Article & photos by Nancy Brannon
Memphis Polo Club had great weather for its home practice games on July 21-22, 2018. Temperatures in the mid-eighties with reduced humidity and a slight breeze are a rare occurrence in the Memphis area, so the polo folks took full advantage of the opportunity. Starting at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, the teams played six chukkers each day, pitting Memphis Polo Club vs. Rossville Farms, aka “blue” against “white.” The teams were fairly evenly matched, with both sides scoring goals each chukker.
Playing for the blue team were Club Manager Alfredo Guerreno, Fargason Erb, Midge Ellison, Jocelyn Atkinson, and Alfredo Jimenez.
Playing for the white team were Tito Gorosito and his 12-year-old son Lazaro, Oscar Atkinson, Sayle Atkinson, and Casimir van der Byl.
Spectators had shade from the sun under the cabana, with tables and chairs available for pleasant seating. Always keen to watch the matches, matriarch of the family Imo Erb was on hand with her daughter Margaret Atkinson. After the chukkers, polo players came by the cabana to offer their greetings to Mrs. Erb.
Memphis Polo has been traveling to matches this summer – the prior weekend (July 14-15) to St. Louis for the 2018 USPA Congressional Cup tournament.
The first match of the USPA Congressional Cup tournament began on Friday July 13 at Southern Spring Polo Club in Eureka, Missouri, pitting the Kräftig Polo Team vs. Riverbend Farms Polo Team. The Riverbend Farms Polo Team had an overtime victory over the Kräftig Polo Team on Friday evening to take the first match of the 2018 USPA Congressional Cup Tournament. Score was 9 to 8 at the end of the 7th chukker.
On Saturday, July 14 at Kräftig Polo Club it was the Memphis Polo Team vs. the Kräftig Polo Team. Then on Sunday, July 15, again at Kräftig Polo Club, the Memphis Polo Team vs. the Riverbend Farms Polo Team. Matches started at 10 a.m. each day, and Memphis Polo Club took home the Tournament trophy from the weekend.
St. Louis Polo Club wrote: “Congratulations to the Memphis Polo Team for winning this weekend’s tournament to take the 2018 USPA Central Circuit Congressional Cup. Well done runners-up teams Kräftig and Riverbend Farms. Well played all! The Memphis Team: Sayle Atkinson, Midge Ellison, Alfredo Guerreno, and Oscar Atkinson.
The last weekend in July (July 28-29), the team traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for a match with Lexington Polo at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Memphis Polo will take a “heat break” in August and be ready for the start of the fall season with a polo tournament on September 8-9. The following weekends, September 15-16 and September 29-30, offer club polo, with all matches beginning at 2 p.m.
October is another full month for polo, with a polo tournament October 6-7, club polo October 13-14, and the end of the season polo tournament on October 20-21.
The public is encouraged to come out and watch the polo matches, admission is free, and folks can bring picnics to enjoy an afternoon of esciting, fast polo action with family and friends.
Club Manager Alfredo Guerreno encourages folks to learn to play polo and he offers lessons. He says, “With our lessons, you can learn to play polo at your own pace in a safe, non-intimidating environment. Our lessons are open to both members and non-members. We can even provide a seasoned lesson horse, or you can bring your own. We welcome all skill levels—from accomplished equestrian to first-time rider.”
For lesson information, contact Alfredo at 901-651-4944. Keep updated on Memphis Polo’s activities on their website http://www.memphispoloclub.com/ and on facebook at Memphis Polo Club.
Memphis Polo Club plays and trains on 200 acres of beautifully landscaped countryside, and they play on an immaculately maintained Bermuda grass field. The field is located just off Highway 57 at Rossville, Tennessee. Turn south on Frazier Road (on the east side of Rossville), go 1.25 miles to the two-way stop, turn left onto Stinson Road, and the entrance is a few hundred feed on the right at 2650 Stinson Road. You can’t miss all the trailers parked under the trees!
