The English Polo delegation is invading City-by-the-Sea to experience the best Newport has to offer.
Thursday: The jam-packed itinerary starts with the players’ chauffeured arrival on Thursday morning by trusted Rockstar Limo in time for an afternoon Island Adventure on electric bikes to traverse jawdropping coastal scenery enroute to one of Newport’s best kept secrets, the stretch of beaches preferred by locals along Ocean Ave., where the team will solidify their status of “Newportant” and take in a postcard surfside picnic lunch from Newport Picnic Co., an adventurous swim in the swells from Hurricane Franklin, and soak in the waning Newport summer sun. Greeters can expect to be rewarded with free tickets to Saturday’s duel!
After the long transatlantic flight, the afternoon immersion outdoors is transformative! Going on 24 hours without rest, the team will muster energy for a friendship tournament with Team USA and its Club at Newport Polo’s private practice fields. The prohibitively high cost of transporting horses overseas means the players will be on borrowed mounts, and this will be the only opportunity to get to know their fellow equine athletes before the Saturday contest. Friendships will be forged to last a lifetime as the teams mix up with the locals for camaraderie on the field. A field-side traditional Argentine asado BBQ will gather famished players to swap stories of their polo exploits and strategize for their battle on Saturday, before touring the Thursday night hotspots in downtown Newport.
A great night’s sleep at Team Headquarters caps the marathon, to freshen up for all the Newport must-dos leading up to the crescendo featuring USA vs. England on Saturday, September 2nd at 4pm!
Friday: No strangers to adrenaline; Team England will spend the morning racing supercharged go-karts, axe throwing, and competing in the Ninja Wipeout Challenge at SuperCharged Entertainment in Wrentham, MA. Whilst the competitive juices are flowing the team will gallop over to Jamestown Golf Course for 9 holes of golf. A day of competition will surely make the team even hungrier to extend their winning streak the following day at Newport Polo.
Once satisfied with their land ventures, England will head back to Newport where Polo fans and club members will be awaiting the team at Bowen’s Warf – a replica British colonial port scene – where they will board the Schooner Madeleine by Newport Classic Cruises for a memorable “Sail & Greet” where fans and players alike will toast the setting sun over Narragansett Bay and anticipate the rivalry match the following afternoon. Upon docking back at Bowen’s Warf, Team England will only need to exit The Madeleine starboard for a royal feast at the internationally renowned Clarke Cook House where they will break bread for a final time with Team USA before the match.
Saturday: Departing Greenwich Meantime, Team England will dispell the hold of jetlag with a leisurely tour around the Audrian Auto Museum and International Tennis Hall of Fame, both on Bellevue Avenue, and explore the iconic trails of the Cliff Walk in a meditation to prepare for the afternoon rumble of the horses and roar of the crowd that awaits them in the immediate future of USA vs. England.
At 4 pm the battle cry with sound as the much-anticipated first chukker of Newport International Polo Series USA vs. England presented by Turkish Airlines commences. The spectators will be adorned in their finest red and white theme, and will be rewarded with a prize if their efforts win the Stella Artois Tailgate Contest! Meanwhile, field-side, Newport Polo staple, Newport Chowder Company and Celebrity Chef Kevin Des Chenes will tempt the hungry with decadent chowder, meaty lobster rolls, and other tantalizing New England cuisine after the match or Après Polo. A DJ and a complimentary Gosling’s toast around the firepit in the Modern Luxury Lounge to salute the fierce competitors for their valiant efforts.
Sunday: Reeling from the ecstasy of victory or the plight of defeat the day before, Team England will continue their excursion with a delectable and aesthetically pleasing brunch at one of Newport’s famed Sunday brunch destinations that offer a final view of Narragansett Bay. As they depart with cups of tea at tea time in their chariot, Rockstar Limo will whisk them back to Boston for their departure to Jolly Ol’ England. Newport will hallow the experience and excitement left in England’s wake longing to reunite next summer again for the 33rd season of The Newport Polo International Series.