A P R I L 2 01 8
10 goalers carry the ball for fundraiser
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CONTENTS A P R I L 201 8
VO L . 21 ,
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
26 Big night
6
Hundreds celebrate newest Hall of Fame inductees
30 Doing their part
NO. 8
Association News
USPA Bulletin Club Spotlight
12 Instructors Forum
Players donate time and effort for useful program
by Tom Goodspeed
36 Power play
14 Viewpoints
USA falls in international arena test match
by Elizabeth Humphreys
16 Equine Athlete A P R I L 2 01 8
OUR COVER 10 goalers carry the ball for fundraiser
Hilario Ulloa shows his balancing act in the Lucchese 40 goal Polo Challenge. Photo by David Lominska/ Polographics
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by Gwen Rizzo
18 22 24 40
Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas
42 56 57 58 60
Polo around the Globe Letters Marketplace Calendar Yesteryears
by Ernesto Rodriguez
48 Polo Report
Speedwell/Icon Global all heart in Cupids Cup
OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.
2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
THE OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
Editor & Publisher
GWEN D. RIZZO
Contributing Editors
HEATHER SMITH THOMAS, ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, ALICE GIPPS, CHRIS ASHTON, TOM GOODSPEED
Editorial Board BOB PUETZ, TONY COPPOLA, TOM BIDDLE, DAWN WEBER, AMI SHINITZKY Art Director DAVID BEVERAGE Prepress PUBLISHERS PRESS Advertising & Editorial Offices USPA Member Subscription Inquiries (800) 232-8772 OR FAX (888) 341-7410 ldolan@uspolo.org
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©Copyright 2018 by USPA Global LLC. No part of this issue may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process without written permission of the publisher. Paul Brown illustrations are ©2018 and are reprinted by permission of Paul Brown Studios, Inc., P.O. Box 925, Hedgesville, WV 25427. Subscription rates: $45/one year, $78/two years. Other countries (air mail), $78 drawn on U.S. bank/one year, $144 drawn on U.S. bank/two years. (GST:134989508). Subscription problems call (561) 968-5208. VOL. 21, No.8 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449 for U.S. Polo Association, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Periodicals postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. (USPS: 079-770). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Polo Players’ Edition, 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Imex Global, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
4 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
USPA Umpires, LLC from 0 goal to 40 goal, we’ve gotcha covered! For information regarding a professional umpire at your club, please contact: Charlie Muldoon (240) 731-2248 cmuldoon@uspolo.org Maggie Mitchell (941) 928-4600 mmitchell@uspolo.org For information regarding umpire certification, online testing, umpire clinics or rule reviews, please contact: Steve Lane (352) 454-6611 slane@uspolo.org
Welcome Carlucho Arellano The United States Polo Association is pleased to announce Carlucho Arellano has been selected as executive director of USPA Services. Arellano earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Virginia which enables him to effectively manage financial budgets. He comes to the USPA after having worked as a professional polo player and president of Capataz Polo for the past 16 years. His experience in hiring and managing employees, coaching and mentoring, combined with his extensive knowledge of the polo industry were key factors considered when adding him to the executive team. “I’m excited to have Carlucho join our team,” said USPA CEO Bob Puetz. “He brings with him a lifetime of polo experience, along with an in-depth knowledge of the culture of the sport. His understanding of the players, clubs and the inner workings of the association will be a great asset and addition to the leadership of the USPA.” Arellano will serve the members and clubs of the association and oversee the responsibilities and staff of USPA Services. He will focus on facilitating improved external communication between the association and players, members and clubs, as well as assist with internal communication between the board, committees and staff. This will be achieved through oversight of handicaps, tournaments, club approvals 6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
and board meetings, along with communications and committee objectives. Arellano has a litany of achievements to his name as a polo player ranging from intercollegiate to international titles. Some notable accomplishments include: 2000 Intercollegiate Player of the Year; University of Virginia varsity polo team captain and National Men’s Intercollegiate Championship finalist 1998 and 2000; member of the U.S. team in the 2009 Camacho Cup; Team USPA coach and mentor 2015-2017; 2017 Herbie Pennell Cup winner with Villa del Lago; and was the Team USPA assistant coach in the XI FIP World Polo Championship in 2017. “Joining the USPA staff when so much is happening for our sport and the success of our future players is most gratifying,” said Arellano. “This is an opportunity to give back to polo all that it has given to me. I look forward to working with my fellow players, the board, committees and staff to strengthen American polo.” The entire USPA would like to extend a warm welcome to Arellano, and looks forward to having him as part of the team. NBA Referee Shares Insight On Friday, February 23, former NBA official Bob Delaney spoke with USPA Umpires, LLC and other guests at the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida. Most recently the NBA’s vice president for Referee’s Development and Performance, Delaney was invited to advise in umpire development with concentrations in leadership, communication and professionalism. Delaney’s approach to assisting referees across all sports focuses on his Performance Enhancement Program, created to develop the “360 degree official.” Through training sessions, this program works to strengthen professional umpires in many areas including teamwork, leadership and ethics. Delaney discussed ways to navigate the often passionate “will to win” of players
“Bob Delaney has met with numerous officials of various sports, and brings years of experience, ideas and advice to our Umpires, LLC program.” —Steve Lane, Head Umpire Instructor and stressed the importance of effective communication between players and officials. As an umpire, the primary responsibility is to run the game smoothly and without bias or emotion. Delaney emphasized that umpires should not operate with an us-vs.them mentality, but rather strive to work with players to make the sport they all love the best it can be. Another focal point was the importance of consistency and developing in umpires the ability to see the same play over and over and call it correctly. Delaney urged senior umpires to give young referees the opportunity to think through a call before stepping in to avoid mistakes. Using a helpful acronym, Delaney encouraged umpires to bring their FACE (focus, awareness, concentration, experience) to every game and play. As servant leaders, umpires are charged with upholding the integrity of the sport and must consider all information before making a decision. Especially in polo with such a large playing surface, Delaney believes fellow officials and technology should be utilized when available to validate decisions and correct mistakes. Delaney also challenged the umpires to be self-aware and cognizant of how they represent themselves on the field both indi-
vidually and as the cohesive USPA Umpires, LLC. Factors such as physical presentation and presence are critical to creating the desired perception and projecting a professional image on the field. Offering an open forum for questions and discussion, Delaney shared his insights on issues unique to the game of polo. Closing with the importance of maintaining a work/life balance, he advised that in this occupation in particular distractions directly impact performance.
“Bob Delaney shared insight on professionalism in sports, the effectiveness of being level-headed and the importance of calm decisions. His advice is solid for officials and athletes alike.” —Carlucho Arellano, USPA executive director of Services
Umpire Tests Online The 2018 Umpire/Rules Test is now online. All currently certified umpires and those seeking a new umpire certification
are required to take the test with a passing grade of 96 percent outdoor and 97 percent arena. As the USPA Umpires, LLC UMP Program continues to develop, safe and consistent umpiring is an important aspect of our growing sport. The USPA Umpires, LLC UMP Reimbursement Program is equally important to USPA member clubs
in achieving certified umpires and receiving reimbursement for acquiring certified umpire services. You must be logged in on the USPA website as a member to take the Umpire/Rules Test. The list of certified umpires is updated periodically. Any umpire not listed on the website is not considered certified at this time. Umpires who do not meet certification requirements in 2018 will not be considered a certified umpire for 2018. To take the umpire test online, please visit the association page on uspolo.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Steve Lane by email at slane@uspolo.org, or phone (352) 454-6611, or Bradley Biddle at bbiddle@uspolo.org, or by phone (803) 221-4080.
Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth, Florida 33467 (800) 232-USPA
Chairman: Chip Campbell President: Tony Coppola Secretary: Stuart Armstrong Treasurer: Sam Ramirez Chief Executive Officer: Robert Puetz
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7
I/I USPA Intercollegiate Scholarship Applications open April 1. Visit the I/I pages on uspolo.org for full scholarship guidelines. Interscholastic Varsity Letter Application are due May 15. Applications are available on uspolo.org. Contact Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org for more information.
Certified Polo Instructors
NYTS The National Youth Tournament Series season is underway with three qualifying tournaments completed as of March 1. In Arizona, Being the Change All-Stars were Cassidy Wood, Thomas Phelps, Zackary Coleman and Grace Grotnik. In California, Empire All-Stars were Petra Teixeira, Cory Williams, Molly Agee, Bayne Bossom As spring and summer clubs begin to open their fields for the season, youth players will compete against their peers at venues across the country. New in 2018, The East vs. West Invitational will be an all-girls division! For more information on hosting or participating in a NYTS event, please email NYTS@uspolo.org or visit uspolo.org.
Being the Change All-Stars were Thomas Phelps, Cassidy Wood, Zackary Coleman and Grace Grotnik.
Team USPA members Remy Muller and Jared Sheldon won the February 12 Goal with Antelope. A Team USPA team entered the $50,000 National 12 Goal at Grand Champions Polo Club for the third consecutive year. This year’s team included Julia Smith, Nick Johnson, Felipe Viana and Tomy Alberdi.
Join the 60-plus instructors around the country that have earned their USPA Certified Polo Instructor Certification. For more information about this program please contact Jess Downey at jdowney@uspolo.org.
Players Performance Analysis The USPA’s newest program, Player Performance Analysis, works with players to analyze their riding and swings and prepare them for play with pre-riding exercises. To learn more about this cutting-edge program visit poloskilz.com.
Team USPA Team USPA members are taking over the trophy stage in Wellington, Florida and in Indio, California. Santi Torres took home his first victory of the season, winning the Ylvisaker Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach with the Valiente polo team. On the West Coast, Patrick Uretz and Jimmy Wright won the February 8 Goal with Antelope Jr., while 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Danny Walker congratulates NYTS All-Stars Petra Teixeira, Molly Agee, Cory Williams and Bayne Bossom at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Big Horn Polo Club Sheridan, Wyoming
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“You wouldn’t think the middle of Wyoming would have the incredibly good quality polo we have, and that’s at every level.” —Perk Connell, club president sale of the Polo Ranch forced the Big Horn Polo Club to find another field.” The search for a new location led to Big Horn Polo Club’s present day establishment at the Big Horn Equestrian Center with a remarkable seven fields. On the cusp of its 13th season, the
COURTESY MUSEUM OF POLO
rguably, there is no other club in the United States as dedicated and devoted to developing horses for polo than Big Horn Polo Club. Nestled at the base of the Big Horn Mountains, near Sheridan, Wyoming, the club has evolved from a culture deeply and passionately intertwined with the horse. The mountainous backdrop surrounded by vast expanses of land cultivates an urgent sense of adventure that is hard to ignore. Polo was established in the area in the late 19th century by English nobleman Oliver Henry Wallop and Scotsman Malcolm Moncreiffe who brought with them Thoroughbred horses. According to the Big Horn Polo Club website, “The Polo Ranch, which Oliver Wallop inherited from Malcolm Moncreiffe and in turn handed it down to Senator Malcolm Wallop, was the center of polo in the Northern Rockies until the early 1980s when the ranch was sold. ... The
Members of the Wallop family in the early years of Big Horn Polo Club.
club is currently home to 30 local players as well as many out-of-town players who visit for a portion or all of the summer season. The club is widely-recognized as the premier location to find promising young horses, a credit to the number of breeders and trainers who make Big Horn their home. Along with the adjacent Flying H Polo Club, some of the top-rated players in the world travel to the western United States, putting Wyoming on the map as a primary summer polo destination for many in the sport. “For a small club like this, there is something for your green horse to do almost every single day in the summer,” said club president Perk Connell. “We have what we call ‘keep away’ on Tuesday and Thursdays and that’s for the green horses to learn to play; there is no game, they’re out there with one ball—like a hive of bees! You can hit three times, no back shots and no hooking. Then Wednesday and Friday we have full practices with at least 10 chukkers and two match games on Sunday.” The Big Horn Polo Club acknowledges the horse is the center of much of the Big Horn history and culture and is homage to its western roots, evident in its approach to the sport. “We have a reputation for fair, fun polo,” said Dalton. “Competitive but not overly competitive. It’s a style that doesn’t suit everyone, so we seem to attract likeminded individuals. People like to bring young horses and enjoy the keep away, practices and the comradery. If someone is on a green horse, they give them space, they let them make their plays. On the other hand, if a high-goal trainer is on a 6-year-old and wants to run, they can do that. Everyone tries to understand the other player’s goal.” Unlike many clubs who welcome teams to compete in month-long tournaments, POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9
Last year, the club hired Megan Flynn to head the polo school in an effort to engage local youth.
Club President Perk Connell coaches Amanda Burns during green horse chukkers.
10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
always have a chance at winning. I call it the green horse capital of the United States, there are more green horses up here being made at any level. When they leave here they go to the Flying H next door and then they are in the highergoal.” “We really work well with the Flying H CATE SHEEHAN
ALEXIS VON GONTARD
Big Horn Polo Club members sign up for the weekly featured matches individually and the club manager creates teams. “The secret of our club is that you may play against someone one week and the next week they are on your team,” said Connell. “It keeps everything friendly and competitive. Plus, you
The club offers quality polo at all levels.
and we understand that our club benefits a lot from having them beside us,” said club manager Kristine Dalton. “Julio Arellano’s entire family comes over and plays with us. Last year we had Miguel Novillo Astrada’s kids come over, and then we had Miguel come over. Pretty much everyone plays their spares on our
ALEXIS VON GONTARD
side of the fence and their family members play. So during our practices it’s really special for people who come here, who otherwise would never have the opportunity to play with someone at that level. It’s not uncommon for us to have a 10- to 14-goal practice during the week.” It’s no wonder Team USPA decided to base their summer training program at this club. “There were two main reasons why they came out here,” said Connell. “One was to have access to a lot of the pros that were here in the summer. When they started coming six years ago, players such as Owen Rinehart, Adam Snow, Julio Arellano, would be able to give lessons, and the kids would get advice and schooling. Over at our club they could play in exchange for umpiring and flagging. It’s been a good situation for them and for us.” This focus on education, whether it be in the development of horses or players, has given rise to a concerted effort at a successful polo school. Last summer, the club hired Certified Polo Instructor Megan Flynn to head the polo school with the express purpose to engage the youth in the community. “We have a lot of young people around here that ride and have a horsey background and we think it’s a bit of an untapped market,” Spectators are encouraged to come out to watch Sunday games.
