HOUSTON POLO CLUB HOSTS THE 2010 AGGIE CUP – JUNE 6, 2010
The Houston Polo Club Aggie Cup Fundraiser party benefitting the Texas A&M Polo Program went on as planned under the HPC Pavilion on Sunday, June 6th, raising over $10,000 in donations to the Texas A&M intercollegiate polo program. In spite of the heavy rains that cancelled the Segway polo exhibition and the 8-goal match planned for the day, over 250 guests turned out to enjoy BBQ, cocktails, and music from the Philip Griffin Band. The silent auction, featuring items from artwork to veterinary services to polo lessons, virtually sold out by the end of the evening. David and Anne Andras took home the night’s most popular auction item in the form of Boomerang and Napolean, a pair of miniature Sicilian donkeys, donated by Kristy Outhier and family. The teams for the Aggie Cup polo match, which was underwritten by A&M alumni George Georgiades, David Andras, Trey Malechek, and Wesley Sinor, didn’t get any polo played but still received some great prizes including four new bridles and four buckets full of tack and horse care products, which were given back to the A&M team by the players. Hononary guests attending the event from TAMU included Dr. Eleanor Green, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bill Moyer from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jim Heard, head of TAMU Equine Institute, and Jim Wilson, Vice Chairman of TAMUS Board of Regents.
As the first fundraiser of its kind to be hosted by the Houston Polo Club in over a decade, the Aggie Cup attracted the interest of many players in Houston who are excited to become involved again in supporting I/I polo. “Intercollegiate programs like the one at Texas A&M create a foundation for sustaining membership levels at polo clubs all over the country, including ours,” said Rebecca Bollenbach, a member of the HPC Board of Directors. “Not only has A&M turned out some of the most talented young American players in the nation, but dozens of other intercollegiate polo players have stayed in the sport for a lifetime as sponsors and club-level players. It benefits both the school and our club to keep that pipeline of new polo players flowing by ensuring that they have the resources needed to run a top-level intercollegiate program.”
Robin Sanchez from the Polo Training Foundation was also at the event to lend a hand and raise awareness about the PTF’s mission and involvement in intercollegiate polo. Founded in 1967, the Polo Training Foundation is a charitable foundation that encourages the growth of polo by supporting training programs for players and umpires at all levels of ability. The PTF’s programs include beginner clinics designed to teach young people the principles of polo, intercollegiate and interscholastic tournaments and clinics, as well as umpire clinics for adults. Brushy Creek Ranch, located in Burleson, TX, is the PTF polo facility managed by Sanchez which hosts of many of the intercollegiate tournament in which Texas A&M competes annually. Discussions are underway in the Houston area to identify indoor arenas that could serve to host intercollegiate and interscholastic polo in the future.
The event was organized by the Aggie Cup Committee, which included members from the current A&M team as well as alumni intercollegiate players from Texas A&M and other colleges. The professional players in the 8-goal match – Kristy Outhier, Steve Krueger, Miguel Torres, and Mason Wroe, who are all A&M students or graduates, also pledged their time at no cost to support the fundraiser. “Its great to see some of the younger crowd getting involved to help out intercollegiate polo,” said K.C. Beal, a committee member and recent graduate of TCU. “I think it’s important that we all learn to give back to these programs as soon as we graduate, because support from alumni is what made it possible for us to play in college. You don’t have to wait five or ten years to give something back, because everyone can donate their time and effort to make events like this possible.”
The concept of a similar fundraiser in 2011, that would benefit multiple intercollegiate programs in Texas, is already being discussed by alumni and club members in Houston. “As the club’s new manager, I am thrilled that we are getting this club involved again in I/I polo. It’s a very important aspect of our sport’s future," says club manager Pam Mudra. “The talent and attitude of these young players coming out of the A&M program are a testament to the incredible job that Mike McCleary, the team’s coach, has done for so long at A&M. I feel confident that we can continue to build support for the I/I polo through events like this one.”
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The Houston Polo Club and the Aggie Cup Committee wish to thank all of the contributors to this event possible, including:
Anne & David Andras
Annika Belmar
Amanda Massey
Ben & Peggy Krueger
Bonni Roybal
Buck and Goldie Taylor
Carlos Galindo
Colleen & David Marks
Colleen & Chris Williams
Cynthia Liska
Dave Sanders Polo Photography
David and Ellen King
Deb Jemmott
Dirk & Sabrina Straussfeld
Dr. Danny Dutton, DVM
Dr. Eleanor Green
Dr. Greg Ford, DVM
Hector Galindo
Jenny Sharrock
Jenny Vargas
K.C. Beal
Kristy and Mike Outhier
Wepow Dental Associates
Landauer Art
Lou and Wanda Waters
Merrily Quinonces
Molly & George Georgiades
Marty Salinas
Mason Wroe
Miguel Torres
Oklahoma Aggie Moms Club
Orin Connell
Paul Jornayvaz
Polo Gear USA
Sam Massey
Sean Wright Farrier Services
Shane Rice
Sheila Scott
Sheila & J Lequerica
Silver Eagle Distributors
Steve Krueger
Stephanie Massey
The Philip Griffin Band
The Sands - Clint and Danya Bogart
Tiffany Clifton
Trey Malechek
Vickie Green
Wesley Sinor
4-Goal player Miguel Torres, a student at Texas A&M, is an example of the many intercollegiate players who must balance earning a college degree with playing for an college team and continuing a career as a professional outdoor player.
