Pato

Pato, also called juego del pato (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxweɣo ðel ˈpato], literally "duck game"), is a game played on horseback that combines elements from polo and basketball. It is the national sport of Argentina since 1953.

Pato is Spanish for "duck", as early games used a live duck inside a basket instead of a ball. Accounts of early versions of pato have been written since 1610. The playing field would often stretch the distance between neighboring estancias (ranches). The first team to reach its own casco (ranch house) with the duck would be declared the winner.

Pato was banned several times during its history because of the violence—not only to the duck; many gauchos were trampled underfoot, and many more lost their lives in knife fights started in the heat of the game. In 1796, a Catholic priest insisted that pato players who died in such a way should be denied Christian burial. Government ordinances forbidding the practice of pato were common throughout the 19th century.

During the 1930s, pato was regulated through the efforts of ranch owner Alberto del Castillo Posse, who drafted a set of rules inspired by modern polo. The game gained legitimacy, to the point that President Juan Perón declared pato to be Argentina's national game in 1953.

Pato (disambiguation)

Pato is a sport played on horseback.

Pato may also refer to:

People

Nickname or stage name

Surname

Given name

Tervakosken Pato

Tervakosken Pato (abbreviated Pato) is a football club from Tervakoski, Janakkala, Finland. The club was formed in 1902 and their home ground is at the Tervakosken urheilukenttä. The men's first team currently plays in the Kolmonen (Third Division).

Background

In the 1970s the club played in the lower levels of Finnish football (in Divisions 4 and 5) but over the last thirty years Pato has competed mainly in the Kolmonen (Division 3).

Season to season

Club structure

Tervakosken Pato run a number of teams including 2 men's teams, 2 men's veterans team, 5 boys teams and 2 girls teams.

2010 season

Pato Men's Team are competing in the Kolmonen section administered by the Tampere SPL. This is the fourth highest tier in the Finnish football system. In 2009 Pato finished in ninth place in the Kolmonen.

Pato 2 are participating in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Kutonen administered by the Tampere SPL.

Players in 2010

References and sources