Polo Charity Event Celebrates 10th Year
The gallop of hooves was accompanied by roaring cheers and children’s laughter Saturday, July 13, not at the famed polo grounds of England, but rather at a picturesque polo club in Zionsville’s backyard.
The 10th Annual Boone County Polo Charity event took place at the Wells Fargo Polo Field at Hickory Hall Polo Club, Whitestown, where the Hickory Hall home team – the Key Bank team – competed against the Lexington Polo Club team. The Key Bank team won the United States Polo Association-sanctioned event in a tie-breaking “whack off” after the match ended in a 6-6 tie following five 7-minute “chukkers,” or periods.
Proceeds for the yearly fundraiser benefit both the Witham Health Service Foundation, aimed at assisting hospital projects in the Boone County area, as well Boone County Senior Services, which delivers life sustaining and enhancing services for older adults in Boone County
For Anita Bowen, Executive Director for Boone County Senior Services, this was her first year participating in the fundraiser.
“For people who want to support a cause, this is such a unique and fun way to do so,” she said.
Unique and fun, indeed. In partnership with the polo match, guests were encouraged to participate in entertaining activities for a variety of ages. The activities included: the Best Polo Box Decorating Contest, the Pretty Woman Award, a silent auction, as well as face painting, a bouncy house and an airplane fly over for the kids.
The driving forces behind the fundraiser are owners of Hickory Hill Polo club, Greg and Donna Chandler.
“Ninety-nine percent of our profits from home matches benefit a charity here in Indiana,” said Donna. “We are working with around 16 charities right now.”
Donna also said the fundraisers are a great way for people to learn about the sport.
“We all really have a family mentality out here,” she said. “It’s a great group of people and we love it when new people get involved.”
Be sure to visit Hickory Hall Polo Club’s website for a schedule of upcoming events at http://www.hickoryhallpoloclub.com/index.html.
