Black Diamond Polo Club’s 2014 Calendar

The Black Diamond Polo Club’s 2013 Schedule

Western Canada Polo Tour 2013

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Devon Findlater for earning the Most Improved Player award, and to Enedino Tadeo for earning the Groom of the Year award!!!

Western Canada Polo Tour 2012

Save the Date: The Bill Leslie Memorial Tournament

Learning Polo In Comfort…Coaching League.

This, being one of those rainy days in which I flit about somewhat restlessly from one small Alberta foothill town to another, mingling work with socialization, I find myself wanting to write about that which I am missing on this murky, misty evening.  The Black Diamond Polo Club Coaching League.

Whilst I be the organizer and instructor of this league, and it is supposed to be work for me, on these rainy evenings without, I miss it so.  There is something about the pure, unbridled joy of a student improving in a game that is new and oh, so much fun.  As the students find delight in the company of their equine teammates and their developing skills, their teacher couldn’t be more thrilled.

I thought I would take advantage of this particular polo-less evening to thank the Black Diamond Polo Club, it’s members and it’s students for helping create a special atmosphere for learning the sport of polo, it really is amazing to work with this kind of energy and i look forward to the 2010 Coaching League season.  Please follow this link and see the fun had at BDPC Coaching League 2009 and c’mon out and participate, let’s make it bigger and better in 2010! (um…when things dry up a little bit).

That’s about all for now, time to ride.

Go on up, I’ll hit it to you.

Rege Ludwig Polo Clinic 2010

It would seem the 3rd consecutive year was the charm for Rege here at the Black Diamond Polo Club.  The weather, although not perfect, co-operated for a change.  Past clinics have succeeded despite the weather (thanks to the BDL&C indoor arena and this mechanical horse).  This year’s clinic was fortunate to have all the polo outdoors on the grass and the classroom time seemed to coincide nicely with the cloud and occasional drizzle.  Certainly an improvement to the snow covered field we awoke to last June 6th!

Rege demonstrated his prowess as an instructor by easily handling a widely varied group of eight students, improvement was evident in them all.  It seemed the students enjoyed the clinic as well, I’m sure as much for the coffee, breakfast and lunch supplied by The Stop in Black Diamond, as for Rege’s famous wit.  😉  Much thanks must be given to Jessica Schneider for the jaw dropping meal she prepared in the BDL&C Ranch house on Saturday night, another great meal with good people…good times.

Thank you to Rege, the students and the members of the BDPC for another fantastic clinic…here’s a quick slideshow.

That’s about all for now, time to ride.

Go on up, I’ll hit it to you.

Polo Is Underway, Heck, We’ve Got Polo Today.

Spring in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains offers unique challenges to preparing horses for a polo season, especially when those horses have spent a healthy 7 months “vacationing” in winter pasture.  Storms much resembling those expected during the winter months make consistent exercise work difficult, but humans hunker into their clothing and horses round their backs and all forge on (and occasionally upward)…and here we are…the Black Diamond Polo Club 2010 season has begun.

Polo practices are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6 o’clock and on Saturday mornings at 11 o’clock.  Coaching League will be held on Wednesday evenings at 6 o’clock beginning June 2.  To sign-up for practices or Coaching League please call 403.230.6886.  Any interested in participating in Coaching League this season please leave a message as soon as possible indicating such and also if you will be requiring a horse be provided.

Coaching League and Lesson Rates:

Single Lesson or Coaching League session: $80 (prepared polo pony provided); $60 (provide own polo pony).

Package of 4 lessons or Coaching League sessions: $300 (prepared polo pony provided); $220 (provide own polo pony).

