Polo enthusiasts from across Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest will gather in Kelowna on Saturday for the fifth annual Kelowna Polo Classic. Up to 16 teams riding 200 horses will take part.
“We love having the chance to share our sport with the public, and we are going to do this in style,” says Okanagan Polo Club director D.J. Bryan.
In polo, teams riding horses swing a mallet to knock a small ball into the opposing team's goal. In the Okanagan, the sport dates back to the early 1900s, when clubs were formed in Kelowna, Vernon, Kamloops and even smaller communities such as Westwold.
The current edition of the Okanagan Polo Club, based at 4444 Bulman Rd. in Southeast Kelowna, dates back to 1986 when it was formed by John Price, a Toronto transplant.
“When people hear that there is polo played in the Okanagan, their first reaction is usually to ask, ‘Isn’t that the sport of kings?’, club vice-chancellor Stephen Duke says. “They assume that there is no room for the average person to get involved with it, but all walks of life are welcome at our club and there truly is a place for everyone in our ranks.”
The Kelowna Polo Classic is open to the public on Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets, from $57, are available at
Beyond Saturday's competition, the club invites new members and says no previous riding or horse experience is necessary. For more information, see