August 2018 Polo Players' Edition

A U G U S T 2 01 8

Polo Network team wins Women’s ECO

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CONTENTS AU G U S T 201 8

VO L . 21 ,

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

26 Going South

6

Battle of the Carolinas goes to Greenville

30 Eastern Exposure

NO. 12

Association News

USPA Bulletin Club Spotlight

12 Instructors Forum

Inaugural Women’s East Coast Open draws nine teams

by Tom Goodspeed

36 It’s a passion by Gwen Rizzo

14 Usefuls

A love for horses guides polo horse trainer

by Gwen Rizzo

16 Equine Athlete 18 22 24 40

A U G U S T 2 01 8

Polo Network team wins Women’s ECO

OUR COVER WIPN’s Cindy Halle, Dawn Jones, Alyson Poor and Anna Winslow win inaugural Women’s East Coast Open.

Photo by Jacqueline Miller

by Dr. Stephanie Massey Colburn Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes

Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas

by Ernesto Rodriguez

42 Polo around the Globe 60 Yesteryears 62 Calendar 48 Polo Report

Huntsman captures Shreve Crump & Low Cup

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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

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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

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VOL. 21, No.12 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.

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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

USPA Polo Network Get ready to watch live polo from the comfort of your own home! The USPA Polo Network will livestream five USPA high-goal polo tournaments beginning this month. Both arena and outdoor tournaments will be featured, providing fans with the best of both worlds.

Livestreamed games will be available via uspolo.org, Facebook (United States Polo Association), Twitter (@PoloAssociation) and Youtube (USPA Polo Network).

Please refer to the tournament schedules below and visit uspolo.org for more details. Please note, schedules are subject to change.

• United

States Arena Handicap: Aug. 1–13 (Aspen Valley Polo Club, Carbondale, Colorado) • Silver Air Pacific Coast Open: Aug. 16Sept. 2 (Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, Carpinteria, California) • U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship semifinals and final: Sept. 5-8 (Country Farms Polo Club, Medford, New York) • National Youth Tournament Series semifinals and final: Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 (Columbine Polo Club, Littleton, Colorado) • East Coast Open: Aug. 26 – Sept. 9 (Greenwich Polo Club, Greenwich, Connecticut) Youth Polo on the Rise

The Aiken Youth Polo program announced a partnership with New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina, for the creation of an outdoor polo arena. Construction on the new regulation-size arena, adjacent to Field 1, began in June and expected to be completed this month. Ideally located, spectators and participants will have easy access to the New Bridge clubhouse where food and beverages can be purchased during events.

“New Bridge is delighted to partner 6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Tiger Kneece works with a student in Aiken, South Carolina.

with the Aiken Youth Polo program and Tiger Kneece to support and promote the growth of interscholastic and intercollegiate polo as well as youth polo in Aiken,” said Raza Kazmi, New Bridge Polo & Country Club general manager.

The Aiken Youth Polo program is managed and operated by Aiken residents Tiger and Susie Kneece, and already has an outdoor program in place at the nearby Aiken Polo Club (Aiken, South Carolina). This spring, AYP hosted a National Youth Tournament Series qualifier, which had over 40 young players participating. Last year, AYP launched an intercollegiate/interscholastic polo program and hosted three high school teams.

This coming year, along with their high school teams, AYP will have a men’s intercollegiate team called the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers. Meanwhile, plans are already in place to start a women’s team next year. Only a 15minute drive from the USC campus in Aiken, the new arena will be easily accessible to all students to learn and play.

Angela Hale, parent of one of the stu-

dents, said, “The interscholastic program turned out to be better than I could have possibly imagined. Since it was our first year, we got a crash course in how the interscholastic program worked. Amy Fraser and Ali Davidge went above and beyond to guide us. The transformation in our players was impressive.”

“The new Aiken Youth Polo Arena at New Bridge Polo Club represents a pivotal point for youth polo in the Southeast region. Aiken is uniquely located to draw kids from all ages and many states to safe, fun and competitive polo all properly coached by Tiger Kneece. The future of U.S. polo has its newest and best facility in Aiken, South Carolina. Crestview Genetics is proud to support the Aiken Youth Polo Arena,” added Crestview Genetics’ Alan Meeker.

With the new arena, AYP will be able to cater to young players starting in the middle school program all the way through their senior year of college. The combined efforts of Aiken Polo Club, New Bridge Polo & Country Club and the Polo Adventures Polo School will secure a yearround program for young players. In addition to the youth program, the arena will also provide a great avenue for people of any age to take up and learn the game of polo both indoor and outdoor. AYP and its sponsors are truly committed to help grow the sport of polo.

Handicap Committee The Handicap Committee high-level player disclosure policy goes into effect Sept. 1, 2018. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all players playing in high-level polo have been properly observed and discussed by the National Handicap Committee. High-level polo will be defined as a USPA event with a handicap above 15 goals.

At least 90 days prior to the tournament draw, a player (or a team representative) who intends to play in a high-level polo tournament, must disclose to the

NHC on which team he or she intends to play. This will allow the NHC time to research and determine if the player was adequately reviewed and discussed at the NHC meeting and if not, evaluate the player to determine if the player’s handicap is correct before that player competes in a high-level polo event.

Exempt from disclosure are players who have played the previous year in a USPA high-level polo event and players who have competed in one of the listed foreign qualifying tournaments, have paid their dues, and intend to play on their same handicap from the foreign qualifying tournament.

Players who have been absent from USPA high-level polo for the previous calendar year or have never competed in the U.S. but have played in one of the listed foreign qualifying tournaments must adopt the highest handicap from the country in which they played a qualifying tournament regardless of if the handicap is higher or lower than their current USPA handicap. Players who have played

in qualifying tournaments in two countries and have a different handicap in each association must adopt the higher of the two associations’ handicaps. Absent players who face a handicap change in a foreign association after playing in a qualifying tournament must adopt the same handicap change in the U.S. unless they have paid their USPA dues and disclosed their intent to play high-level polo and the team on which they intend to play, prior to a foreign association’s handicap announcement. Players who play in a HLP game, but did not disclose their intent 90 days prior to playing, will face immediate review by the NHC after they have played their first game and all subsequent games, and will likely have their handicap adjusted mid-season if their current handicap does not reflect their skill level compared to players in the tournament at the same handicap.

Players who have disclosed their intent and have been approved for HLP by the NHC, will be marked with an asterisk (*) on the NHC registry. Disclosure of the

intent to play HLP should be made in writing to Lindsay Dolan, membership and handicap manager, by email at ldolan@uspolo.org or Carlucho Arellano, executive director of services, by email at carlucho@uspolo.org.

Circuit Governor Election All USPA club delegates are reminded to submit ballots for the 2018 USPA circuit governor election by Aug. 14 to ensure that votes will be counted. Results of the election will be announced no later than Aug. 30. Questions may be sent to Stewart Armstrong, USPA secretary at sarmstrong@uspolo.org.

Club News Do you have interesting story or event at your club that you would like to promote? The USPA wants to share interesting stories with members via digital communications such as online articles, social media and the weekly member email titled “This Week in Polo.” For more information, contact Summer Keeney, communications coordinator by email at skeeney@uspolo.org.

Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth, Florida 33467 (800) 232-USPA

The Handicap Committee’s high-level player disclosure policy goes into effect next month. The purpose of the policy is to ensure all players in high-level polo have been properly observed.

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

HOUSTON POLO CLUB

Steven Armour, Paul Jornayvaz, Kelly Price and Chrys Beal congratulate Houston NYTS participants Christopher Owen, Joanie Jackson, Milo Dorignac and Cipriano Echezarreta.

With them are SignatureCare representatives Jeff Mathew and Nick Harrilal, far right.

Intercollegiate/Interscholastic NIC coaches were invited to the first-ofits-kind “College Coaches Think Tank” meeting held in Wellington, Florida, on June 24. The main topic of discussion was alternative chukker formats for the National Intercollegiate Championships.

Attendees included Mike McCleary (TAMU), Tom Goodspeed (SMU), Lou Lopez (UVA), Scott Weir (Western Ontario), David Eldredge (Cornell), PTF’s Danny Scheraga, USPA staff Amy Fraser, Emily Dewey, Bradley Biddle and Carlucho Arellano, USPA CEO Bob Puetz and Polo Development Chairman Stevie Orthwein.

CPI Congratulations to Paige Luplow of the Houston Polo Club and Ashley Owens of Midland Polo Club on receiving their Certified Polo Instructor certifications.

Polo Skilz June 14-15 marked the start of another class working toward their coveted USPA Instructor Certification. The Instructor 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Skilz Clinic, hosted in Brookshire, Texas, is a preparatory event designed for instructors to learn about the program and qualify for the final step—the certification field test. Attending instructors included Mike Denby of Arizona Polo Club; Eduardo Amaya of Houston Polo Club; Ariel Mancebo of San Saba Polo Club; Pud Nieto of South Padre Island Polo Club; and Sebastian Aycinena, Team USPA member of Las Canchas Polo Club. The event, co-led by certifier Erik Wright and staff member Jess Downey, guided the instructors through a myriad of best practice training and interactive teaching lessons.

For more information about the CPI program please contact Jess Downey at jdowney@uspolo.org.

National Youth Tournament Series NYTS qualifiers are taking place all across the country. Houston recently hosted the largest single-division qualifier with seven teams. Bluewater Creek ran two NYTS divisions with four teams in the Aflight and two in the B-flight. Atlanta Regional Polo Center also hosted a two-

division event with four teams in the Aflight and two in the B-flight. On the opposite coast, Lakeside Polo Club held a three-team round robin where new Team USPA member Molly Agee was named an all-star. The Northeast NYTS qualifiers began the last week of June and took place on almost every weekend in July.

All-stars included: Houston—Grace Mudra, Vaughn Miller Jr., Cipi Echezarreta, Grayson Price, Lance Stefanakis, Santi Payan, Anson Moore, April Galindo, Emily Taylor Morris, Milo Dorignac Bluewater Creek—(A-Flight) Summer Kneece, Robyn Leitner, Aiden Meeker, Gracie Brown, Thomas Phelps, Reagan Leitner, Jack Whitman; (B-Flight) Robby Mooney, Faye Decker, Belle Cato, Caleb Cherry Atlanta—(A-Flight) Thomas Phelps, Michael Bradford, Robyn Leitner, Reagan Leitner, Brennan Wells, Ry Koopman, Gracie Brown; (B-Flight) Diego Vazquez, Caleb Cherry, Adrienne Lincoln, Faye Decker Lakeside Polo Club—Garret Bankhead, Ian Schnoebelen, Ethan Bankhead, Drew Hobscheid, Molly Agee

Team USPA Jared Zenni and Jared Sheldon won Gladiator Polo in Tryon, North Carolina, alongside arena superstar Pelon Escapite.

New Team USPA member Mia Bray received an internship through USPA Polo Development, LLC. at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. She and fellow Team USPA member Jake Klentner recently completed their umpire certification. A host of Team USPA members competed in the 12-goal seasons in Houston, Texas, and Santa Barbara, California. Jim Wright, Jesse Bray, Herndon Radcliff, Matt Coppola and Geronimo Obregon each recorded wins in tournament play.

Great Meadow Polo Club The Plains, Virginia

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TONY GIBSON

ften overlooked and the polo field. The main extremely underrated, the attraction “Twilight Polo,” sport of arena polo has which takes place Saturday much to offer the casual polo nights under the lights, garners spectator.

Viewers are upwards of 2,000 visitors, with transported into the game, three guaranteed games enjoying up-close and personal beginning at 6 p.m. views of the action with “General admission is $40 a proximity to both the human carload. That gets one car in and equine athletes as they race and you can pack it full of past, turn on a dime, bump and people,” said assistant manager maneuver.

Whitney Ross.

“General For over 20 years, long admission includes a grass before the newly minted berm, where guests can set up Gladiator Polo, Great Meadow blankets, chairs and bring their Polo Club in The Plains, own little coolers and picnics.

Opening night is Military Appreciation Night so everyone in the military gets in free and a fireworks display follows the games.