Once people and ponies have found their rhythm on the polo field BDPC will begin hosting Saturday match games as well as practice chukkas, this of course only when there is not tournament play.  The Black Diamond Polo Club awards 4 trophies per season…The Millarville Bucket (June 19-20); 10th Anniversary Cup (July 3-4); Benson’s Best Cup (August 12-14); and our featured tournament the Bill Leslie Memorial Cup (September 3-6).  Besides BDPC’s own tournaments there is access to much more polo in Western Canada.  BDPC promotes traveling and playing at all clubs, including the Grande Prairie Polo Club; the Okanagan Polo Club in Kelowna; the Springfield Polo Club in Winnipeg and the Calgary Polo Club.  For an example of the fun to be had, check out this video from the Okanagan Polo Club tournament, filmed by a spectator and also showing some of the good times to be had whilst in Kelowna.

Black Diamond Polo Club 2010 Season Memberships:

BDPC recognizes that polo is not an inexpensive sport, therefore we offer a scaled membership rate to help ease the initial cost of taking up the sport.

1st year member: $250

2nd year member: $500

3rd year & on: $1000 (one horse members shall remain at $500)

Horse boarding is available at BDPC: $300 per month.

COMING SOON TO A POLO CLUB NEAR YOU…

Rege Ludwig Polo Clinic!  Now less than 2 weeks away! A few spots remaining.  $850. Sign-up now! 403.230.6886.  Here is a look at the 2009 clinic and 2008 clinic.

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That’s about all for now, time to ride.

Go on up, I’ll hit it to you.

Black Diamond Polo Club’s 2010 Season Is Upon Us.

Hello All!

Well, it’s just about that time of the year. Knock the dust of yer helmet and polish yer boots ’cause there’s polo to play!

Here’s the Black Diamond Polo Club 2010 Schedule (also included are other Western Canadian polo club tournaments….Road Trip!!!).

May

Saturday May 15…Field open for Stick & Ball (due to weather our field is just getting growing…please use with care!).

Saturday May 22…Beginning of casual, light and easy practices…Sat at 11am; Tues., Thurs. at 6pm (be nice to yourself and your horses…ease into the season).

Saturday May 29…Beginning of regular practices…Sat at 11am; Tues., Thurs. at 6pm (eventually match games will be scheduled on Saturdays that are without tournaments).

June

Wednesday June 2…First Coaching League of the season…Every Wednesday at 6pm.

Friday June 4 – Sunday June 6…Rege Ludwig Polo Clinic…Beginner/Intermediate clinic by one of the world’s best known polo instructors…Still some room, sign up now!

Saturday June 12…Intro 2 Polo Day…Want to show a friend your sport? Curious about polo? Come. 11am.

Saturday June 19 – Sunday June 20…Millarville Bucket…BDPC polo tournament.

July

Friday July 2 – Sunday July 4…Springfield International…Winnipeg polo tournament.

Saturday July 3 – Sunday July 4…10th Anniversary Cup…BDPC polo tournament.

Friday July 9 – Sunday July 18…Calgary Stampede…’Nuff said.

Thursday July 15 – Sunday July 18…Western Canada Ladies Heart Cup Invitational…Calgary Polo Club.

Friday July 16 – Sunday July 18…Grande Prairie Polo Club Tournament…Circle the wagons!

Thursday July 22 – Saturday July 24…JC Palmer Memorial Tournament…Calgary Polo Club

Sunday July 25…Polo at the Bar U…Polo players and cowboys play at the historical Bar U Ranch. Yee-haw!

Saturday July 31…Monday August 2…Okanagan Polo Club Tournament…Sun and fun in Kelowna!

August

Saturday July 31…Monday August 2…Okanagan Polo Club Tournament…Sun and fun in Kelowna!

Thursday August 12, Saturday August 14…Benson’s Best Cup…BDPC Polo Tournament.

Saturday August 13 – Sunday August 14…Winnipeg’s Women’s Tournament…Springfield Polo Club

September

Friday September 3 – Sunday September 6…Bill Leslie Memorial Cup…BDPC polo tournament in memory of a good friend and past manager.

Saturday September 11 – Sunday September 12…Wind-Up Tournament…A last kick at the can at BDPC.

Saturday September 11 – Sunday September 12…Wind-er Up & Shut-er Down Tournament…Springfield Polo Club in Winnipeg.

Well there you go, lots of polo!

That’s about all for now, time to ride.

Go on up, I’ll hit it to you.