Bronc riding is held on the polo fields during Don King Days.
said Dalton. If you can barrel race and rope, it shouldn’t be a tremendous step to play polo. If you have a 15-hand Quarter Horse, you can probably teach that horse to play polo.” Involvement with the local community is paramount to the Big Horn Polo Club, with almost every featured Sunday match benefitting a Sheridan charity organization. Spectators are encouraged to come out and watch Sunday games in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere
with stands, tailgating spots, food and drink concessions, and knowledgeable and entertaining announcers. The largest draw of the season takes place over Labor Day weekend—Don King Days. Named in honor of famous local saddle and rope maker and staple community member Don King, this yearend celebration is guaranteed a packed perimeter. A three-day celebration, the contests include a variety of events including polo, bronc riding, roping and a world-championship blacksmith competition. Held directly on the polo fields with no fencing or barriers, these events get you up close and personal with the action. “The saddle broncs buck right through the crowd quite often,” laughed Connell. Just a short stay at the Big Horn Polo Club will convince you the Wild West is not just a myth, but a genuine way of life, and when you’re not playing, you can always find something to do. If you’re interested in western history there are many museums and Indian battlefield sites and in mid-July there is the celebrated Sheridan WYO Rodeo. A major stop on the rodeo circuit, this vibrant Sheridan event, in its 88th year, is highlighted by the notorious World Championship Indian Relay Races. Many members inspired by the amazing scenery and abundant wildlife have found excellent fishing in the area, while the nearby Big Horn National Forest offers trails for ATVs, mountain bikes or hiking. If you have a love of polo, passion for horses and a thirst for adventure, look no further than Big Horn Polo Club. A summertime haven for some of polo’s greats, the club offers the opportunity to rub elbows with many of the best in the industry, in a casual and family-oriented atmosphere, surrounded by a rich history of polo spanning 120 years, united by a common love of the horse. “The quality of people who come here, that are truly interested in making and developing horses, that’s really a key aspect. People come here because they really like the horses, they don’t just like polo, they love horses,” said Dalton. For more information visit thebighornpoloclub.com POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
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CURVE BALL Good position and a firm grip will help keep the ball moving straight
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Grip Tighten the grip of your hand around the mallet handle as the first component of your swing. Too many players hold the 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
ders so they are parallel to the horse’s back line (spine), with your right shoulder pointed at the horse’s tail and your left shoulder pointed at the horse’s ears, when initiating your offside forehander. It might sound easy, but most players are not able to get their shoulders properly turned before they start their swing. If you do not get your shoulders turned all the way around, you will start your swing to the side, off the haunches of the horse and it will arc left or in towards the ball. If you straighten out the follow through, the ball will spin to the right because you are basically executing an angled cut shot to the right. The key is being proficient enough in your riding to comfortably turn your torso all the way around at a gallop. If that is not something you are able to do yet, work on your riding skills. After you’ve strengthened your riding skills, practice turning your torso at the slower gates and gradually work up to a gallop.
US POLO ASSOCIATION
If you start your swing with your shoulders parallel to the horse’s back line, you will hit the ball straighter. If you do not turn your torso all the way, the ball will go left.
mallet a bit too loose, allowing the impact of the mallet and ball to spin the mallet in their hand. Basically, the impact of the hit has the ball controlling the mallet head rather than the mallet head controlling the ball. A tighter grip will keep the mallet from turning in your hand and be a big help in your accuracy. A cracked or broken cane where it attaches to the mallet head (referred to as a ringer) may also cause the mallet to spin, even when you hit center and even with a good grip. To tell if your mallet is rung, while dismounted, hold the grip of the mallet in your right hand steady, and then with your left hand reach out, grab the mallet head and try to twist it. You will immediately know if it is broken. Ringers are sometimes the culprit behind missed hits. Shoulders I like to say start straight, finish straight. What I mean is turn your shoul-
Where ball meets mallet The center of your mallet head, where the cane attaches to it, is referred to as US POLO ASSOCIATION
nce players learn to make contact with the ball fairly consistently at a gallop, the next hurdle is to master hitting the ball straight. You would think executing a straight offside forehander would pretty much come “factory installed.” In fact, the factory installed default for most players is to hit the ball to the left when taking offside forehanders. The offside forehander is undoubtedly the first shot you learn and the one that is practiced the majority of the time, so why do so many struggle with just hitting it straight? There are four factors that can cause something apparently so straight forward to be anything but straight forward. When hitting any shot, it is important your lower body is in the correct position: the majority of your weight is in your leg with a good lower leg angle and you are raised a bit off the seat of the saddle. Your stirrup length has to support that good lower leg angle from thigh to calf. Players who do not learn a proper hitting position and choose to just sit in the saddle or ride with long stirrups will always be more challenged in the ability to hit better shots. Getting in hitting position allows you to get out over the ball and properly rotate your hips and torso through the shot. At times, players will ride in a deeper seat with longer stirrups because of possible physical limitations, or because they are riding young horses or horses that are a little more rodeo than polo.
Hit the ball with the sweet spot, the part of the mallet where the cane attaches to the mallet head.
your mallet head. Once you get the measurement, you can go around and place three balls at different places around the field or arena and then go around at a canter and practice hitting the center ball without hitting the outside balls. Natural wrist movement Your wrist naturally turns through the shot as you swing. It feels natural because it is natural. The pronation of your wrist as you finish your swing is a huge factor in many of your shots pulling left on the offside forehanders. It is true, turning the mallet across the ball will help build power, but the better players have learned to adjust the rotation of the wrist along with their desired placement of the ball. Focus on keeping your wrist straight (palm and fingers facing up) as you finish the swing. Accomplishing this will keep your mallet head straight (parallel to the ground as opposed to the toe of the mallet facing up) through your swing. My mantra is: so goes the mallet head, so goes the ball. Keeping your wrist and mallet head straight is difficult to do because you are working against natural wrist rotation as well as the developed muscle memory from the hundreds, maybe thousands of swings you may have already practiced. Right feels wrong In many cases, the well developed muscle memory of your swing is faulty, even though it may not feel faulty. In fact, it may feel right and when you try something new, it just seems wrong. We have all heard the definition of insanity explained as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. When it comes to hitting straighter, players often do not feel there is a problem with their swing. So, if you want to improve, accept that for a few days, weeks, maybe even months, this improvement may feel absolutely wrong. You may even see a little improvement, but when you jump back into the heat of
US POLO ASSOCIATION
the sweet spot and that is the part of the mallet head you want connecting with the ball. The cane of the mallet is attached to the mallet head at an angle. While mounted but standing still, hold the mallet to the side of the horse so it is flush with the ground. The mallet will be about two feet from your horse’s shoulder before it is flush with the ground. This will give you an idea of how far away from the horse you want the ball to be when you approach it for a hit. Make contact with the ball when it is somewhere between your stirrup and your horse’s shoulder. Develop your eye and adjust your position based on a number of variables, including your horse’s physical make up, your physical make-up, the type and length of mallets you use and your hitting technique and position. A wider horse will put you further from the ball, as will sitting in the saddle versus being in a good hitting position. You can execute a good shot whether you hit a little early or late as long as you adjust your shoulder up over the ball. Finding the right placement of your horse to the ball will set you up for an improved percentage of hitting with the sweet spot of the mallet head. When you hit with the center of your mallet head, your mallet will stay more stable through your swing. If you are off center and hit either at the toe of the mallet head or the heel, the impact force of the hit can spin your mallet head. A firmer grip may allow you to maintain accuracy even with an off-center hit. I have used a mallet with a sawed off toe and head to help players be more aware hitting center, the only problem is the mallet becomes a little light to get a good drive, but it is still a fun drill (hintuse an old mallet). Another drill I learned from Joe Barry is to put three balls in a line. The two outside balls are just wider than your mallet head and the center ball is measured to your sweet spot or center of
A firm grip will keep the mallet from spinning in your hand upon contact with the ball. Hit the ball about two feet from the horse’s shoulder in order to keep the mallet head parallel to the ground.
the game, your brain will revert back to automatic—to what it already knows—not this new swing form you are trying out. You may think your corrected form is a mistake because it doesn’t feel normal. Consider how many swings you have taken before trying this new, improved way. It will take weeks and months of focus to undo your muscle memory. Most players have done an outstanding job developing techniques that are holding them back. Players are often their own greatest opponent. If you struggle to make the necessary adjustments, you are not alone. These hurdles in front of you are not easy to get over. Lucky for you this game is so much fun even when you struggle with the hurdles. I spent my first four years of polo running around an arena never hitting a ball and it was still some of the most fun I have ever had. Tom Goodspeed is a renowned polo instructor, coach and horse trainer. He achieved a 5-goal handicap outdoors and 9 in the arena. He can be reached at polotom@usapolo.com.
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BIG LEAGUES Players enjoy their first taste of an 8 goal and bring home the trophies
Thanks to California Polo Club, I had the opportunity to play in the 6- to 8-goal Rincon League in Santa Barbara last summer, and on the final weekend of the league we won. Not only was this the first time I have played at that level, it was my first tournament in two years. I was incredibly nervous going into it but I had put so much into getting the team together that I pushed my fears aside. Organizing the CPC team took months of preparation and juggling because it was the first time that a CPC team was entering into this level of tournament. The only thing that made it possible was the help I and my team received from Rodney Fragodt, the owner of CPC. Without his support we would have been stuck for transport and without enough horses to play on! The idea of playing 8 goal was just a pipe dream until it transpired that an old friend of mine, 4-goal Eden Ormerod, was
CPC’s Eden Ormerod, Elizabeth Humphreys, Mariano Fassetta, Jemma Contreras and Bayne Bossom won the Rincon League in Santa Barbara. going to be doing a series of clinics on natural horsemanship for polo at CPC. Several months before the Rincon league started, I approached a few members of CPC about sharing a spot with me and
Elizabeth Humphreys and her horse enjoyed opening up on the manicured fields. 14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
entering a half-team with Eden. Jemma Contreras agreed to share my spot, with each playing three chukkers a game. Jemma was as dedicated as Eden and I were, and we often got to CPC after work and schooled our horses for the tournament in the arena under floodlights. Most of our string were horses that were trailered in from CPC for each tournament. It was a huge benefit for me to ride my horses in Los Angeles during the week before heading to Santa Barbara on the weekends. The first thing I noticed was the speed; my reaction times had to be so much faster and I could not hesitate before making a play. I used to rarely let my horses fully open-up but by the end of the tournament it was all we did! They loved it, bounding out over the perfectly manicured fields in beautiful, even strides. I felt like a new driver who had finally gotten to grips with the speed of the highway! This tournament allowed me to do things I had previously only dreamed of
NANO’S POLO MALLETS
Jemma Contreras outruns Santiago Trotz in the final of the Rincon League. doing. We played with and against giants of the sport and players who I have admired for years. My highlight of the tournament was not winning on the last weekend, which of course was wonderful, but a penalty I took in a match we played against Adam Snow. Eden had been coaching CPC members on the mental side of polo and gave me advice on how to take penalties. When I strode up to the ball on my favorite horse, it connected perfectly and sailed straight through the middle of the posts. Adam cantered up to me on the way back to center and said, “Great goal, excellent timing.” I felt like I should have ended my polo career right then because it could only go downhill from there! The pride and sense of accomplishment I felt in that moment is something I will carry with me for a long time. Winning the tournament on the final weekend alongside Bayne Bossom and Mariano Fassetta was the icing on an already rich and wonderful cake. The score was tied at the end of the final chukker and the winner was determined by a penalty shoot out. I had played the first half so Jemma was up and she was one of the players who scored penalties for our team. I’ll never forget the hug she gave me as she came off the field victorious; it was
pure, unbridled elation. The “two English CPC girls,” as we had been referred to all month, had found a way to enter an 8goal tournament and won. A lot of the win that weekend belongs to Bayne, who played extraordinarily well and will be one to watch as he grows as a player. The Rincon League provided an opportunity for us to play 8 goal in a manner that was welcoming and encouraging, and has given both Jemma and I the confidence to play faster polo. I am incredibly grateful to Rodney and CPC for the support we received during the tournament and to everyone at SBPC for bringing us into the fold. I would encourage anyone looking to step up their polo game to explore the options at clubs near you, especially if you are lucky enough to live near a full-service club like CPC! For more information on California Polo Club or to book a lesson please contact the CPC polo office at (626) 201 2419 or bchm2008@gmail.com. Elizabeth Humphreys is author of “Players: A Game of Grit and Glory.” The book follows the fictional character Victoria Blake, a professional polo player, and her team as they compete their way to England’s prestigious Gold Cup. The book u is available on Amazon.
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BACK TO WORK Get your horses and equipment ready to compete in the summer season
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s summer approaches and your club starts sending out its upcoming summer polo schedules, it is a good time to make sure your horses are up-todate on vaccinations and deworming while you get them fit and ready to play. It is also a great time to check your equipment to be sure it is in good shape. The American Association of Equine Practitioners offers core vaccination guidelines for all horses, which currently include Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Rabies, Tetanus and West Nile Virus. According to the AAEP, these “core vaccinations protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, are virulent/highly contagious, pose a risk of severe disease, those having potential public health significance, and/or are required by law. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrable efficacy and safety, with a high enough level of patient benefit and low enough risk to justify their use in all equids.” Horses may require additional vaccinations determined by such variables as environment, geographic location, travel, age and use. Consult with your veterinarian to determine what vaccines your horses require, along with how often the vaccines should be given. Many infectious diseases are transmitted by insects. Develop good management practices to reduce insect populations around your horses. Keep stalls and paddocks clean, picking up manure often. Do not spread manure where horses are turned out; remove it from the property if possible. Eliminate standing water by removing anything that might collect rain water, such as unused buckets, tires, and debris. Dump and 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
clean water buckets and troughs regularly. Keep feed buckets clean, remove any feed a horse might leave behind and pick up any feed that may drop in the stalls or in the feed room. Fly predators, harmless insects that feed on fly larvae, will help reduce fly populations when spread on manure piles and around barn. There are several companies that sell fly predators and mail them to you at regular intervals. Insect repellant spray systems in the barn also help keep the insect numbers down, as do fly traps and bottled fly spray applied to the horses. In addition to reducing the risk of infectious diseases, keeping insects away will keep your horses much more comfortable. Horses that constantly are stomping their feet to get rid of bugs on their legs are more likely to lose shoes and do not get needed rest. Early summer is also a good time to evaluate your horses’ deworming program. Internal parasites can cause colic, lethargy or diarrhea, or less subtle signs like a dull, rough coat. It is a good idea to get a fecal egg count from the manure of each of your horses, if not regularly, then once or twice a year to be sure your deworming program is working. A fecal egg count helps determine the amount and type of parasites present and will help you determine how often you need to deworm your horses. Some horses shed more eggs than others so it may be necessary to deworm those horses more often. It is important to note, if your horse’s fecal egg count is negative, it does not mean the horse does not have parasites. The horse may still have larvae, which do not produce eggs, or parasites that only produce eggs intermittently. Dewormers can be given several times a
year by oral paste; daily using a feed additive; or by your vet through a stomach tube. No deworming program works for everyone so consult your veterinarian to determine an ideal program based on the number of horses and their ages, as well as geographic location. Worms are generally transmitted through manure, so again, it is important to keep stalls and paddocks clean and remove manure from the property or spread it where horses will not come in contact with it. If your horses have been turned out or were away from your farm during the winter, be sure to go over them thoroughly, checking for any bumps or lumps they may not have had before. Like any athlete, it will take some time to get your horses fit and ready for play. Older horses or those with old injuries may take longer to get fit then others. How much time it takes also depends on how much exercise the horse was getting. If it was in stall rest, it will take a lot longer to get fit than a horse that has been turned out in a pasture and was able to continually move around. Start out slowly, generally working the horses for about one week for each month the horses were off work. Begin with walking for about 20 minutes a day for the first week. Add trotting the second week, beginning with about 5 minutes and doubling it every few days. You can add cantering in the third week, gradually increasing the duration and intensity. Be sure not to overdo it, and monitor them to ensure they continue to eat and drink normally and pass manure regularly. Check the horses’ back and girth area for rubs when you start riding them. It is not uncommon for horses to get sores if they have not had a saddle on their
backs for a while. Monitor any old injuries to be sure they do not flare up. If they do, stop the workouts until you can get the horse sound again. It is a good idea to wrap legs with old injuries during workouts for added support. You can also cold hose the legs afterwards and wrap them as a precaution. Once the horses are back in work, get your farrier to put the horses back on a regular schedule of trimming and shoeing. Clean out their feet regularly and check for thrush, hoof cracks and loose nails. It may take extra time, but it will save you the aggravation of having problems later and will keep your horses’ feet in better shape. Evaluate your feed program. When your horses are getting back to work, start out giving just a small amount of grain, increasing it as the work load increases. Always offer plenty of forage in the form of hay or pasture grass. If your horses are eating a lot of grass, know how much nutritional content it has. Too much nutrient-rich grass can cause horses to colic or founder. On the other hand, some grasses do not offer enough nutrition and will need to be supplemented with grain or quality hay. Before your first match, take a good look at your tack. Replace any tack that is dry, cracking or tearing. Pay particular attention to the billet straps on the saddle, your girths, stirrup leathers, reins and bridle pieces. Replace or repair anything that is suspect. Do not take a chance getting a little more life out of old tack. Next, give your truck and trailer the once (or twice) over. Check tires for unusual wear patterns, dry rot or low treads. Make sure all the tires, including the spare, have the recommended air pressure. Keep your truck’s maintenance schedule up-to-date. Examine the trailer for rust, rotten wood or broken latches. Make repairs as necessary. Ensuring your horses’ safety and wellbeing may take time and effort, but it will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy the polo season even more. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
POLO SCENE N E W S
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HONORABLE MENTION
Club players recognized with awards
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HE TRIANGLE AREA POLO CLUB in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, recognized several members with awards for the 2017 season. Club president David Brooks presented the awards, including Club Tournament Champion to Brayden Foster; Dr. Billy Linfoot Most Improved Player to Natalie Hernandez; Silver Series Grand Champion to Tammy Havener; Clint Nangle Equine Welfare Award to Pat Bodager and Horse of the Year to Leslie Brooks’ Blue Boy, who does it all!
