University of Virginia Library

Malletmen Adopt New
Arena Style Of Play

By Mark Pirrung
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Polo at the University will take
on a new look this spring. Besides
changing the location of their
Sunday afternoon games the club
will play a new style of polo which
has become very popular among the
northern polo clubs.

Coupled with the move from
route 29 north to the Farmington
Hunt Club, located out Barracks
(Garth) Road west, the University
polo will play on a smaller "arena"
field. The play is surrounded by
four foot boards with boarded goals
at either end. Shots are played off
the boards and will seldom go out
of bounds (over the boards) making
for a faster game and better
spectator interest.

Arena or "indoor" polo has
gained much prominence in recent
years. All of the northern university
clubs find that they can play all
year round in covered arenas. The
University club had found itself at a
disadvantage in the Intercollegiates
since they have traditionally played
on an outdoor field.

Through the generosity of the
Farmington Polo Club which also
plays arena polo the University
Club will be able to play this spring
at the Farmington Arena. The field
on Garth Road has facilities for
parked cars as well as individually
seated spectators allowing both
equally clear views of the game.

Arena polo has been well accepted
across the nation. Above is
Ray Harrington making a nearside
forward shot in an arena game in
the Houston Astrodome. (From
left) Del Carroll, Julio Muller and
Ray Harrington compete in close
riding in front of a 30,000 record
crowd in 1967.

The game which was so well
accepted in Houston has received
equal recognition in the colder
regions year round. Cornell University
fields a large number of games
in their arena, where student
interest runs high.

The University will hold its first
arena game Sunday, April 12 at
2:30 against a three goal team from
Charlottesville.