If you were to ask any college kid, or really anyone other than British or Persian nobility for that matter, what their favorite sport to attend is, it most likely would not be polo. But if you were to ask my friends or me, we would definitely say that polo was a very interesting (and smelly) sport to spectate.
My friend Katelyn and her family have been going to watch Newport Polo games for ten years with family and friends. Each year, their polo group gained more supporters and a day of polo went from six seven-and-a-half minute periods (AKA “chukkas”) to an all afternoon and evening tailgating event with a contest involving the best tailgate set-up. Katelyn and her family’s goal this year was to win it.
With that said, Katelyn invited me and our two friends to watch polo and go to her house to help get ready for the big contest. Our tasks were to make Nutter Butter horse cupcakes, patriotic berry cupcakes with strawberry and raspberry filling, lemon cupcakes, and a grill made out of a watermelon with fruit kabobs to top it off. We all had our jobs and I, fortunately, got to make the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes instead of eviscerating the watermelon.
The next day we arrived at the polo field in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. In order to tailgate, Katelyn’s family rented two spaces alongside the field. We set up tents, tables, many chairs, signs, inflatable ponies, a grill, and of course all the food including our festive cupcakes. Our theme for the polo set-up was red, white, and navy blue, which are the colors of Newport’s polo team; almost all of our polo group was decked out to match these colors. Once my friends and I sat down to admire our set-up, we were pretty confident that we would take home the prize, whatever that would be.
Eventually, we heard the British announcer asking everyone to clear the field as they were about to begin the polo match. He announced that Newport was playing Pittsburgh and reviewed the rules with the crowd. The game has six seven-and-a-half periods called “chukkas”. On each team, there are four players on horses and each of the players has a mallet to hit and pass the ball with. Each team has to try to get the ball through the goals which are on either end of the field. One goal equals one point and after each goal, the teams switch sides. At half-time, Newport was winning 8-1.
Half-time is when the spectators get to be part of the game and take the field to step on the divots. My friends and I walked out onto the field to push back all the divots (called "treading-in") from the ponies’ hooves when Katelyn told us to make sure we don’t mistaken horse “bombs” for divots.
So the game went by pretty quickly with Newport holding the lead the entire game. The last chukka ended and the final score was 11-4. The entire crowd surrounded the field and held up their hands as the players on their horses trotted by and returned our high-fives. It was such a different type of game to witness.
Along with congratulating the players and thanking the spectators, the announcer also announced that our set-up won the competition! Katelyn’s family received a picnic basket and a case of beer; nothing for us youngsters, but that’s all right! My friends and I enjoyed a day full of scrumptious cupcakes while becoming polo fans. If you are ever looking for something to do on the weekend with family and friends, go watch a polo game! You don’t need to be a member of British nobility.
