo!

Best Playing Pony went to Craig Fraser's mare, "Emmy"

“Two polo matches, lunch, 7-11 sponsors/vendors all had some fun at DPC.”

From Polo for 7-11 Owners at Detroit Polo Club, posted by Jerry Hutcheson on 8/09/2010 (29 items)

Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher

From Left to Right: Patrick Smith, Diego Baez, Polo Baez, Mason Lampton
Photo By: Tania Evans of www.riverbendphoto.com

Congratulations to the Bliss Polo Team for their hard-fought victory in a fast and fun 4-goal match played here at the Detroit Polo Club on June 27th.

Mason Lampton brought his Bliss Polo Club team by for a quick visit on the way north to their new club in Bliss, Michigan. An 8-chukker practice on Friday, June 25th was followed by an amazing barbecue cooked by UofM Polo Club member Moustafa Moustafa.

Wendy Peterson of http://wendypetersonphotos.com/ took some fantastic pictures of the Sunday match. Check them out on her website!

We look forward to many more games with Bliss in the future!

There will be a scrimmage on Friday night, 28 May, at 6p.m. for DPC players. Please call Paul Wheaton (941 228 7980) for your chukkers – and in some cases, horses.

On Sunday, 30 May, there will be a game at noon. Again, please call Paul with your desire to play. We’re expecting several players from Grand Rapids to join us.

Join us for a fun weekend!

The Detroit Polo Club is joining with On the Run Races and Land Rover & Maker’s Mark Bourbon to present an outstanding & – FUN – Kentucky Derby Party - at our polo grounds in Hartland, MI on Saturday, May 1st.

We are located just north of Brighton near the intersections of US-23 and M-59.  It is an easy ride from anywhere in the metro area yet right in the country.  A beautiful area, horses, colorful apparel, live entertainment, Best Hat Contest, all inclusive great drinks & eats, games, beautiful guys & gals, try your polo mallet swing on “Woody” the official practice horse of the DPC, tons of FUN and the excitement & thrill of watching on our HD TV’s thoroughbred horse racing at the KENTUCKY DERBY!!

Check it all out at………..

http://www.thekentuckyderbyparty.com/

Sign up soon - it looks like it is going to be a SELL OUT!

Our schedule for the 2010 season has just been posted. Check it out and come join us for what is shaping up to be a truly fantastic season!

http://detroitpoloclub.com/schedule/

The 3^rd Annual POLO CHALLENGE MATCH between Patrick Smith’s COMMANDO LOCK TEAM and Roy Link’s LINK ENGINEERING TEAM was held on the beautiful grounds of THE DETROIT POLO CLUB.  Over 150 sharply attired guests attended a delicious country barbeque held prior to the match.  A Best Lady’s Hat contest was held in addition to the usual Best Playing Pony (BPP) and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.  This year’s match was a round robin comprised of three teams – COMMANDO with Patrick Smith, Collin Mc Cosh, Paul Wheaton and Mark Frenchi.  Bob Donahey brought his Cleveland, OH team in to play as LINK ENGINEERING – they were Will Donahey, Mike Gruobert, Craig Fraser and Bob Donahey.  A team from & named KENTUCKY was comprised of Tanya Evans, Caleb Smith, Will Boland & Dan Lanham.  It was a hard fought & evenly matched game that saw LINK ENGINEERING (Cleveland) pull ahead in the sixth chukker for a one-goal victory.

The total crowd of approximately 250 spectators enjoyed solid & highly competitive play by all teams for this fun polo challenge.   The diverse crowd had spectators from all over Michigan & Ohio plus guests from Germany and Sweden. The weather was outstanding with temperatures in the low 80s.  The Lady’s Hat contest (judged by 2008 winner Jennifer Mejia and Sandra Stalmack & Pamela Dangovian) was won by a polo player and new University of Michigan teaching staff person – KODI SCHEER.  Runner up went to a beautiful Birmingham MI resident PATTY KAROUB with her happy & pretty 11 month old child SAMANTHA in her arms.

COMMANDO was the 2008 winner but this year’s victory & bragging rights go to LINK ENGINEERING.   Best Playing Pony went to T/2 a seven-year old gray thoroughbred mare owned and played by BOB DONAHEY.   A USPA best playing pony blanket went to T/2.  CRAIG FRASER won silver for his MOST VALUABLE PLAYER performance.  Ms. Scheer (who also won a silver USPA platter) presented the trophies to the winning team.

MERLE & VERA JENKINS (Merle is the founder of the Detroit club) were on hand to lead the crowd onto the field for “stomping’ in the divots” and enjoyed lots of good old Kentucky bourbon.   Sande Weiler was time/score keeper and George Kuper and Jerry Hutcheson chose the MVP.  Vera Jenkins selected the BPP.  Roger Redman of Detroit & Sarasota FL polo was umpire.  Jerry Hutcheson was the announcer/commentator.

The DPC has two back-to-back 8-goal polo tournaments coming late in August (including a employee scholarship fund sponsored by area 7-Eleven stores and Larry Penzien).  The DPC is always happy to welcome out of town players or spectators.  Their website is www.detroitpoloclub.com