Virginia, has been effectively The next level is a tailgate spot, showcasing the exhilaration of then there are the ringside VIP the sport to thousands of spectators.

“What’s so special about Great boxes, plus, on two corners there are Year after year, players of all levels Meadow is that it is always going to be entertainment decks for big groups.” pursue the glory of competition and here,” said club manager John Gobin.

Aside from an assortment of viewing victory in front of a packed and cheering “It’s not a private club, no one owns it, options, each Saturday is themed and crowd. A thriving spectatorship, which it’s a foundation and it has a polo center the crowd is encouraged to dress up and feeds into a fruitful polo school, proves built in. It’s run by the foundation and I take part in the overall entertaining and that arena polo is not to be manage it as a community polo center. lighthearted atmosphere. underestimated. Breaking the mold, It’s all different levels, it’s open to “We have Military Appreciation Great Meadow Polo Club sets the everyone and it’s not owned by Night, which is our opening event and precedent for arena clubs nationwide. anyone—all are welcome.” that’s followed by fireworks. So everyone Great Meadow Polo Club operates on This commitment to diversity and that is in the military gets in for free,” the grounds of the Great Meadow events inclusivity is mirrored both on and off said Gobin. center and steeplechase course, “We continue to elevate the permanent home of the polo experience and grow our Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase family-friendly environment,” classic. The 380-acre expanse of said Ross. For starters, any land, in the heart of Virginia youngster who returns a ball horse country was founded, and that has flown out of the arena later donated, by news executive is rewarded with candy—an and polo player Arthur W. astute and worthwhile bribe all “Nick” Arundel. Currently arena clubs should consider managed under the supervision adopting. “We have a massive of the Great Meadow tug of war in the arena at Foundation, the non-profit halftime and the players from organization is dedicated to the the 7 p.m. game will anchor preservation of open space in each side,” continued Ross. the area for equestrian and “Then the club mascot, Polo Jack McLean rides around the arena high-fiving fans after a Twilight Polo match. community use.

Bear, leads the kids on a two-lap POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9

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Michael Grams sticks to Ramiro Cordero in a Twilight polo match. Assistant manager Whitney Ross says the polo school gets a lot of people requesting lessons after they watch Twilight polo.

10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

boarders, 15 school horses, plus my five horses, which also go into the polo school, for more advanced riders.”

A 2017 Polo Development Initiative award recipient, they revamped their website last year, the remainder of the award replacing broken tack and other necessities required to keep a prosperous polo school running smoothly.

The average trajectory for a polo student leads from lessons to coaching chukkers, followed by a student’s “big

break” under the lights in a beginner 6 p.m. featured match. Where else can a novice polo player have the opportunity to impress their friends and family in front of a multitude of fans?

Formerly the home of the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship for many years, the 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. games offer more competitive traditional tournament-style polo with professionals. Gobin insists, however, that high-goal polo is not what makes polo spectating enjoyable, instead it is

TONY GIBSON

race around the arena. After the 8 p.m. game, we put out foot mallets and balls and the children have a go in the arena hitting balls, running around and just having a good time.”

Adults of all ages are also guaranteed a fabulous evening with on-site wine selections from title sponsor Greenhill Winery and a dance party in the pavilion following the evening’s competitions.

The Great Meadow Foundation website reads, “What could be more perfect?

Virginia wine in Virginia horse country while cheering on your favorite polo team!” Take a moment, and just imagine if you were playing in the game!

“People see Twilight and they want to try it!” exclaimed Ross. “We are constantly getting a new group that comes in to take lessons. I have someone contact me at least once a week interested in lessons. It really helps to bring in new customers.”

Established in 2011, the polo school directed by Gobin, a USPA Certified Polo Instructor, recently moved locations to a farm conveniently positioned directly across the road from the arena. “It’s literally right across the street from Great Meadow and it’s almost 100 acres, with two big barns and tons of tons of paddocks and grass for the horses,” said Ross. “We started here with very little,” recounted Gobin, “and in six years we have grown to include 30

Darrell Gaebel introduces his pony, Aragorn, to the audience prior to a match.

The girls’ team gets a hand from some players and Polo Bear in the tug of war held between the matches.

TONY GIBSON

Polo manager John Gobin says the crowds are sometimes so dense there is little room to walk. “It’s like a crowded beach,” he says.

“The best polo game in the arena that I ever watched was a bunch of 2 goalers,” recalled Gobin. “There were six 2

TONY GIBSON

seeing the people you are watching having the time of their life—their emotions translate into the audience.

Umpire Isabella Wolf tosses in the ball to start the chukker of a match between blue’s Whitney Ross, Joe Muldoon and Juan Salinas and red’s David Greenhill, Aleco Bravo and John Gobin.

goalers and they all hit it and ran, it was amazing!”

While arena polo is Great Meadow Polo Club’s main draw, its grass polo is not far behind. The arena is flanked by a world-class polo field built in 2001, which annually hosts The National Sporting Library & Museum’s Benefit Polo Match & Brunch in September. A highlight of the season, last year’s match featured Nacho Figueras among the rosters, along with teams representing the British Military and Dubai. Figueras is scheduled to play again this year.

Located 45 minutes from the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., and only 20 minutes from the self-proclaimed “nation’s horse and hunt capital” in historic Middleburg, Virginia, Great Meadow Polo Club holds its own as arguably the arena polo capital of the nation. Tree-lined and elevated berms offer stunning views of open horse country with crowds reminiscent of the golden age of polo. Arena polo is alive and well at this Eastern Circuit club and Great Meadow Polo Club offers insight into one of the many ways clubs can secure the future of polo.

For more information visit www.greatmeadowpoloclub.com POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11

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DOUBLE DUTY have been involved in discussions on the subject of double chukkering in the intercollegiate/interscholastic system the past couple of years. It is not an uncommon subject at any level in the arena or outdoors. I define double chukkering as a horse playing two full chukkers.

There are many varied opinions. For those fortunate enough to have a string (6-9 horses outdoors and 3-5 for the arena), whether to double chukker does not vary from one horse to the next.

Sometimes a string may be more of a strand when there are very real economic or soundness limitations.

Things to consider when double chukkering are the horse’s conditioning, its age, level of play, individual endurance tolerance and soundness, as well as field conditions, field size, player ability and a player’s financial situation.

Some believe a horse should never be double chukkered while others see no issue with double chukkering. There is no right or wrong answer, it is based entirely on the individual horse.

Just like any sport, individual athletes have various levels of endurance. Some great basketball players can play almost an entire game, where as others may still be great but are more limited in the minutes they can play.

Economics are always a real factor. If resources are unlimited, more horses is always better. If you are limited in time or funding, plenty of lower levels of competition allow for players to be able to participate with fewer ponies.

In my early years of arena polo, I, and many others throughout history, pulled a two-horse trailer around to plenty of arena tournaments. I had a “strand” of ponies, which eventually grew to include 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

ELIZABETH HEDLEY

Consider playing a horse two chukkers on a case-by-case basis

The split-string system in I/I has each horse playing one chukker for one team and another chukker for the opposing team in a game.

a spare, then eventually more horses.

When I first played outdoors, I had three ponies and was able to compete in lowergoal, four-chukker matches on the grass.

My string eventually grew to four and then on up to five, six and more.

After college polo, I managed large equestrian operations and played as much low-goal arena and outdoor polo I could. I won a record 17 arena national championships through my years at various levels, all with a strand of horses.

I’m not making this statement to brag, but to show that you can still be successful with a limited string.

I was very active in the arena community across the country, competing with and against dozens of wonderful players doing the same thing I was—double chukkering.

I never had difficulty double chukkering horses in the arena, it was when I started playing a more competitive level outdoors that it became obvious more horses was better.

My higher-goal arena experience also dictated an alteration in the standard

practice of double chukkering. We came up with six five-minute chukkers so any horses that were double chukkered would be played a total of 10 minutes vs. 15 minutes with regulation chukkers.

Arenas are a fraction of the size of an outdoor field so ponies don’t have to run as much as they do outdoors. And it is easy to change ponies during a chukker outdoors, but it is simply not the case in an arena.

Some will argue that all the stop and go in the arena is harder on horses but that is simply not true. I could play all through the arena winter seasons without any substantial leg care for the ponies, but a few weeks into the outdoor season it seemed to be non-stop leg care with hosing, icing, wrapping and poulticing.

Intercollegiate and interscholastic has a wonderful equalizing system of splitstring. The concept was developed by a famous veterinarian at Cornell University, ‘Doc’ Roberts. He came up with the idea of each horse playing one chukker for one team and one for the opposition during games between two

colleges. Playing a horse two chukkers in the arena was already the standard.

Doc’s idea was to level the playing field so a school with much better horses wouldn’t have an advantage. Split strings equalized the horse power for teams and put the focus on the teams’ playing and riding abilities. The challenge is most college and scholastic programs rely on donations to build their strings and donated horses are often older or may have soundness issues.

Other negatives found their way into the split string system, such as a player using up as much horse as possible in the first chukker so there would be little left for the opponent that played the horse in the second chukker.

The I/I program continues to be very proactive in pony welfare and has made appropriate adjustments to benefit the

ponies. For example, I/I now only allows for a modest warm up so players no longer have the ability to try to overwork a horse in the first chukker.

Most I/I programs take very good care of their horses and it allows aging donated horses to stay active on a limited basis. They may be played more minutes overall, but the level of play often demands less. The academic school year includes a short fall season, followed by a long winter break before two to three months in later winter and early spring.

Most I/I horses have the summers off. It is good to keep older ponies physically fit, but moving at a slower pace.

There are not many people that can hire three top professionals and buy 50plus top horses, however it is a lot of fun to watch those that can. There are many more players that can buy two horses and

join in on local chukkers and lower-goal tournaments.

To be competitive in the upper levels of play, think in terms of dozens of top ponies. For most, two to three healthy horses are all you’ll need for lower-level, four-chukker events.

Consider each horse on an individual base when determining if it can double chukker. Pushing horses harder than they are capable will lead to injuries. If that happens, your string will become a strand and eventually turn you into a spectator instead of a participant.

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.

Bronzes by (not only) Polo in Bronze for over 30 years Rich Roenisch is a long time polo player and a lifetime cowboy, which brings authenticity to his pieces.

His bronzes have an international reputation.

A wide variety of subjects in a wide range of prices.

Delivery times will vary.

Rich Roenisch Walking R Holdings Box 113 Longview, Alberta, Canada T0L 1H0 ph/fax (403) 652 4053 email: walkingr@xplornet.com

www.richroenisch.com (Front section of) "BANKS OF THE BOW"

L36" x W19" x H24 Detail of maquette for monumental sculpture "By the Banks of the Bow" (by Rich Roenisch and Bob Spaith).

Total of 15 horses in full maquette. Limited edition of 20

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13

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DRINK UP! Keep hydrated when playing in the heat

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orking out in the summer heat can leave you feeling like you’ve been zapped of all your energy.

Galloping around, trying to maneuvering a half-ton horse while chasing a small, white ball, all while your opponents are bumping you and hooking your mallet in the heat is enough to make the fittest athlete feel fatigued.

One of the keys to maintaining your energy is staying hydrated. Even mild dehydration can make you feel tired.

More than half your body weight is water, and any fluid lost needs to be replenished. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of your fluid needs are met through water and beverages you drink. However, you can get some fluids through the foods you eat. For example, broth soups and foods with high-water content such as celery, tomatoes or melons can contribute to fluid intake.

You have likely heard the average person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. This may be a good rule of thumb for some, however if you sweat, you need to drink more. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine indicate very active individuals continually exposed to hot weather often have daily total water needs of six liters or more.

Loss of water through urination and sweating must be replenished. The more you sweat, the more water is needed to replenish your body. This is especially true during the summer when it is hot.

According to the CDC, water helps keep your body temperature normal, lubricate and cushion joints, protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues and get rid of wastes through urination,

perspiration and bowel movements.

Signs of dehydration include lightheadedness, dark-colored urine or little or no urine, headache, fatigue, dry mouth and confusion.

