The Gay Polo League Forges Ahead To A Bright Future By Carrie Wirth
The International Gay Polo Week returns to Wellington this month, and the sixth annual event puts a spotlight on the growing Gay Polo League, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year. A lifelong horseman and amateur jumper rider, Chip McKenney was introduced to polo and fell in love with the sport. He founded the Gay Polo League in 2006, the only organized gay polo league in the world. Players of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels from all over the world compete and share camaraderie and their passion for the “sport of kings.” Recently, McKenney was honored by Compete Magazine, an LGBT sports media company, as its Sports Pioneer of the Year for “paving a significant path in the sports community through his
leadership of the Gay Polo League and his participation in the sport of polo.” McKenney is making great strides with the organization. Last October, GPL made its debut in the fourth annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower, a top polo event attracting 15,000 polo fans to the Omni Scottsdale Polo Field. For McKenney and the GPL, the future is bright. The organization has members in eight countries and is on the fast track for growth. GPL teams have been invited to play in Argentina, England, South Africa, Australia, France and Morocco. There is talk of a high profile event in Europe in the coming years. This year, GPL celebrates the sixth year of its flagship event, the International Gay Polo Week in Wellington, at North America’s most prestigious polo venue, the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The tournament will be held Saturday, April 11 on the picturesque Isla Carroll field. “The change of venue offers unlimited opportunity to continue to grow our event,” McKenney said. “IPC is an internationally recognized firstclass polo venue. Each year, this event becomes bigger and better, and we challenge ourselves to create a unique, quality experience for the players and the spectators.” The International Gay Polo Tournament is known for its themed tailgates, welcoming atmosphere and exciting polo action. This year’s (Left) GPL founder Chip McKenney. PHOTO BY SCOTT FISHER
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april 2015 | wellington the magazine