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Circuit Governor Election Results

August 16, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

ON BEHALF OF USPA SECRETARY PATRICK M. NESBITT

To the USPA Membership:

In accordance with USPA Constitution Article IV, nominations were accepted and as a result two elections were conducted.

The Rocky Mountain Circuit
First elected in 1996 Eugene S. Burk decided to step aside this year. Nominations were received for Erica Gandomcar-Sachs and Raymond Mayer. Receiving more votes, Mr. Mayer was duly elected as Rocky Mountain Circuit Governor.

The Southwestern Circuit
Las Colinas’ Jesse Pruitt received sufficient nominations to become a candidate in a contest against incumbent Dr. Victor Ramon. Dr. Ramon received more votes and was reelected to the post of Southwestern Circuit Governor.

Other changes around the country were as follows:

The Border Circuit
Lt. Governor Daniel Coleman was elected as incumbent Adren Nance chose not to stand for reelection. Nance was appointed in 2008.

The Mid-States Circuit
Lt. Governor Mark Sedacca was elected as incumbent Glenn Watterson, II chose not to run. Watterson was first elected in 2000.

The complete list of Circuit Governors beginning a new term at the August 28thBoard of Governors Meeting:

Border  Circuit – Daniel Coleman
Central  Circuit – Britt Baker
Eastern Circuit – James H. Burton, III
Florida  Circuit – Anthony L. Coppola
Great Plains Circuit – Jack L. Shelton
Hawaiian Islands Circuit – Christopher Dawson
Mid-States Circuit – Mark Sedacca
Northeastern Circuit – Peter F. Poor
Pacific Coast Circuit – Dennis L. Geiler
Pacific Northwest Circuit – George R. Dill
Rocky Mountain Circuit – Raymond Mayer
Southeastern Circuit – Joseph P. Meyer
Southwestern Circuit – Dr. Victor J. Ramon

Filed Under: USPA News Tagged With: ,

Team USA Applications Now Being Accepted

August 15, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

Team USA applications are now being accepted for next year’s program.  This year the Pacific circuit had 5 individuals participate.  The program included a 4 day session in Florida and a 4 day session in Wyoming.  You can’t get better training and mentoring than under this program.

If there is anyone in your club that would qualify be sure to start the process early.  I would be happy to write a letter of recommendation.  Be sure to submit photos and video.  When you do be sure to indicate who in the photo or video is the applicant.

Denny Geiler,  Governor

MEMBER NOTICE:

Applications for the USPA Team USA program are now available on the USPA Website.

Team USA is a program designed and funded by the USPA to identify USPA members who meet the qualification standards to be provided additional opportunities for training and mentoring by experienced world-renowned instructors and professional players.

Team USA applicants can be male or female and must be at least 18 years old and no older than 23 years old. The applicant must be handicapped by the USPA at a minimum handicap of 0 goals for women and 1 goal for men. An applicant must provide written recommendations that he or she has the ability to be handicapped higher if provided the necessary training, mentoring and playing opportunities. Only completed applications will be accepted.

The main concept of the Team USA training and mentoring program is to identify aspiring young players based on completed applications and strong, valid recommendations. All submitted applications will be subject to an evaluation and selection process that will identify 12 applicants who will attend a 3-day training event in Wellington, Florida, February 18-21, 2011.

The training event will feature various advanced polo seminars, mounted and unmounted, conducted by high-goal pros and/or former high-goal players covering a variety of topics and skill acquisition. The instructors will also be tasked with evaluating the group and selecting potential applicants to be mentored for a period of time by a high-goal professional player (logistical and scheduling details would have to be negotiated).

All applicants, even if not selected for the Team USA training and/or the mentoring events, may be considered for future USPA training events. In addition, all applicants will be asked to provide information for the USPA database (if they have horses, transportation, are available to play or work, when, where, etc). This database of young American players will provide a networking tracking system that will be promoted by the USPA to the polo community. This will be a useful tool for team sponsors creating teams that include American amateur or professional players. (Please note: Team USA is not intended as a means to become a professional polo player. More importantly, it is to serve as an identification, training and mentoring program that will include learning and playing opportunities to increase individual handicaps. Team USA is also designed to offer a polo networking system for young American players.

In future years, Team USA plans to host and manage playing and networking opportunities such as the Junior East-West series and FIP funded competitions where a young Team USA versus teams representing other countries.

