- RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Group Managing Director of National Commercial Bank (NCB), Patrick Hylton (right), bowls off the final of the NCB Capital Markets High Goal Challenge Polo Event at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estate. Looking on is Dennis Lalor.
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
SLEEK AUTOMOBILES and plenty of horsing around were all part of the second NCB Capital Markets High Goal Challenge polo event last Sunday.
The Kingston Polo Club was a packed venue as all ages came to see the four games. There were three round robin games for the consolation final before the grand showdown. Local players matched their skills against each other as well as their Argentine counterparts, but the boys didn't get to have all the fun as Jamaica's top female player, Lesley-Ann Fong-Yee, represented the ladies quite admirably.
During the games, guests had many other things to do. They viewed the latest Benz motorcars presented by Euro Star Motors parked near the entrance. The fascinating automobiles were later driven around parade-style between the last round robin game and the final.
ARTISTIC SIDE
There was an artistic side of things as well with ceramics by Norma Harrack and paintings by Paul Blackwood on display. Students from the Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts were busy sketching persons who wanted to have their visages pencilled. Toss in the hilarious commentary on the games and soft Sunday music and it was a real family affair.
Watch polo long enough and you will come to appreciate that it's not an easy sport. Riding horses is one thing; trying to whack the ball at the same time is another. Then, of course, there's the bumping of the other riders and horses which can easily lead to spills. And there were a few spills as some riders lost their balance but never their cool.
The spectators were involved from the beginning, cheering on the riders and even helping to stomp the divots (clumps of dislodged grass) back into the ground to avoid the horses tripping. The Yellow Team with Andy Vernon, his brother Ramon 'Superman' Vernon, Kurt Chin and Jose Laritigoyen were too much for Team Blue, winning the final by eight goals to three.
