Taking the Reigns
Will she really wear Alexander McQueen? What else will they eat besides the multi-tiered fruit and chocolate biscuit cakes? Will Kate sign a pre-nup?
Okay, maybe your obsession with the royal wedding has gotten a little out of control. You need to redirect your newfound anglophilia to something that doesn’t include a weekend parked in front of Kate and William tv specials.
Get your heart racing the real HRH way with the game that sweeps both of Britain’s princes off their feet and on to horsebacks.The Hawaii Polo Club opens its season this Sunday with music, a huge tailgating party, and two rounds of the historic sport described as fast break basketball on horses. Longtime polo player and president of the Hawaii Polo Club Mike Dailey has five tips to keep you from running foul at the polo fields.
1 – Get into the Swing of things
Polo rules fill dozens of pages. Here is the cliff notes version. There are four 7 ½ minute-periods of play called chukkers (chuck-ahs) when teams of four fight to hit the ball into the goal. Every time someone scores, the teams switch goals. Players change horses after every chukkah, so you have about four minutes to take a break. The average match lasts about an hour-and-a-half.
2 – Skip the Stilettos
Pretty Woman wouldn’t lie. One of the long-standing traditions of polo is the half-time divot stomp, where the crowd pushes the churned- up turf back into place. So flats are the way to go, especially since the field can get muddy.
3 – Made in the Shade
Since polo returned to Hawaii, opening day has brought in thousands of fans. There are no seats so bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Dailey says get there early, before 1:00 p.m., to score a space between the announcer’s booth and clubhouse. Not only will you be near all the food concessions, you’ll benefit from the shade of the Ironwood trees.
4 – Forget the Wave
Cheering for your team is encouraged. But don’t wave blankets, hats or any other bright items that could spook the horses. When it comes to the horses, tell your little ones to look but don’t touch. Polo horses are highly-trained but highly-strung and powerful animals.
5 – Sound like a Baller
Pony up with this piece of trivia to impress the crowd. It is illegal to play polo with your left hand. The association banned it to avoid collisions on the field. The only ones allowed to swing as a southpaw are those who were registered with the National Polo Registry before 1976.
Opening Day is Sunday at the Mokuleia Polo Fields, 66-585 Farrington Hwy. and matches continue every Sunday through September. Gates open at noon for tailgating. The matches begin at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10. Click here to see the full season schedule, or call 808.637.7669 for more information.
