A Round-Up of Women’s Polo

GC Women’s League

Pacific Coast Circuit Women’s Challenge

The Polo School Grand Champions Women’s League has resumed once again at Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita, with 10 players competing, including Hope Arellano, Cecelia Cochran, Pamela Flanagan, Alyson Poor and Malicia von Falkenhausen. This is the only full-time weekly women’s polo league in the world and was created by Alina Carta and Melissa Ganzi. The league, along with the Women’s Championship Tournament Finals at Grand Champions 30 March 30 – 3 April.

Stage Hill opened the Polo School Grand Champions Women’s League sixth season on Wednesday 12 January at Santa Rita Polo Farm. Stage Hill (Hope Arellano, Rileigh Tibbottt, Josephine Gianicco, Alyson Poor & Ava Nunez) defeated CrossFit El Cid (Malicia von Falkenhausen, Ava Hinkson, Pam Flanagan, Cecilia Cochran & Cecily Coors), 9-5 in a hard-fought game.

Alyson Poor of Stage Hill races downfield for the ball

Photography by Kerri Kerley

Plank & Co.’s Dayelle Fargey vs Cheval Athletics’ Malia McCoy

2021 saw just three team entries for The Women’s Pacific Coast Open at Eldorado Polo Club, which meant the tournament was played in a round-robin format which provided its own challenges for the teams as they only had two chukkas to size up their opposition. The tournament began on Friday 31 December with Cheval Athletics narrowly defeating Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club 3½-3, Plank & Co. defeated both Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 3-2, and Cheval Athletics, 3-2½. Sunday 2 December was the second and also final day of play in the round-robin tournament and saw Cheval Athletics convincingly defeat Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 6½-3, Plank & Co. secured their second win against Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, 4-2, and finally their second win of the day and fourth of the tournament, with a narrow score of 6-5½ against Cheval Athletics to take the title.

The Best Playing Pony was awarded to Sorpresa, played by Micaela Saracco and owned by Luis Saracco, Taylor Olcott was chosen as the Most Valuable Player and Malia McCoy received the Sunny Hale Horsemanship Award.

Women’s Pacific Coast Open Teams:

Plank & Co. (16): Kendall Plank (4), Dayelle Fargey (7), Taylor Olcott (2) & Micaela Saracco (3) Cheval Athletics (15): Malia McCoy (4), Catlin Dix (5), Sierra Dunbar (3) & Kaile Roos (3)

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (16):

Melanja Jones (3), Jennifer Alexy (4), Jessica Bailey (5) & Cory Williams (4)