New Zealand’s lineup includes Team Captain, Roddy Wood, a life long professional player, and world-renowned horse trainer. Before opening his Waireka Polo Centre just outside of Christchurch, Wood was polo manager for the most prestigious club in the world, Guards Polo Club in Windsor, England. Wood’s tenure at Guards included time as polo pro to HRH Prince Charles. Joining Wood is New Zealand polo legacy, George Gould. Gould’s grandfather, D.W.J. Gould was one of the top players in his time, founding the Gould cup in 1938 which is still an annual fixture on the New Zealand polo calendar today. The visiting team will be rounded out by Wood’s son Henry, a professional polo player based in England, and fellow Christchurch polo enthusiast Mike Stronach.
USA is determined to end its record on a high note for the year, which includes victories over Chile (10-7), Jamaica (6-4) and South Africa (11-9) and losses to England (8-7), Italy (8-7), Ireland (9-5) and Scotland (12-9). “This has been one of the most competitive seasons on record,” comments USA captain Dan Keating, “with an incredible diversity of players from the world’s top polo nations. It is an honor to have teams traveling such great distances to compete here in Newport. We have worked very hard to prepare our horses and players to meet the challenge.”
After 6 periods of play, called chukkers, the match will conclude with the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Toast & Trophy Presentation, awarding team prizes and the USA vs. New Zealand perpetual Liberty bowl to the winning team, as well as an autograph signing to meet the players. The event will conclude with the polo club’s favorite annual apres polo celebration – an Asado Lamb Roast with the teams – a polo tradition that the audience is invited to participate in, by advanced reservation at www.nptpolo.com. Lamb is a New Zealand staple that will reach perfection, slow-cooked over hot coals field-side in the Argentine tradition. Polo match tickets are sold separately.
The polo grounds are located on the outskirts of Newport at historic Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane, Portsmouth RI. Tickets to the polo match and associated events are available online at www.nptpolo.com.
During the match, a weekly Door Prize drawing will award 2 pairs of Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses to one lucky winner, and our contest for the Best Tailgate will reward a coveted prize and jumbotron moment of fame, courtesy of Stella Artois. Specialty vendors and concessionaires will be present in the Hospitality village at the polo grounds including the Davitt Pavilion & Patio Bar, Horseshoe Wine Bar, Veuve Clicquot Champagne Cart, Newport Polo Pro Shop, and several other unique specialty vendors and gourmet food truck concessionaires.
Stay current with the 2019 team lineup & stats, latest news, events and more through our e-Magazine, by subscription to our Game Day Briefing (sign up) and our weekly Emagazine (sign up). Both subscriptions are private and spam-free.
The Newport International Polo Series is proud to present its 2019 sponsors including Gallo Thomas Insurance, Brahmin, Davitt Inc., Modern Luxury/Boston Common, The Chanler at Cliff Walk, Hotel Viking, The Vanderbilt, Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina, Vanderbilt International Properties, Turkish Airlines, Veuve Clicquot, Clarke Cooke House, Stella Artois, Rockstar Limo, Atria Senior Living, Newport Daily News, McGrath Clambakes, Goslings Rum, Where Boston, Equine Journal, Classical 95.9 WCRI. “Our sponsors have been with us since the beginning. Without their support, the Series would not be as extensive as it is,” explains Dan Keating, Polo Series founder.
2019 Schedule
May 31 Season Kickoff Cocktail Party 7pm Clarke Cooke House & Team Dinner
June 1 Opening Day: USA vs. Chile 5pm Apres Polo: Con Mucho Gaucho
8 Newport Cup 5pm VIP Lounge
15 USA vs. Scotland 5pm Apres Polo: Laird‘s Supper
22 Newport vs. Boston 5pm VIP Lounge
29 East Coast Open Finals 5pm Apres Polo: Championship Dinner
July 6 USA vs. Ireland 5pm Apres Polo: Irish American BBQ
13 Newport vs. Pittsburgh 5pm
14 All Charity Day 5pm
20 USA vs. Italy 5pm Apres Polo: Amici Riuniti
27 Newport vs. Palm Beach 5pm VIP Lounge
Aug 2 Diamonds Are Forever 7pm Marblehouse
9 USA vs. South Africa 5pm Apres Polo: Lobsterbake
10 Newport vs. Washington 5pm
17 USA vs. Jamaica 5pm Apres Polo: Jamaican Jerk Grill
24 Newport vs. New York 5pm VIP Lounge
31 USA vs. England 4pm Apres Polo: Sailor‘s Delight
Sept 7 Newport vs. Baltimore 4pm
14 USA vs. New Zealand 4pm Apres Polo: Asado Lamb Roast
21 New England Pro-Am Challenge 4pm VIP Lounge
28 Finals 4pm
About the Newport International Polo Series:
The Polo Series will feature 8 international teams this season including Chile, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Jamaica, England, New Zealand, as well as 6 City Teams from major US cities and a few top regional rivals for an action-packed season through the end of September. This is the 28th season of Newport International Polo Series, which has hosted teams from over 30 nations including, Ireland, Germany, Spain, England, Argentina, France, Egypt, India, Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Canada, Chile, Jamaica, Nigeria, Portugal, New Zealand, Barbados, Scotland, South Africa, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Kenya, Brazil, China, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, Singapore, Monaco, Morocco, Peru, and Poland.
Minutes from downtown Newport, the International Polo Grounds are located at historic Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane (off of Rte. 138) in Portsmouth, RI. This bucolic setting is the last 100 acres of what was once a 700-acre manorial farm whose settlement dates back to the 1600’s. Its classical stone barns from the Gilded Age and its park-like grounds were rehabilitated by polo series founder, Dan Keating, and thrive today as an equestrian & community recreational property, and home of the Polo Series.
L’esprit de Polo has flourished in Newport, RI, home of America’s first polo club, since 1876. Newport Polo hosts the Newport International Polo Series public exhibition matches, and offers polo club member services for grass & arena polo, and polo instruction year-round; founding member of the United States Polo Association.
About Newport, Rhode Island:
For more than 375 years, Newport has been welcoming visitors from near and far to its charming New England coastal harbor, earning its reputation as America’s First Resort. A renowned international destination, Newport is ripe with art, culture, history and scenic beauty, with miles of unspoiled beaches, distinctive shops, renowned restaurants, diverse accommodations, and world-class sporting and cultural events.