David Brooks, Brayden Foster, Natalie Hernandez, Tammy Havener, Pat Bodager and Leslie Brooks
Horse of the Year Blue Boy plays in tournaments and is used for lessons.
ANIMAL MAGIC
Donkeys, sharks and lemurs, oh my!
KELLY WELLS HAS A KNACK for keeping polo fun, so when it
began to get really cold at her Marlan Farm in Freeland, Maryland, where she gives polo lessons and coaches her interscholastic polo teams, she held a onesie polo practice. There were lemurs, a shark, a giraffe, even Rudolph and Eeyore! Wells admits it was a first at Marlan Farm. By all accounts the kids had lots of fun practicing in their animal onesies!
18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
PONY POWER
International women’s tournament part of larger event
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SA SUCCUMBED TO Kenya in the final of the 3rd Manipur Statehood Day Women’s Polo Tournament in Manipur, India, Jan. 21. The international tournament began Jan. 15, with teams from Australia, Delhi and two local teams, in addition to USA and Kenya. The event is held as part of Manipur Tourism’s campaign to save its endangered Manipuri pony and promote polo tourism. All the matches were played at the oldest living polo ground at Mapal Kangjeibungmin in downtown Imphal. USA (Olivia Stringer, Belinda Brody, Marissa Wells, Eva Crossman) got off to a slow start as it adjusted to the tiny native ponies, only 13- to 14-hands tall. It tied the local Manipur
Marjing team 3-3 in its first match but found its chemistry to overcome a tough Australian team, 3-2, in the semi-final. In the final, USA led Kenya until the fourth chukker when some horse trouble saw the team lose its lead. It ultimately lost by a narrow 5-4. “It was great fun to face strong teams from all over the world on the brave, yet tiny, Manipur pony,” wrote Stringer. “We’d like to thank our hosts, the Manipur Polo Association and incredible India, as well as the efforts of the AIPF and Ed Armstrong.” The event was a production of Polo Yatra, the women’s polo initiative of Huntre! Equine, and organized by the All Manipur Polo Association.
Belinda Brody, Marissa Wells, Eva Crossman and Olivia Stringer
FLY BY NIGHT
Player arrives to tournament in style
CENTRAL TEXAS POLO Association donned its
Cody Goetz arrived in Midland by supersonic jet. He later Navy jerseys to play Texas Tech Alumni (Walker was named MVP in the General Puller Military Cup. Rainey, John Hand, Dallas Taylor) for the General Puller Military arena tournament at the Midland Polo Club in Midland, Texas. Air Force Reserves Maj. (and polo player) Cody Goetz started the weekend off right by flying into Midland Airpark with a Northrop T-38 Talon—a two-seater, twin jet supersonic jet trainer. The T38 has been in service for over 50 years with the USAF and is a lead aircraft for teaching fighter pilots. Goetz’s polo teammates were Karl Hilberg, a retired Navy commander, and Taylor Morris, whose family members have served in the Army and Marines. For Texas Tech Alumni, Walker In a match that represented good sportsmanship and Rainey has family members who served in the Army Corp of tough play overall, CTPA was able to maintain a lead and win Engineers during the Korean War, National Guard and Army the cup. Cody Goetz was named MVP and Princess, played by reserves and Dallas Taylor’s father served in the Army for 21 Cody and owned by Steve Gilchrist, won Best Playing Pony. years and his grandfather was in the Navy during WWII. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19
JAMAICAN RUMBLE
A TEAM FROM OAK BROOK Polo Club in
DANIEL O’LEARY
Chicago team plays Caribbean Cup match Oak Brook, Illinois, traveled to Kingston, Jamaica on Feb. 22 to compete in the Caribbean Cup. The team included 4-goal Horacio Onetto, 2-goal Tod Rackley, 1.5-goal Chris Vangel and .5-goal John Greene. The team was met at the airport by a member of the Jamaica Tourist Board and hosts Marc and Zander Melville. After checking into the hotel, the team enjoyed some pool time (and aged Jamaican Rum) before heading to the home of Mark Wates. There, they were greeted by other members of the Jamaican polo community who shared past stories of the longtime Oak Brook and Jamaican friendship. The visiting team was ready for its first match the next day, however rain cancelled its plans. Instead, the team toured the club grounds and enjoyed a barbecue dinner in the club’s 7th Chukker bar. On Saturday, the well-rested team lounged by the pool in the morning before having a photo shoot and heading to the Kingston Polo Club to play in the Sparkles Production Polo & Party. The Chicago team took on Jamaica’s 3-goalers Paul Lalor and Mark Wates, 2-goal Marc Melville and 0-goal Charlie Chambers. Jamaica started off strong with a pair of unanswered goals by Wates. After the Chicago team members got accustomed
John Greene, Tod Rackley, Horacio Onetto, Chris Vangel, Marc Melville, Mark Wates, Paul Lalor and Charles Chambers
to their borrowed horses, Vangel and Onetto tied the score. Onetto broke the tie in the third, but Wates tied it back up in the fourth. The teams battled for the trophies, but neither team could find the goal and the game ended in a tie. The day ended with a pig roast and dance party, where the Chicagoans showed off their dance moves. The last day was spent at St. Anne’s Bay as the players jumped on the Chukka Cat for a day-long excursion touring the coastline, snorkeling, trekking up the Dunn’s River Falls, zip lining and partying on the island’s popular party boat. The day ended with an Italian dinner at Evita’s Restaurant, overlooking the bay.
SKY TV
California games now being broadcast live
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IVESTREAMING POLO matches is nothing new, but it has predominately been limited to high-goal action. California Polo Club member Lovive Laverdure is doing what he can to change that. Laverdure has been filming and broadcasting California polo for a couple of years now, mostly in Santa Barbara in the summer, Indio in the winter and California Polo Club throughout the year. Laverdure admits he has a small operation. Filming is done with a single camera attached to a drone and Laverdure offers his own commentary while he pilots the drone from in front of his computer fieldside. Julie Galetar operates the switcher and a cameraman controls the video. Drone pilot Lovive Laverdure, switcher Julie Galetar and cameraman Scott Clements A few players have made contributions, making the livestreaming possible, including Pacific Coast circuit governor and patron of the Farmers and Merchants Bank team, Daniel Walker; Lockton patron Tim Kelly; and California Polo Club owner Rodney Fragodt. The games are broadcast on www.polowest.tv. A selection of matches are also archived on the site. A polowest.tv Facebook group offers its members updates of newly posted matches and upcoming live games. Check it out! 20 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
IN THE PINK
Kruegers welcome sweet baby girl
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C AND STEVE Krueger welcomed daughter Shirley Jean Krueger on Friday, February 16. Shirley is the couple’s second child, joining big brother Carlton “Carty” Belew Krueger who turns 3 next month. KC said, “We are so excited to have her in our lives!” Congratulations to the whole family! We look forward to meeting her soon!
INJURED LIST
Player sustains broken hand in fall
IT IS NEVER EASY taking a spill but its especially bad when it puts an end to
your season. Eight-goal Julio Arellano, one of the highest-rated American players, suffered a nasty fall in the 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup on February 10 at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Less than two minutes into the third chukker, Arellano got his mallet caught in an opponent’s tack, yanking him off his horse. He fell to the ground head first and was knocked unconscious. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Initially, there was concern that he had injured his neck, however after several tests, he was cleared with just a broken right hand. Fortunately, he is Tony Coppola expected to fully recover. His brother, 5-goal Carlucho Arellano, fell the next day, injuring his shoulder. He was out for a game or two but was back in action in no time. USPA President Tony Coppola suffered a minor heart attack in early March. Soon after, doctors placed a stent in a blocked artery. He was hospitalized for two days. Other than being tired, he said he felt pretty good. “It was a wake up call. They told me all the things they’ve said before: you have to change your diet and exercise more. Now, I’ve really got to do it,” Coppola said. Within a few days he was back to running The Tackeria, announcing games and doing USPA u business. We are glad to see him up and about!
PARKER’S POLO MINUTE BY PARKER SCOTT
Joel Baker told me great players anticipate plays as opposed to reacting to them. Anticipation is the essence of success in polo. Get in the line of play and anticipate the next line of play. SanDiegoPolo@hotmail.com
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21
A steady journey Jared Zenni elevates his game The United States Polo Association established Team USPA in 2009 to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities. By Hayley Heatley
On a clear Monday developing a career in polo. afternoon, Jared Zenni He credits his mentors, mounts up for practice with Rafael and Agustin Obregon, Daily Racing Form before his with helping him navigate the first 26-goal match of the year waters of being a professional against the powerhouse player from the beginning. Valiente. Years of hard work Jared believes this past and dedication have led to year has been the most this moment. Zenni is in transformative for him as an pursuit of the most coveted athlete. He has dedicated prize in American polo, the himself to raising every level U.S. Open trophy, lying at the of his game, from the horses end of the 26-goal Triple he plays to his physical ability Crown. and finally to his mental Jared’s story began in mindset. Chicago when he stepped into Speaking with Jared gives the saddle for the first time as a glimpse of why he is finding a 4-year-old. Shortly success on the field. He thereafter, he had a mallet in focuses on the big picture and his hand, looking to follow in sees the many pieces that his father’s footsteps playing must align for growth in the polo. Jared was a natural sport. athlete, playing every sport in First and foremost is his the book growing up, awareness of how important Three years ago, Jared began to realize his dream of becoming a professional player. This past year has been the most transformative. including football, baseball, horses are to the game of tennis and basketball. Like so polo. He argues that 80-85 college at the University of Miami, percent of the game comes down to many other kids, he dreamed of majoring in marketing and finance. His horses. With that in mind, gathering the becoming a professional athlete. best horse power as possible and trying choice in university was strategic—it was While he enjoyed many of the other to understand each and every horse he important for him to have the ability to traditional American sports, Jared owns is vital. structure his class schedule around always loved horses. At the end of middle “What separates good players from playing polo in Wellington. Jared enjoyed school, Jared came to Wellington, other players is their ability to play each being able to grow intellectually while Florida to play the winter season, horse to its individual strengths,” he staying involved with the sport he loved. determined to improve in the sport. said. “If you have a horse that runs, pick Three years ago, Jared began to While continuing school work, Jared your plays to make that an advantage. realize his dream of being a professional began to hone his craft. By the end of Try to avoid the plays that you know do athlete might be within reach. After high school, Jared was already showing not play to that horse’s strength.” Jared being accepted as a member of Team signs of natural talent, making several acknowledges it is tough, but he always is USPA in 2015, and with the support of appearances in the 20 goal. working to understand what works for his parents, Jared turned his focus to After finishing high school, he began 22 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
each horse in his string so he can prepare and play it to the best of its ability. Jared has been gradually adding horses to his string over the past few years, saving some to play in this year’s 26 goal. Going hand in hand with Jared’s attention to detail with the horses is his dedication to training his mind and body to be in a peak state. He works hard to be in touch with his body and knows which workouts to do depending on how his body feels. One day it might be a yoga session to help his muscles recover while another it might be more explosive workouts that help with his agility and quickness. Coupled with that is his conscientious attention to his diet, although he admits he’ll have his cheat days. What stands out about Jared is his mindset and awareness of the mental side of sports. Like so many other top athletes, it is easy to detect that Jared is already at an elite level of mental awareness. To start, he translates his experience in other sports to polo. “Looking at other sports, you can begin to see the different flows of the game, how teammates interact and work together towards a common goal,” he said. He sees how important it is to bring out the strengths of his fellow teammates and the power of positive leadership. Jared also looks to other athletes, from Roger Federer to Kobe Bryant to name a few. Kobe is famous for the “Mamba Mentality,” a fierceness on the basketball court to outwork and never back down from any opponent. Jared tries to embody that on the field, paying homage to one of the all-time greats in sports. What Jared takes from Federer is his unbending calmness through pressure, an ability that often separates athletes at the top levels. Jared acknowledges it is a work in progress but something he is constantly mindful of. Another aspect of the mental side of sports that comes into play for Jared is visualization. He visualizes himself making his shots, making good plays in hopes they will become second nature for him when it matters most during tense games. Positive visualization helps grow
Jared has learned to play each horse to its individual strengths.
his confidence and allows him to be successful on the field. After a short amount of time with Jared, you can sense a professionalism that is not approached by many in the sport. With high hopes of playing the classification for the Argentine Open and eventually the Argentine Open, Jared is well within the possibilities of making these goals come true. After playing the Argentine season last fall with the support of Team USPA, Jared is excited to return and build on the experience. “There is a tremendous opportunity as there is a changing of the guard with the older generation of players and the new generation. I want to be a part of the new generation of great players,” he said. After losing the final of the Joe Barry, Jared looks back on the experience positively. “Having played a final with my dad was amazing despite the narrow defeat,” he said. Studying the film, he learned what he could from the loss, but was careful not to dwell on the past. Jared played his first 26-goal match against two of the all-time greats in polo, Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres. Jared’s Daily Racing Form team fell to Cambiaso and Pieres, but he is humbled to play and learn from the best. At the end of the day he is always looking to get better. The next phase of his journey is just getting started.
