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hurlinghampolo.com
TA L K
M O N A R C H E V E N T P H OTO G R A P H Y
R O C K ‘ N ’ P O L O
Combining a day of music with the 20-goal Colorado Open Polo Championship, PoloFest
Denver is set to be a highlight on the polo calendar once more, says Darlene Ricker
The annual PoloFest Denver will return
to Denver Polo Club on 25 August 2018.
Held in conjunction with the 20-goal
Colorado Open Polo Championship, the
all-day music festival puts a new spin
on the sport. The tournament final is the
centerpiece of a series of six concerts
by top artists and offers recreational
activities including lawn games and riding
a polo pony under supervision. The festival
also features experiential entertainment,
live music, breweries and eateries. The
musical line-up for this year’s event has
yet to be announced, but in 2017 it was
headlined by rock and electronic duo
BoomBox, who were joined by Canadian
indie rock band Current Swell, Norwegian
electronic performer Bearson, and Denver
local Zach Heckendorf.
The 12-hour event is a fundraiser for
the Equine Partnership Program, a local
non-profit organization that uses horses
in psychotherapy sessions to help
underprivileged children and adults.
Last year, a group of EPP staff and clients
came to Valiente Polo Farm to watch
a match in the Colorado Open. In a separate
session, all four players from an all-pro
team, Hawaii Polo Life, talked with the
children and gave them rides on polo ponies.
Robert Jornayvaz is on triple duty
as organiser of the festival and the
tournament, while also competing in the
Colorado Open. ‘If we’re going to expand
the reach of polo, raise the sport’s profile
and attract new players, we have to show
the public how much fun it is. That’s what
PoloFest Denver offers people,’ he says.
Bob Jornayvaz’s Valiente team won
the 2017 championship, headlined by
Adolfo Cambiaso, who was playing in the
Rocky Mountains for the first time. A rule
change allowed teams to bring the ball
into play directly after a goal, rather than
switching sides and returning to the centre
of the field for a throw-in. Players said
they enjoyed the rule, because it made
the set plays much more important and
kept the game rolling, and spectators
also found it easier to understand.
For more information and for updates on
this year’s line-up, visit polofestival.com
Above:
Curtis Halle of the
band The Big Clean performs
on stage at 2017’s polo festival
