Summary of Youth Polo

Tackeria Cup & Major Collin Memorial

Tackeria Cup winners, ChukkerTV Tackeria Cup MVP, Finn Secunda Tackeria Cup BPP, Fantastica

On Thursday 30 December, young players gathered at International Polo Club Palm Beach Isla Carroll West and East Fields for the Polo Traingin Foundation’s tenth annual Tackeria Cup and Major Collin Memorial.

The Tackeria Cup was won by ChukkerTV (Jem Handler, Ava Nunes, Daniel Arnold and Finn Secunda) who defeated GJ Racing (Maeve Reicher, Ariadne Dogani, Joaquin Vilgre de la Madrid and Ramon Caro) 3-1 and Tackeria 4-0 in round robin play. Finn Secunda, the 14-year-old grandson of British former 9 goaler, Julian Hipwood, scored five goals and was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Fantastica, owned by Max Secunda and played by Finn Secunda, was the Best Playing Pony. Finn Secunda commented, “It definitely helps when your dad and grandfather played. They encourage me. In the beginning my dad didn’t want me to play polo because it’s an expensive sport, but I ended up loving it and I still do. I loved going around on little ponies and being led around when I was 3 or 4,” Secunda said. “After that I was using a little mallet on short horses. Nowadays, I have fun playing it and I like the bond with the horses. It makes your mind sharp as well and getting into a good school when I’m older.”

The Major Collin Memorial was won by Power Group Total Care (Benjamin Obregon, Valentina Tarazona, Lion Mandelbaum, Sebastian Mandelbaum) after they tied with Mayer Ranch 1-1 and defeated GJ Racing 2-1 in their second match. Power Group Total Care’s Valentina Tarazona was the Most Valuable Player and Bayita, owned and played by Antonio Villamil, was the Best Playing Pony.

Major Collin Memorial winners, Power Group Total Care Major Collin Memorial MVP, Valentina Tarazona Major Collin Memorial Best Playing Pony, Bayita

New Zealand U21s

On Wednesday 19 January, the South Island U21 team defeated the NPA Team 8-4 in a great game, despite the hot and windy conditions; SI Team Coach Dean Geddes’ pony Lyric was presented the Champion Pony.

New Zealand U21s Teams:

SI Team (3): Zoe Reader (0), Henry Batchelor (1), Tom Turner (1) & Ed Davidson (1) NPA Team (2): Zac Keyte (0), Jonty Parrott (1), Ben Johnstone (1) & Jay Wilson (0)

Photography courtesy of NZPA