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Canada’s top polo match this weekend

One of the top polo matches in Canada will take place this weekend near Okotoks, and contrary to popular opinion, it’s a game for everybody.
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The Calgary Polo Club will host the Canadian Open, expected to be the top tournament in the country this year, on Aug. 18.

One of the top polo matches in Canada will take place this weekend near Okotoks, and contrary to popular opinion, it’s a game for everybody. The Canadian Open, featuring M5 Highwood Polo against Château d’Esclans is Saturday at the Calgary Polo Club just northwest of Okotoks. “It is going to be the highest-rated level of polo in Canada for 2018,” said Calgary Polo Club president Richard Coté. “It’s a group of International players and Canadian players playing together. “They have been playing together and they are playing this match at the polo club.” There are two teams of four players each. The match is Goal 14 level, which is of high standard, Coté said. Two of the Canadian players are Marcelo Abbiati, who grew up in Argentina and is now a Canadian and Ron Mathison, who plays out of the Calgary club and at a ranch near Longview. The cost to attend the event is free — it’s a game for virtually everybody to enjoy. “That’s an image that we struggle with, that it is millionaires and thwe fact of the matter is, almost all of our players, are successful, but are families that come from an equine background,” Coté said. “We are not highfalutin, walking around with our noses in the air we just have a great love for this sport. “At the polo club we keep it affordable and we introduce a lot of people to the sport.” The club has a one-horse league as well as walk-trot league where players can’t go faster than a canter. They will be going faster than a canter at the Canadian Open. “It’s going to be a collection of professionals and very skilled amateurs,” Coté said. He described the game as “hockey on horseback.” However, there are no goalies. Although high-speed, safety is paramount in the game. “It’s about horse-safety so that horses aren’t running into each other like a train wreck,” Coté said. There are established right-of-ways for horse and rider. Fans are asked to participate. Traditionally at halftime of a polo match, spectators are invited to come onto the field to help repair divots. Polo is nothing knew in the Foothills area. The game was played by cowboys who worked at the historic Bar U ranch and surrounding area at the turn of the 20th century. Millarville’s Winston Parker, who celebrated his 100th birthday on July 31, scored the winning goal for the High River Whites to take home the Western Canada championship title — in an all High River final — according to an Aug. 25, 1938 article in the Calgary Herald. The Canadian Open festivities begin with an exhibition match at noon, followed by a demonstration match at 1:15 p.m. by junior players. The Open starts at 2 p.m., with the traditionally divot stomp at the half. While the cost is free, there is also a VIP tent. Those who have purchased VIP tickets are eligible for a draw for two for a trip to Barbados. The polo club is located northwest of Okotoks, the turnoff is the same one used for Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School. For more information about the Canadian Open go to calgarypoloclub.com  

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