On a cool, rainy afternoon in England, Texas Polo’s Vinnie Meyer and 10-goaler Facundo Pieres celebrate Facundo’s third British Gold Cup victory, all while riding in Texas Polo Luxe Edition saddles
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POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23
Sport abroad USA wins International Intercollegiate Challenge Cup BY AMY FRASER
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he 2018 U.S. International Intercollegiate Challenge Cup team comprised of Devan Groves (Oklahoma State University, Senior), Ben Lynch (University of Kentucky, Junior), Aaron Schneider (Skidmore College, Junior) and J.T. Shiverick (Southern Methodist University, Senior) brought home the winning honors in an edge-of-your-seat final. The team traveled to Dunchurch, England at the Rugby Polo Club, to participate in the 6th annual International Intercollegiate Challenge Cup in early February. Despite being sleep deprived after a long red-eye flight to the UK, upon arrival the team went straight to the arena for a practice game. This gave the U.S. team a chance to learn and play with the slightly different English arena 24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Teams, including the winning USA squad of Devan Groves, Aaron Schneider, Ben Lynch and JT Schiverick (with USPA II director Amy Fraser, center), organizers and umpires celebrate a successful tournament in Britain.
rules. The major difference the team needed to learn to overcome was the immediate play after a goal is scored, rather than a throw-in at center. JT Shiverick explained, “The difference in the rules was more drastic than I expected. Not having a throw in after each goal completely changed the pace of play, but we were able to get used to it and the umpires were great about helping us correct our mistakes.” During the practice, the umpires worked with the players on any differences in play and penalty shot procedures. On game day, we saw a rested and ready American squad take the field. The British Schools and Universities Polo
Association team line-up was James “Sticky” Glew (Nottingham University), Charlie Hitchman (University of Oxford) and Atlanta “Lolly” Stanhope-White (University of Bristol). The game opened with quick sticks by the British squad securing a 5-0 lead at the end of the first chukker. A cool, calm and collected U.S. team entered the second chukker unfazed and slowly began chipping away at its first chukker deficit. Two penalty shot conversions at the start of the chukker put the first two U.S. goals on the board. The U.S. kept fighting to trail by two goals, 75, at the half. The third chukker saw similar action as the U.S. worked furiously to play catch up,
EMMPIX
Ben Lynch hops on a loose ball, followed by teammate Devan Groves.
focusing primarily on defense. The teams traded goals and the chukker finished 9-7 in favor of Britain, leading into the final period. Determined and fired up, the American squad was quick on its feet right out of the first bowl-in. Goals ticked by and with only 1:32 left in regulation time the U.S. team tied the game at 10-all. A mere 10 seconds later, it took the lead for the first time in the match, 11-10. A battle until the final moments, the British squad scored once more tying the game once again, but with less than 30 seconds the final goal was scored for the U.S. team to secure the victory! Devan Groves said, “Being a part of the USPA intercollegiate team was an opportunity I will never forget. The games we got to play against Britain were clean, competitive and exciting. All of the SUPA organizers and British team members were beyond welcoming and I could not have asked for a better trip!” While of course being victorious was a highlight, the takeaway was the impression that our I/I team left in England. Other players, parents, coaches and organizers couldn’t say enough about how well both teams played. The game was open and clean, and was a joy to watch, regardless of the outcome. Our team represented the I/I program
beautifully, in class, horsemanship and their playing ability on the field. Ben Lynch said, “The trip was an incredible opportunity to represent the U.S. on an international level. The horses I rode were some of the best I’ve played in arena polo, which certainly benefits the quality of the game. The atmosphere was amazing to play in with so many enthusiastic spectators that elevated the excitement surrounding the game” SUPA manager Nigel Mercer mentioned how important the friendly rivalry between the two countries is to his
program, where his beginner players can watch and learn and aspire to one day be on the international team. SUPA Chairman Charles Betz noted the depth of our program, each year bringing in new players to the tournament. To see representatives from Oklahoma State, the University of Kentucky, Southern Methodist University and Skidmore College proved our range of skill across the country. While abroad, the team took advantage of visiting Warwick Castle, St. Mary’s Church in Warwick, and touring London before departure. While in London, the team met up with Harvard I/I Alums Danielle Lussi and Albany Mulholland. Mulholland, who is an officer in the Queen’s Life Guard, gave the team a special tour of the Household Calvary, where the team got to meet some of the Queen’s horses! “I’m grateful for the trip itself but just as lucky to have gotten to play with such great players and kind people. Regardless of winning, I’ll always remember it as an experience of a lifetime,” said Aaron Schneider. The event was hosted by SUPA at the Rugby Polo Club at Onley Equestrian Center in Dunchurch, England. A special thank you to organizers Mercer and Betz for their generosity. The U.S. team enjoyed some sightseeing in Britain, including visiting Warwick Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1608.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25
Big night Hundreds celebrate newest Hall of Fame inductees Photos by Krystal Zaskey & Alex Pacheco
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eammates, opponents and fans came together for a special evening to honor those in the sport that have graced the polo community with their outstanding talents or contributions.
Players traded their white pants for black ties and ball gowns to honor this year’s Hall of Fame inductees including Roy L. Barry, Jimmy Newman, Ruben Gracida and Sunny Hale, along with Horses to Remember Ruifino and Lovely Sage. Photographer Alex Pacheco snapped photos of arriving guests before they were greeted at the door with flutes of crisp, bubbly Korbel California champagne. Inside, guests mingled with friends and
The museum was beautifully decorated for a special night honoring incredible individuals.
Hope Arellano, Margaret and Steve Orthwein Jr., Will and Kristin Johnston and Allie and Gus Whitelaw
26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
explored the Museum’s many new exhibits, while nibbling on an array of delectable passed hors d’oeuvres. A mariachi band strolled through the museum entertaining the crowd with traditional Mexican music, and Krystal Zaskey captured memorable candid moments of guests enjoying the many displays. The enjoyable conversations made the time pass quickly, and before you knew it, guests were ushered into the grand
Ronnie Tongg flew in from Hawaii to accept the Horses to Remember award for Lovely Sage.
Dawn Jones, Melissa Ganzi and Joanne and Dale Smicklas, with Sunny Hale’s award.
Melissa Ganzi presents Ruben Gracida with his Hall of Fame bronze. With them are Ruben’s children Sophie and Weston.
Melissa Ganzi presents Roy Lawson Barry’s Philip Iglehart Award to his son, Roy Matthews Barry.
Jimmy Newman received the Philip Iglehart Award for lifetime contributions to the sport.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27
outdoor pavilion, beautifully decorated with tables adorned in fine black linen and centerpieces of white roses. Those in attendance enjoyed a delicious gourmet dinner while listening to live music before emcee and museum chairman Marty Cregg began the awards’ presentations. Museum president Melissa Ganzi was on hand to present the awards. The first award, Horses to Remember, honored the gray mare Ruifino, who played in the 1930s for Tommy Hitchcock. At the time, she was owned by J.H. “Jock” Whitney. Whitney’s family was unable to attend the ceremony, however Jock’s grandson Peter Bonaventura sent a letter, read by Cregg, describing how important the mare was and how proud the family was that she was being honored. The second Horses to Remember award went to Lovely Sage, who in her day, was owned by Ruddy Tongg. Ruddy’s son, Ronnie Tongg, flew in from Hawaii to receive the award. Lovely Sage won the Willis L. Hartman Award for Best Playing Pony of the U.S. Open the first year it was given, 1965. At that time, the award recognized the best horse of the tournament, not just the final match as it is today. The Iglehart Award for lifetime contributions to the sport was presented posthumously to Roy Lawson Barry. His son Roy Matthews Barry was on hand to accept the award, sharing many personal stories of his dad and the love of polo and horses his entire family shared. The other Iglehart Award for lifetime contributions to the sport went to another Texan, Jimmy Newman, with over half a century of polo experience to his name. Newman trained and sold polo ponies and as a player, earned a 3-goal handicap (4 indoor) before managing some of the highest profile clubs and tournaments in the country. He also served on several USPA committees, was a USPA governor and serves on the Team USPA board. Newman was grateful for the recognition and was pleased to be inducted on the same night as others he admired so much. The posthumous Hall of Fame award honored Sunset “Sunny” Hale, who earned a 5-goal handicap and was the 28 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Amanda Cregg with son, Jeff Cregg and his wife Caitlin Cregg
Mary Boykin, Horace Laffaye and Gisele Pansze
Melissa Ganzi, Arshia Rios and Patty Akkad
Linda Clarke and Brendan Walter
This year’s awards were on display during the reception.
Mike and Geannie Sheller and Gloria and Glen Holden
Paul von Gontard and daughter Oatsey von Gontard
Guests enjoyed a delicious gourmet dinner prior to the awards ceremony.
Alyson Shultz, Tori Zelch, Justin Daniels, Anja Eckbo, Landen Daniels and Clark Meyer
Eight-goalers Nic Roldan and Alejandro Novillo Astrada dressed to the nines.
first woman to win the U.S. Open. Aside from her incredible talents on the field, she contributed so much to the overall sport by teaching others, establishing the Women’s Championship Tournament and the American Polo Horse Association, authoring books and volunteering her time on USPA committees. She died February 26, 2017 at the age of 48 after battling cancer. Friends Dale, Joanne and Tiana Smicklas accepted the award on her behalf. In an emotional tribute, Dale explained how difficult it was to lose someone who meant so much to so many. The final award was presented to Ruben Gracida, who humorously fumbled through his “prepared” speech. He pointed out a few people in the crowd, including Glen Holden and Jack Oxley, as well as others, for the opportunities they had given him. He quipped that he was also thankful to come to the U.S. before the wall was built. Finally, he thanked his family, including children Sophie and Weston, who joined him for the presentation. As the awards presentations wrapped up, the celebrations continued on the dance floor. Each guest went home with “PoloArt” a book by Melinda Brewer featuring a collection of photos and artwork celebrating the sport’s top equine athletes during the past season. It was published by the museum and sponsored by Central New York Community Foundation, Maureen Brennan and the Brennan Family Foundation, Gillian Johnston and the Tucker Foundation. Brewer also provides portraits of the Horses to Remember to the museum. The Hall of Fame dinner serves as the largest fundraiser for the Museum each year. It is made possible by the many supporters including dinner sponsors Marc and Melissa Ganzi and Grand Champions Polo Club; and entertainment sponsors Wayne and Pamela Garrison. The museum is also grateful to the many volunteers who help make the event so successful each year. In case you missed it, video of this year’s annual gala, and those dating back to 2004, can be viewed on the museum’s website, polomuseum.com. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29
Doing their part
Players donate time and effort for useful program
E
ach year, some of the best polo players in the world set aside their differences and join forces in an effort to help raise funds for the Polo Players Support Group
30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Eight of the world’s most accomplished players came together for the Lucchese 40-Goal Polo Challenge at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, Feb. 17. Prior to the main game, several of the players’ children competed in a Future 10s kids’ game (see page 34). Spectators got a peek of some of the best young talent in the world, demonstrating their outstanding riding abilities and impressive hits. Airstream (Adolfo Cambiaso, Nico Pieres, Sapo Caset, Sebastian Merlos) defeated Pilot Catastrophe Services (Miguel Novillo Astrada, Hilario Ulloa, Gonzalo Pieres, Mariano Aguerre) 14-7. The exhibition game is the preeminent fundraising event to benefit the Polo Players Support Group, a non-profit organization to financially help injured and ill members of the polo community. This year’s event raised over $320,000. The event is truly a community effort. Clubs block the day off the playing schedule so players are available; team owners allow the players to participate; and players donate their time, as do umpires. This year 6-goal Sugar Erskine and 4-goal Eddy Martinez donned the striped shirts, provided by official apparel supplier U.S. Polo Assn, which also supplied the team jerseys. Both umpires are well aware of the program’s value. Erskine received assistance from Polo Players Support Group after injuring his neck in a fall last year and Martinez received assistance in 2015 and 2016. “It was an absolute relief to know that
Sebastian Merlos
Del Walton, along with his wife, Tessa, and their three sons, threw in the first ball to start the 40-goal match.
Rich Roenisch sculpted a likeness of Rob Walton for the trophies.
in those first few moments, days and weeks after my accident that the polo community is so well structured and able to put your mind at ease when the uncertainty of the situation is a little overwhelming,” Erskine told the Polo Players Support Group. “I have nothing but the utmost praise for everything everyone does for the organization and hope that I can continue to give back what was so freely given to me.” The game got off to a fast start with newcomer Nico Pieres scoring within the first minute of the game. A unique feature of the Lucchese 40-Goal Polo Challenge is the use of a two-point line 70 yards from goal. Sebastian Merlos was the first to score a two-pointer for Airstream, increasing the lead to 3-0. A pony goal put Pilot on the board and Ulloa cut the lead to just one at the end of the first. Ulloa
Sapo Caset
Nico Pieres
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31
Guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner after the match, along with live and silent auctions.
was the only player to reach the goal in the second, tying the score at 3-all. Caset traded goals with Ulloa in the third, then executed a pass to Adolfo Cambiaso, who found the mark, helping Airstream maintain a narrow 5-4 advantage heading into the half. A pair of two-point goals by Cambiaso pushed Airstream farther ahead by the start of the fifth, but Ulloa responded with back-to-back goals for Pilot. Caset and Cambiaso kept up the pressure, each tallying to increase Airstream’s lead to 116. Cambiaso opened the sixth with another goal. Ulloa shot back with his sixth goal but with time running down, the writing was on the wall. Nico Pieres put the final nail in the
Adolfo Cambiaso
32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
The Voice of Polo Tony Coppola
Miguel Astrada
coffin with a spectacular two-pointer that earned him the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Long Shot of the Day award. “It was good fun and always a pleasure to play polo with these amazing players,” Pieres said. “It’s good to be part of it.” Ulloa’s Future Lituania received the Engel & Volkers Best Playing Pony blanket. This year, organizers commissioned renowned polo sculptor Rich Roenisch to create a bronze likeness of Walton. The bronze was presented to Walton and copies were given to the players. Walton’s son, Del, was on hand to accept the bronze on his father’s behalf. Del, accompanied by his wife, Tessa, and their three sons, threw in the first ball to start the main game. Having been involved in the 40-goal every year since 2012, Caset is committed to the greater purpose of this event. “[Polo Players Support Group president and co-founder] Dave offen is the one behind all of this and I think it’s a great idea to get all the 10-goalers together to play a good exhibition match and help,” Caset explained. “This is all for charity and it’s great that we do this to help players, grooms and other people around polo if they have an injury. I feel good to be a part of it and we should continue being involved in this way.” Following the game, spectators walked across the field to the club’s pavilion where guests bid on a variety of silent auction items before taking their seats for dinner and the live auction. Live auction highlights included a Folded Hills Winery and polo getaway donated by Andy and Kim Busch, which
Hilario Ulloa
was purchased by Mandy Quattlebaum for $16,000; and a Costa Rican Vacation donated by Santa Clara Polo, which was purchased by Mike and Geannie Sheller for $13,000. Other items included a custom pair of Lucchese boots and an original piece of artwork painted during the event by Alejandro Moy. Adolfo Cambiaso’s jersey and a week of polo at La Dolfina was purchased by Keith Whitman for $8,500; Catering packages by Bolay for 100 people with entertainment by Tom Blake were purchased by Melissa Ganzi and Peter and Steve Orthwein for $7,000 each; Adolphus Busch’s Belleau Farm duck hunt also had two buyers, each paying $7,000: Mandy Quattlebaum and Ryan Gilbertson. Highlights of the silent auction included men’s and women’s Lucchese boots, and wine from the famous collection of Dave Page. “Thanks to the generosity of the 10goal players, their patrons, our sponsors, auction buyers and donors, attendees and volunteers, this year’s event again was a huge success and we will be able to continue helping those members of our polo family who are in need of assistance,” said Offen. The impetus for a support system for players was when 8-goal polo player Rob Walton suffered a broken neck while competing in Malaysia in 1995. With no support for players in his situation, benefits were held including the Rob Walton Arena Benefits at Palm Beach Polo and the Rob Walton 40-goal that originally took place in 2000 at
Gonzalo Pieres
Lucchese boots were on display at the game.
Catherine Zachariadis and Callie Clement
Mariano Aguerre
Royal Palm Polo. These events were the inspirations for the formation of the Polo Players Support Group, co-founded in 2002 by Toronto native Offen with partners Tim Gannon and Tony Coppola. “The 40-goal tournament means a lot to me,” Walton, who has been confined to a wheelchair since his injury, told us in 2016. “It makes the difference in being able to take care of myself or not. Without the PPSG’s help, I’d be in a lot of trouble. A guy never knows when he may get hurt.” To date, Polo Players Support Group had provided more than $2.2 million to 71 recipients. As a non-profit, the Polo Players Support Group must follow strict IRS requirements. Qualified needs are defined as a serious illness or injury, which keeps someone out of work for four months or longer. Basic broken bones don’t qualify for assistance, and assistance is not a replacement for health insurance, but rather supplemental financial support to help with ongoing living and horse expenses. The grants can not be used for medical bills. Because of the dangers of playing polo and working with horses, the need is ongoing. If you were unable to attend the 40-goal event, but would like to contribute, Polo Players Support Group accepts donations at any time. Simply go to polosupport.com and click the donate tab at the top of the page. — Jewel Connelly contributed to this report. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33
Bright Futures Photos by Shelley Heatley
Hope Arellano puts the pressure on Juanse Olivera.
