Pony Tale

This has been an intense year on the polo front -- so intense that Kyla stayed at Yale for Spring break, just to be able to practice prior to regionals at UVa. Dara went out to keep her company and to watch the goings-on down at the Yale barn. Brrrrr. The coach was off in Ireland, so it was just the women's team practicing on their own. They played against the "club" players, and the UConn women came up and played against them one day. The week was not without a bit of pre-game drama as their star player re-injured the arm she had been nursing along in hopes of being at full strength for regionals. Nonetheless, they all piled in a car driven by Kyla and came down to Charlottesville. Dara took a plane and drove down from Dulles. To add to the drama earlier in the week, coach Jimmy's wife went into labor a month early. (All is well on that end, anyway.) So the Yale women were left without their coach, but more importantly perhaps, without their horses! UVa was left to scour up replacement ponies.

Meantime, back on the other side of the country, a plot to surprise Kyla was put in motion. I took a redeye out on Friday night, arrived at Dulles at 6AM Saturday, and drove down myself. I believe she was surprised :). Iva and Paige had come down Friday night from Alexandria (bearing GW sweatshirts for mother and daughter), so they got to witness the whole thing.

The first game was on Saturday against Michigan State. We picked up cousin Sarah on the way. In fine UVa freshman style, she was shaking off the after-effects of a tough St. Patrick's Day party. This was supposed to be an easy game, the pre-game plan being to let the injured Yale player start off, and when they were far ahead, to slide in another player. Alas, things were not so straightforward. The game was tight and hard-fought all four chukkers, with Yale coming out on top.

That evening we said goodbye to Iva, Paige, and Sarah. Then we went over to a UVa-hosted hoe-down out in their arena. There was a roast pig and the fixings, karaoke, and general socializing. Everyone had a good but very cold time.

Next day was the big match with UVa. Winner gets a seat at nationals in a few weeks. This was serious business, and the competition was brutal. Keith, Kirsti, and Dan showed up right in time for the start. It was tied up at the end of the first chukker, and Yale was behind by one at the half. The third chukker proved disastrous, as the UVa women pulled ahead through a series of lucky goals kicked in by the horses (or so went the Yale party line, and I am sticking to it!) The Yale women outscored UVa in the final chukker, but could not overcome the deficit in the end.

But, the story is not over yet. We heard today that Yale did get the "wild card" slot at Nationals. I have to say they deserved it. That was a hell of a game, and they didn't have the advantage of using their own horses. I have seen Kyla play in friendly competitions around here, where the skill levels vary widely. I have never seen any playing like went on in this game, though. Horses crashing into each other at a gallop, mallets, elbows, and sweat flying everywhere. I think we can safely say that it scared Dan off of polo forever.

Full complement of pictures on Flickr.