But water isn’t all that is lost through sweating. Electrolytes, which include sodium and potassium among other minerals, are also lost through sweating.

Electrolytes regulate nerve and muscle function and also need to be replenished.

“Hotter temperatures call for increased hydration and electrolyte needs, such as potassium. Failing to replace potassium during and after workouts can lead to muscular aches, cramps, fatigue or even spasms, heart palpitations, constipation or nausea,” says Angie Asche, MS, RD sports dietitian and owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition. “Adults should be taking in 4.7 grams of potassium per day. Some potassium-rich foods include baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, milk, yogurt, melon, bananas, avocado, spinach, broccoli and coconut water.”

Sports drinks—not to be confused with energy drinks—contain electrolytes, which

help your body absorb water. However, not all sports drinks are the same. Some can be high in calories from added sugar or contain high levels of salt or caffeine. Stick to water, drinking sports drinks only when you are exercising intensely for more than an hour. Stay away from energy drinks, which won’t replace electrolytes and generally contain high-levels of caffeine and sugar.

For most U.S. states, heat peaks in August. Some athletes can exercise in the comfort of a gym, while polo players play almost exclusively outdoors. Some days, it may be too hot for humans or horses to exercise safely outdoors. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends dialing back intensity of exercise when weather is hotter and more humid. The ACSM says an athlete can lose more than 5 percent of body weight in water when exercising in the heat. That much dehydration undermines sweat production and blood flow to the skin, making it harder for the body to dissipate heat.

According to Asche, a 1 percent loss in body weight during exercise (1.5 pounds in a 150-pound person) makes the heart beat 3 to 5 times faster per minute. A 2 percent loss (3 pounds in 150-pound person) is defined as dehydration and a 3 percent loss (4.5 pounds in a 150-pound person) significantly impairs performance.

“Common sweat rates ranges from about 1 to 4 pounds per hour. This number can vary so much depending on the person, their body weight, temperature, etc. Due to this variation, I highly recommend calculating your own sweat rate,” Asche says. This can be done by weighing yourself immediately before playing and immediately after—while keeping track of how many ounces of water you drink. “Knowing this information can

help calculate how much water you should be drinking every 15, 30 or 60 minutes.”

Asche recommends drinking 16 to 24 ounces of fluid prior to exercise, and 8 ounces just as you are mounting up.

During exercise drink 4 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes and after exercise, drink at least 16 ounces for every pound lost.

“Aim for at least 4 ounces (approximately four gulps) of fluid every 15 to 30 minutes,” she says. For polo, drink at least 2 ounces after each chukker, alternating water and sports drinks. “This way you’ll be replenishing both fluids and electrolytes,” she says. In addition to drinking water or sports drinks, you can also snack on watermelon, which is made up almost entirely of water, or eat dried apricots or fresh bananas to replace potassium.

Alcohol is diuretic, meaning it will cause you to urinate more frequently and thus can cause dehydration. Avoid drinking alcohol the night before you play or while you are recovering from a tough game. Save the victory champagne celebrations until you have fully rehydrated.

While preventing dehydration is essential, Asche says there is such thing as “too much of a good thing!” “Drinking too much water can increase your risk of hyponatremia (low blood-sodium levels) that can cause headaches, muscle spasms or even seizures. Prevent this by drinking according to your personal needs or sweat rate and replacing sodium and other electrolytes lost through sweat via sports drinks or electrolyte packets,” she says.

To learn more about sports nutrition, Angie Asche can be reached through her website: www.eleatnutrition.com.

10-goaler Facundo Pieres only uses Texas Polo Luxe Edition saddles

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BEATING THE HEAT Take precautions with your horses when temperatures begin to rise

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ith summer polo seasons in full swing, everyone is looking to have their fun in the sun, but with summer also comes the scorching heat that can be quite perilous to horses in many parts of the country.

It can be a challenge to maintain horses in the summer time as the heat causes additional stress on polo ponies.

Being able to recognize how riding and playing in the heat can affect your horses and being able to take the steps to both prevent and promptly treat heat-related injuries can be of paramount importance so you and your ponies can have fun while remaining safe during your summer season.

You might be asking yourself, when is it too hot to ride and/or play my polo ponies? The general rule is called the “Rule of 150.” With this rule you can roughly gauge if it is too hot to ride by adding together the actual temperature in Fahrenheit with the percent humidity. If the total is above 150 this is a general rule not to ride, but there are many different factors that can affect this decision.

Before discussing how heat affects polo ponies, first understand how horses are able to regulate their own body temperatures. Horses naturally sweat to cool themselves. The water in sweat on horses’ skin evaporates, taking heat with it. Areas with higher humidity pose a problem, as less water will evaporate, decreasing horses’ abilities to regulate their temperatures.

Horses are most effective at cooling themselves when the total temperature in Fahrenheit and humidity add up to less than 130. Above 130, horses have increased difficulty regulating their body 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

temperatures and cooling themselves. At a heat index of 180 or above, your horse’s ability to cool itself is ineffective, thus, when competing at these conditions you put your horse at increased risk of developing illness secondary to heat stress.

Horses not only lose water when they sweat, but also electrolytes. Krishona Martinson, PhD, University of Minnesota, wrote an article called Managing Horses During Hot Weather. In it she explains, “Horses lose approximately ten grams of electrolytes per liter of sweat, losing up to five to seven liters of sweat (50-70 grams of electrolytes) per hour in normal riding conditions.”

Electrolytes play a crucial role within the horse’s body and are extremely important for muscle function. In order to perform at their best in the heat, horses need to remain hydrated with fresh water and have electrolytes supplemented, so they can sweat appropriately to cool themselves.

What makes horses susceptible to heat stress? There are many different factors to consider when you regard if your horse

will be able to safely participate in hot weather conditions. Heat stress commonly occurs in horses that are over worked in areas that are hot and humid when proper conditioning has not been achieved, but can also be seen in fit horses that are affected by anhidrosis (inability to sweat), or have been moved from cool to hot climates for competition without sufficient acclimation time.

For horses traveling to compete from cool, dry climates to more hot and humid conditions, a 15- to 21-day acclimation period is recommended to help prevent heat stress during exercise. Also, gauge your horse’s fitness level, a weekend warrior is going to have a much harder time conditioning to the heat than a performance horse ridden and exercised daily.

Consider the environment you will be riding and playing in. Will your horses have shade while they stand at the trailer?

Are you playing during the hottest part of the day? It is also important to take into account any medical conditions your horses might have like Cushings disease, obesity, anhidrosis, or respiratory

conditions like Recurrent Airway Obstruction, that will make regulating the heat more difficult for your horses.

How can you recognize if your horse is suffering from heat stress? Early diagnosis of heat-induced injuries is extremely important in order for treatment to be most effective. Horses that are subject to the heat will show signs of depression or fatigue and may have an increased heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and/or capillary refill time (normal heart rate is between 24-48 beats per minute and normal respiratory rate is between 12-24 breaths per minute).

Horses suffering from heat stroke will have an elevated temperature ranging from 104 °F to 111 °F. Horses may also show more subtle signs such as a decreased appetite, mild colic signs, or a refusal to work. Horses should be

Horses should be sweating in hot weather. Still, if the heat index is too high, don’t ride.

Instead keep horses in shade with plenty of water.

sweating during the heat of the summer and those that are not sweating and that have hot, dry skin could be showing early signs of heat stress. Severely affected horses may collapse or develop neurologic

signs that can progress to coma or death.

Horses that do not receive treatment, especially if signs are severe in nature, (continued on page 59)

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POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17

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Motorcycles, sports cars take to the field

THE WINE COUNTRY POLO CLUB in Oakmont, California, held polo events on back-to-back weekends as part of “Polo

Champagne Around the World” tournaments played throughout the world this summer in places like Rome, Vienna, Prague and Tangiers. The first event, the SF Polo Classic, was played on June 23-23. Ferrari of San Francisco was a sponsor of the event and had an array of sleek Ferraris lining the polo field. Prior to the match, a line of Ferraris escorted the teams onto the field.

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The following week, in the Goti Cup, also part of the “Polo Champagne Around the World,” the Golden Gate Ducati Motorcycle Club was on hand, with riders displaying their bikes fieldside. Motorcyclists escorted the players onto the field prior to the game. Argentine pro Hernan Agote, mounted on one of his horses, even challenged a rider on a 150 HP Ducati Multistrada in a 100-yard dash. Agote won the race, but the motorcyclist looked to be trying to stay away from the horse! When it was time to get off the horses, players mounted up on the backs of the motorbikes, swinging mallets from the backseat while being driven around. After the game, members of the motorcycle club joined the players for an asado.

Players mount up on motorcycles to take a few swings at the ball.

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Ferrari’s line the field during the SF Polo Classic.

Members of the Golden Gate Ducati Motorcycle Club escort the teams onto the polo field prior to the game.

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IT’S A CLASSIC

Six charities benefit from annual match

FIELDVIEW FARM IN PITTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY, owned

by Jim and Laura McDevitt, hosted the Hunterdon Polo Classic on June 9. The event continued the McDevitt’s 19year history of raising funds and awareness for local charities through polo. Beneficiaries of this year’s match are the Hunterdon Art Museum, Prevention Resources, Riding with Heart, the Takaezu Studio Project, Valley Crest Farm and Preserve and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick—Hunterdon.

The match had Fieldview Farm (Adam Lipson, Val Washington, Mark Mulligan, Jim McDevitt) defeating Hunterdon Polo team (Pete D’Costa/Barclay Knapp, Ann Onisky, Hesham El Gharby, Tim Cheromeka), 9-6, at the final whistle. Joe Gantert announced the match and Carole Jones was timekeeper. Umpires for the match were George Olivas and Antonio Santana.

Adam Lipson won MVP, presented by Sean and Sue McGee

and Merrill Lynch, and Hesham El Gharby’s Novi was Best Playing Pony, presented by Dave and Jen Johnston of Amwell Ridge Wealth Management. Barclay Knapp was awarded the Bruce Nienstedt Perpetual Cup for best amateur player.

Attendance was great with over 1200 guests, sponsors and tailgaters enjoying the polo match. The match was opened with a live rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Emily Decker, a classic car parade, and a performance by St. Anne’s Pipes and Drums. Halftime entertainment included tailgate and hat competitions, demonstrations by the Essex Fox Hounds and Tewksbury Foot Bassets and a raffle drawing to benefit the Quakertown Fire Company. Josh Marpet was the color announcer for the day. Tailgate winners included “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Purple Rain, Rein, Reign,” and “County Picnic.”

Jim McDevitt anchored the Fieldview Farm team. He and wife Laura have held the Hunterdon Polo Classic benefit for the past 19 years.

Spectators enjoyed a performance by St. Anne’s Pipes and Drums (above) and demostrations by the Essex Fox Hounds (below).

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19

BEACH BALL

Players take to the sand in California

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SATURDAY, JUNE 9, Argentina’s Taqueada Polo hosted its first annual Beach Polo Tournament at Seascape Resort in Aptos, California.

Founded in Paraje La Ellerstina, Argentina, 50 minutes outside Buenos Aires, the Taqueada Polo Club includes two polo fields and stabling for 60 horses. This year, the club expanded into the U.S. Located in Gilroy, California, Taqueda Polo has plans to build the first regulation-sized field in Northern California, and bring polo events to the area.

Taqueada Stagnaro’s Martin Tassara

The beach polo event was held at Seascape Resort’s private beach, with Seascape VIP homeowners taking turns throwing in the ball to start each chukker. VIP guest enjoyed a fieldside lunch and bar service.

A couple hundred people attended the match, which included Taqueada Stagnaro’s Martin Tassara, Zoe Cookson and Dawn Rose playing Taqueada Code.X’s Brian McFall, Alex Fu and Ciro Desenzani, president of the Taqueada Polo organization. The players played their own horses, most of which are boarded at the Taqueada facility in Gilroy, where most of the players train. Taqueada Stagnaro took the trophies, 8-7.

Sponsors included Seascape Beach Resort, Stagnaro Tack & Apparel, LisaT Fine Jewelry, Plantronics and Code.X.

