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< < < Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge
On November 6, 2010. Sixty polo players and 240 head of horses will set a world record for the longest polo game to raise funds for our Troops. Two polo teams will play 30 chukkers from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Our polo team sponsors are Piaget sponsored by Grand Champions Polo Club. Polo players are lining up to play in this historic game to show their support for our Troops. A few of the high goal players that are donating their time include former ten goal players Adam Snow and Owen Rinehart.
Professional polo player Luis Escobar and amateur player Melissa Ganzi will try to set the individual world record for playing the most continuous chukkers by a man and a woman. . Luis Escobar rated at 7 goals is a major competitor. Luis has won the Pacific Coast Open twice, the East Coast Open twice, the Silver Cup, Sterling Cup and the Monte Waterbury. Melissa Ganzi has competed in numerous major tournaments including the U.S. Open Polo Championship. Among her many victories are the Monte Waterbury (first woman to win it), USPA Bronze Cup, North American Cup, WCT Final, Mayors Trophy, Bill Triller Cup and Piaget Polo on the Snow.
Atlantic Broadband Cable will broadcast all eleven hours of the Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge. For the rest of the world they will create an eleven-hour live streaming Internet broadcast.
A polo game is six chukkers. The Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge will be five times that length. Each chukker or period of play in polo is 7 ½ minutes. Between penalties and time for players to change horses after each chukker we should average four chukkers per hour. With eleven hours to play we are hopeful that we will achieve a minimum of thirty chukkers.
The site is the beautiful Storm Branch Equestrian Club (www.stormbranch.com) in Aiken County, SC. Storm Branch Equestrian Club is a gated community that understands the equestrian lifestyle. Everyone from the casual equestrian enthusiast to experienced horse owners fall in love with Storm Branch Equestrian Club. It’s a place where you can ride to your neighbors house for lunch on trails that wind through hardwood and pines. Storm Branch Equestrian Club is also the new home of Polo America. Polo America is the largest and oldest marketing firm in the country that specializes in polo.
Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge pledges are expected from several hundred individuals and companies each paying a dollar amount for every chukker played. The beneficiaries are the Wounded Warriors Program and families of our Service Men and Women from Fort Gordon. Pledges should exceed $250,000 from this polo game. George Rawlings winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship is making a $10,000 donation to the troops. Pledges are 100% tax deductible. To make a chukker pledge to support our Troops please log on to www.FortGordon.com/challenge
The Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge will have five beautiful Chukker Girls courtesy of \"Achieve Fitness\" to help us keep track of our record breaking chukkers. Our Chukker Girls will be driven around the polo field in between each chukker holding a sign indicating the upcoming chukker. Chukker signs one through thirty-two will be created.
The Half-time Divot stomp and prize run is sponsored by Clear Channel Radio. The traditional half-time divot stomp will take on a twist. Prior to letting everyone on the field our Chukker Girls will throw 200 envelopes on the field. Several envelopes will have gift certificates from a $100 gift certificate at The Stables restaurant to a $100 gift certificate from Elite Shavings. After all of the envelopes are placed on the field a horn will sound and everyone takes off at a run on to the field. It will look like a land rush from the 1800’s.
In addition to the World Record Polo Game, there will be a U.S. Army Signal Corp Band concert, tether balloon rides in the Polo hot air balloon, Equestrian Vendor Village, Club Car golf cart polo, food and beverage vendors, fireworks and much more. For the children we have an incredible inflatable amusement park featuring a giant saber tooth tiger, climbing wall, basketball hoops and many other inflatables.
Tailgating spaces will be sold in three phases. Phase One tailgaters will be from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The cost is $50 per car and includes four programs and breakfast for 4 from Einstein Bagels (bagels, cream cheese, orange juice and coffee). At 12:00 the field will be moved 50’ and Phase Two tailgaters will take their reserved spots. The cost is $75 per car and includes four programs and barbecue lunch for 4 (pulled pork, beans, cole slaw, desert and sweet tea). At 4:00 PM the field will be moved 50’ for the last time. Phase four tailgaters enjoy the final chukkers and fireworks from their reserved spaces. The cost is $100 per car and includes four programs, and low country boil dinner for 4 from JC’s Seafood. (shrimp, potatoes, sausage, corn on the cob and bottle of wine) Each Phase only has 64 tailgating spots. To reserve you tailgating spot please call Polo America at (803) 652-1181 or mail your check payable to Polo America, 262 Eastgate Drive, #326, Aiken, SC 29803. Tailgating spaces will be assigned on a first come basis from the center of the field out.
A special thanks goes out to our media sponsors Clear Channel Radio, Atlantic Broadband, Aiken Standard and Horsecity.com. Combined they have donated almost $60,000 in advertising to promote the Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge
Admission to the Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge is a donation to the Troops. For more information please call Randy Russell at (803) 652-1181
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