Team USA Application Criteria 2011

1. Applications for 2011 will be accepted beginning on August 15, 2010 and will not be accepted any later than October 15, 2010. Selections will be announced no later than December 1, 2010.

2. Applicant must meet all application requirements and be available to attend the Team USA clinic and try-outs February 18-21, 2011 in Wellington, Florida (Travel and accommodation expenses included).

3. Applicant must have reached their 18th birthday by January 1, 2011 and not have exceeded their 23rd birthday by January 1, 2011.

4. A hand written letter stating why applicant would like to be selected for Team USA must accompany application form.

5. Recommendation letters and DVD of the applicant playing are strongly encouraged.

6. All applications should be mailed to:

Team USA
c/o USPA Chairman Tom Biddle
P.O. Box 1102
Aiken, SC 29802

For more information, contact Kris Bowman at kbowman@uspolo.org or 800-232-USPA.

Click here to download an application.

Filed Under: From The Governor's Desk, USPA News Tagged With: ,

Nomination Request for Annual Intercollegiate/Interscholastic PTF Awards

April 27, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

April 22, 2010

The Annual Polo Training Foundation Awards for Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Players of the Year will be presented during the USPA® meetings in Santa Barbara, California, tentatively scheduled for August 19 – 22, 2010.

Anyone who is interested in nominating a candidate for:

  • Intercollegiate Male Player of the Year,
  • Intercollegiate Daniel J. Wallace, Jr. Female Player of the Year
  • Interscholastic Male Player of the Year
  • Interscholastic Female Player of the Year

Please mail, fax, or email your nominations by June 1, 2010 to:

Polo Training Foundation
Attn:  Lynn Thompson70 Clinton Street
Tully, N.Y. 13159
Fax: (315) 696-0287
dscheraga@polotraining.org

Nominations should be accompanied by a supporting letter explaining why the candidate meets the criteria.  Criteria for the award and past winners can be found on the following page.  Please call the PTF office at 888-783-7656 or Lynn Thompson at 650-452-4402 (greyestfox@gmail.com ) with any questions or concerns.

Polo Training Foundation Awards

The Polo Training Foundation Award winners are selected through their participation in the Intercollegiate and Interscholastic programs of the United States Polo Association and based on the following criteria:


I.  Playing Ability

A.            Horsemanship
B.             Mallet Skill
C.             Team Work
D.             Comprehension of the game

II.  Contribution to the sport

A.            Leadership
B.             Commitment
C.            Assistance to new players

III.  Sportsmanship

A.            Conduct in and out of the playing arena
B.            Knowledge of the rules and their enforcement
C.            A positive attitude




Filed Under: USPA News Tagged With: , ,

New Funding For The Polo Development Initiative (PDI)

April 22, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

At the Spring Meeting of the USPA Board of Governors, an additional $100,000 was approved for the Polo Development Initiative budget.  This will provide addition money for the Club Funding Program.  Club Funding will provide any USPA club with up to $10,000 of reimbursable funds to pay for any reasonable program that the Club would sponsor that would grow its membership and therefore the membership of the USPA.  Examples are: an expansion of a polo school by adding horses or personnel, a new concept to a marketing plan, development of a website, adding a marketing director, etc.

Any Club receiving Club Funding can give a free, first year USPA membership to any new students or members of the Club.  This can be attached to a first lesson program to make an attractive package.  The membership also includes a year subscription to the Polo magazine and liability insurance coverage.

If your Club has plans for growing, suggest that they apply for Club Funding.  If your Club has used Club Funding in the past, the rules allow up to 4 years of Club Funding so have them apply for a new growth project.  The application is on the USPA website.

Filed Under: From The Governor's Desk, USPA News Tagged With: , , ,

U.S. Polo Association Teams Up with the U.S. Pony Club

April 14, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

The U.S. Polo Association will work with U.S. Pony Club local chapters to capture interest of young horsemen and women nationwide

April 12, 2010 (Wellington, FL) – The United States Polo Association (USPA) is working with the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) in a cross-promotional effort to attract young riders to both organizations. The USPA plans to offer a free introductory membership to Pony Club members across the country and is working with its member clubs and other polo entities to offer polo to the USPC Regions in the form of educational clinics.