NIGHT POLO

Club features games under the lights

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HE COMMONWEALTH POLO CLUB in Paris, Kentucky, began Noches de Polo, a series of games played under the lights once a month during the summer.

The first night match of the season was the Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Cup. Sotheby’s (Donald Nickou, Ben Lynch, Jorge Vasquez, Raza Tiwana) edged Hardwick Clothing (Abby Jones, Eva Crossman, Meg Campos, Juan Valerdi), 7-6, thanks to a winning goal by Donald Nickou.

Spectators enjoyed the polo action from the outdoor deck, as well as food and music around the club’s fire pit.

The arena club was founded in 2015 by USPA Certified Instructor Jorge Vasquez and Juan Valerdi. It is home to the University of Kentucky and Commonwealth High School teams.

20 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Club founders Jorge Vasquez and Juan Valerdi

CITY TOPS COUNTY

Polo club puts on match for New Mexico Association of Counties

TWO 6-GOAL PIE TOWN POLO CLUB arena teams played an exhibition match on June 20 at an awards dinner during the

82nd Annual Meeting of the New Mexico Association of Counties at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology campus in beautiful Socorro, New Mexico.

The City of Socorro Team (John Nance, George Estrada Jr., Kris Laughlin, Allison Freeman) soundly defeated the County of Socorro team (Adren Nance, Dan Faherty, Pedro Chavez, Dan Coleman), 13-7, in a hard-fought game in front of 1,500 people.

Action was fast on the firm surface of the Socorro City rodeo grounds. The City Team gained the lead early and never lost it for four chukkers. The County came within one goal in the last chukker on throwin domination by Adren Nance, but a pair of late two-pointers by the City’s John Nance, put the game away for City.

Pie Town polo is proud to continue to offer a premier polo experience on the continental divide in beautiful and scenic Pie Town, New Mexico. Polo has been played in central New Mexico for 100 years, with many great players coming from this part of the John Nance, Kris Laughlin, George Estrada Jr. and Allison Freeman country. New Mexico history is rich in polo accomplishments, including the first ever National Intercollegiate title west of the Mississippi won by New Mexico Military Institute in 1953. Pie Town polo hosts PTF-funded clinics and family-hosted tournaments in its Pie Town and Socorro facilities.

PARKER’S POLO MINUTE

FOR THE BIRDS

Who is watching over your ponies?

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Do you want to win? Do you have the will to win? Get to the ball, get to your man (legally, of course) and make the play.

Be a fighter. Take it as a personal insult when someone bests you. Push yourself to improvement at all times.

OLO PLAYER Dawn Weber recently noticed a young red-shouldered hawk resting on her arena fence watching over her horses at her farm in Palm City, Florida.

“He was really cool. He was comfortable enough with me to let me get close to take a photo,” she said.

“He was just as curious of me as I was of him.” u

SanDiegoPolo@hotmail.com POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21

California dreamin’ New members have a passion for retraining horses

For Sale: Thoroughbred mare, clean xrays, 8 years old, playing 8- to 12-goal tournament polo, no vices, reasonably priced.

Sounds too good to be true, right? For many young players, it is. Purchasing the “perfect” polo pony and building a string from nothing is out of reach—but for new Team USPA members Molly Agee and Mia Bray, retraining horses for polo has captured their attention. Agee and Bray each began their equestrian journey in the hunter/jumper world, giving them a strong riding foundation. Their attention to equitation helps build the horse’s confidence as they begin the journey towards the polo field. Through Team USPA, both players aim to compete in higher-level women’s polo while pursuing careers outside of the sport. Balancing polo and work can be challenging, but the passion Agee and Bray have for horses and polo is evident.

Molly Agee

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Mia Bray

Agee studies at Point Loma Nazarene and plays at Lakeside Polo Club. She is beginning an intercollegiate team at her university in hopes of encouraging more horse enthusiasts to try the sport while also giving her a platform to compete during her time in college.

Bray recently graduated from Oklahoma State University and is completing an internship through USPA Polo Development, LLC at Santa Barbara

KAYLEE WROE

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.

Polo & Racquet Club. She will be playing in the Rincon League 8-Goal during July and August.

Beginning polo Molly: In sixth grade I decided to try polo out at the local arena club. After a few games, I was hooked and never looked back!

Mia: My dad and brother play polo professionally, but I didn’t really take much of an interest until I graduated high

Mia Bray

Molly Agee

be while also working a job outside the sport. I plan on playing and training horses for the rest of my life.

Mia: I will always be involved in the sport to some extent. Now that I have graduated, I am considering graduate school in hopes of finding a career that allows me to continue playing polo. Over the past few years, the immigration issues faced by many of the individuals working in the industry struck me and sparked my interest in law, so law school might be in the cards for me.

Team USPA Molly: Being on Team USPA is a huge privilege! I hope to have more training and playing opportunities that maybe would not be available to me otherwise. My ultimate polo experience would be to play the Women’s Open. Through Team USPA, I was able to go to Aiken a week early and play in the “Immersion Weekend” with Adam Snow and Owen Rinehart. Learning from them was an amazing experience. I also really enjoyed getting to tour the breeding facility at Insinya farm during the tryouts weekend.

Mia: I was very excited to be selected for Team USPA. Learning from different professionals will hopefully elevate my game. I really enjoyed going to Aiken for the tryout clinic. Staying at the pond house with the other players and being immersed in polo made for a pretty perfect weekend.

Advice for young players looking to get involved in the sport Molly: My advice would be to try and learn something from everyone you meet.

Everyone can teach you something.

Playing with new people and at different clubs will really help in improving your game. Playing new horses and taking on projects will give you a boost of confidence in your riding ability as well.

Mia: Find someone in the sport who can be a mentor. I had the privilege of playing with my dad, Joe Henderson, Mason Wroe, Patrick Uretz and Mariano Fassetta this year, which helped my polo immensely. The more time you spend in the saddle on the field, the more confident you will be going into plays and that will make you a better player!

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23

ALEX PACHECO

school. Now you can’t get me off of the field—I want to play as much as possible. I don’t think you will see me back in a show ring anytime soon.

Retraining horses Molly: OTTBs are my absolute favorite type of horse to have for polo. I currently have four that raced and two that were track trained. My mom and I have a few connections with people on the track and breeders. When looking for green horse projects my main concern has been conformation. Conformation can really affect the health of performance horses long term and it is a huge factor in their playing ability as well. Leon and Gucci just joined my project list this summer. I am taking my time with both of them since they are so young, but Leon seems to have taken to the mallet just fine! I have umpired on him in the arena and stick and balled him already.

Mia: I got my start in retraining horses somewhat by chance. My mom decided to save a Thoroughbred horse from a nearby kill pen via Facebook and Stilly ended up being my project horse. She was still wearing her racing plates when I picked her up! My dad and I spent the next year bringing her up slowly. Stilly played her first slow chukkers in Idaho at the Luttrell’s ranch. Shortly after, I rescued a 3-year-old gelding, Pistol Pete, from a similar situation. Pete played his first chukkers in coaching league a month ago.

Polo and life Molly: My goal in polo is to be the best player and green horse trainer that I can

Welcome to the family New teams join the ranks of the I/I program

BY AMY FRASER

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wo new collegiate programs joined the ranks of the I/I program this summer, the University of South Carolina –Aiken, and Point Loma Nazarene in California. We caught up with coach Tiger Kneece of USC-Aiken, and founding member and president of Point Loma, Molly Agee, to learn more about their new intercollegiate programs.

Look for them in the arena this fall!

University of South Carolina— Aiken Aiken, South Carolina Home Clubs: Aiken Polo Club New Bridge Polo Club Coach: Tiger Kneece Intercollegiate/Interscholastic: What prompted you to start a polo club at USCAiken?

Tiger Kneece: We had started our high school I/I program the year before and we quickly gained some interest for a college program. We wanted to be able to offer middle school all the way through college in our youth program.

I/I: How has the Aiken community stepped up in support of your youth program?

TK: We are fortunate that we live in an equestrian community and people love to support horse activities and anything with youth involved. People who own local fields and arenas have opened their doors for us to be able to use them to ensure we always have a place for the kids to play.

24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Former 5-goaler Eugene “Tiger” Kneece will now coach an intercollegiate team in addition to the interscholastic team and youth programs he runs.

The local clubs have been instrumental in this as well.

I/I: Can you tell us something unique about USC—Aiken you want prospective students to know about?

TK: It is a great little school that has a lot to offer both academically and through sports. Now with the I/I program combined with the local spring and fall seasons one has access to polo nearly year round.

I/I: What are you looking forward to most this season with your new team?

TK: Getting to know the new players and their families [and] the relationships that are built spending time and traveling together.

I/I: What advice do you have for other new teams who are trying to get started?

TK: Getting a team started may seem like too big of a task to take on but I have

found that if you just jump in and get going you will be overwhelmed with the support you will get from parents, families, sponsors, and organizations and things will start to come together.

Point Loma Nazarene

San Diego, California Home club: Lakeside Polo Club Coach: Nicole Bankhead President: Molly Agee Intercollegiate/Interscholastic: How did you get started in polo?

Molly Agee: I grew up doing eventing and showing hunter jumpers. My stepdad, Cary Burch, introduced me to polo when I was very young and I would play pee-wee polo in the desert at Eldorado Polo Club.

It wasn’t until sixth grade when I decided to take polo more seriously and play consistently for the Poway interscholastic team.

I/I: What prompted you to start a polo club at Point Loma?

MA: I always have dreamed of playing intercollegiate polo. There were no

Students at Point Loma learn the ropes. The school now has a collegiate program.

intercollegiate teams in San Diego, which motivated me to start one. Introducing polo to new people is so rewarding and it’s amazing to see arena polo continue to grow in San Diego.

I/I: Can you tell us something unique about Point Loma you want prospective students to know about?

MA: Point Loma is a small Christian university that has one of the most beautiful college campuses in California.

Our campus is located right on Sunset Cliffs Natural Park and overlooks the ocean.

I/I: What advice do you have for other new teams who are trying to get started?

MA: Starting the team and finding members may initially seem overwhelming. It’s important to remember what your goal is in the end and what you will eventually accomplish!

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25

Going South Battle of the Carolinas goes to Greenville Photos by Alex Pacheco

Charlotte’s Mariano Obregon

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Greenville took revenge after losing to Ashville in last year’s Battle for the Carolinas final. Leading up to last year’s final, Greenville’s Mariano Obregon, Pelon Escapite and Carlucho Arellano defeated Charlotte’s Santi Torres, Jared Zenni and Facundo Obregon, 6-5, in the Battle for South Carolina, before falling to Ashville’s Costi Caset, Geronimo Obregon and Patrick Uretz.

Zenni decided if he couldn’t beat them, he’d join them so this year he joined Escapite on the Greenville team.

They were joined by newcomer Jared Sheldon. The trio took on a revamped Charlotte team with Mariano Obregon, Tommy Collingwood and Kris Kampsen for the final.

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ladiator Polo’s Battle for the Carolinas series concluded on June 23 with Greenville topping Charlotte 13-11 at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

The players, using nicknames like Sheldon’s Fuego from San Diego; Zenni’s Soco; Escapite’s Bam Bam, harking from his days as a kid watching The Flintstones; Obregon’s Nino;

Greenville’s Jared Zenni outmaneuvers Charlotte’s Tommy Collingwood in the Battle of the Carolinas final in Tryon, North Carolina.

Collingwood’s Great White Shark; and Kampsen’s Colorado, for his red hair, got the crowd whipped up in a frenzy as both teams punched in multiple scores in the first chukker.

The play was aggressive and strong as both teams settled into the game, resulting in one of the best head-to-head games the league has seen.

Sheldon played a pronounced role in his team’s win, scoring three goals throughout the evening. “Our team worked really well together today. When one person went down, someone else picked it up and it was a really good group. The crowd was amazing! It was so fun to feed off them and everyone was loud, which makes it so much more fun for us.”

