2006 Western Challenge To Feature Four Weeks Of Spirited Polo Matches

HOUSTON (May 17, 2006) – The ponies ride back to Houston, Texas for the Capital One USPA Western Challenge. The four week series will be played at the Houston Polo Club beginning May 17 and continuing through Sunday, June 11, 2006.

Entering this 4^th annual polo competition are 5 polo teams including Rockin' P, Lockton, Stanford Group, Pegasus and Isla Carroll. The teams include some of the world’s great players and ponies from U.S., Canada, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and South Africa. Team patrons include John Goodman, David Andras, Jay Comeaux, Carl Price and Tim Kelly, Returning professional polo favorites include Hernan Tejera, Stewart Armstrong, Augustine Merlos, Chris Nevin, Julian Aguilar, Shane Rice, Steve Dalton, Brad Blake, Jeff Blake and Marcos Villanueva. The first game in the series is the annual favorite, Polo Español, saluting the Mercy Foundation of Texas and sponsored by Lockton Companies of Houston, with the match starting at 5 p.m.

On May 28, polo teams will line up to compete for the Joe Barry Memorial Cup. Starting at 6 p.m., players will take the field in honor of Barry, whose career included six U.S. Open wins, three Gold Cup wins, the '71 Coronation Cup win in England, and has played on the U.S. teams at the Cup of the Americas.

The Capital One USPA Western Challenge semi-finals match will take place on June 4 at 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to don on their favorite chapeaus as the club presents it annual Hat’s on to Polo competition sponsored by Neiman Marcus.

The culmination of the series will take place with the much-anticipated Capital One USPA Western Challenge Finals to be played on the Farish Field, June 11 at 6 p.m. Capital One, formerly Hibernia National Bank, is proud to be the title sponsor of the 12 goal series. An official tournament of the United States Polo Association, the 12-goal Western Challenge is played exclusively in Houston, Texas. Co-sponsors include Lockton Companies of Houston, Neiman Marcus and BICE.

For more information about the Houston’s polo season or to buy tickets to the matches, people may log onto www.thehoustonpoloclub.com or call 713-622-7300.

The Capital One Western Challenge Series

The Teams

ISLA CARROLL
John Goodman
Jeff Blake
Agustin Merlos
Gene Evans

Lockton
Tim Kelly
Hernan Tejera
Wesley SinorRoberto Gonzalez

Pegasus
David AndrasBrad Blake
Steve Dalton
Hunter Andras

Rocking P
Carl Price
Marcos Villanueva
Maximo Manini
Miguel Silvestre

Stanford Group
Jay Comeaux
Stewart Armstrong
Julian Aguilar
Chris Nevins

The SCHEDULE - The Joe Barry Cup
Game 1 Wednesday, May 17^th 10:00 am Stanford vs Lockton @ Pecan Acres
Game 2 Wednesday, May 17^th 5:30 pm Pegasus vs Rockin P @Isla Carroll
Game 3 Friday, May 19^th 10:00 am Pegasus vs Lockton @ Pecan Acres
Game 4 Friday, May 19^th 5:30 pm Isla Carroll vs Stanford @Isla Carroll
Game 5 Sunday, May 21^st 10:00 am Isla Carroll vs Pegasus @ Isla Carroll
Game 6 Sunday, May 21^st 5:00 pm Lockton vs Rockin P @ HPC Farish Field
Game 7 Wednesday, May 24^th 10:00 am Lockton vs Isla Carroll @ Pecan Acres
Game 8 Wednesday, May 24^th 5:30 pm Stanford vs Rockin P @ Isla Carroll
Game 9 Friday, May 26^th 10:00 am Isla Carroll vs Rockin P @ Isla Carroll
Game 10 Friday, May 26^th 5:30 pm Stanford vs Pegasus @ Pecan Acres
Game 11 Sunday, May 28^th 10:00 am Consolation 3^rd place vs 4^th place @ tba
Game 12 Sunday, May 28^th 5:30 pm 1^st place vs 2^nd place @ HPC Farish

*Games will be played at Isla Carroll Farms and Pecan Acres except Sunday afternoon games will be at Houston Polo Club.

THE SCHEDULE - The Capital One USPA Western Challenge Cup
(Draw to be announced)
Game 1 Wednesday, May 31^st 10:00 am
Game 2 Wednesday, May 31^st 5:30 pm
Game 3 Friday, June 2^nd 10:00 am
Game 4 Friday, June 2^nd 5:30 pm
Game 5 Sunday, June 4^th 10:00 am
Game 6 Sunday, June 4^th 6:00 pm
Game 7 Wednesday, June 7^th 10:00 am
Game 8 Wednesday, June 7^th 5:30 pm
Game 9 Friday, June 9^th 10:00 am
Game 10 Friday, June 9^th 5:30 pm
Game 11 Sunday, June 11^th 10:00 am
Game 12 Sunday, June 11^th 6:00 pm

About Houston Polo

Houston’s original sports franchise since 1928, the Houston Polo Club is one of the top-ranked polo clubs in the southwest U.S. Over its 78-year history, the club has grown in international acclaim, and today ranks as among the top five best clubs in the U.S. Additionally, it is home to Isla Carroll, one of the top polo teams in the country.

Underwriting sponsors of the 78^th Polo Season are Capital One and Stanford Private Wealth Management. Presenting sponsors include Air France, Bombardier, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Lockton, PaperCity Magazine, and Sotheby’s. Official sponsors are Active Imagination, Cartier, ERG Resources, Gittings, Hotel Derek, Neiman Marcus, The Palm, San Pelligrino and The Wehrly Marketing Group.

Houston's widely acclaimed Polo School marks its 8^th year offering instruction to adults and children 12 years and older. Spring classes begin in May and are held on Saturdays for eight weeks through June. Polo ponies are provided. Riding lessons are also available at The Houston Polo Club. For more information, contact Eliza Bishop at 713-688-7752.



The Houston Polo Club is located in the heart of Houston at 8552 Memorial Drive (at Loop 610), just minutes from The Galleria. The gate opens one hour before match time. Tickets range from $25 to $150. Children under 12 are free. Tickets are available online at www.thehoustonpoloclub.com or at the gate. To receive a complete schedule of events and for ticket information, please call Houston Polo at (713) 622-7300.

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