The U.S. Pony Club has experienced resounding success in teaching riding, safety, and horsemanship skills – all important building blocks for learning to play polo. “This joint venture between the USPA and USPC is the next natural step towards growing the popularity of polo in the US,” said USPA Executive Director Peter Rizzo. “By working together with the USPC we are able to reach experienced young riders who want to develop their horsemanship skills and be a part of the thrilling sport of polo.”

The U.S. Pony Club is optimistic that by offering polo as an activity, the organization will draw interest from young horsemen as well. USPC Executive Director, Peggy Entrekin, is pleased that this effort will expose USPC members to the exciting sport of polo. According to Entrekin, “We have a number of members who already compete in mounted games and polocrosse, so polo is a natural progression for them because of the necessary skills, precision and importance of sound horsemanship.”

Pony Club members will learn the proper way to prepare and protect their horses for the game and how to introduce their horses to polo equipment including the mallet and the polo ball. The polo clinics’ curriculum will include 20-24 hours of instruction with a review and comprehension of the basic rules along with playing drills. They will learn skills while mounted, progressing to coached scrimmages.

The first polo clinic for Pony Club members will take place in June at the Hillside Polo Club in Richfield, Wisconsin. The USPA is also working with its Regional Polo Centers and member clubs to coordinate a series of clinics this summer for Pony Club chapters located in Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Wichita.

About United States Polo Association (www.uspolo.org)

The USPA was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.

About the United States Pony Club (www.ponyclub.org)

The mission of Pony Club is “to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies, thereby developing responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence.” The USPC educational programs promote the health and safety of both horse and rider with equal emphasis on the teaching of riding skills, horse-care fundamentals, and team participation with sportsmanship. USPC is dedicated to developing knowledgeable, competent, responsible, and caring horsemen.

Filed Under: USPA News Tagged With: , , ,

The United States Polo Association Announces the 2010 USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Program.

February 25, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

USPA 2010 USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Program

Consistent with the mission of the United States Polo Association (USPA) to protect the welfare of players and our equine partners during polo tournaments, competitions and games, as well as the role of the USPA to provide rules and conditions to ensure the safety and welfare of all participants and mounts – the USPA has developed an Equine Drugs and Medications Program (ED&MP).

It is the goal of the USPA – that by developing and enacting the ED&MP Rules regarding permitted, restricted and prohibited drugs, medications and substances, as well as rules regarding enforcement and sanctions for ED&MP Rules violations – participants in the sport of polo will have a heightened awareness concerning the welfare and safety of the horses used in polo competition as well as ensuring the fairness of USPA competition.

USPA Players, horse owners and veterinarians – and all others responsible for the care of our equine partners – should be aware that polo horses will be subject to testing pursuant to USPA By-Law 4.d., which provides:  “As a condition of membership each Individual Member of the Association will be considered to have given consent to submit to random blood and/or urine testing of any mount owned by, played by, or under the control of that Individual Member.” Therefore, commencing in 2010, the USPA has established a pilot Equine Drugs and Medications Program, under new USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Rules (“Rules”).  In 2011, enforcement and adjudication of those Rules will also be in place, and at that date, the entire USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Program (“Program”) will become fully effective.

Testing of blood samples taken from horses will be conducted at the existing testing facilities of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Testing Laboratory.  The USPA has selected this laboratory because the USEF has an established, ongoing program and protocol for veterinarians and technicians to sample and test equine competitors for prohibited and restricted drugs, medications and substances used in competition.

The USPA has published its USPA Equine Drugs and Medication Rules that describe permitted, restricted and prohibited drugs and medications.   All drugs and medications not specifically permitted by the USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Rules are prohibited. Within those Rules, the USPA has provided Comments and Guidelines to assist in the interpretation and with the application of the new Rules.  The Rules, Comments and Guidelines may be revised during and after the conclusion of the 2010 pilot program.

After the official publication date of the new Rules – February 25, 2010 – all USPA Members will have a 30-day “Notification Period” to inform and educate themselves of the Rules.  As of March 28, 2010 – all USPA mounts used in any USPA competition or event shall be subject to random drugs and medications testing at randomly selected USPA events.  In 2010, there will be no adjudication or sanction if a horse is tested positive for prohibited drugs or medications.  The owner of tested horses will be notified by the USPA of test results if the test results are positive for prohibited drugs or medications. Beginning in 2011, the USPA Rules will provide an adjudication process that will include specific USPA sanctions for horse owners of horses that test positive.

