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Devereux Cup polo tournament rich in history

Staff Report
Post independent Photo/Kelley Cox
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On June 10, 1893, Glenwood Springs residents were introduced to the sport of polo. This weekend, the Devereux Cup continues the tradition.According to a previously published Post Independent story written by Willa Soncarty, Frontier Historical Society and Museum registrar, the valleys polo history has been well documented.More than a century ago, Walter Devereux opened the Hotel Colorado, celebrating the event with a polo match between Glenwood Springs and Colorado Springs. As one of the founders of polo in Glenwood, he wanted to show that the town was ready to receive wealthy tourists.The Glenwood Springs polo team won the match, proving Glenwood took its sport seriously.And so does the Roaring Fork Polo Club today.The group is hosting its annual Devereux Cup at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Stout Ranch in New Castle. The cups reigning champions, Team Hotel Colorado, and the club will engage in friendly competition at the annual polo tourney that is free and open to the public.Its a pretty fast sport. It will be competitive, said Barry Stout, a professional polo player and owner of the ranch where the match will take place for the second year. The ranch is spectacular its worth a drive out here.Stout said he was introduced to polo as a child, but began playing at the age of 22.Ive played all over the world, he said. Ive been a professional polo player for 15 years but Im a rancher by trade.Like Stouts Team Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Springs polo team proved to be a consistently tough competitor in the 1890s. To continue that competitive spark, Devereux arranged a series of polo matches in and around the turn of the century, wrote Soncarty.His Rocky Mountain Championship, on Sept. 11, 1902, featured teams from Denver, Fort Logan and Colorado Springs to play Glenwood. Devereuxs incentive to the winning team was an ornate silver punch bowl. The catch to the offering: To keep the cup, the championship had to be won three years in succession.The 1902 series mostly pitted Glenwood and Colorado Springs against each other. However, Glenwoods team was not up to the challenge, wrote Soncarty. Colorado Springs Cheyenne Mountain Country Club was the punch bowls first winner.The Glenwood Polo Club won the Rocky Mountain Championship in 1903 and 1904. The 10th Cavalry from Fort Robinson, Neb., won in 1905. Glenwood Springs was again victorious in the next championship in 1912. At that time, the three wins in succession rule was relaxed, and Glenwood took home the winning trophy, which is displayed at the Frontier Historical Museum.In 2005, Team Hotel Colorado hopes to do the same.

Who: Team Hotel Colorado and Roaring Fork Polo Club What: Devereux Cup polo tourney When: 11 a.m. Sunday Where: Stout Ranch, 2000 Baldy Creek Road, New Castle Details: Free and open to the public (dont dress up) Directions: (970) 566-0818 or http://www.stoutranch.com Meet the players party: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Hotel Colorado


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