First Annual US-Sweden Polo Invitational – 10 and 11 September 2009
The Scuppernong Polo Club of Atlanta, GA, USA and the Almare Staket Polo Country Club of Stockholm, Sweden are pleased to announce the first annual USSweden Polo Invitational Match to be held on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11, 2009 at the Almare Stäket Polo Country Club in Stockholm, Sweden.
Until this match, a US team will not have played in Sweden on any regular basis, if at all. Polo was not played in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm nor in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne (with equestrian eventsLive in Stockholm), and the Almare Stäket Polo Country Club in its history has never before hosted a US team. As such, the US-Sweden Polo Exhibition Match this September will be the first of its kind in Sweden, and the beginning of an annual event with the host alternating between the clubs.
The US Embassy in Stockholm observed:
This inaugural US-Sweden polo match is a great example of the diversity and depth of ties between our countries. US Embassy Stockholm is pleased to welcome the United States team and wishes all the participants and spectators a wonderful event. Christopher G. Dunnett, US Embassy Stockholm.
The match will be divided into 4 chukkas of play on each day. Almare Stäket Polo Country Club as the initial host shall provide the horses for the event. The Scuppernong Polo Club as Team USA shall be represented by Geoff Conroy, Jeannie Hartman, Jim Campbell and David Kaplan as players with Jenny Kepano as alternate, all residents of the Greater Atlanta Area. The Almare Stäket Polo Country Club as Team Sweden will decide among its players which will be its representatives later this month.
The Almare Stäket Polo Country Club is part of the Almare Stäket Manor and Equestrian Center. The Almare Stäket Manor was built in the late 18th century and has remained in the Seth family since its construction. Johan Seth, the owner of Almare Stäket, founded the Almare Stäket Polo Country Club in 1999 and now manages it with his daughter, Caroline Sjöström. The Almare Stäket Polo Country
Club is the sole polo club in Sweden with the capacity to host polo matches. It has the only regulation size polo field, an indoor and outdoor arena, and facilities for a hundred horses. It maintains a teaching facility to train new players. It also is the home to the Scandinavian Polo Open played in late August.
The Scuppernong Polo Club has its home at Chukkar Farm near Milton, GA. The club and Chukkar Farm were established in 1989 by Jack Cashin, and both are still owned and operated by Mr. Cashin and his family. Chukkar Farm has over 170 acres of pastures and trials with a clubhouse, an outdoor polo field, and an arena. It also hosts a teaching facility to train new players. The Scuppernong Polo Club has approximately 50 members with approximately 30 players, including Jack Cashin who at 84 is the oldest active player as listed by the US Polo Association. The Scuppernong Polo Club has scrimmages on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and matches open to the public on Sundays at 2:00 pm from May to November.
The US-Sweden Polo Exhibition Match initially was proposed by David Kaplan, and Mr. Kaplan remains its principal promoter along with Mr. Seth and Mr. Cashin. Mr. Kaplan, who lives in Atlanta and has extensive business dealings in Sweden, is a member of the Scuppernong Polo Club and has played at the Almare Stäket Polo Country Club as a guest. He saw a lot of parallels between the two clubs, particularly as to the level of play and the emphasis on teaching new players. Mr. Kaplan believes the match is meaningful as the first of its kind and furthers relationships between Swedes and Americans, but to him more importantly, it will be a lot of fun for the players and spectators alike.
Sponsors of the event include Airis Holdings, LLC (USA), Polistas (UK), Diplomat Hotel (SE), and Dover Saddlery (USA), as well as the polo clubs. Photographs contributed by Shelley Martin of Diamant Noir.
For further information, please contact:
David L. Kaplan, dkaplan@mev.bz,
625 Kentucky Street, Atlanta, GA 30079, USA – Tel +1.404.513.1483
or
Nybrogatan 34, Box 5216, S-10245 Stockholm, Sweden – Tel: +46.8.55.92.1483