Complete information about the USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Program can be found on the USPA Website:  www.us-polo.org on the home page and under the Equine Welfare section of the site.  In addition, there will be a USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Program seminar scheduled for the Polo Museum, located in Lake Worth, Florida; and, there will be a USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Program teleconference scheduled within the first two weeks of March. Should anyone have questions or require additional information concerning the USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Rules or the Program, please contact your veterinarian or USPA Executive Director Peter Rizzo at: 859-608-4766 or email: rizzo@uspolo.org.  For more information about the USEF, please contact USEF at: 800-633-2472 or email: medequestrian@aol.com


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Polo Training Foundation Fundraiser Feb. 25th @ Eldorado Country Club, CA

February 22, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

Eldorado Fund Raiser

14th Annual Eldorado Fund Raiser
Eldorado Country Club
6:00 PM February 25, 2010

The Polo Training Foundation will conduct its 14th annual fund raiser at 6:00 PM February 25, 2010 at the Eldorado Country Club in La Quinta, CA.

This is the largest fund raiser conducted for the PTF through the gracious support of the Eldorado polo community.  Many wonderful items including polo equipment, jewelry, clothing, exquisite trips, and much more are offered in both live and silent auctions.  Contact the PTF office for more information
Phone 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656)
email: dscheraga@polotraining.org

You can also contact the Eldorado Polo Club for tickets to this event.  Http://www.eldoradopolo.com.

Filed Under: USPA News Tagged With: ,

USPA Today Cocktail Reception Sat., Feb. 27th @ Eldorado Polo Club

February 22, 2010 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

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Polo loses Valentine Caset In Tragic Car Accident

December 31, 2009 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

Valentine Caset In Fatal Car Accident in Uruguay
Dec. 31st ‘09


Valentine Caset. Photo by David Lominska.

Valentine Caset. Photo by David Lominksa.


Valentine Caset was hit by a car down here at 7a.m. in a tragic accident. He succumbed to his injuries. He had gone down to Punta del Este Uruguay for some vacation time with a few of his friends and his brother. While at a bus stop to return back to their rental house, his friends were sitting on the bench and said “here comes the bus” Valentine stepped out to see the bus coming I believe a car from the wrong direction hit him. I don’t know all the true details only the fact that we have lost a dear boy.

Marcelo has left to go bring him home from Uruguay, so I don’t know when the services will be. I need help passing on the sad news as I’m in schock too. Please help me pass this to all parties in Santa Barbara or in Palm Beach as I would not know those people, All I know is the Caset family could really use our support.

Heartbroken,
Cindy Giannico

Marcello’s home address in Lobos, Argentina:

Marcello Caset
Las Heras #42
Lobos, Prov. Bs.As. 7240 Argentina.

You can call Alfonso at 54-9-2227-509491 for more details as needed.

 


Valentine playing polo. Photo by David Lominska.

Valentine Caset - Photo by David Lominksa.


 

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Team USA Application Deadline Dec. 15th ’09

December 7, 2009 By Posted for Denny Geiler Leave a Comment

Polo Team USA Application Deadline Dec. 15th ’09

For those interested, please be advised that there is only one week left for young American players to submit applications and supplemental information to be considered for the Team USA program. The USPA Team USA Program is created to identify and evaluate aspiring younger players who have the ability and desire to be handicapped higher if provided the necessary training, mentoring and playing opportunities.

Team USA applicants can be male or female and must be between the ages of 19-25. College juniors and seniors are strongly encouraged to apply. The applicant must be handicapped by the USPA at 1-2 goals or, if a USPA Junior/Collegiate Member, there is no handicap requirement.

Selected, qualified applicants will be invited to attend a three day Team USA training and evaluation event in Wellington, FL on February 13-15, 2010.

Only completed applications will be accepted. (Please Note: Vacancies in the initial application process may be filled by younger qualifying applicants who are under the application’s stated preferred age limit as long as the applicant is 18 years old.)  For additional information, please contact Kris Bowman at kbowman@uspolo.org or Peter Rizzo at rizzo@uspolo.org.

Visit http://www.us-polo.org/news/2009/team_usa_app.pdf to learn more complete details about this unique opportunity for young polo players!

Filed Under: From The Governor's Desk, USPA News Tagged With: , , ,
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