Fine wine, fancy hats & fast horses combine at the Kelowna Polo Classic

Kelowna turned out in its finest wear and donned its fanciest hats for the inaugural Kelowna Polo Classic.

Fourteen teams and around 200 horses turned out to compete in some of the best polo action the the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

“This location here in the Okanagan is central to all the clubs in the West, so this is one of the largest tournaments in the Pacific Northwest," event co-host Stephen Duke told Kelowna10.

With both covered and field-side viewing areas, spectators were able to witness all of the action close up.

Wineries from across the valley were on hand, alongside

“This is a regulation US Polo sanctioned polo field, so it's almost ten football fields in size,” he said. “These ponies can get going flat out full gallop. A lot of them are ex-racing thoroughbreds."

In addition to the fast-paced sport on the field, Duke believes it to be a fantastic setting for networking.

As folks mingled, they were treated to a litany of beverage and foods on offer, which, he hoped, will help grow the polo as a sport in Kelowna.

Most proceeds raised by the event will go towards funding programs for young chefs and sommeliers.

“The industry needs that kind of support these days,” he explained. “We're so thankful that so many people are coming here today. Those proceeds will go to helping us host next year's International Young Sommelier Competition here in Kelowna.”

People from 75 different countries will be coming to Kelowna to sample the vast selection of wine in the Okanagan Valley.