To wet the appetites of those in the stands, prior to the main match, the sport’s brightest young talent took to the field for a Future 10s two-chukker minimatch. Grand Champions defeated U.S. Polo Assn., 4-2, in a spirited match. Despite the players’ young ages, there were plenty of big hits, long runs, bumping and hard riding. The game was delayed at one point when Keko Magrini and his horse took a spill. The horse was uninjured and after some time to catch his breath, Magrini remounted and continued playing. Looking at the names on the backs of the shirts, you might think you were watching a 26-goal match. Their highgoal fathers were watching from the sidelines, offering advice, adjusting their tack and holding their mallets. The future certainly looks bright!
34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Poroto Cambiaso slaps a hook on Keko Magrini.
U.S. Polo Assn. Hope Arellano Poroto Cambiaso Mia Astrada Francisco Spinacci
.5 1 NR NR
Grand Champions Santos Merlos Landen Daniels Juanse Olivera Keko Magrini
1 .5 1 1
Juanse Olivera
Pablo Spinacci helps his son, Fran.
Poroto Cambiaso makes a flying change.
Mia Astrada
Adolfo Cambiaso gives his son pointers.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35
Power play
USA falls in international arena test match By United States Polo Association • Photos Š Tony Ramirez/www.imagesofpolo.com
B
rits dominate last chukker, 4-1, to defeat USA 14-10 in the Bryan Morrison Trophy in England
England is generally known for its rainy weather, but when a USA team landed in England in early March it was frigid temperatures and snow that it encountered. The 10th annual Bryan Morrison Trophy international test match took place Saturday, March 3. Hosted by the
Tommy Collingwood keeps his eye on the ball despite pressure from Chris Hyde.
36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Hurlingham Polo Association, the tournament is held at the All England Polo Club in Hickstead, England, but unusually cold air and frozen ground forced a last-minute relocation to the Westcroft Park Polo Club & Academy in Chobham, Surrey. The new venue was closer to where the ponies and players
were staying, avoiding unnecessary travel. The trophy is named for the late Bryan Morrison, a music mogul who managed Pink Floyd and published music by the Bee Gees, Wham and George Michael, among others. He was briefly president of the Ham Polo Club in London, where he learned to play polo, before starting his own club, The
Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. He died in 2008, at the age of 66, two years after a polo accident left him in a coma. This year, England faced USA for the fifth time since the trophy’s inception in 2008. England claimed victory in 2009, 2012 and 2016. USA, led by 10-goal Tommy Biddle, handed England its first and only defeat in 2014. Biddle was joined that year by Will Tankard and Patrick Uretz. England has successfully taken on other teams for the trophy as well, including Ireland, Commonwealth and British Isles. Biddle, who is recovering from surgery on his bicep, was on the sidelines this year coaching the USA team. Tom Morley served as coach for the Brits. Flannels England was triumphant again this year after an intense four-chukker battle. Both teams fought fiercely from the start with England’s 9-goaler Chris Hyde putting his team on the scoreboard first. Hyde’s goal was countered by USA’s 8-goal
Richard Blake Thomas, Greta Morrison, MVP Shane Rice and Jamie Morrison
Pelon Escapite. The remainder of the chukker played out evenly with 6-goal Tommy Collingwood and 7-goal Shane Rice contributing to the scoreboard. Moving into the second, the score was tied 4-all. “The game was close when I missed a two-pointer by a couple of inches, and then
they converted a two-pointer to tie at halftime,” said Escapite. “I feel like that was our chance at a strong lead.” After halftime, play resumed tied once again, 8-8. A field goal by England’s 7-goal Sebastian Dawnay, followed by a penalty conversion from Hyde broke the tie
Eden Ormerod, Sebastian Dawnay, Chris Hyde, Greta and Jamie Morrison, Tommy Collingwood, Pelon Escapite and Shane Rice
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37
Sebastian Dawnay keeps pace with Pelon Escapite.
momentarily. However, USA answered with a goal by Rice. With the score 10-9 in England’s favor, it was anyone’s game entering the final period. Hyde scored the first goal of the chukker, quickly followed by an angled
The ball takes a hop over Shane Rice’s mallet with Sebastian Dawnay breathing down his neck.
38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
cut shot from Rice. Only a few minutes left in regulation time, Hyde converted again to increase the lead. Rice displayed amazing skill by saving three 25-yard defended penalties, but it was not enough to overcome England in the end. Two
more goals from 6-goal Eden Ormerod sealed the win for England 14-10. “We were down by two in the last chukker and decided to go all in offensively, but England ultimately finished with two more goals,” said Escapite. “It is always an honor to represent the USA and I am hoping for a strong rematch on my own horses.” Shane Rice was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player for his amazing defensive work in the fourth chukker. Prada, owned by Richard BlakeThomas and played by Chris Hyde in the fourth, was presented with the Polo Times Best Playing Pony blanket. “We played a couple of practices in the snow and then on the day of the game, it was a great day and it turned out to be a great event. It was an awesome arena and the English were wonderful hosts. I hope that we can have a rematch on our soil,” said Collingwood. The USA team was sponsored by Playnation.
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SOUTHAMPTON HUNT & POLO CLUB style POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39
P
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BY ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ
FUTURE BET Tortugas reaches fourth consecutive triumph in Argentine Youth Open PHOTOS BY SERGIO LLAMERA
I
n Argentine polo there is a polo dynasty, a team that was born almost by chance and has dominated the scene for the last four years in an overwhelming way. No, it is not La Dolfina, the super team led by Adolfo Cambiaso, who has known some stumbling on the road. This dynasty is Tortugas, four-time champion of the Argentine Youth Open, the country’s highest-rated tournament for children under 21. The tournament has been held since 1983 as a continuation of the traditional Santa Paula Cup, reserved for secondary school students. Many of the students who compete in that event have gone on to reach the 10-goal handicap as adults. Argentine Polo Association records show that in the last decade more than 80 percent of the champions in the Argentine Open–the most coveted trophy in the world–have previously lifted the trophy for young people. The list of champions includes names like Pieres, Cambiaso, Heguy, Merlos and Novillo Astrada, along with Bautista Heguy (as a member of Chapaleufú in the origins of the competition) and Facundo Pieres (as leader of Ellerstina at the beginning of the 21st century), with six victories each. Led by Juan Martín Zubía, Tortugas is on the way to equaling, maybe even surpassing, the historic six victories achieved by Bautista Heguy and Facundo Pieres in this competitive tournament. Zubía has the most international experience on the team. “The team was made almost by chance,” he explained. “I played tournaments with Jerónimo del Carril in Pilarchico and we contacted Isidro Strada and Segundo Bocchino, 40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Juan Martín Zubía has helped Tortugas to Youth Open victories for the past four years.
who played a lot with each other. They proposed playing the 2014 tournament and we were encouraged. We didn’t do too bad at all.” The first year began with a moment of anxiety. Despite being the lowest-rated quartet of the contest (15 goals), Tortugas reached the final against Martindale (Eulogio Olariaga, Felipe Martínez Ferrario, Juan Britos and Tomás Fernández Llorente) after winning its two previous commitments. But, in the final, on the afternoon of October 15, 2014 in Palermo, in the second to last chukker, they were down, 7-5. “I do not remember what happened, but we gave ourselves courage in the last rest and went back to the field with everything. Something worked because we [outscored them] 5-1 to win the first tournament,” recalled Zubía. In that comeback, Del Carril was vital and received the Machi Trotz prize as the Most Valuable Player of the match.
A year later, the team’s handicap had gone up to 20 goals (each player rated 5 goals), and was the favorite among the five participants. Getting the win was not without suspense when the final, held on September 26, 2015, required an extra chukker to determine a champion. La Mancha Ghantoot (Simón Zavaleta, Lucas Díaz Alberdi, Tomás Fernández Llorente and Bautista Bayugar) offered a strong resistance and was in charge of the score for most of the match, but Tortugas managed to equalize the scoreboard, 1111, when the last bell rang. In the extra time, Del Carril scored the golden goal to achieve the back-to-back victories. Zubía, who was recognized as MVP of the match, recalled the tension of the definition. “That year was sweet because I had just won the Copa República with La Mancha. That victory was very important to me because my great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father had won it and it was my turn. In the extra time of the youth final, I remember that Jero was fouled and on the same play scored the goal. They were eternal seconds until the judges marked the goal. Until then, we did not know whether to get ready to take the foul or run out to celebrate.” The third stop was in 2016. Although Bocchino had been raised to 6, pushing Tortugas to 21 goals, the team was not the favorite since La Mancha (Juan Zubiaurre, Lucas Díaz Alberdi, Tomás Fernández Llorente and Bautista Bayugar) was rated 22 goals. “Again we were paddling from behind. In the first four chukkers they dominated us easily. But in the last two, we changed our heads, adjusted the defense and we went to the front.” Down 9-4 with two
periods to play, Del Carril guided the team to within one, 9-8. La Mancha missed a goal and a Bayugar penalty was stopped short, and in two runs, the match changed hands. Del Carril (scorer with six) tied the game and in the next attack, Zubía gave the Tortugas team its third victory, 10-9, that October 11, 2016 in Palermo. The 2017 season saw the departure of Strada due to him reaching the age limit, but his replacement brought a guarantee of quality: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr., with 6 goals, the same as the remaining teammates. For the third consecutive year, after beating La Natividad (Camilo Castagnola, Genaro Ringa, Segundo Fernández Llorente and Gino Ringa), 15-9, in the semifinals, the last hurdle for the title was La Mancha (Martín Podesta, Lucas Díaz
Tortugas’ Jerónimo del Carril, Camilo Castagnola, Juan Martín Zubía and Segundo Bocchino won the Argentine Youth Open over La Mancha. Zubía was named MVP.
Alberdi, Santiago Loza and Bautista Bayugar), also with a handicap of 24. And although the final figures (7-6) suggest a
Tortugas’ Jerónimo del Carril backs the ball despite pressure from La Mancha’s Santiago Loza in the final of the Argentine Youth Open. Tortugas has beaten La Mancha the last three years.
tight clash, Tortugas controlled the game. “Up to the fifth we got along well, we were 7-4. In the last chukker, they came back, scored two goals and were able to draw within one. But we suffered the least of all,” admits Zubía, who was once again recognized as the best player in the match. At 19 years old, (he celebrated his birthday on March 9), the player born in Trenque Lauquen—a city that has provided 10-goal talent in the Merlos brothers and Juan Martín Nero–knows two more wins will equal Bautista Heguy’s and Facundo Pieres’ record. And since regulations allow him to play until 2020, he has a chance to exceed their records if he wins the next three years. “Matching Bauti and Facu is a nice challenge. And to pass them is craziness. We’ll see if it can be done. It’s still a long time. Let’s go step by step,” said Zubía. In the 2018 season, there will be another change on the Tortugas squad since Bocchino has reached the age limit. His place will be occupied by Camilo, the youngest of the Castagnola boys, who has already shown his courage by playing in the 2017 Nations Cup against Uruguay. Del Carril has one more year before he reaches the age limit. Zubía knows that names can change along the way but the quality of his teammates is guaranteed to meet the challenge. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41
The inaugural King Power International Ladies Polo Tournament in Thailand that took place in February was inspired by the late Sunny Hale. King Power is one of the three main polo clubs, along with Polo Escape and Thai Polo, in Thailand. The lavish and impressive set-up is owned by businessman and Tournament honors Sunny Hale polo player Vichai PHOTOS AND WORDS BY ALICE GIPPS Srivaddhanaprabha, owner of King Power duty free,
DESTINATION: THAILAND
Robin Lourvanij, above, runs Polo Escape with her sister Susy.
Sunny Hale played at Polo Escape in 2013. The King Power ladies tournament was inspired by Sunny.
42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
whose sons have dominated the British high goal for the last three seasons. With a fabulous setting for the event, great support from King Power and the Thailand Polo Association, Ploy Bhinsaeng, who played many times with Sunny, initiated the tournament. Determined to make this a special event in honor of her friend and mentor, the first edition was a big success. Ploy first met her idol at the Singapore Ladies International in 2012. The teams were drawn from a hat and she was lucky enough to play alongside Sunny. When Ploy said to Sunny, “Please tell me what I have to do during the game,” she recalls Sunny replying, “You already know what to do, just go out there and have some fun.” That was Sunny Hale down to the tee, and like many other women who had the opportunity to play with or against her, she influenced people to be confident and most importantly ‘dream big’. Ploy and Hale went on to play many times together in Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia and the Polo Escape Ladies International in Thailand, where they reached the final each year from 2013, finally taking home the trophy in 2017, weeks before Hale lost her battle with cancer. Polo Escape is an idyllic guest retreat owned and run by sisters Robin and Susy
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
S P O T L I G H T
The club provided a comfortable viewing area during the King Power International Ladies Tournament.
Lourvanij. Their competitive ladies tournament started in 2008, putting Thailand on the map for International women’s polo. The Thai Polo Club followed suit, organizing the Pink Polo Cup each year, another tournament Hale enjoyed immensely. Ploy said, “Sunny’s dream was for women’s polo around the world to grow in the right direction, as well as creating more opportunities for newcomers and young players. Improving women’s polo in Asia was a big part of her goals.” Together, they were already planning to expand the growing ladies’ polo scene in Thailand and the tournament at King Power was a key part of their plan. Inspired and fired up to carry on her aspiration, Ploy certainly made it a memorable occasion. Big patrons and top professional players from around the world took part, including four U.S. players—Slaney O’Hanlon, Julia Smith, Paige McCabe and Courtney Asdourian. The teams were very evenly matched, and the 16- to 20-goal handicap level ensured the games were fast and impressive
King Power:
19
Marengo:
19
La Familia:
16
1003:
17
Siam Polo Park:
18
Ploy Bhinsaeng Charlotte Sweeney Julia Smith Sarah Wiseman
Sonia Couling Slaney O’Hanlon Milagros Sanchez Hazel Jackson Nurul Noorajala Carolina B. Zavaleta Eva Bruehl Lia Salvo Paris Luo Rebecca Walters Heloise Wilson Smith Maru Giminez Jessica C. Nodland Paige McCabe Courtney Asdourian Annabel M. Davis
3 4 5 7
1 4 6 8
0 1 6 9
0 5 6 6
0 6 6 6
to watch. With the likes of Hazel Jackson and Sarah Wiseman, two of the best women professionals from the U.K., and the highest handicapped players from Argentina (Lia Salvo) and Germany (Eva Bruehl), there were some remarkable skills to entertain the crowd. An incredibly close final took place between Sonia Couling’s Marengo team and Nurul Noorajala’s La Familia. The mighty duo of powerhouses Eva Bruehl and the tactful Lia Salvo controlled the game with the help of Carolina Zavaleta marking the man so Nurul could safely play forward and help with the attack. Their opposition, Hazel Jackson, known for her speedy, skillful runs with the ball, riled up her team with enthusiasm. Working incredibly hard, Slaney O’Hanlon, Milagros Sanchez and Couling helped Jackson to keep La Familia at bay. They caught up at halftime and then again at the end of the final chukker, keeping the bystanders on the edge of their seats. In the last minutes of the chukker, it could have gone either way until Argentina’s Sanchez broke away and secured the win for POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43
The King Power International trophy went to Marengo’s Milagros Sanchez, Sonia Couling, Slaney O’Hanlon and Hazel Jackson.
