The Wahine Challenge Match is a great favorite of the Kaua‘i Polo Club season, and this year was no exception as Robin Savage’s Savage Pearls team carved out a convincing 7-4 victory over Bob and Roz Clark’s Sabella’s at Princeville’s
The Wahine Challenge Match is a great favorite of the Kaua‘i Polo Club season, and this year was no exception as Robin Savage’s Savage Pearls team carved out a convincing 7-4 victory over Bob and Roz Clark’s Sabella’s at Princeville’s fellas last Sunday in a four chukker match at Anini Polo Field. Polo fans enthusiastically welcomed back Kate Weber and Trish Fitzgerald from Eldorado Polo Club for a third time; and they were joined by Jessica Bailey from California Polo Club in Los Angeles and Krista Hawley from Kaua‘i Polo Club to round out the Savage Pearls quartet. Sabella’s fielded Hank Jacinto from the Philippines and O‘ahu along with Kauai Polo Club players Scott Sims, John Elwin, and Peter Cameron. Inger Pa, the “Velvet Voice of Kauai Polo,” announced that Savage Pearls entered the match with a handicap of 1.
Kara Clark tossed in the ball to get the first chukker under way. Immediately it became obvious that the ladies were skilled in horsemanship stick handling, charging, bumping, and hooking. A minute before the chukker ended Weber effortlessly sent the ball over the goal line to score.
The ladies really got going in the second period. Bailey took center stage and kept it. Her bullet attacks, classic stick work, and brilliant horsemanship had the spectators cheering and the fellas frustrated. All the ladies made lightning strikes, danced around with the ball in a tight circle to change the line of play, and then accelerated rapidly for shots on goal. The ponies seemed to really enjoy playing, possibly because the riders were about 50 pounds lighter than usual with a delicate touch! Bailey employed these tactics to score three times in fairly rapid succession and open up the contest. The frosting on the cake was supplied by Weber with a goal just before the chukker ended. Robin Savage tossed in the ball to open the third chukker. Shortly thereafter Jacinto’s pony managed a goal for Sabella’s. There were several horse races up and down the field with hard charging, riding off, and hooking among Weber, Fitzgerald, Elwin, and Cameron. Weber’s goal was a fantastic demonstration of team work. In the final period the intensity of the action diminished somewhat, and Elwin scored for Sabella’s shortly after the toss in. The ladies demonstrated skillful defensive alignments and plays keeping the game controlled with their excellent stick work. FinallyCameron broke loose to score, with the final tally subsequently being put up by Jacinto. When the final horn sounded it was Savage Pearls 7, Sabella’s at Princeville 4. Teams: Savage Pearls: Krista Hawley, Trish Fitzgerald, Jessica Bailey, Kate Weber. Sabella’s at Princeville: Scott Sims, John Elwin, Hank Jacinto, Peter Cameron. Umpires: Kamalu Sheldon, Stuart Mackenzie. Polo continues at Anini Field next Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The public are welcome. Adults $10.00 per person; 12-18, $5.00 per person.
