Up and riding - Ritter helps steer area polo club

It's a game with roots back to 200 B.C.

Credit guys like August Ritter with keeping it alive in the Midwest.

Ritter, 42 of Cape Girardeau, plays in the area polo league that gathers every week for either practice or a game in a sport that is trying to gain a foothold in the region.

"It could keep growing around here if the club stays active. As of right now, we're really active," Ritter said. "But there just isn't much knowledge of the game in this area."

The sport is played in two formats: arena and outdoor. Although the concepts are similar, the playing surfaces and the rules are slightly different.

The outdoor game, which is played by the area club, is played on a 160- by 300-yard field. Eleven-inch vertical boards circle the field to keep the ball, which is made of compressed plastic, in play. The game is played with four players to a team. After each goal, the scoring team changes sides.

William Bahn is the president of the area league and the long time player who introduced Ritter to the game.

"It was only about a year ago when I got interested," Ritter said. "Willy and I have been life-long friends. He introduced me to the sport, and ever since then I've been hooked."

In its seventh year

The club, which was started 14 years ago in Carbondale, Ill., by veteran polo player Dale Watkins and his son, moved to Cape Girardeau seven years ago and meets every Wednesday night and on the weekend afternoons at their field on Highway 177 near Trail of Tears State Park.

Ritter says that fans or those who are just curious are welcome to try their hand at the sport or just become spectators. Ritter is using the opportunity to get his son involved.

"He's 12 and started playing a little last year," Ritter said. "He really liked it, so he plans on playing a little bit more this year."

As for the rest of the family. "They aren't involved yet, but there's still hope."