Gay Polo Tournament: Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox' Dan Haynia Named GPL International Tournament Most Improved Player

Source: News Release/Sharon Robb for PMG Inc.

Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox' Dan Haynia Named
GPL International Tournament Most Improved Player

WELLINGTON, FL---Dan Haynia loves the adrenaline rush he gets from playing polo.

Haynia and his husband Jack Hoffman are year-round players. They play arena polo during the winter in New York and Southampton Polo Club during the summer. Most recently both competed in the fourth annual Gay Polo League International Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Haynia competed for Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox and Hoffman played for Wellington Coalition.

Dan Haynia GPL 2012

"Every time we leave after playing polo I find myself going faster on the road home because it's such an adrenaline rush, you have that speed that you want to keep," Haynia said. "I love the horses, I feel comfortable on them and I love to play."

That was never more evident during the April 12-13 GPL tournament. After two solid games of playing well on both ends of the field, Haynia was named the tournament's Most Improved Player.

For the third year in a row, Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox finished runner-up in the championship final for the coveted Senator's Cup Trophy.

In a rain-abbreviated final on Saturday, Gordon W. Ross Team Re/Max defeated Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox, 2-1. Despite a torrential downpour, Haynia scored his team's only goal in the first chukker.

"I didn't realize I had scored, I couldn't see because of the rain," Haynia said. "The one I missed I couldn't see either or else I would have gotten that one. It's definitely an adrenaline rush when you score."

Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox advanced into the final with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Wellington Coalition on the opening day of the two-day tournament. Haynia scored two goals including a penalty shot in the first chukker and another on a breakaway from midfield in the fourth chukker.

Haynia, rated at minus-one goal, flirted with several other goal attempts, including one on a breakaway, in the game but was well-marked by defenders.

"The first game was awesome because I had two goals and assisted on another," Haynia said. "I got to play on nice horses that were easy to handle and gave me no problems. It was a great time."

Haynia also got the chance to play with both 10-goaler Miguel Astrada on Saturday and 7-goaler Jeff Hall in Friday's game.

"Oh my God yes, that was a thrill," Haynia said. "I texted all my friends in polo about playing with them."

Haynia lives in Sag Harbor, N.Y. He has been playing polo for five years and riding horses for six. It was Hoffman who introduced Haynia to polo.

"I grew up playing hockey and soccer so when he brought me to watch him play polo he asked if I would have any interest in playing," Haynia remembered. "I said, oh my God, it's like hockey. Then he reminded me it was on horseback.

"I took two solid years of dressage lessons to get a good seat," Haynia said. "I didn't play for about a year and a half and took three lessons a week. I think it's what anyone who is serious about getting into polo should do. It gives you a nice solid seat and then you don't have to worry about the riding."

Haynia, a nurse, and Hoffman are smitten with polo. They own four horses. "We're each other's grooms half the time, I love it," Haynia said.

Four years ago, Haynia found out about GPL. He read about its founder Chip McKenney and flew out to Palm Springs to play with other GPL players at Indio.

"This is how we kick off our grass season, with the GPL," Haynia said. "The Ganzi horses are the fastest, best horses you will ever ride on. The GPL players are getting so comfortable with the riding that the polo is getting fast, accurate and consistent which is great to see."

As far as his goals for the future in polo, Haynia said, "I just want to improve. I love being around horses and I love the game. We are going to stay in polo, we own polo ponies, we don't own dressage horses," he said with a laugh.

"It's good fun and it's something my husband and I get to do together. It's fun to play against him, it's fun to play with him. It's just good fun."

The Most Improved Player award is selected by Piaget team captain and tournament host Melissa Potamkin Ganzi and the four pros participating in the two-day tournament.

The tournament was hosted by Grand Champions Polo Club and Marc and Melissa Ganzi. Melissa Ganzi, newly-elected president of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, selected the well-matched teams and provided most of the ponies for the tournament.

The Gay Polo League, created in 2006, is an international organization and only known gay polo league in the world. Currently, the GPL's established four U.S. chapters are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Wellington.

GPL members include players from several foreign countries such as France, England, Argentina, South Africa, Canada and Australia.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget and Polo School at Grand Champions. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women's Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.