NEWS

Westchester Polo Club (also known as Newport Polo) in Newport, Rhode Island, is pleased to announce the 2nd annual East Coast Open Women’s Polo Championship (14-20 goal) and East Coast Women’s Handicap (8-12 goal) Sunny Hale Legacy WCT Qualifier tournaments, presented by Dechra, to be held Wednesday, June 26 through Sunday, June 30, hosted by Westchester Polo Club in conjunction with Myopia Polo Club, in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

The tournaments are sanctioned by the United States Polo Association (USPA), and the East Coast Open Women’s Polo Championship has been approved for matching prize money by the USPA, to be awarded to the finalists. U.S. Polo Assn. will serve as the official team uniform supplier.

“All of our available resources are in effect to provide a first-rate competitive experience, from prize money to our best tournament fields, electronic scoreboards, professional USPA Umpiring, expert video production, the cooperative strength of two neighboring clubs, an experienced Host Tournament Committee, and trusted advisory board, to become the United State’s best forum for upper level competition for women, second only to the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™,” stated Dan Keating, Westchester Polo Club President and USPA Delegate. “We are honored to host these two women’s tournaments and invite players to make their mark in polo history at the first-ever USPA-sanctioned women’s outdoor prize money tournament in the country,” Keating continued.

Venues will include three of Newport’s best tournament fields, in rotation, and Myopia's historic main field. A new electronic scoreboard and leaderboard will be on location for the tournament matches. Professional USPA umpires will officiate the matches. A special agenda of social events and entertainment for local experiences will round out the itinerary.

A live draw of teams for their respective opening rounds will be livestreamed on the tournament’s Facebook Group page and on Newport Polo’s Facebook fan page on Saturday, June 22 at 7:30pmET.

Team Registration closes at 5:00pm ET on Friday, June 14, 2019, or sooner if the team limits are reached. Tournament Entry Fee and team registration online here.

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Each tournament will feature top level teams competing for the prestigious Sunny Hale and Anne Hutchinson silver trophies, individual player trophies, Best Playing Pony and Most Valuable Player awards, and the winners recorded in the United States Polo Association annuls. Hale is remembered as a passionate ambassador for the players and horses of polo, and considered to be one of the all-time greatest female polo players and role model for many women in the sport. Hutchinson, a champion of civil liberty and toleration in the colonial era, became the first woman to found a community in the New World (Portsmouth, Rhode Island - 1638) and is revered in New England as a heroine of freedom.

Players seeking teams may connect on the tournaments’ Facebook Group page and also agnes@nptpolo.com to receive detailed information. All tournament participants will automatically qualify to play in the "Sunny Hale Legacy WCT Finals" in Wellington, Florida.

For more information on: paddock turnout or stabling, horse leasing, team assignment for players seeking a team, lodging options, practice opportunities and more direct inquiries to agnes@nptpolo.com.

“It is exciting to bring more opportunities for top level polo competition to the Northeast hub of polo. We will see the top women players in the sport compete again this year as a highlight of the Northeast polo season this summer,” added Leighton S. Jordan, USPA Northeastern Circuit Governor.

“Women players represent the fastest growing segment of the USPA, becoming a very strong presence in the sport,” stated Peter F. Poor, USPA Governor at Large. “My daughters Amanda and Alyson will be participating, attributing their involvement in the sport to the late Sunny Hale.”

Newport Polo is the home of the Westchester Polo Club, one of America's first polo clubs, offering exhibition polo and club member services for outdoor and arena polo, and polo instruction. Established in 1876, Westchester Polo Club was a founding member of the United States Polo Association, and current host of the Newport International Polo Series. Myopia Polo Club is one of America's oldest active clubs and one of five charter members of the USPA.

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. Evolving from its colonization for religious freedom to prominent colonial port to a destination ripe with sport, culture, history, art, entertainment and scenic beauty, distinctive shops, renowned restaurants, diverse accommodations and world-class events, its past, present, and future make it a uniquely legendary international destination.

East Coast Open Women’s Polo Championship
Wednesday, June 26: Semifinals (Location: Westchester Polo Club)
Saturday, June 29: Consolation and Finals (Location: Westchester Polo Club)

East Coast Women’s Handicap
Thursday, June 27: Semifinals (Location: Westchester Polo Club)
Sunday, June 30: Consolation and Finals (Location: Myopia Polo Club)