After taking some time to adjust to the intense arena set-up during the Battle for South Carolina two weeks prior, Sheldon admitted he felt more confident his second time around. “It felt so good to win tonight. I was definitely more comfortable in there than a few weeks ago. It’s a different arena and different rules, and it all clicked today. The venue, the people, everything; all of it is ... a blast. I hope to be back when they do this again,” the California-based Sheldon said.

Pelon Escapite was named MVP after a herculean performance. “It feels great to win,” said Escapite, who scored four goals for his team. “Today was a great turnout with a lot of people cheering for us, against us, I mean it was a special atmosphere today. My teammates worked so hard. Like I have said before, I get a lot of credit, but they are working hard for me and it is all due to them.

Winning is my favorite part about tonight. We played a great team. I mean those guys are hard to beat, but we pulled it off tonight.”

Zenni admitted his team lacked momentum two weeks ago, but regained its chemistry for the final, which resulted in victory. “It feels great to win. It always feels good to win. Two weeks ago we started out a little slower, but tonight we all knew each other, we knew each other’s strengths and the game started fast.”

Zenni, fresh off a U.S. Open win, also POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27

Greenville’s Pelon Escapite, Jared Sheldon and Jared Zenni took the $30,000 prize in the final of the Battle of the Carolinas.

A few weeks earlier, they earned $21,000 for winning the Battle for South Carolina, which advanced them to the final.

Charlotte’s Mariano Obregon is all over Greenville’s Jared Sheldon.

28 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

scored four goals for the victory. “I love the crowd. I love the intensity; them yelling at us, booing at us; they are so into it. I love it all! ...”

Gladiator Polo was inspired by Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group and managing partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners and Wellington Equestrian Partners, who understood the sport of polo was in desperate need of revitalization in order to attract and broaden its traditional audience base. Combining elements of both field polo and arena polo, the concept took form last year in Wellington, Florida, during the annual high-goal season.

Gladiator Polo consists of six fiveminute periods. The Roman-themed event has horses and riders wearing distinctive team colors—from the player’s helmets all the way down to the horses’ leg wraps—making it easier for spectators to follow the game. Unlike most traditional equestrian sports were cheers from the audience are discouraged until after a rider competes, spectators are encouraged to

NANO’S POLO MALLETS

MVP Pelon Escapite waits for Tommy Collingwood to release the ball.

cheer on their favorite team throughout the match.

The event was held in the center’s George Morris Arena, which measures 310-feet by 250-feet. A regulation-size polo arena is 300-feet by 150-feet so the larger size made for good, fast polo.

Gladiator Polo has garnered both a national and international following.

This is the second season Gladiator Polo has been played at TIEC. The players signed autographs prior to the match and guests were treated to kids activities, face painting and a traditional Argentine asado as “Roman gladiators” roamed the area.

On the way to the final, Greenville defeated Spartanburg’s Juan Martin “The Stitcher” Obregon, Geronimo “Chori” Obregon and Facundo “Facu” Obregon in the Battle for South Carolina, while Charlotte edged Ashville’s Nano “the Snake” Gracida, Santi “The Polo Kid” Torres and Patrick “Tricky” Uretz for the Battle for North Carolina. Both winning teams took home $21,000.

The series is sponsored by Coca Cola and team sponsors included GreenvilleSpartanburg International Airport, Ingles Markets and North Carolina Education Lottery.

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Eastern Exposure

Inaugural Women’s East Coast Open draws nine teams Photos by Jacqueline Miller and John Lincourt

W

omen’s International Polo Network defeated Avalon, 9-5, to lift the perpetual Sunny Hale Memorial Trophy after winning the Women’s East Coast Open on July 1.

30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

JACQUELINE MILLER

The event was co-hosted by Newport Polo, home of the Westchester Polo Club, in Newport County, Rhode Island and Myopia Polo Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Played from June 27-July 1, the tournament drew nine teams, with talented players coming from coast to coast and overseas, gathering 150 horses for some highly-competitive action over five days.

The event had five teams playing off in a 8- to 12-goal handicap bracket, while four teams vied for the 14- to 20-goal open bracket. Ten women played in both brackets.

Preliminary matches for the handicap section began on Wednesday, June 27. In a round-robin match, Island Cowgirl got two goals on Melinda’s Prospect Farm after

Harvard for third place honors. Island Cowgirl came in fourth place.

Later that day, it seemed Boston Avalon was unable to buy a goal in the handicap final as Tolerance Cider/ Heïades International cruised to a 7-1 victory.

Boston Avalon’s Tiamo Hudspeth said the team had some challenges from the start.

“Margaux Buchanan originally asked me to come put some teams together for the handicap and open, then she got hurt a few weeks before the tournament so we scrambled to [find a replacement]. Margaux is an amazing woman and supported us and found someone to play,” she said. “And in the final, the score didn’t reflect the game.

We missed a lot of goals. We could have easily won if I had made some of those

Boston Avalon and Tolerance Cider/Heïades International battle in the handicap final. The game was much closer than the final score would have you believe.

Cindy Halle and Best Playing Pony Eclair

giving it a half-goal handicap in the first round. In the next two round, Tolerance Cider/Heïades International outscored both Island Cowgirl and Melinda’s Prospect Farm, 3-1, to earn a spot in the final. The second game had Boston Avalon slip Harvard Polo, 5-4, for the other final spot.

Games were rained out the next day, so play resumed on Friday. In the first open bracket game, Women’s International Polo Network narrowly edged Heïades International 6-5. Later, Avalon Farm overcame Island Cowgirl, 7-6. The handicap consolation game was played Saturday morning with Melinda’s Prospect Farm overcoming both Island Cowgirl and

goals, just freak thinks like bouncing off a divot or hitting the goal post.”

IKnow, owned by Stacey Stover and played by Hudspeth, was Best Playing Pony.

Wendy Stover wasn’t surprised the mare won. “The mare is so talented. [She has an] incredible mouth, super speed and [is] quick for a tall mare. She is so much fun to play!” she said.

The winners lifted the Anne Hutchinson Perpetual trophy, named for the champion of civil liberty and tolerance in the colonial era. Hutchinson established Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1638. She is revered in New England as a heroine of freedom.

The open consolation match followed POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31

JACQUELINE MILLER

A large crowd gathers at the Myopia fields to cheer on the open finalists. Newport also drew large crowds with close to 2,000 attending on the weekend.

with Island Cowgirls edging Heïades International, 4-3, in front of a large crowed.

While the preliminary matches had been played on Newport’s fields, the open final

was played at the Myopia field. That match saw Women’s International Polo Network overcome Avalon Farm, 9-5.

WIPN’s Dawn Jones was named MVP

Tolerance Cider/Heïades International’s Lizzie Girard Parker gets in a tangle with Boston Avalon’s Tiamo Hudspeth in the handicap final.

32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

and Cindy Halle’s paint horse, Eclair, was named Best Playing Pony.

The winners received commemorative liberty bowls presented on Independence weekend. The bowls are symbolic of the New England region as the cradle of American democracy. Designed by silversmith and revolutionary hero, Paul Revere, the original Liberty Bowl, signed by 92 leaders of the rebellion, is on permanent display at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

The winning team also raised the Sunny Hale Memorial Trophy, honoring Hall of Famer Sunny Hale, widely considered to be one of, if not the all-time greatest female polo player. She founded the Women’s Championship Tournament, helped develop women’s handicaps and served as a role model for many in the sport up until her death in February 2017 from breast cancer.

The Women’s East Coast Open and Handicap are WCT qualifiers for the Sunny Hale Legacy WCT finals held at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, in the spring.

JACQUELINE MILLER JACQUELINE MILLER

Avalon’s Athena Malin sticks to WIPN’s Cindy Halle, while WIPN’s Anna Winslow covers Avalon’s Terri Campbell in close quarters of the Open final.

Avalon Farm’s Tiamo Hudspeth tries to avoid the mallet of WIPN’s Cindy Halle in the Open final.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33

HANDICAP Tolerance Cider/ Heïades International Minnie Keating Hannah Stowe Lizzy Girard Parker Izzy Parsons Catie Reed

3 A 3T 6T A

Boston Avalon Athena Malin Elizabeth Owens Natalie Dostoomian Tiamo Hudspeth Natalie Barton

4 A A 5 A

Melinda’s Prospect Farm Anna Winslow Jennifer Williams Cindy Halle Gracie Grotnik

4 3 4 A

Island Cowgirl Courtney Asdourian Jenna Davis Lauren Bilsky Heather Souto

6 2 A 4

Harvard Jane Amero Aemilia Phillips Marion Dierickx Alyson Poor

2T A 2 4

OPEN Woman’s Internation Polo Network Cindy Halle 4 Dawn Jones 6 Alyson Poor 4 Anna Winslow 4 Avalon Farm Terri Campbell Athena Malin Tiamo Hudspeth Paige McCabe Amanda Poor

A 4 5 6 4

Island Cowgirl Courtney Asdourian Heather Souto Ula Green Julia Steiner

6 4 2 5

Heïades International Lesley Ann Masterton Fong-Yee Lizzy Girard Parker Minnie Keating Izzy Parsons

4 3T 3 6T

34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Boston Avalon’s Tiamo Hudspeth, on Best Playing Pony IKnow, keeps the pressure on Tolerance Cider/Heïades International’s talented 6-goal Izzy Parsons in the handicap final.

Aside from the polo action, players were welcomed by Discover Newport with a collector’s gift from Rhode Island’s Alex and Ani, and enjoyed Newport’s famed attractions, including a tour of the port’s night life, a players’ dinner at the iconic Clarke Cooke House and culinary favorites throughout the tournament.

Dechra Veterinary Products was presenting sponsor of the tournament.

WIPN’s Cindy Halle said, “It was a great event for women’s polo. Hopefully, it will grow each year. It was great for Newport and Myopia to introduce a new concept and hopefully it will be on the West Coast too.”

The winning team represents a new women’s network championed by Dawn Jones. On a GoFundMe page for the Women’s International Polo Network, it is described as a first-of-its-kind independent international network of women polo players. Its purpose is to enhance women’s polo around the world by building an online community that includes detailed player profiles and a comprehensive global calendar of women’s tournaments.

The network hopes to facilitate, play and build teams; increase global exposure for women players; build a healthy women’s polo community; and create opportunities for sponsorship and philanthropic outreach.

Hudspeth, who played in both finals, said the network is a great idea and Jones is really committed to making it happen. The Women’s East Coast Open was a great

example of creating ways to increase exposure for women players.

“I met all these incredible women in the one-week tournament. It was so cool that Terri [Campbell], who wasn’t going to play at all, just stepped up. It was her first women’s tournament. She was really nervous about it and did great!” said Hudspeth. “I lost both finals but it was such a pleasure because it was really good polo, with really good sportsmanship all the way around.

Everybody played really well. We did pretty well ... for a thrown-together team ...”

Halle also enjoyed meeting new people. “I was most excited to meet new players and to get to play on Myopia’s storied polo field. It was fun to go somewhere different. ... It was very competitive and will get better and better,” she said.

Halle was reminded just how great the polo community can be when her truck blew an engine on the interstate on her way home from the event. Jared Sheldon never hesitated to drive an hour to pick up the trailer full of horses and drive them to Gardnertown Polo where Bill Dencker and his interscholastic kids set up stalls and took care of her ponies. Dencker also loaned her a car to get to a hotel. “I am so grateful for the connections this sport creates,” she said. “Other than my engine blowing, a yucky thing turned into a positive experience.” The next day, her husband Ned borrowed a truck from Vicky Collins to pick her, the horses and trailer up and bring them all home.

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Tiamo Hudspeth with Angie. The horse was recently sold to Agustin Arellano.

It’s a passion A love for horses guides polo horse trainer

By Gwen Rizzo

T

hrough hard work and dedication, Tiamo Hudspeth has worked her way up from nothing to having a career as a talented polo player and respectable horse trainer

The old adage if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life doesn’t quite hold true for Tiamo Hudspeth.

Horses and polo are her passion, but she has put in more hard work than most to create a successful career out of it. She says she got her work ethic from her mother, who also encouraged her to follow her passion.

