Charles Thomas Irvine Roark
Encyclopedia
Captain Charles Thomas Irvine Roark (1897–1939) was an English polo
player. He held a ten goal handicap
at the peak of his career.
Roark played for England in the International Polo Cup
in 1927 and 1930. He won the US Open Polo Championship with his team, the Hurricanes. in 1926, 1929 and 1930.He also captained the victorious Hurricanes (polo) team in the Roehampton Cup
in 1928 and 1931.
Roark died on 18 February 1939 from injuries incurred in a fall during a practice match at Pasadena, California
. He had been due to play a third International Polo Cup
for England that year.
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player. He held a ten goal handicap
Polo handicap
A polo handicap is a system created by Henry Lloyd Herbert, first president of the United States Polo Association, at the founding of the USPA in 1890 so teams could be more evenly matched when using players with varying abilities....
at the peak of his career.
Biography
He was born in Ireland in 1897 to T. I. Roark of Wexford.Roark played for England in the International Polo Cup
International Polo Cup
The International Polo Cup, also called the Newport Cup and the Westchester Cup is a trophy in polo that was created in 1876 and was played for by teams from the United States and Great Britain. The match is the best of three games. In 1886 it was decided to make the polo match a continuing...
in 1927 and 1930. He won the US Open Polo Championship with his team, the Hurricanes. in 1926, 1929 and 1930.He also captained the victorious Hurricanes (polo) team in the Roehampton Cup
Roehampton Trophy
The Roehampton trophy is the oldest polo trophy in the United Kingdom. The trophy was first played for at the Roehampton Club in 1902 and was won by Buccaneers...
in 1928 and 1931.
Roark died on 18 February 1939 from injuries incurred in a fall during a practice match at Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. He had been due to play a third International Polo Cup
International Polo Cup
The International Polo Cup, also called the Newport Cup and the Westchester Cup is a trophy in polo that was created in 1876 and was played for by teams from the United States and Great Britain. The match is the best of three games. In 1886 it was decided to make the polo match a continuing...
for England that year.