A chilling wind brought some shivers to the fans at the Sarasota Polo Club on Sunday in Lakewood Ranch, but that was just a small annoyance.
Polo was back.
That cold wind actually helped the polo players get back on the field. Polo had opened Dec. 31 for the season, but then had to be cancelled the past two weeks due to a wet field that would have been torn up by the horses.
The wind dried out the field nicely, just in time for the annual Observer Cup.
While a temperature that hovered about 60 degrees kept the crowd down, tailgaters lined about three-quarters of the sidelines. Many in the crowd participated in the Pajama Party Contest, which offered prizes for the best onesie and the best group theme. There was a sleeping bag relay race at halftime as well along with a newspaper delivery toss contest where participants tried to land a copy of the East County Observer on a front door mat.
On Jan. 28, the theme will be Wild Wild West Party with awards going to the best cowboy and cowgirl costumes.
When Lakewood Ranch 7-year-old Tatum Schaper struggled during a sleeping bag sack race during halftime at the Sarasota Polo Club, her dad, Shawn Schaper, rushed forward to give her a hand. The result — a lot of fun.
Photo by Jay Heater
Barefield/Whiskey Pond's Vasco Iriarte drives the ball forward against Glen Farm/Landhope on Jan. 21 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Heather and Clint Kasten enjoy the pavilion's hospitality during the Observer Cup Jan. 21 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Glen Farm/Landhope's Sam Clemons scores a goal against Barefield/Whiskey Pond Jan. 21 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
David Perkowski his wife Allison Imre Perkowski, and their kids, daughter Ryan and son Rip, didn't seem to be minding the chilly weather Jan. 21 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Barefield/Whiskey Pond's Vasco Iriarte gets control of the ball in front of his goal in action Jan. 21 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Glen Farm/Landhope's Martin Eddy fires a shot on goal as teammate Michael Bucklin looks on.
Photo by Jay Heater
Barefield/Whiskey Pond's Guille Aguero rips a shot down the middle during the Jan. 21 match against Glen Farm/Landhope at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Photo by Jay Heater
Paige Lautzenheiser, the Sarasota Polo Club's director of operations, presents the colors last season.
Photo by Jay Heater
The Music Compound's Amanda Yoder sang the National Anthem.
Photo by Jay Heater
Matthew Buckley tries his hand at landing an East County Observer on a front door mat during halftime at the Sarasota Polo Club on Jan. 21. Those who were successful won an Observer hat.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
