Willie DeLisser Polo Cup action returns to Drax Hall today
Published:Saturday | April 15, 2023 | 1:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
After a long hiatus, captain of the Jamaica Polo Association (JPA) Adam Laing says that the return of the Willie DeLisser Cup is a fitting end to a season which has celebrated the return of competitive action in the sport.
The competition will take place today at 4 p.m. at the St Ann Polo Club in Drax Hall, closing a season in which the JPA has been able to stage their signature events again after COVID-19 forced the sport into inactivity.
With their last JPA tournament being four years ago before the resumption of play last November, Laing said that it is a relief that they have been able to return, albeit with some rust earlier in the campaign.
“It has been difficult but most of that was sorted out earlier in the season between November and December,” Laing told The Gleaner. “The last time we had a JPA tournament was in 2019 before COVID-19 broke out. So everyone is extremely excited about it coming back on board. We have been practising a lot this year. Our season started at the end of November last year. And this tournament today is the grand finale of the season for us.”
It is a finale that will be a battle between ICWI consisting of Paul Lalor, Kurt Chin, Shane Chin and Luke Clarke and the Dugal team consisting of Freddy Farquharson, John Dugal, Clarke Chambers and James Robertson.
The Willie DeLisser Cup has been contested since the 1960s, named after the Hon Willie DeLisser, founder of the Hanover Polo Cup and former Custos of the parish.
Laing said that its return augurs well for the continued development of the sport after the hiatus and the long setback.
“There was a lull for such a long time. There was a serious worry that we may not have been able to start back up and continue the tradition that we have been keeping for more than 100 years now. I think we are just very pleased that we are able to play the annual tournaments again,” Laing said.
Laing said the players are highly motivated to perform in light of the long period of inactivity to capture one of the treasured pieces of silverware for the top national players.
“I’m sure that every single player on every team is going to give it their all to take home that cup It is an extremely prestigious cup that every polo player strives to lift,” Laing said.