Memphis Polo Club had great weather for its home practice games on July 21-22, 2018. Temperatures in the mid-eighties with reduced humidity and a slight breeze are a rare occurrence in the Memphis area, so the polo folks took full advantage of the opportunity. Starting at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, the teams played six chukkers each day, pitting Memphis Polo Club vs. Rossville Farms, aka “blue” against “white.” The teams were fairly evenly matched, with both sides scoring goals each chukker.
Playing for the blue team were Club Manager Alfredo Guerreno, Fargason Erb, Midge Ellison, Jocelyn Atkinson, and Alfredo Jimenez.
Playing for the white team were Tito Gorosito and his 12-year-old son Lazaro, Oscar Atkinson, Sayle Atkinson, and Casimir van der Byl.
Spectators had shade from the sun under the cabana, with tables and chairs available for pleasant seating. Always keen to watch the matches, matriarch of the family Imo Erb was on hand with her daughter Margaret Atkinson. After the chukkers, polo players came by the cabana to offer their greetings to Mrs. Erb.
Memphis Polo has been traveling to matches this summer – the prior weekend (July 14-15) to St. Louis for the 2018 USPA Congressional Cup tournament.
The first match of the USPA Congressional Cup tournament began on Friday July 13 at Southern Spring Polo Club in Eureka, Missouri, pitting the Kräftig Polo Team vs. Riverbend Farms Polo Team. The Riverbend Farms Polo Team had an overtime victory over the Kräftig Polo Team on Friday evening to take the first match of the 2018 USPA Congressional Cup Tournament. Score was 9 to 8 at the end of the 7th chukker.
On Saturday, July 14 at Kräftig Polo Club it was the Memphis Polo Team vs. the Kräftig Polo Team. Then on Sunday, July 15, again at Kräftig Polo Club, the Memphis Polo Team vs. the Riverbend Farms Polo Team. Matches started at 10 a.m. each day, and Memphis Polo Club took home the Tournament trophy from the weekend.
St. Louis Polo Club wrote: “Congratulations to the Memphis Polo Team for winning this weekend’s tournament to take the 2018 USPA Central Circuit Congressional Cup. Well done runners-up teams Kräftig and Riverbend Farms. Well played all! The Memphis Team: Sayle Atkinson, Midge Ellison, Alfredo Guerreno, and Oscar Atkinson.
The last weekend in July (July 28-29), the team traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for a match with Lexington Polo at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Memphis Polo will take a “heat break” in August and be ready for the start of the fall season with a polo tournament on September 8-9. The following weekends, September 15-16 and September 29-30, offer club polo, with all matches beginning at 2 p.m.
October is another full month for polo, with a polo tournament October 6-7, club polo October 13-14, and the end of the season polo tournament on October 20-21.
The public is encouraged to come out and watch the polo matches, admission is free, and folks can bring picnics to enjoy an afternoon of esciting, fast polo action with family and friends.
Club Manager Alfredo Guerreno encourages folks to learn to play polo and he offers lessons. He says, “With our lessons, you can learn to play polo at your own pace in a safe, non-intimidating environment. Our lessons are open to both members and non-members. We can even provide a seasoned lesson horse, or you can bring your own. We welcome all skill levels—from accomplished equestrian to first-time rider.”
For lesson information, contact Alfredo at 901-651-4944. Keep updated on Memphis Polo’s activities on their website http://www.memphispoloclub.com/ and on facebook at Memphis Polo Club.
Memphis Polo Club plays and trains on 200 acres of beautifully landscaped countryside, and they play on an immaculately maintained Bermuda grass field. The field is located just off Highway 57 at Rossville, Tennessee. Turn south on Frazier Road (on the east side of Rossville), go 1.25 miles to the two-way stop, turn left onto Stinson Road, and the entrance is a few hundred feed on the right at 2650 Stinson Road. You can’t miss all the trailers parked under the trees!
