Niagara Polo was more than just chess on horseback.

Often referred to as the “sport of kings,” Saturday’s polo match at the Commons brought out some of the most elegant and eye-catching fashion from guests and volunteers. 

The biennial charity game, hosted by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, saw hundreds come out to the Commons from noon to 4 p.m. to watch the two matches, enjoy a half-time performance and participate in polo traditions like the traditional divot stomp and the donning of sophisticated summer attire and charming chapeaus.

Following the first polo match between Trubar and Performance BMW/MINI St. Catharines, museum officials recognized winners of the best hat competition. 

Eight-year-old Camilla Yoxall’s fascinator took first prize. 

The creative headpiece that mimicked a popping champagne bottle was made with the help of her father, John. 

The St. Davids family put a shampoo bottle from the dollar store to good use, along with some garden wire and a cork. 

“We actually made it for last year,” John Yoxall told The Lake Report. 

“She really wanted to enter the hat competition but when they announced it we were on the opposite end of the field,” he said. 

Luckily, this year Camilla was all smiles when her win was announced. 

“We had a lot of fun,” she said.

The family got inspiration for both Camilla and her sister Annabel’s fascinators from history.

“We looked up some hat’s from Ascot and the Kentucky Derby,” Yoxall said.

Following half-time, a second match was played between Elaine & Donald Triggs and Platinum Medicine teams.  

Niagara Polo was run by countless volunteers and museum staff, with funds going toward ongoing museum operations.