Marengo with a magnificent neckshot through goal in the dying seconds of the match. Jackson-Gaona said, “Mili Sanchez won us the tournament. She was on fire, 17 years old and 6 goals. ... The horses were some of the best I’ve ridden in my career. Spectacular tournament, really well organized by Ploy.” Wide coverage by Vogue magazine gave the event excellent exposure of the sport and captured all the glamorous guests in their fabulous outfits. Audi also generously supported the event by providing drivers and cars for all the players to and from their hotels. Champagne, cocktails and an array of delicious food ensured everyone had a wonderful time. The King Power team won the Sunny Hale Memorial Trophy after a round-robin between the three remaining teams. Good sportsmanship and an enjoyable tournament was the main aim. Ploy said, “Sunny loved coaching and was so generous with her time, strategies and tips for everyone, even the opposition.” Although 44 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
King Power’s Sarah Wiseman, Julia Smith, Ploy Bhinsaeng and Charlotte Sweeney won the Sunny Hale Memorial Trophy.
highly competitive, the tournament was run with the intention of incorporating all of Sunny’s mantras: to be kind, genuine, friendly and help each other to improve, so the level of women’s polo improves, raising standards all around.
Slaney O’Hanlon
For all those who knew Sunny Hale, there was not a dry eye at the presentation. It is a testament to her legacy that women around the world are doing their part to carry on her dreams. With the support of neighboring countries in the region, Ploy says she will continue to drive forward Asian ladies’ polo with the aim for it to grow as a whole. “There are keen up-and-coming Filipina polo players and China just had its first successful ladies [tournament] in 2017. HRH Princess Azemah of Brunei is a big supporter of women’s polo, as is Shekha Mheta from Dubai who is an advocate for women in sports in the Middle East,” explained Ploy. King Power took a back seat while Polo Escape was getting established this season, running a smaller, but extremely fun, Valentines Cup the week after the women’s tournament. Meanwhile, Thai Polo Club continued its backing for women players, running its annual renowned Queen’s Cup Pink Polo tournament in early March. Supported by
The girls wore pink and the boys were in blue for the Valentine’s Cup played at Polo Escape.
Ploy Bhinsaeng with one of King Power’s beautiful Andalusian stallions.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45
Polo Escape has a full size polo field and stabling for 100 horses. The resort offers a range of polo activities from lessons, to stick and ball, to chukkers. If you are looking for something more relaxed, you can schedule a trail ride or take the horses for a swim.
Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches and clear blue water.
46 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
At Polo Escape, luxury amenities are at your fingertips in the lodge rooms and villas, tucked among tropical foliage.
Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, is next to quiet canalside communities and iconic temples.
the U.S. Polo Assn., that provided the players’ jerseys this year, it is another event that attracts top women professionals from around the globe. Five 14-goal teams competed for top honors. Nurul Noorajala’s La Familia, again with Lia Salvo as its main pro, along with María Seculini and Sofía Lorenzo, had a confident win against La Tabita (Johanna Droste, Steffi von Pock, Constanza Marchiorello, Eva Bruehl), 8-3, in the final. Lorenzo was named MVP and La Familia’s Mimo was named Best Playing Pony. In the consolation round robin, Thai Polo (Caroline Link, Isabel Morgenstern, Holly Butler, Hazel Jackson) came out on top to take third place overall, while La Esperanza (Pei Bei Koh, Lea Siboni, Carolina Brown, Sarah Wiseman) took fourth and Kuda Lari (Daryl Yeap, Lara Reynoso, Carla A. Nunes, Vicky Marchiorello) took fifth. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore will continue to lead the way forward in Asia for others to follow.
A beautiful polo pony relaxes at Polo Escape, an idyllic guest retreat for humans and horses.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47
POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO FLORIDA
SPEEDWELL/ICON GLOBAL ALL HEART IN CUPIDS CUP
Speedwell/ Icon Global’s Matt Coppola picks up the speed in the 6-goal Cupids Cup final.
S
peedwell/Icon Global edged Dream Ride 8-5 in the final of the Cupids Cup held at Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida, from February 16-18. Four teams competed in the event. Matt Coppola was named MVP. Speedwell/Icon Global (Olivia Uechtritz, Nicole Watson, Agustin Mahoum, Matt Coppola) first defeated The Island House (Peter Holowesko, Will Tomita, Chris Lund, Lucas Diaz Alberdi) 7½-6 to advance to the final. Dream Ride (Nick DiValentino, Jennifer
48 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Williams, Juan Ghirlanda, Marcos Bignoli) advanced to the final after defeating Horseware (Sophie Neis, Tom MacGuinness, Pedro Manion, Segundo Ducas) 5-3. In the consolation, The Island House got the best of Horseware 8-3½. A week later, San Saba came away with the trophies in the 10th Annual Tabebuia Cup, a WCT qualifier. Four teams battled over two days to determine the winner. In the preliminary matches, San Saba (Dawn Jones, Clarissa
Echezarreta, Allison Poor, Rileigh Tibbott) crushed Dream Ride (Jennifer Williams, Malicia Von Falkenhausen, Meghan Shader Jumet, Maureen Brennan) 9-2½, while Michelob/Crossfit El Cid (Nicole Watson, Malia Bryan, Cecelia Cochran, Tiffany Busch) narrowly edged Icon Global (Olivia Uechtritz, Slaney O’Hanlon, Courtney Asdourian, Julia Steiner) 4-3. The final pitted San Saba against Michelob/Crossfit El Cid. Tiffany Busch struck first for Michelob, but Clarissa
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Speedwell/Icon Global’s Olivia Uechtritz, Nicole Watson, Agustin Mahoum and MVP Matt Coppola won the 6-goal Cupids Cup.
Echezarreta matched it with a 60-yard safety shot. Neither team could reach the goal in the second, leaving the teams knotted 1-1 at the half. Nicole Watson broke the tie in the third but Dawn Jones responded with back-to-back goals to give San Saba the win. Echezarreta was named MVP and Jones’ Chispita was Best Playing Pony.
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San Saba’s MVP Clarissa Echezarreta, Allison Poor, Rileigh Tibbott and Dawn Jones won the Tabebuia Cup at Port Mayaca.
The month ended with Wildcat defeating Shamrock 11-7 in the final of the 8-goal Sawgrass Challenge. Four teams played over two weeks to determine a winner. The final was a back-and-forth battle with the teams staying within a goal of each other through the first four periods. Wildcat (Ryan Gilbertson,
James P. Uihlein, Del Walton, Joe Wayne Barry) held the 6-5 lead over Shamrock (Hayden Walsh, Chris Lund, Juan Monteverde, Cipriano Echezarreta) going into the fifth, with all goals coming off Del Walton’s stick. Wildcat increased the spread with penalty conversions by Walton and Ryan Gilbertson, and a field goal by James
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800.882.POLO | www.tackeria.com 13501 South Shore Blv vd, Suite 107 | Wellington, FL 33414 | fax: 561. 795.0691 | info@tackeria.com POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49
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Wildcat’s Ryan Gilbertson, James P. Uihlein, MVP Del Walton and Joe Wayne Barry came away with the 8-goal Sawgrass Challenge.
Uihlein. Juan Monteverde converted a penalty for Shamrock to keep it in the game, 9-6. Monteverde put two more goals on the board, but Wildcat answered each time with goals by Walton and Joe Wayne Barry. High-scorer Del Walton was named MVP and his Carolina, granddaughter of the famed Magazin, was Best Playing Pony. To get to the final, both Shamrock and Wildcat finished with 2-1 records. Shamrock fell to Wildcat 10-8, while Wildcat fell to Aliano Realty (Nick Aliano, Tom MacGuinness, Hugo Lloret, Pedro Manion) 8-5. A few days later, a Wildcat team (Ryan Gilbertson, Wes Bryan, Del Walton, Jason Crowder) made it to the final of the 12-goal Live Oak Challenge, facing Skaneateles (Marty Cregg, Harrison Azzaro filling in for Cesar Jimenez, Mariano Obregon, Costi Caset). That match saw the teams battling throughout the first half, with Wildcat scoring from the field and Skaneateles dominating from the penalty line. Costi Caset and Mariano Obregon gave Skaneateles a two-goal lead in the third, but Jason Crowder split the uprights to bring Wildcat within one, 43. Wildcat dominated the fourth chukker, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 6-4 lead. Skaneateles rebounded in the fifth, leveling the
50 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Skaneateles’ Marty Cregg, Harrison Azzaro, Costi Caset and MVP Mariano Obregon won the 12-goal Live Oak Challenge.
score at 7-7 going into the final chukker. Skaneateles carried that momentum into the sixth as Mariano Obregon went on a scoring spree, scoring three goals in as many minutes. Caset and Harrison Azzaro added goals to give Skaneateles a five-goal advantage. Wes Bryan added one last goal for Wildcat, but Skaneateles had the 12-8 win. Mariano Obregon was named MVP for his solid play throughout the game and his last chukker heroics, and Jason Crowder’s gray mare, Crunch, was Best Playing Pony. Six teams divided into two brackets played for the title. Both Skaneateles and Wildcat were undefeated going into the final. In preliminary matches, Wildcat defeated The Villages (Paige Boone, Francisco Bilboa, Charlie Cendoya, Nick Johnson) 11-10 in overtime and Mt. Brilliant/Faraway (Hutton Goodman, Bo Goodman, Julian Daniels, Matt Coppola) 13-11. Skaneateles advanced after beating Crossfit El Cid (Cecelia Cochran, Jason Wates, Kristos Magrini, Matias Magrini) 12-8 and Newport (Gene Goldstein, Chris Lund, Whistle Uys, Michel Dorignac) 10-9 in overtime. The next day, Southern Eagle defeated Windsor/Napa in the Molly’s House Benefit match. Southern Eagle’s Jason Wates was MVP and Tiffany Busch’s Coco Denali was Best Playing Pony.
PATAGONES CAPTURES 12G SIEBER MEMORIAL
After finishing runner-up to GSA last season, Patagones was determined to win the 12-goal Sieber Memorial on March 4 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. . In the battle of unbeaten teams, Patagones (Joaquin Avendano, Robi Bilbao, Benjamin Avendano, Santi Wulff) held off Beverly Equestrian (Bill Ballhaus, Hilario Figueras, Tolito Ocampo, Carlucho Arellano) for a thrilling 11-10 victory. Joaquin Avendano, Benjamin Avendano and Santi Wulff were members of last year’s runner-up team. Patagones finished this year’s tournament 5-0 and Beverly Equestrian dropped to 3-1. Wulff scored a gamehigh seven goals and was named Most Valuable Player. “It was the most competitive tournament, there were so many teams,” Wulff said. “We played five games to get here so it was a long tournament. We wanted to win it after last year.” Also scoring for Patagones, Bilbao had three goals and Joaquin Avendano added one goal. Benjamin Avendano has the daunting task of marking Arellano in the game. Arellano led Beverly Equestrian with four second-half goals, including
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CHAIROFOTO
CHAIROFOTO
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John Sieber, left, presents Patagones’ Santi Wulff, Benjamin Avendano, Robi Bilbao and Joaquin Avendano the Sieber trophy.
three on penalty conversions. Ocampo had three goals and figueras added one. Beverly Equestrian was awarded a Penalty 1 and one goal on handicap. Patagones led for the entire game but Beverly Equestrian made it interesting by mounting a rally in the fifth and sixth chukker. Patagones led
Altair Polo’s Brandon Phillips, Henry Porter, Keko Magrini and Christian Weisz won the Top Pony 8-goal Tournament.
3-2, 6-3 and 8-4 in the first half, winning the throw-ins and taking advantage of missed scoring opportunities and forced errors by Beverly Equestrian. Beverly Equestrian found its momentum and started forcing Patagones into errors, outscoring them
6-3 in the second half including shutting them out, 2-0, in the final chukker. Arellano scored back-to-back goals in the sixth chukker to bring his team to within one, 11-10. Beverly Equestrian was unable to take advantage of two scoring opportunities
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Participants in the Sunset “Sunny” Hale Memorial Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club. After a round robin, San Saba (far right) came away with the title. Kylie Sheehan, far left, was MVP.
late in the game as Patagones held on for the win. Echarpe, a 10-year-old grey gelding owned and played by Bill Ballhaus, was named American Polo Horse Association Best Registered horse for the game. Adele, a 6-year-old mare bred and owned by Matt Coppola, was named American Polo Horse Association Best Registered horse for the tournament. The Grand Champions Polo Club Best Playing Pony was Chukker, an American Thoroughbred owned and played by Carlucho Arellano. The bay mare was bred by Bart Evans, purchased and trained by Marathon Farms and sold to Arellano as a 5-year-old. The tournament is named in honor of polo player Rob Sieber, who died in a polo-related accident 32 years ago at Oak Brook, Illinois. Rob’s brother John Sieber presented the awards. The same weekend, Altair Polo captured the Top Pony 8-goal Tournament with an impressive 11-7 victory over Patagones. Altair Polo (Christian Weisz, Keko Magrini, Henry Porter, Brandon Phillips) led from start to finish and never relinquished its lead over Patagones (Santi Avendano, Joaquin Avendano, Benjamin Avendano, Robi Bilbao). Phillips scored a game-high five goals and was named MVP. Keka, an 8-
52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
year-old mare played by Porter, was Best Playing Pony. Altair Polo finished this month’s 8goal tournament undefeated at 4-0. Patagones finished 2-2. In their previous 8-goal final, Patagones defeated Altair Polo. Altair Polo never let Patagones into the game. Altair Polo led 2-1, 4-2, 6-3, 8-3 and 10-5. Joaquin Avendano left the marathon game with 3:23 left in the sixth chukker with an injury and was replaced by Anita Avendano. On March 1, San Saba captured the Sunset “Sunny” Hale Memorial Tournament. Grand Champion’s monthly women’s league final featured San Saba (Scarlett Davenport, Laura Willson, Clarissa Echezarreta, Malia Bryan, Josephine Hermans), Cedar Croft (Riley Ganzi, Malicia von Falkenhausen, Kylie Sheehan, Alina Carta and Nicole Watson) and Stage Hill (Haley Heatley, Molly Houtton, Slaney O’Hanlon and Alyson Poor) in a round robin in honor of Hale, the alltime greatest women’s polo player. The part-time Wellington resident died February 26, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma, due to complications from cancer. She was 48. Fourteen players competed in honor of Hale, who was recently inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame. The final lived up to expectations with three talented teams. For San
Saba, Malia Bryan scored a game-high four goals. Laura Willson added three goals. Kylie Sheehan, 26, was selected the Sande Gane MVP. Spot, Alina Carta’s 14-year-old Argentine mare, was named Masai of Palm Beach Best Playing Pony. In other news, Grand Champions took the trophy in the 5th annual Great Futures Celebrity Polo Charity Cup on March 11. But, the real winner was the beneficiary the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington. The star power of Nacho Figueras and some of the world’s top polo players helped to raise funds for the facility that serves hundreds of children. Grand Champions (Jeff Desich, Rich Desich, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Nacho Figueras) won the round-robin tournament with wins over Sebilion (Charlie Jacobs, Will Jacobs, Nico Pieres, Juan Bollini) and two-time defending champion Equuleus (Riley Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Nic Roldan, Joe DiMenna). Grand Champions edged Sebilion, 2-1, and Equuleus, 2-1, to clinch the cup. Equuleus defeated Sebilion, 2-1, in the other game. Rich Desich was named MVP and Santa Rita Polo Farm’s Monarcha, ridden by Nacho Figueras, was Best Playing Pony. —Sharon Robb
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DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
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Valiente’s Bautista Panelo, Bob Jornayvaz, Santi Torres and Adolfo Cambiaso won the 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup at International Polo Club.