That passion developed at an early age while growing up in Maui, Hawaii. Her grandfather, who died before she was born, was a racehorse trainer so her mother had grown up around horses. It soon became apparent Tiamo had 36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

inherited the horse gene. When she was 6, an aunt purchased a group of lessons for her as a Christmas gift, feeding that obsession. She continued to take lessons for a few years. When her parents divorced, her mom did everything she could to keep the lessons going but eventually, she just couldn’t afford it anymore.

Her mom asked the trainer if there was a way to continue the lessons, but she was told it wasn’t possible. After a few weeks, the trainer called to say someone, who asked to remain anonymous, agreed to sponsor Tiamo fo two lessons a week,

summer camp and extra activities the barn offered. In return, Tiamo had to help out at the barn almost every day.

“Yeah, it was amazing. I wish I knew who they were. I am so thankful,” said Hudspeth.

The trainer took Tiamo under her wing. Even at such a young age, she had her helping saddle break horses and took her to hunter jumper shows.

“They would be just like, hang on. I was so little, I feel like the horses didn’t even notice I was up there,” said Hudspeth. “That was pretty fun.”

The trainer’s husband played polo so

JACQUELINE MILLER

IKnow recently won Best Playing Pony in the Women’s East Coast Open. Tiamo is finishing the horse for owners Wendy and Stacey Stover.

from the time she was 9 years old, Tiamo was helping groom for him and he would occasionally let her play some of his young horses.

“Once in a while he would let me play a chukker and I would just sit on there. I could barely hold the mallet up,” she said. “I would just be cruising around with everybody, usually on a green horse.”

When she was 12, the sponsorship suddenly stopped, but by then the trainer allowed her to work off her lessons and even paid her a little bit to help with competition fees.

“My mom always helped me when she could. My mom is amazing,” Tiamo said.

“She has always been there for me and done what she could. And I always worked hard too.”

Over the years Tiamo saved every bit of money she received for birthdays and Christmas. Her mom was a waitress for 12 years and everyday over that time she took any coins she received as tips and put them in a jar for Tiamo. “Over 12 years it amounted to a lot,” Tiamo recalled.

By the time Hudspeth was 12, she was begging for a horse of her own. She had saved about $1,500. At Thanksgiving with her mom’s family around the table, her

mom made an announcement. The entire family—aunts, uncles and cousins—had chipped in and would match the money Tiamo had saved to purchase a horse.

“It was really cool. My whole family pitched in to match what I had, so I had a little over $3,000 to find a horse,” said Hudspeth. “That was my Christmas present from everybody.”

Tiamo purchased an unbroke appendix Palomino gelding with a horrible leg wound from barbwire that was left untreated. She nursed him back to health and then saddle broke him.

“He was kind of a rescue case and was a real bronc. He bucked me off more than all the other horses combined. And you could tell he was started by a 12-year-old girl. He’s got no manners but he knows a lot of tricks,” she said. “He ended up being really good and I could do anything on him. He taught me everything.”

Eventually she roped off him and played polo on him, but his real talent was jumping. “He did everything but jumping was definitely his favorite. We still have the Six-Bar record on him in Hawaii from when I was in high school.

That’s a jumping competition where the fences keep going up. I think [we jumped] like 5 feet, 5 inches,” said Hudspeth.

She still has the horse, who is now 19.

He is retired in a 400-acre pasture with her in Texas. “He’s my buddy. He’s so smart,” she said. “He’s done a lot for me so now he can live the good life.”

Hudspeth got more involved with polo when she was in high school. “I started playing a lot more and really started to get into it. And I got to go on a couple of trips,” said Hudspeth. “I went and worked for an Argentine guy one summer in Santa Rosa [California], and played there and I also went to Arizona for a winter with one of my best friends from childhood. It just kind of snowballed from there.”

When she graduated from high school, just after turning 18, she moved to Oahu on Hawaii’s North Shore. She worked three horse jobs at once, two that were in exchange for food or housing and one that paid a little bit of money.

“I worked all day. I loved it though. I had an amazing work ethic and I love horses. That’s all there is to it. I am only doing this because I love horses. It is not about anything else for me,” she said. “I appreciate all of the opportunities I was given.”

A year later, she was playing with Ronnie Tongg, who she didn’t know well POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37

KAYLEE WROE

Tiamo, right, on Bridget, in Texas. She won Best Playing Pony on the horse in the USPA Hall of Fame Challenge Cup at South Padre Island Polo Club. Pro Mason Wroe recently bought the horse.

but knew him as a polo legend. He came up to her and encouraged her to keep doing what she was doing and suggested she go to the mainland to make a career of it.

“I was just blown away. It was really powerful. It was really cool,” she remembered. “Nobody had ever really told me that I could actually do that.”

Later, Lynwen Baldwin, who had been like an aunt to Tiamo, went to Palm Springs to work with polo horses. When she called, Tiamo asked her to find her a job. After a few months, Baldwin called to say George Dill was looking for a groom so Tiamo gave him a call.

Dill offered her the job and told her to buy a plane ticket and he’d pay her back when she got to California. “I didn’t know this guy and all I had was about $500. So I bought a ticket from Oahu to Palm Springs. I didn’t have a suitcase so I packed all my clothes in a feed bag and duct taped it shut, then taped by mallets to the side of the bag and checked that,” she explained. “I had one saddle so I carried it with me as my carry on.”

She spent all summer traveling with Dill and a bunch of horses all around the Northwest. “I had never been paid before for polo, so I thought this is great. I was on Cloud 9! Every weekend we went 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

somewhere new. It was amazing. I got to meet all these people and I got to play all over the place—Canada, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming,” Hudspeth recalled. “I have to thank George because he really gave me a lot of opportunities. I got to play in so many tournaments that I would have never gotten to play in. It was so fun and I made a lot of really good friends and so many good contacts there.”

They spent the next winter in Indio, California, and when Dill rented out horses for the Townsend Cup at Empire Polo Club, Hudspeth groomed for players like Tommy Biddle and Shane Rice. After meeting her, Biddle watched her play in a game that weekend. Later, he pushed to get her on Team USPA. “He was the reason I got on [Team USPA] because none of my family plays and no one knew who I was. I had never been to the East Coast,” she explained.

“Tommy really fought for me.”

That winter, she was offered a full-time position with Steven Armour in Texas, working under Cody Woodfin, starting colts under saddle. “That’s when I learned the most about managing a barn, managing horses and it was the first time I got to work under someone. Cody is an amazing horseman and we got along so well,” Hudspeth said. “Every summer we

saddle broke 10 to 12 2-year-olds. So we had about 10 2-year-olds, 10 3-year-olds, 4year-olds, 5-year-olds. We had so many horses, good horses. That’s when I really started to figure it out and find my style.

“I have to thank Cody so much because he taught me a lot. We were really similar and I was [training] in a similar way but he made it even better.”

In 2012, Hudspeth was chosen for Team USPA, which later gave her an opportunity to train in Sheridan, Wyoming, with some of America’s best players, like Julio Arellano, Hector Galindo, Owen Rinehart and Charles Smith. “I took nine of Steven’s horses and ended up selling three, including one to Hector.” she said. They were the first horses she had ever sold.

Hudspeth worked for Armour for four years when she was offered a job as head manager of a similar but smaller operation. Alston Beinhorn happened to be visiting Sheridan one summer and ran into Polo Development, LLC’s thenexecutive director, Kris Bowman.

“He was looking to get back into breeding and wanted someone to manage the whole operation. ... Kris gave him my number,” recalled Hudspeth. “It was hard for me to leave [Steven’s operation].

I was ... really attached to the horses. It

was really heartbreaking to me.”

Hudspeth decided to seize the opportunity. She started with Beinhorn in August 2015 and has been with him since. “Alston really wanted to get into breeding. He loves seeing the horses go and playing good polo. Basically, our goal is to make quality horses and sell them with our brand on them and enjoy them being played by amazing players all over the country,” explained Hudspeth.

Aside from breeding, they purchase young polo prospects from other breeders to train and sell for polo. Hudspeth and Beinhorn also play polo together in places like Houston and New York. And when the opportunity arises, Hudspeth can play on other teams as well. Most recently, she played in the Women’s East Coast Open with Athena Malin, who is working for Hudspeth this summer.

“She’s the sweetest young lady around, a hard worker and an excellent rider,” said Hudspeth of Malin. “She came up with me and we brought horses and played in the [Women’s East Coast] Handicap and Open together. Alston’s very supportive of that.”

Former 4-goaler Stacey Stover has sent a few horses for Hudspeth to work.

Stover’s wife, Wendy, explained, “Stacey and I are very picky when trusting someone with the care of our horses.

Tiamo is the ultimate trifecta in horsemanship. She is a caretaker, trainer and player all wrapped up in one, all while maintaining a professionalism that is hard to find these days. Tiamo has an incredible feel for a horse. The horses respond to her and it shows in their performance on the field and off.”

Hudspeth watches a player’s style and prides herself on being able to successfully match horses with the player.

“Nick Cifuni has actually bought five horses that I saddle broke and started. ...

I know what Nick likes to ride ... I pay a lot of attention to everybody’s strengths and try to get on anybody’s horses when I have a chance. That way, in the future, I can be like, hey, I’ve got this horses you are going to love,” Hudspeth explained.

“I’m pretty good at matching people to horses.”

That is how she ending up selling a horse to Galindo. She walked up to him at

Tiamo’s first horse, Pride, now 19, is retired in Texas. She saddle broke the horse and went on to break the record in a Six-Bar jumping competition in Hawaii. The horse also played polo.

a bar in Wyoming and said she had a horse she’d like him to try. He tried it the next day and two days later he bought the horse. “It is his favorite horse and he still has him,” she said.

If you think Hudspeth has an easy job, think again. Training young horses can be dangerous and she has gotten hurt more than once. She had a bad fall in Port Mayaca, landing on her head and tearing a lot of ligaments in her neck.

And Hudspeth said last year was one of her worst years. “I got bucked off really bad, broke my radius and dislocated by elbow.” She said her arm is still a little weak but she has regained her motion.

Things are looking up for her. In fact, she sold four horses, three of them to pros, in a single month recently and now other high-profile professional players are contacting her about horses.

“It’s crazy how life works. Last year was my worst year and this year [is] my best,” she said. “I really feel this year was the turning point for me where I can actually see all my work and the relationships I’ve built over the last 10 years ... [paying off]. It finally feels like I’m actually making a career out of it.

Even more than that, I’m actually ... getting respect, recognition and

acknowledgement.

“It has been a slow process. It is hard to have an honest career training horses.

There are so many crooked sellers out there and that makes it really hard for someone who is trying to be honest. I pride myself on being transparent and fair. I want to be the kind of person where you are so happy with the horse, whenever you need the next one, you call me first. I don’t ever want to taint my name,” she continued. “I am really proud of the horses I’ve put out into the polo world and I always keep in touch with the owners.

“It’s really satisfying when you can see the results and relationships where you are making these people happy when they are playing your horses at a high level.

And [the horses] are doing exceptional and lasting and [are] sound. All those things I’m really proud of and I’m building my career on that foundation.”

Wendy Stover said, “Tiamo has a terrific work ethic, she is very professional and is well respected by all, both on and off the polo field. She is a tremendous player, rated 1 goal, all on horses she has been training.”

You can follow Hudspeth on Facebook or Instagram.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39

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BY ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ

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FEELS LIKE HOME Lolo Castagnola wins sixth Flag Day Cup title

S

40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

CLICK POLO

unday, June 10 was not, equaled in the closing as usually happens in seconds of the last period Rosario, a soccer day 10-all, but La Rinconada par excellence. In generated a foul that Rosario, the third forced a 40-yard penalty to largest city in Argentina, there be shot in overtime. It was was no mention of the duels not converted and after a between Rosario Central and couple of plays against Newell’s Old Boys—the two JC’s goal, a counterattack main teams—or the was generated leading to achievements of Lionel Agustín Canale converting Messi—the prodigal son—in the Golden Goal.

