19th Annual Polo Match
Ends in Hill City Defeat

      On Saturday, September 12th, the weather proved to be no fan of polo.  After a week of warm weather, the skies opened up Friday night and continued Saturday morning drenching the field and successfully postponing the annual polo match at Newton Fork Ranch.  Play commenced on Sunday afternoon when the weather finally relented and the slick grounds dried enough to ensure the safety of horse and rider.

     The dark clouds also proved to be a bad omen for Hill City’s own Rushmore Polo & Social Club as Sunday’s game saw the hometown team fight valiantly to the bitter end only to lose by one goal, 7-6, to the visiting Rapid City team.

     Each of the four chukkers saw the score bounce back and forth in the tightly fought game. Playing for the ultimately victorious Black Hills Polo Club of Rapid City was veteran rancher Kurt Ketelsen from north of Ellsworth; Rich Jensen of the renowned Double Diamond Ranch at Three Forks, and Duane Lammers a well-known Hermosa rancher and former buffalo wrangler.  Lammers, Ketelsen, and Jensen were a tightly-wound force of nature that Rushmore could not overcome.

     Hill City’s own Rushmore Polo and Social Club featured the Gregson boys, Tim and Boe.  The latter returned again to his home field from Sheridan, WY where, as a Colorado State student, he played on the NCAA indoor polo team.  Returning again this season for her third year of play was Angela Gross, a British citizen who resides in Sheridan, WY and, like Boe, is a member of the Bighorn Polo Club.  It was also announced at Sunday’s game that Gregson and Gross became engaged this past spring.

     Hill City played fiercely as Sunday’s match was especially important to them.  This year’s game was dedicated to the late Othal Gregson who recently passed away and who through marriage had ties to one of the earliest pioneers of Hill City, Samuel Coats who arrived here around 1879.  Othal, was remembered fondly by all for never missing a polo game and for always cheering on his nephew and grand-nephew.  In another note of passing history, Tim Gregson retired his favorite polo pony of 24 years, “Hobo,” and was somewhat handicapped by breaking in “Sooner Lynx,” who proved to be a bit “green” on game day.

     At halftime, with champagne glasses in hand, spectators were invited to come out on the field and participate in what has become an annual tradition of “stomping divots.” 

     When the match resumed, the battle continued and points were traded back and forth which kept score-keeper Mary Sitts on her toes. The flag duties at either end of the field were in the capable hands of Mike Dimock and Bob Gartner, both of Rapid City.  In the end though, the Black Hills Polo Club successfully wrestled the Paul E. Lippman Memorial Polo Cup from Hill City in the final seconds.

     After the match, fans gathered to enjoy a picnic with lots of delicious food provided by guests, the Alpine Inn, and Newton Fork Ranch.  The celebrants enjoyed the rest of the, now sunny day, recapping the game and enjoying the burgers (expertly prepared and seasoned by Alpine Inn matriarch Wally Matush) and brats served up by the culinary talents of Bob Stanfiel and Rich Sitts.

     The polo trophy is now on permanent display at the bar located in the historic Alpine Inn.

     Mark your calendars: next year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.