VALIENTE DOMINATES THREE TOURNAMENTS Valiente won its first tournament of the high-goal season, taking the Ylvisaker Cup final over GSA on Feb. 25 at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Thirteen teams filled the rosters for the chance at the Ylvisaker trophy. After weeks of preliminary matches, Audi (Grant Ganzi, Marc Ganzi, Nico Pieres, Nic Roldan), Carillon Miami Beach (Jim Zenni, Agustin Obregon, Hilario Ulloa, Jared Zenni), Coca Cola (Gillian Johnston, Steve Krueger, Julio Arellano, Sugar Erskine), Prestige Worldwide (Will Johnson, Juan Martin Obregon, Miguel Astrada, Stevie Orthwein) and Travieso (Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Sebastian Merlos, Tomas Garcia del Rio) came up short, while the remaining eight teams moved into the quarterfinals. Colorado (Rob Jornayvaz, Juan Britos, Diego Cavanagh, Santino Magrini) edged Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Mariano Aguerre, Kris Kampsen), 13-11; GSA (Henry Porter, Dylan Rossiter, Mariano Gonzalez, Matias Magrini) slipped Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Timmy Dutta, Gonzalito Pieres, Facundo Pieres), 10-9; Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Sterling Giannico, Sapo Caset, Julian de Lussaretta) edged La
Valiente’s Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres, Tommy Beresford and Rob Jornayvaz won the 26-goal CV Whitney Cup.
Indiana (Michael Bickford, Toro Ruiz, Facundo Obregon, Jeff Hall), 12-11; and Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Bautista Panelo, Santi Torres, Adolfo Cambiaso) crushed SD Farms (Sayyu Dantata, Adam Snow, Inaki Laprida, Peco Polledo), 13-6. In the first semifinal, GSA topped Colorado, 9-8 just 13 seconds into overtime. Mariano Gonzalez was highscorer with five goals. Henry Porter scored the game-winner advancing GSA to the final. In the other semifinal, Valiente powered its way through the game doubling Tonkawa’s score in the first (4-2), second (8-4) and fourth chukkers (10-5). Tonkawa matched Valiente in the last two periods but the damage was done and Valiente advanced with a 138 victory. Santi Torres was high scorer with five goals. In the final, Mariano Gonzalez put GSA on the board early but goals by Bautista Panelo and Adolfo Cambiaso soon put Valiente ahead 2-1. Unanswered goals by Henry Porter and Dylan Rossiter in the second gave GSA the lead, 3-2. The teams traded goals in the third to end the half with GSA narrowly on top, 4-3. In the fourth, a Penalty 2 conversion and a field goal by Cambiaso went unanswered, leaving Valiente with the 5-4 lead. A pair of Penalty 4 conversions by Cambiaso
increased the lead but Gonzalez added a goal to keep GSA in the running. The teams traded goals in the final seven minutes but GSA couldn’t gain anymore ground and Valiente took the 8-6 win. Adolfo Cambiaso was MVP and Mariano Gonzalez’s 6-year-old grey mare, Macarena was Best Playing Pony. A week later, a new Valiente line-up was on the trophy stand again, this time holding up the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup. Everyone was anxious to see the team play with 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres, the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world, teaming up. Rob Jornayvaz and Tommy Beresford rounded out the team. Four teams competed in the singleelimination tournament. Earlier in the week, Valiente advanced over Daily Racing Form (Jared Zenni, Agustin Obregon, Hilario Ulloa, Mariano Obregon), 13-10 to advance while Colorado (Bob Jornayvaz, Santi Torres, Magoo Laprida, Diego Cavanagh) edged Grand Champions Polo Club (Grant Ganzi, Nico Pieres, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nic Roldan), 14-13, in a foul-riddled match. The final pitted father against son, with Bob Jornayvaz’s Colorado taking on Robert’s Valiente. Facundo Pieres put Valiente on the board with back-toback goals in the first seven minutes. Rob Jornayvaz scored a lone goal in the
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53
R E P O R T DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
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Valiente’s Tommy Beresford, Bob Jornayvaz, Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres won the 26-goal Butler Handicap.
second. Pieres sunk a Penalty 3 and Cambiaso scored his first goal, while Colorado had yet to find the goal. The half ended with Valiente ahead 5-0. Diego Cavanagh put Colorado on the board early in the fourth but Pieres responded. Magoo Laprida split the uprights to end the fourth 6-2. Tommy Beresford, Pieres and Cambiaso each scored in the fifth while holding Cavanagh to a single goal. Down 9-3 going into the last period, Laprida added one last goal as Valiente coasted to victory. Facundo Pieres, high-scorer with five goals, was MVP. J5 Equestrian’s Mentolada, a black mare played by Cambiaso, was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation, Daily Racing Form edged Grand Champions 11-9. The same four teams competed days later for the 26-goal Butler Handicap. This time Bob Jornayvaz played with the Valiente team, while son Rob played with Colorado. Juan Britos took over Santi Torres’ spot on the Colorado team. Grant Ganzi’s Grand Champions team had a whole new line up with Juancito Bollini, Negro Astrada and 10goal Juan Martin Nero. Colorado defeated Daily Racing Form 14-11 to advance to the final, while Valiente downed Grand Champions 9-6 after spotting it two handicap goals. In the final, Colorado began with a handicap goal, which kept it ahead at
54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Pilot’s Curtis Pilot, Timmy Dutta, Gonzalo Pieres and Facundo Pieres won the 20-goal Iglehart Cup over La Indiana.
the end of the first after Pieres and Cambiaso traded goals with Laprida and Cavanagh. Cambiaso scored a pair of goals in the second and Laprida added another to tie the match 4-4. Colorado shut down all of Valiente’s drives in the third while Britos and Laprida added goals to take a 6-4 lead into the half. Pieres chipped away at the deficit in the fourth, first with a Penalty 2 conversion then a field goal to tie the score. A second field goal gave Valiente the 7-6 advantage. Pieres was on a roll, and back-to-back goals in the fifth went unanswered, leaving Valiente with a 9-6 lead heading into the last period. Cambiaso traded goals with Laprida and Cavanagh in the final minutes to keep Valiente on top. Cambiaso was named MVP and Tanita, a pretty bay American Thoroughbred owned by J5 Equestrian and played by Cambiaso, was Best Playing Pony. Jorie Bulter presented the trophies. In the subsidiary, Daily Racing Form made a second-half rally after being down 9-7 at the half to defeat Grand Champions 16-10. Meanwhile, 20-goal action was still in full swing with six teams competing for the Iglehart Cup. After two weeks of preliminary matches, La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Toro Ruiz, Facundo Obregon, Jeff Hall) edged Goose Creek (Maureen Brennan, Peke Gonzalez,
Mariano Gonzalez, Matias Magrini), 96, and Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Timmy Dutta, Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres) defeated Coca Cola (Gillian Johnston, Steve Krueger, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 13-10, in the semifinal to advance to the final. The final had Pilot take a 3-2 lead after the first seven minutes. Pilot outscored La Indiana 3-1 in the second, but La Indiana rebounded, outscoring Pilot 3-1 in the third, ending the half with Pilot narrowly ahead 7-6. Toro Ruiz, who had a fantastic game, scored a lone goal in the fourth to level the score 7-7. Pilot shot back in the fifth with the Pieres brothers combining for three goals. La Indiana shot at goal twice but couldn’t split the posts, ending the chukker 10-7 in favor of Pilot. The teams battled through the sixth, and just when it looked like Pilot had the game in the bag, La Indiana inched its way back. Facundo Obregon sunk a Penalty 3 and after a bad bump between Obregon and Timmy Dutta by the goal, La Indiana got a Penalty 1, bringing it within one goal with more than two minutes on the clock. With 32 seconds on the clock, Jeff Hall was whistled on the play. Pilot was awarded a Penalty 3, which Facundo Pieres easily sunk to end the game, 119. Ruiz was named MVP and Gonzalito Pieres’ 12-year-old mare, So Easy, was Best Playing Pony.
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CTPA/Air Force’s MVP Cody Goetz, Luis Herrera and Nicolas Ongania won the 3- to 6-goal General Puller Cup.
SOUTHWEST
CENTRAL TEXAS ACES
TWO MILITARY TOURNEYS
Recently, the Texas Arena League played its second of three legs at Legend’s Horse Ranch, home of East Texas Polo Club, in Kaufman, Texas. As part of this competition, two USPA Circuit Arena Military tournaments were played for. To qualify for a military tournament, one player from each team must have a military connection (active duty, retired or family member of military). The first military tournament was the General Puller Cup (3-6 goal), which featured San Antonio Polo Club (Coast Guard) against Central Texas Polo Association (Air Force). The players and their military connection for San Antonio were Jack Crea (children serve in Coast Guard), Gal Sweiki (wife is an Army doctor), and Patrick MacLeod (Air Force ROTC and father was colonel in Air Force). The players and their military connections for Central Texas Polo Association were Cody Goetz (major in Air Force), Nicolas Ongania (grandfather was Army general), and Luis Herrera (uncle in the Air Force). The match was a tight one, with each team carrying the lead at any given moment. Going into the final chukker, CTPA was ahead 12-9.
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CTPA/Marines’ Lauren Platt, Loreto Natividad and MVP Taylor Morris won the 0- to 3-goal Texas Arena League.
San Antonio pulled out all the stops with every member of the team contributing to five goals total but CTPA pulled out one more goal to win the match 13-12. Jack Crea was named MVP and his horse, Rubia, won Best Playing Pony honors. Texas Arena League has a 0- to 3goal and 3- to 6-goal division. In the 0to 3-goal division, the Admiral Nimitz Cup was played for by Legend’s East Texas (Army) and Central Texas Polo Association (Marines). Playing for CTPA/Marines were Taylor Morris (family in Marines and Army), Lauren Platt (family in Navy and Army), Loreto Natividad (family in Navy). On the Legend’s East Texas/Army team were Wyatt Myr (father a sergeant in Army Caisson troops), Melanie Pugmire (family in Army) and Olivia Uechtritz. CTPA took home the win with Taylor Morris named MVP and Best Playing Pony honors going to Wyatt Myr’s Wyatt’s Whiskey Doc. Additional matches played in the 3to 6-goal division included USPA Arena Masters and Texas Arena League 3- to 6-goal round robin. For the Arena Masters, County Line (Kendall Plank, Seth Bray, Wendy Stover) defeated Midland Polo Club (Leigh Fulkerson, Brady Williams, Marissa Wells). Kendall Plank was MVP and Wendy Stover’s Shakin’ Vibes taking Best Playing Pony. In the Texas Arena League round
Wendy Stover and Shakin’ Vibes
robin, Prevalacer (Loreto Natividad, Ashley Owen, Pato Tadeo) won its two matches against Dallas Polo Club (Sterling May, Will Walton, Quique Garcia) and Legend’s Polo Club (Wyatt Myr, Nacho Estrada, Steve Gilchrist). The 0- to 3-goal division also played a round robin for the USPA Arena Congressional Cup with County Line One (Drew Richardson, Zain Saud, Oscar Bermudez Jr.) winning over both Legend’s Polo (Nacho Estrada, Katie Anderson, Steve Gilchrist) and County Line Two (John Hand, Farook Malik, Ismael Vasquez). Steve Gilchrist was MVP and John Hand’s Maria was Best Playing Pony. The final leg of the Texas Arena League is scheduled for March 3-4 at Midland Polo Club in Midland, Texas, where the league champions will be determined.
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Sound advice I started working in the field of polo shortly after college. Initially it was part time or viewed as temporary, but as time went on it become more serious. I started grooming, helping to teach lessons, and doing grunt work at polo clubs in my extra time, and slowly worked my way up. Everything was quite organic and yet intentional. Four years ago, I started my polo school, and last year, at age 29, I bought, without any investors, an 80-stall facility with an indoor arena, three outdoor arenas, a polo field, etc. It required (and still requires) a lot of love, but as one of my first clients said, “If you are going to buy a farm and go bankrupt, try to do it before you’re 30!” I have received comments over the years from other professionals like, “When I’m not sure what to do, I think what would Mark do.” A colleague suggested I write an article on the top lessons I’ve learned. Specifically, he was referring to business lessons, but I could write a list on top coaching lessons, top lessons as a man, or so many other topics. I will focus on top business lessons here with the other topics to follow. 1) Know who your mentors are and who you want to be like. I have several mentors, and most are unofficial mentors or don’t know they are my mentor. They are all people who I know and want to emulate. Not any one of them is perfect, or has the perfectly-rounded experience for me to pull on. Some have more business experience but little horse experience. Some have tons of horse experience but not much teaching experience. Of these mentors or people I look up to one is a farrier, one a veterinarian, one a coach, one a club manager, and one has no polo experience but good business experience. No one is perfect and no one can give you the perfect answer, but it is important to know how to think when coming to an answer. Usually they just reinforce what I already feel. 2) Always go with your gut. This is, 56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Mark Tashjian
without a doubt, most important. Usually I’m afraid of going with my gut. I look for people to either reinforce my gut feeling or convince me to do otherwise. If you haven’t learned it yet, you will learn it— always go with your gut. 3) Know exactly were you stand and be humble. Humility is not thinking little of yourself, it is knowing exactly where you stand and not thinking more or less of yourself. You know exactly what you know. There are things you don’t know but you certainly also know a lot. If you know something, don’t second guess yourself because of other people. At the same time, know that sometimes you don’t know something. Don’t worry, in time you will find out if you were right or wrong and it will help you adjust your knowledge pool. 4) Things take time but don’t give up. Sometimes you need to put things on the back burner, sometimes for years, but always keep it on the stove. All the sayings about this topic are true: easy come, easy go. Nothing good happens overnight. 5) My employees are No. 1. Your employees are worth their weight in gold if they are good. If I have employees I am keeping around, then I will support them
100 percent. Everyone makes mistakes. If they aren’t making mistakes, then they aren’t working. Also, no one is perfect. If there are five core tasks and they do three of the five great and are able, to some degree, do the other two, then that’s amazing. Also, try not to set them up for failure. I say ‘try’ because this is difficult. It is easy to forget that someone may not be able to do a task. It is natural to think a great employee should be good at everything, but sometimes there is a task they just are not as good at. Don’t beat them or yourself up over this. Simply don’t have them do that task. 6) Know that if you’ve done it once, you can do it again. Once you are on the top, you know how to get to the top and you can do it again. Sometimes things happen and you get knocked down. Stand up, brush yourself off, and climb to the top again. This is the best business advice I can give you. I am always willing to give you more advice, but I am fairly direct. If you are not sure what to do, try something and it will either fail or work out and you will learn! Mark Tashjian Georgetown, Massachusetts
Women’s polo Polo has been an integral part of my family’s life for more than 65 years. Many years ago, I met an Argentine lady that had been a nurse in WWII and had played polo in Argentina in the 50s and 60s, but never in a tournament. Mom (Sue Sally Hale) had invited her to come play with us in New Mexico and she said to me one day, “Boy if I could have had the opportunities your mother had, that would have been something.” When I finished laughing, I realized this lady had a point. Each generation has met and overcome challenges to bring women to where they are in polo today. Before [my sister] Sunny and I’s generation were born, my mom was mixing it up with some of the greatest
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Sunny Hale
players of her day, and like it was yesterday, I can vividly recall the excitement surrounding her getting her first USPA card. Then there were many years of watching her be the only female on the field, fighting and taking hits, both mental and physical for the stereo types and attitudes still pervasive in the 70s towards women players. I can remember playing in the first USPA women’s tournaments across the country—at Southern Hills, Carmel Valley, Willow Bend, Jackson Hole, Myopia, Boca Raton and Indio, to an epic East vs. West Women’s tournament hosted by John Oxley at Boca. It took 10 years after women gained [USPA] membership for a woman to receive the first 2-goal rating. Then, there were more years of pitting women’s teams against the men to showcase their abilities—the first all women’s team in a USPA 4 goal; the first all women’s team in a USPA 8 goal; a woman playing in the high goal in Florida; women club managers; women patrons; women club owners; women professional players; women coaches; the first women to play in a USPA arena 6 goal and then 12 goal; the first women to play in a USPA Arena Open; the first woman to play in an outdoor USPA Open; 17 women’s teams competing in a tournament; 8- to 9-goal mixed rating women’s polo; the first
USPA Women’s Open; the first USPA Women’s Arena Open; and 10 years after the first woman 2 goaler, 20 years after the first 1 goaler, Sunny broke the 3-goal barrier and then the 4 and the 5, and she became the first woman to be on a winning USPA Open team. Thirty-two years after women became a part of the USPA, a woman was awarded the Iglehart Award for her lifetime contributions to the sport, and 46 years after women were accepted to the association, Sunny is inducted into the Hall of Fame. In this amazing moment in the journey of women in polo, I’d like to take the opportunity to give a shout out to all the women over the years who have put their talents out on the field to help write the story of women in American polo. I’d like to thank those in the high goal that gave a girl an opportunity to live her dreams. I’d like to commend the [Hall of Fame] Nominating Committee for acknowledging all that Sunny had accomplished and for breaking this last glass ceiling. Thank you for bestowing this honor on our memory of Sunny. Stormie Hale Pacific Grove, California
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Skill Pyramid [Tom Goodspeed’s] polo skill article (Feb. 2018 issue) is the best ever. I am going to make sure that all the new players at our club (Sarasota) read it. We have lots of new players and most are men, so this article is perfect for them. Sylvia McNichol Lakewood Ranch, Florida
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 57
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M A R C H 14 - A P R I L 1 USPA National Inter-Circuit (8-10) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL
NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE & INTERSCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
USPA Gold Cup (26) International, Wellington, FL
APRIL 2-7 Intercollegiate Championships Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
MARCH 23- APRIL 1 Champion’s Cup (8) Empire, Indio, CA
The best teams in intercollegiate polo from across the country will be vying for the national title. Teams from Cornell, University of Virginia, Texas A&M and Cal Poly University will have teams competing in both the men’s and women’s divisions. In the men’s division, the University of Western Ontario and Southern Methodist University will compete as wildcards.
