2019 Houston Women's Polo Championship

from Houston Polo 2020

WORK OUT LIKE A PRO

Each November, as the culmination of its Fall Season, the Houston Polo Club hosts its Women’s Tournament. In 2019, the 25th annual tournament saw 24 teams compete over five days in 22 matches in five different levels of play: the Farish Cup Invitational, the Bayou City Cup, the Ladies’ Junior Invitational, the US Open Women’s Handicap, and the USPA Texas Women’s Open.

The Bayou City Cup started off the final matches on Saturday with a matchup between Big Diamond Pools and Downtown Rotary Club. The close match ended in a 4–2 win for Downtown Rotary Club.

Sunday was the big day, with final matches presented for the other four levels. The Farish Cup Invitational, which saw a round robin of six teams compete, culminated in one championship and two consolation finals held on Sunday. In the final, Louis XIII defeated American National 7–3.

The Ladies’ Junior Invitational showcased some of the best upand-coming women players in Texas. In the final, Land Rover Houston Central took to the field to shut out Luxury Event

Rentals in a 3–0 win. All the players displayed great horsemanship and knowledge of the game. The future is looking bright for the young women players at the Houston Polo Club!

The USPA Texas Women’s Open Finalists, LM Ranch and Polo Gear, narrowly ousted the competition during the week to earn their spot in the finals. The match did not disappoint. Polo Gear struck first with two quick goals by Dawn Jones and Lottie Lamacraft. When LM Ranch’s Alexis Ellison responded with a goal, Dawn Jones scored again, ending the first chukker with a score of 3–1.5 for Polo Gear. In the second chukker, Polo Gear’s Tiffany Busch added two more goals on the board to LM Ranch’s Izzy Parson’s one goal, ending the chukker at 5–2.5 in favor of Polo Gear. In the third chukker, LM Ranch tried to gain on Polo Gear’s lead, but only managed one open-goal penalty 2 conversion by Tiamo Hudspeth. In the final chukker. Hudspeth and Parsons each converted penalties to come within 1.5 goals of Polo Gear’s lead; however, Polo Gear’s Meghan Gracida scored the last goal of the game, securing an 8–5.5 win over LM Ranch.

As players shook hands, the crowd had a chance to stretch their legs and stomp divots before the final of the US Open Women’s

Handicap took place. Spectators enjoyed the beautiful autumn day, sipped champagne compliments of American National, and got a sneak peek at the new vehicles from Porsche of West Houston, Land Rover Houston Central, and Bill Fick Ford.

After the break, the final two teams of the 2019 US Open Women’s Handicap, BCI/Sullivan Group and Bearsden, hit the field. The game was tied at 1–1 at the half. It was looking like it was going to be a game of defense; however, in the third chukker, BCI/Sullivan Group’s Athena Malin and Marissa Wells capitalized on opportunities, creating a 4–1 lead for themselves as the teams entered the final chukker. Bearsden came back in the last chukker to bring the score up to 4–3. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as Wells pushed to give her team another goal; however, she

miscued the ball, leaving it for teammate Malin, who put the ball right through the center of the goal, giving BCI/Sullivan Group a 2-goal lead as the clock ran down and the horn blew. BCI/Sullivan Group came away with the 2019 title of US Open Women’s Handicap champs with a score of 5–3.

THANK YOU to this year’s title sponsors: Land Rover Houston Central, Mike Baches, and Luxury Event Trailers, Anne Carl, as well as team and Best Playing Pony Sponsors.