Barcelona. Instead, they gave “I thought we lost when way to another of Rosario’s they called the foul against pride: the Copa Día de la us at the last bell. We had Bandera (Flag Day Cup), the no desire to change traditional polo tournament, horses. But when we saw for quartets of up to 20 goals, that they did not score, we La Natividad’s Juan Guerrero, Bartolomé “Lolo” Castagnola, Felipe that coincides with the clenched our teeth and Dabas and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci won the Flag Day Cup. national celebration of the defended to death. And death of Manuel Belgrano, the the retaliation went OK,” creator of the national flag, on the After playing the eight qualifying explained the scorer. outskirts of this city located 190 miles matches, the brackets were determined On the same Eduardo Uranga field, from Buenos Aires. as the order to celebrate the three named after one of the founders of this Faithful to its tradition, dating back finals for the usual trophies. The clash tournament, Los Sauces (Milagros to 1965, the Jockey Club of Rosario that opened that cold morning was for Sánchez, 1: Juan Carlos Sánchez, 2; opened its doors to welcome more than the Estímulo Héctor Laborde Cup, Ezequiel Sánchez, 5; Rodrigo Sánchez, a thousand people on the final day of a reserved for the teams that had been 4) and Los Pingos del Taita (Federico contest that, thanks to the weather’s third in their respective groups. And Giambastiani, 0: Juan Zucco, 2; Valerio help, could celebrate its three there was a home team celebration Zubiaurre, 8; Pablo Llorente, 6) went to qualifying days as planned on since Jockey Club Rosario Escorihuela battle. Los Sauces is a family team Thursday, June 7.

Gascón (Andrés Orlandini, 1; Magín (Juan Carlos is the father of Milagros “This year the good weather helped.

Burgos, 2; Marcos Rooney, 6; Agustín and Ezequiel and uncle of Rodrigo) and We came from a couple of years with a Canale, 6) took the prize over La its members did not hesitate to travel lot of rain, flooded fields and having to Rinconada (Héctor Paladini, 0; José 350 miles from Concarán, the city in ask for help from neighbors to comply Godoy, 2; Guillermo Cavanagh, 6; San Luis in which they are settled, to with the schedule. Luckily, someone Eduardo Venturino, 5). The locals had Rosario, crossing three provinces to be from heaven gave us a hand this time,” to suffer a lot because they gave up two present, reiterating what they have acknowledged Nicolás San Román, handicap goals to start the match and done this year in other major events president of the Polo Subcommittee, to had to overcome that deficit in the six such as the Argentine Interior Polo Players’ Edition. scheduled chukkers. Finally, they Championship with Handicap and the

CLICK POLO

Alfredo Cappella Barabucci celebrates his mare Anay Sur El Gomina’s Best Playing Pony honors.

with them because they are playing the British season, taking their first steps as pros. This time next year, maybe we’ll be together again but in the U.K.,” he commented.

That familiarity was noticed from the first throw-in as La Natividad dominated from start to finish despite the handicap parity. Methodically, with the youthful spirit of Guerrero and Dabas sustained by Lolo’s expertise and the solidity of Barabucci Capella, they built a solid advantage that was sealed at 11-3 when the final bell rang. For Castagnola it was the sixth celebration after winning the tournament in 2005,

San Sebastián RUS (white) couldn’t stop La Natividad (red) in the final. La Natividad won 11-3 giving Castagnola his sixth title.

2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017. “I told you so, it feels like home,” Castagnola said when coming back to his team tent.

At the awards ceremony, Capella Barabucci exhibited his joy when his mare Anay Sur El Gomina received the Best Playing Pony blanket. In addition, it was confirmed that Nic Roldán will join Barabucci’s team, La Albertina Abu Dhabi, to play the Triple Crown in place of Santiago Toccalino.

“I think it’s a very good reinforcement. Nic can add many things to the team,” said the back who is one of the strongest hitters in the polo world.

CLICK POLO

Copa República Argentina for teams from 0 to 40 goals.

“I want the kids to [improve] their game and the only way to do is to play against the best,” said patriarch Juan Carlos. The three teenagers showed that friction has allowed them to mature.

After receiving a four-goal advantage for their lower valuation, they exhibited their great chemistry as a team and beat Los Pingos del Taita by a wide 137 with a great work of Milagros, the first woman to play the Flag Day Cup, for which she received a special prize.

“I’m playing women’s tournaments in Argentina and I dream of playing the 2018 Argentine Women’s Open. But it’s very nice to be able to compete with my family. I like to play with men, I’m not afraid of bumping. I push with my body and keep going,” acknowledged the 17year-old player.

There was time enough to enjoy the parachute exhibition from the Military Aeronautical Lyceum and the military marches played by the Symphonic Band of the Provincial Police before the crowds moved to the José Araya field (named in memory of the other great promoter of this tournament) to attend the final game.

On the one hand, La Natividad (Juan Guerrero, 0; Felipe Dabas, 4; Bartolomé Castagnola, 7; Alfredo Cappella Barabucci, 8) included two men with lots of experience in the Palermo Open.

On the other, San Sebastián RUS (Ignacio Orsili, 1; Benjamín Araya, 6; Salvador Ulloa, 7; Juan Carlos Harriet, 5) had Ulloa, showing his joy of confirming that he would be present in the Qualification Tournament for Palermo this year with the base of Chapaleufú Bio-Polo, the champion team of the 2017 Cámara de Diputados Cup. Castagnola was very relaxed before the match. “It’s been 13 years since I won the first time here and it’s always nice to go back to Rosario every June.

Last year, I won here with my two children but now I cannot share a team

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41

Third time was a charm for Michael Bickford on the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club on June 17. His La Indiana team (Bickford, Alec White, Facundo Pieres, Nic Roldan) fought back from a 6-4 deficit at half-time to win the 22goal Cartier Queen’s Cup, 9-7.

Bickford, who has La Indiana crowned in Queen’s Cup been a finalist in the PHOTOS BY ALICE GIPPS previous two years, was the winning patron this time, receiving the prestigious trophy from HM The Queen and Laurent Feniou of Cartier UK. Michael Bickford’s teammate, 10goal Facundo Pieres, who last added his name to this high-goal trophy in 2016, was named the Cartier Most Valuable Player after turning the game around in the second half. His second favorite

IMAGES OF POLO

DESTINATION: UNITED KINGDOM

pony, Cube, winner of the Best Playing Pony prize on this day in 2015, was named top equine again. Facundo played her twice in this final, including the crucial fifth chukker.

Andrey Borodin’s Park Place Juan Britos, Tomas (Borodin, Beresford, Hilario Ulloa), in its first season of high-goal, impressed everyone with its wonderful-to-watch, four-man polo on the road to this final.

“Park Place is a very good team.

They are very well mounted. Hilario is a machine, Andre is having a great season and Tommy Beresford and Juan Britos are also playing amazingly well. They are one of the top organizations at the moment and one of the toughest teams ...” said La Indiana’s No. 3 Nic Roldan.

But fortune did not favor them in the final. In the first 90 seconds of the game, Hilario Ulloa was on the ground

Michael Bickford receives his trophies from Cartier’s Laurent Feniou and HM The Queen.

La Indiana’s Facundo Pieres, Nic Roldan, Michael Bickford and Alec White

42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

following a collision with La Indiana’s Alec White. Fortunately Ulloa got back in the saddle after a short delay and play resumed with White spending the next two minutes in the sin bin.

Meanwhile, Juan Britos, the Cartier Queen’s Cup top goal scorer—35 goals under his name coming into this final—converted the penalty awarded for dangerous play only for Pieres to respond with a penalty conversion before the end of the chukker.

Things did not improve in the second chukker with Andrey Borodin taken off the field in an ambulance after a collision with La Indiana’s Nic Roldan.

The young Charlie Tighe, who has been playing for the Park Place team in some of their 15-goal Out-Sourcing Royal Windsor Cup games this season, filled in for Borodin. This change in personnel did not seem to disrupt the

Park Place team too much, although they could not take advantage of a three-man La Indiana side while Roldan sat out his two-minute penalty. Another penalty conversion by Pieres and a quick goal by Ulloa after the first bell saw the teams all tied 2-2 going into the third.

This chukker was dominated by Park Place after finding some of that previous form that had earned it a place in this final. Britos converted a penalty and then produced a lovely run to goal for the subsequent throw in. With goals from teammates Ulloa and Tommy Beresford to only two in reply from La Indiana (one was off the stick of Bickford who received a lovely pass from Roldan) made it 6-4 at half-time.

“We didn’t follow our game plan for the first half. We started out too loose,” explained Roldan. “It was a very odd

S P O T L I G H T

game, to be honest, and it wasn’t until our coach, Hector Guerrero, livened us up at halftime and helped us a lot by encouraging us to stick tighter to our men that it started to go in our favor.”

It all changed in the fourth with Pieres and Roldan firing through a couple of goals to none in reply from Park Place. With the scores back level once again, this was still anyone’s game.

A goal apiece in the fifth failed to produce a clearer picture, although it should be noted that the Park Place goal came off the stick of young Charlie Tighe.

So with the score all square at the start of the sixth, the many spectators wondered if this final would be the first match of the 2018 Cartier Queen’s Cup tournament to go into overtime. Man of the match Pieres had other ideas and he not only saved a Britos penalty, but

La Indiana’s Michael Bickford takes one last swing before sending the ball through the goal.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43

Her Majesty the Queen watches the match from the upper balcony of the Royal Box. Spectators trying to get a glimpse of the Queen are kept behind the fence by bodyguards.

MVP Facundo Pieres took control, stopping a penalty shot by Britos and scoring two goals after the game was tied at 7-7 in the sixth.

44 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

A marching band is a tradition at the Cartier Queen’s Cup, one of two main tournaments in the British high-goal season.

fired through two goals to secure victory for La Indiana and earned himself an MVP award in the process.

“Facundo stopping the 40-yard penalty in the last minutes of the game allowed me to clear the ball from the goal. It wasn’t until the last three chukkers that we played how we had wanted to play,” said Roldan. “To start with, we were chasing them down for the first half of the game, then we managed to turn it around to our favor.

“The previous years we only just lost both finals, the first in overtime and the second in the last 10 seconds. This year the stars were aligned. We had bigger horse depths with 10 to 15 more for the team. This was our year. There were no big changes, the team always aims to play a very open style.”

Emlor (Diego Cavanagh, Agustin Merlos, Nacho Gonzalez, Spencer McCarthy) and Talandracas (Julian de Lusarreta, Alejandro Muzzio, Francisco Elizalde, Hughes Carmignac) produced one of the best games of the tournament in the subsidiary Cartier Trophy match. Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor, featuring his son James in this

game, took the lead for the first time in the sixth chukker to win the trophy.

Appropriately for finals day, these teams had been finely balanced throughout all six chukkers and Emlor never allowed Hugues Carmignac’s Talandracas team to be more than a goal ahead at any time.

Tension was apparent in the early stages of the game, with far too many whistles, but by the third chukker the teams had found their rhythm and the spectators on the Duke’s Ground were treated to a display of fast, running polo. With both teams failing to find the flags at all in the fifth, they headed into the sixth chukker 8-8 and so much still to play for.

Agustin Merlos, Diego Cavanagh and James McCarthy all found the flags in this chukker—Merlos making his a double—to only one in reply off the stick of Francisco Elizalde. This immediately shifted the balance and was enough to win the match for Emlor. Patron James McCarthy was later named Most Valuable Player and stepped up to receive his accolade and the Cartier Trophy from HM The Queen during the

afternoon’s presentations.

To get the final, La Indiana cruised past La Bamba de Areco (Byron Watson, Juan Martin Nero, Jean-Francois Decaux, David Stirling), 13-6, in the semifinal while Park Place edged the U.S.-based Valiente (Robert Jornayvaz, Christian Laprida, Adolfo Cambiaso, Hugo Lewis), 11-9. In preliminary play, La Indiana finished 2-1, its only loss coming at the hands of Park Place, 9-8.

Park Place finished 2-2. Valiente also finished 2-2 in preliminary action.