MARCH 24- APRIL 1 Lion’s Cup (4) Empire, Indio, CA MARCH 29- APRIL 7 Spring Cup (2) Houston, Houston, TX
MARCH 30- APRIL 8 Van Conover Member Tourney Houston, Houston, TX
ELIZABETH HEDLEY
MARCH 30- APRIL 1 One Goal Tournament Empire, Indio, CA 4 Goal Tournament Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL
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A P R I L 1 - 18 Las Acacias (4-8) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL APRIL 1-30 Continental Cup (12-16) ?? Grand Champions, Wellington, FL APRIL 2-9 The Black Olive 8 Goal Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL APRIL 3-8 Womens Championship Tournament Grand Champions, Wellington, FL A P R I L 3 - 15 April 4 Goal Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL Tournament (8) The Villages, The Villages, FL APRIL 6-8 Tournament (8) The Villages, The Villages, FL
Ringling Cup (6) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL M A R C H 31 - A P R I L 1 USPA Women’s Tournament (WCT) USPA NYTS Qualifier Eldorado, Indio, CA
A P R I L 11 - 1 5 Girls’ Interscholastic Championships Virginia Polo, Charlottesville, VA
Last year’s runner-up, Maryland Polo, will be back this year, stronger than ever, vying for a chance at the title, along with the other region winners. Maryland has won the tournament six times. Hillside from Wisconsin topped the Central Region and will be competing in the nationals for the first time. MIKE RYAN
A P R I L 1 - 14 $100,000 World Cup (0-40) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL The $100,000 World Cup returns to Grand Champions after its successful debut in 2017. The unique feature of the handicap winner-take-all event, offering the richest purse in the club’s 11-year history, is teams from 0 to 26 goals can enter. Last year, the lowest rated team was 4 goals, while the highest rated were 26.
APRIL 1 Battle of the Sexes BG, Vero Beach, FL
Olympic Games Cup (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL APRIL 7-8 USPA/PTF Seniors Tournament San Antonio, San Antonio, TX Intra Club matches New Orleans, Folsom, LA A P R I L 7 - 21 Sunshine Cup (4-6, 6-10) Palm City, Boynton Beach, FL A P R I L 10 - J U N E 9 Club League 8-Goal Tournament Houston, Houston, TX A P R I L 11 - J U N E 1 0 4-Goal Tournament Houston, Houston, TX A P R I L 12 - J U N E 10 Margarita League Houston, Houston, TX A P R I L 1 2 - 21 National Presidents Cup (8) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL
58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
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A P R I L 21 Earth Day Cup Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX
APRIL 4-22 USPA U.S. Open Championship (26) International, Wellington, FL
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A P R I L 21 - 2 2 New Heights Garden Party matches New Orleans, Folsom, LA
The defending champion Valiente team will be stronger than ever with 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres being the nucleus. Five other teams are expected to be looking to find a way past them. DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
A P R I L 2 5 - J U N E 10 12-Goal League Houston, Houston, TX A P R I L 2 5 - J U N E 13 Members Cup (8) New Bridge, Aiken, S.C. APRIL 27-29 Tournament (8) The Villages, The Villages, FL Arena Amateur Cup Westchester, Portsmouth, RI A P R I L 2 7 - M AY 13 USPA Sportsmanship Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, SC
A P R I L 13 - 15 Farewell Cup (4) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL
APRIL 28 April Challenge Cup Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX
A P R I L 13 - 2 2 Polo Museum Cup (2) Aiken, Aiken, SC
APRIL 28-29 USPA Mardi Gras Cup (0-2) New Orleans, Folsom, LA
A P R I L 13 - J U N E 9 2-Goal League Houston, Houston, TX
Amateur Cup Westworld, Phoenix, AZ National Youth Tournament Series Aiken, Aiken, SC
A P R I L 14 - 1 5 Southern Hotel Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA
APRIL 29 All the Marbles Tournament BG, Vero Beach, FL
A P R I L 18 - 2 9 Jake Kneece Memorial (4) Aiken, Aiken, SC APRIL 20-22 Tournament (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL Tournament (8) The Villages, The Villages, F
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APRIL 29 U.S. Open Polo Championship air date 2 p.m. (EDT) on CBS Sports
Relive the action of the 26-goal U.S. Open Polo Championship on national TV in the comfort of your own home. Peter Rizzo, ASEA Certified Equine Appraiser
Note: All dates are subject to change. “USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.
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POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59
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GOLDEN OAKS
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The plaque placed under the majestic oak reads: Grown to honor the winner of the new competition; Olympic Oak; conquered by the Argentine Polo team in the XI Olympiad Berlin 1936; Juan D. Nelson presided over the delegation.
©1936/ COMITÉ INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE (CIO)
small plaque is placed under a big, old oak tree, which overlooks Palermo’s Field 2, behind the main stadium at the Cathedral, the hollowed polo grounds in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina. The plaque’s words illustrate the roots of this majestic tree reaching down into world history when the German Olympic Committee awarded oak saplings to each gold medal winner, including the Argentine polo team to commemorate its stunning first place finish in the 1936 XI Olympic games in Berlin. The sport of polo was first played as an Olympic summer event in 1900 and continued as an Olympic event in the 1908, 1920 and 1924 games. Polo took a 12-year hiatus and once again took the field in
SERGIO LLAMERA
Olympic gold medalist Argentina carries its momentum in the U.S. Open
Argentina defeated Mexico 15-5 in a hard-charging game in the XI Olympic games in Berlin. Argentina took home the Gold Medal while Mexico settled for Bronze.
60 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
SERGIO LLAMERA ©1936/ COMITÉ INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE (CIO)/ RÜBELT, LOTHAR
The oak sapling, given to the Argentine team in the 1936 Olympics along with a gold medal, was planted between the back of the main stadium and Field 2 at Palermo in Buenos Aires. It grew into a mighty oak and still stands today.
Argentina’s Luis J. Duggan, Roberto Cavanagh, Andrés Gazzotti and Manuel Andrada at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
1936, featuring Great Britain, Mexico, Argentina, Hungary and Germany. Argentina, Mexico and Great Britain played in the “strong teams” division while Hungary and Germany competed in the “weak teams” division. In the preliminary matches, Great Britain defeated Mexico 13-11; Hungary tied Germany 8-8; Argentina downed Mexico 15-5; and Hungary crushed Germany 16-6 in a rematch. Great Britain would meet Argentina in the final while Mexico would take on Hungary for third place honors. The Argentines took Gold after prevailing 11-0 in what was the first shutout in polo history for an international
match of that magnitude. Great Britain settled for Silver and Mexico took Bronze after a 16-2 drubbing of Hungary. It would be the last year the sport of polo was to be an Olympic sport; yet, it was the first year of an unprecedented string of international polo victories for the Argentine team up to the present day. Rising up to polo prominence in the early part of the 20th century, 1936 was to be the high point of America’s dominance as the preeminent polo power in international competition. The United States had successfully surpassed Great Britain’s 19th century superiority by defeating it almost regularly in international competition, as exemplified by it capturing the Westchester Cup Series in 1909, 1911, 1913, 1921, 1924, 1927, 1930 and 1936. To their credit, the Brits did upset a highly-favored U.S. team in the 1914 series of matches after winning the first two series in 1886 and 1902. The American teams over that span of competition featured the likes of the Waterbury brothers, Devereux Milburn and Harry Payne Whitney, who eventually passed the mantel of excellence to iconic players such as J. WatPOLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61
The Argentina squad that won the Olympic Championship and the Cup of the Americas in 1936: Andres Gazzotti, Jack D. Nelson (captain), Roberto Cavanagh, Luis Duggan, Manuel Andrada, Enrique Alberdi and Diego Cavanagh.
son Webb, Louis Stoddard, Malcolm Stevenson, Eric Pedley and the immortal Tommy Hitchcock Jr. The United States dominated the Argentines in the first two of Cup of the Americas series of international matches, winning the inaugural year of 1928 and the next time it was hosted in 1932. Tommy Hitchcock Jr. captained the 1928 team, but did not play in 1932 when the team featured the likes of Mike Phipps, Elmer Boeseke, Winston Guest and Billy Post. In that pivotal year of 1936, the Argentines took the cup and held on to it through 1980, winning over the best players from the United States in 1936, 1950, 1966, 1969, 1979 and 1980. After 1980, there was little doubt that Argentina was growing generations of fine polo players and polo ponies to the point there is truly no open-level international competition between what is considered the “big three” polo associations: England, United States and Argentina. Prior to 1936, Argentina was developing quickly into a formidable polo power, with so many estancias breeding, raising and training excellent polo ponies. Growing numbers of the best of those ponies 62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
made their way to the United States and into the strings of the high-goal teams. The equestrian and farming way of life was firmly rooted in all levels of Argentine business and social culture. By the 1920s and into the 1930s, Argentine players secured positions on some of the most formidable teams in the United States. In the 1936 U.S. Open Championship, Ivor Balding’s Old Westbury team played with Argentines Diego Cavanagh, J.D. Nelson and Enrique Alberdi. According to the 1937 USPA Blue Book, when the Argentine Polo Association decided to send a team to the Olympic games in Berlin during the summer of 1936, Jack D. Nelson, president of that association, approached the United States Polo Association with an informal suggestion. On its way back from Berlin, the Argentine team would detour to the United States and challenge for the Cup of the Americas, which had been held in the United States when USA won it in Buenos Aires in 1932. There followed some long distance negotiations and eventually it was decided that the Argentine Olympic team would visit the United States to challenge the winner of the U.S. Open Championship
in the best two-out-of-three series for the Cup of the Americas. Following their extremely successful showing at Berlin, the Argentines shipped their ponies to the Unites States, stabling at the Mitchel Field stables adjoining the Meadow Brook Polo Club, located on Long Island, New York. The Argentine Olympic team, and what was to become the Cup of the Americas team, featured Luis Duggan, Roberto Cavanagh, Andres Gazzotti and Manuel Andrada. Three alternates—Enrique Alberdi, Diego Cavanagh and Jack Nelson—competed in the Open Championship competition and made a positive impression on the American players and spectators. The 1936 Open Championship (the event was retitled later to its current nomenclature: the U.S. Open Polo Championship) featured seven teams containing most of the then best known American players. During that time, Open teams could be up to 40 goals with no handicap difference awarded, and each match was eight regulation chukkers. Six games were played in the event, beginning August 30 with a triple-header. At the Meadow Brook polo grounds,
Greentree soundly defeated Aurora, 17-8; Hurricanes defeated Old Westbury, 11-6; and, at the Sands Point polo field, Texas upset Roslyn, 10-9. Templeton drew the first-round bye. In the semifinal rounds played September 2, Green Tree prevailed 13-9 over the Hurricanes and Templeton toppled Texas, 16-5. The final match played September 5 was decided in overtime in the ninth chukker with Greentree’s Gerald Balding scoring the clincher for an 11-10 victory and the right to represent the United States against Argentina in the Cup of the Americas. On September 20, a crowd of 33,221 assembled at the International Field at the Meadow Brook Polo Club. Lining up for the United States was G.H. “Pete” Bostwick, Gerald Balding, Thomas “Tommy” Hitchcock Jr. and John Hay Whitney. Up to that point, the Argentines had never defeated the United States. Most importantly in the minds of his teammates and most of the spectators, the United States had Tommy Hitchcock who was considered by most everyone to be the best polo player in the world at that time. Peter Vischer, editor and publisher of Polo, Horse and Horseman and Country Life magazines, summed up the epic meeting of the two polo powerhouses: “The victory of the Argentine polo four over the Greentree team … was a great achievement … it marked a new mile-post in the history of the game. There was no question about their superiority after the middle of the first game, they had four players of class, mounted on just about the best string of ponies ever seen at Meadow Brook, and they played brilliant polo.” The Argentines won both matches on America’s hallowed grounds, in what is considered the Golden Age of polo in the United States, by the scores of 21-9 and 84. The score at the half of the first game
Mrs. Jack D. Nelsen presents the Open trophy to Greentree’s captain John Hay Whitney. The other players were Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Gerald Balding and George H. Bostwick. The team won the Open and the right to represent USA in the Cup of the Americas against Argentina.
was 8-8, then in the fifth 9-8. The Argentines scored four goals per period in the final three periods, with the American’s scoring but one tally in the second half. Roberto Cavanagh scored nine goals to lead all scorers, and his team scored at a rate of .533 percent to shots on goals, while the American’s goal conversion percentage was .500. Argentina committed two fouls and the United States five (a game umpired by Stewart Iglehart and Diego Cavanagh, with Devereux Milburn as referee). In the second game of the series, the American’s seemed to have fared better. They trailed 5-2 at the half and the Argentine’s never lost control of the game. The goal scoring accuracy dropped to .381 for the Argentines and .363 for the American team, with five fouls committed by Argentina to only two by the American team. In terms of the Argentine horses used in the match, those mounts had traveled many thousands of miles, had played the summer of 1936 in France, Belgium and Germany before coming to America. They had been very sick in Paris, but recovered from all adversity, giving everything anyone could ask for.
The Argentine team’s captain was Jack Nelson, who spent many years organizing international polo and who brought the first Argentine team to the United States in 1922. Nelson was long recognized, wherever high-goal polo was played, as one of the leading innovators in the game. Vischer reported: “In the broadest possible sense, of course, the Argentines wanted to demonstrate that their polo ranked with the best and that they deserved to stand on equal footing with the United States, the greatest polo playing nation in the world today, and the English, the horsemen of tradition. That they certainly did. They gave the English a humiliating defeat at Berlin and they beat the competition we offered them in no uncertain terms. Argentina stands at the top of the polo heap today.” That assessment of the superiority of the Argentines in the world of polo, written in 1936, stands true without question in the 21st century as well. The 1936 Cup of the Americas was certainly Argentina’s most brilliant iconic victory and a true turning point in Argentine excellence and influence in the world and business of polo. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63
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