2014 Shaping Up
To Be A Great Year For
POLO STORY BY LAUREN MIRÓ • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO
With pounding hooves and roaring crowds, the exciting game of polo returns to the International Polo Club Palm Beach this month, offering the highest level of competition with some of the best players in the world. Last year, IPC celebrated its tenth anniversary season with a banner year, and the momentum hasn’t stopped. This year is set to be as exciting as ever, Club President John Wash said. “Everything was a highlight last year,” he said. “We had the largest number of teams and probably the biggest attendance since the inception of the club.” And 2014 is shaping up to be just as great, with fierce competition and events the whole family can enjoy. “We’re committed to providing the highest level of polo in the United States,” Wash said. “Each Sunday this season is new and exciting. You never know what will happen when you come out Sunday afternoon — which celebrities will stop by or what will happen on the field. But it’s always exciting.” The season kicks off Sunday, Jan. 5 with the Herbie Pennell Cup, and continues through April 20, culminating with the prestigious Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship Finals.
62
January 2014 |wellington the magazine| 10th Anniversary
“All our tournaments are coming back this year,” Wash said. “On opening day, the SuperCar HorsePower Show will be here with some spectacular racecars to kick off Super Car Week.” Also returning this year is Vueve Clicquot’s Fashion on the Field, a popular salute to trendsetters that honors one fashionista each match who stands out during the divot stomp. “The Gardens Mall will be partnering with Vueve Clicquot for it,” Wash said. Wash noted that fans can expect fierce competition as the sport continues to grow. There are 18 teams battling this year for the prestigious cups awarded each week. “We have the same number of teams this year, but we have some new teams,” Wash said. “It’s great to see new people stepping up into the season and joining us.” The competition will be tough, with some of the best players in the world taking the field at IPC this season. “The compe-