Eleven teams took part in this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup competition and the evenness of the teams was highlighted in the finals. Throughout the three weeks of the competition, sponsored by Cartier for the seventh year, no team had stood out head and shoulders above their peers. This evenhandedness delivered some superb, competitive polo and no outright favorites. With patrons being as competitive on the field as their pros, and several young English players making their mark at the highest level of the game here, it all signifies that the UK polo season is thriving.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45

Playing Around Nic Roldan is competing in the U.S., England and Argentina

Cubana

Miriam

Alice Gipps sat down with Nic Roldan shortly after he won the Queen’s Cup. This is Roldan’s sixth season competing in Britain’s high goal. He originally came to join Andrew Hine on the Thai Polo team, playing with it and the Sifani team for three years. He has been playing with La Indiana since then.

He has 12 horses for the season.

Alice Gipps: The La Indiana team has been one of the main contenders for the past couple of years in the British high goal, reaching both the Queens Cup and Gold Cup finals in 2016, the Queen’s Cup final in 2017 and now taking home the Queen’s Cup trophy this year. In your opinion what is the main reason for the consistent high standard and success?

Nic Roldan: For me, the two most important things are having an incredible organization of horses, top grooms, vet, farriers, trainers and physio.

Secondly, [it is] a wellbalanced team where everyone fits their positions correctly. It is amazing to be part of an organization here where every detail is thought of on and off the field and where everyone is working for the overall good of the team, allowing us to focus 100 percent on winning.

46 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

New York

Obviously we are conscious of continually improving the collective group of horses within the team, which is something Micheal [Bickford] is also very committed to.

AG: How did you build a high-goal string in the U.K. or did you fly horses over from the U.S? NR: I started shipping horses to England three years ago when I first got the opportunity with La Indiana and since then I have purchased more over here or abroad specifically for the U.K. season to help improve and grow my string.

AG: Where do you source your horses for this level and are any homebreds?

NR: I get my horses from all over, I don’t have any one person specific. I try to improve and grow my string each year with new ones, but it is sometimes difficult to find top horses that can go straight into high goal. So, in the States, as an alternative, I also buy 5- or 6-year-olds and put a year into them where I can finish them off and bring them into high goal. Over half my string in the U.S. are OTTBs, several of whom have come via [Kris] Kampsen. I do not have a breeding operation.

AG: Which is your favorite and why? Which chukkers does she typically enter the field?

NR: One of my favorites here in England is a mare called Miriam, an Australian Thoroughbred whom I bought from La Indiana three years ago. She usually plays in the beginning and comes back in the end and would be your quintessential “pocket rocket.” In the barn she is super kind and always wants to be part of everything (including having mate).

Another favorite of mine is New York, an American

may do better in Florida and others better in the U.K. but that often just comes down to the conditions and weather.

AG: How does winning the Queen’s Cup compare with your other big wins both at home and abroad?

NR: Winning the Queen’s Cup is obviously a huge achievement and another milestone achieved. I think every cup has a different story to tell, with new memories created.

Of course, having won it after being in two previous finals was very satisfying.

AG: Do you have any future plans for the U.K. season?

NR: Yes, of course. At present [La Indiana] is playing the Gold Cup for the British Open here in Cowdray. Once we are finished I will be focused on captaining Team USA that will be playing England for the 18th edition of the Westchester Cup on July 28 at the Royal Country of Berkshire Polo Club here in the U.K.

Thoroughbred whom I purchased from Mariano Aguerre and Nick Manifold’s Los Machitos organization. Cubana is another American OTTB I have here who I purchased from Kampsen. You can read about them all on my website. (nicroldan.com/polo-ponies-horses/)

AG: What polo have you got lined up after the British season?

NR: Straight after the Westchester Cup, I head to Aspen, Colorado, to play at the Aspen Valley Polo Club with Marc and Melissa Ganzi. It provides a stunning venue and I thoroughly enjoy spending time there. I am then fortunate enough to be making my debut in the Argentine Triple Crown as part of La Albertina which will be a dream come true.

AG: What is the main challenge of setting up a successful string of horses to compete abroad?

NR: The toughest challenge is finding them. Top horses are very few and far between, let alone trying to mount yourself in two different countries. It is the most important thing to become the best and win, therefore it’s the thing all top professionals work at day in, day out and, of course, we all have to continually be searching for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in order to let us keep adding to our string.

AG: Are there any significant differences between the British high goal and the U.S. high goal in terms of horses and the team line-up that you need to compete successfully?

NR: I don’t think there are any significant differences.

Both seasons are incredibly competitive and host very good organizations with all the top players. Of course, here in the U.K. it is more streamlined with two main high-goal tournaments the top teams compete in and so you can focus fully on that and have clear aims.

There is no real difference with horses here in the U.K. or the USA, there are top horses in both and the level increases each year with people shipping out their top horses as opposed to keeping them in Argentina. Some horses however

Roldan will be joining Francisco Elizalde, Ignacio Toccalino and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci. He will be replacing Santiago Toccalino.

“Fran Elizalde called to say Santi was stepping down and that I was their first option, as they needed a No. 1, even though they know I am not organized with horses in Argentina,” said Roldan. “I said yes right away but then it took me a couple of weeks to get my head around it and the challenge to get organized. But, now I am at the stage where I am comfortable to take it on and it’s really exciting. It really is a dream come true and far quicker than expected so I will run with it, learn and have a good time in this new chapter of my career.”

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47

POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO NORTHEASTERN

KATERINA MORGAN

HUNTSMAN CAPTURES SHREVE CRUMP & LOW CUP

Huntsman’s scrappy Toro Ruiz carries the ball along the boards while being challenged by Hawk Hill’s Lucas Diaz Alberdi and a determined Gringo Colombres.

H

untsman jumped out front early in the game and never let go to take the season-opening 16-goal Shreve Crump & Low Cup at Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, on June 20.

After 10 days of preliminary games, the finals saw Hawk Hill (2-1) take on the undefeated Huntsman (3-0).

Huntsman (Dillon Bacon, Toro Ruiz, Tomas Garcia del Rio, Segundo Merlos) had downed Hawk Hill (Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Dylan Rossiter, Gringo

48 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Colombres, Ian MacTaggart), 11-7, in the second preliminary match so Hawk Hill knew it had to work hard if it wanted to win this time.

Huntsman took an early lead with Ruiz striking first and Garcia del Rio following with a field goal then a Penalty 4. Hawk Hill struggled to get past the Huntsman defense until the end of the chukker when Colombres put Hawk Hill on the board. Rossiter scored early in the second but Bacon responded in kind. Diaz Alberdi sunk a Penalty 2 but

Ruiz shot back with two in a row to keep Huntsman on top 7-3. Garcia del Rio scored a pair of goals in the opening minutes of the third before MacTaggart split the uprights. Merlos found the mark for his first tally and Ruiz added his fourth to end the half with a comfortable 11-4 lead.

After the halftime break, Hawk Hill slowed the bleeding with Diaz Alberdi countering a goal by Ruiz in the fourth.

Hawk Hill controlled the fifth with MacTaggart splitting the uprights for his

R E P O R T

KATERINA MORGAN

DEBRA NAPP

P O L O

Huntsman’s Mackenzie Weiss, Dillon Bacon, Marcos Garcia del Rio and Gusi Garcia del Rio won the North East Cup.

DEBRA NAPP

Huntsman’s Toro Ruiz, Dillon Bacon, Thomas Garcia del Rio and Segundo Merlos celebrate with friends and family.

HUNTSMAN WINS NORTH EAST CUP

Huntsman’s Dillon Bacon races up front to connect with a pass in the North East Cup.

second goal and Colombres following up with a pair of Penalty 2s. Huntsman was unable to reach the goalmouth until the end of the chukker when Merlos tallied.

Hawk Hill had closed the gap to 13-8 but it still had an uphill battle in the sixth chukker. In a desperate attempt to make up ground, Diaz Alberdi was whistled on a play and Del Rio easily shot through the Penalty 2 Huntsman was awarded. Bacon added another to put the game further out of reach.

MacTaggart tallied his third goal for the afternoon but it wasn’t enough and Huntsman took the title with a final score of 15-9.

Toro Ruiz was named MVP and Gringo Colombres’ Coquito took the Best Playing Pony blanket.

On the way to the final, Huntsman also defeated White Birch 11-8 and Roller Rabbit 9-6. Hawk Hill edged Roller Rabbit 11-10 and White Birch 119. White Birch took its only win when it defeated Roller Rabbit 8-6.

In the subsidiary, White Birch defeated Roller Rabbit 15-12.

Hawk Hill—Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Dylan Rossiter, Gringo Colombres, Ian MacTaggart; Huntsman—Dillon Bacon, Toro Ruiz, Tomas Garcia del Rio, Segundo Merlos; White Birch—Chris Brant, Tomas Schwencke, Mariano Aguerre, Joaquin Panelo; Roller Rabbit—Andrew Seibert/Mike Davis/Glenn Miller, Nick Manifold, Kris Kampsen, Matias Magrini.

Huntsman crushed White Birch in the final of the North East Cup, the opening tournament of the 12-goal New York Polo Series, at Bethpage State Park in Old Bethpage, New York on June 3.

Huntsman included Mackenzie Weiss, Dillon Bacon, Marcos Garcia del Rio and Gusi Garcia del Rio. White Birch included Jamal Nusseibeh, Santino Magrini, Joaquin Panelo and Nick Manifold.

Huntsman dominated the first half of the game, outscoring White Birch 51. Huntsman started off the scoring with a goal by Marcos Garcia del Rio and a Penalty 4 conversion from Gusi Garcia del Rio before Panelo put one in for White Birch. The Garcia del Rios combined for three goals in the second and third, while White Birch was silenced.

There was no stopping Huntsman in the second half as it racked up another six goals while holding White Birch to four. Weiss started the fourth with a run to goal. Manifold responded with Penalty 2 and 4 conversions but Gusi Garcia del Rio reacted by sending the ball through the uprights. With Huntsman ahead 7-4, Weiss and Gusi Garcia del Rio each hit the mark, but this time Panelo replied with a goal and Manifold sunk another Penalty 4.

Ahead 9-5 going into the sixth, Gusi

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49

P O L O

R E P O R T

WCHL’s Leslie Brooks, Jordan Lee and Tatiana Wolf won A Flight of the Spring has Sprung tournament and the Women’s Arena Challenge.

Passover Plaids Dawson Brooks, Sheana Funkhouser and Matt Hansen won A Flight of the Easter Baskets tournament.

The Peeps’ Amy Dunlap, Brayden Foster and Peggy Baron-Antolin won B Flight of the Easter Baskets tournament.

Youth Development’s Natalie Hernandez, Brayden Foster and Carson Tucker won B Flight of the Spring has Sprung tourney.

Garcia del Rio and Bacon put the icing on the cake while shutting down White Birch. Huntsman cruised to an 11-5 victory.

Gusi Garcia del Rio was top scorer on the day and Dillon Bacon was named MVP. —Debra Napp

SOUTHEAST

WCHL TRIUMPHS IN WOMEN’S ARENA GAME

WCHL edged Columbus to win the 4to 6-goal Southeastern Circuit Women’s Arena Challenge at Triangle Polo Club in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, on June 17. Play was under the watchful eye of USPA umpire

50 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Marcos Bignoli.

In the first match, WCHL jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a two-pointer

by Jordan Lee and a goal by Leslie Brooks. Orange Crush fought back with a goal to end the chukker and another to start the second, coming to within one, 3-2. It had a chance to tie the score with a Penalty 2, but missed.

Lee added one before the half ended with WCHL on top 4-2.

Brooks started the second half on fire, scoring three in a row. Lee shot through another goal to jump out front 8-3. They continued to dominate, taking the game 9-5 to advance to the final.

The second game started out similarly to the first, with Surface 678 quickly taking a 3-0 lead after receiving a one-goal handicap and Tammy

Havener and Tatiana Wolf hitting the mark. Columbus retaliated when Marissa Abrams scored a two-pointer out of the bowl-in following Surface’s third goal. Sheila Everett tied the score with a Penalty 2 conversion. Havener and Wolf struck again in the second and Columbus added one, leaving Surface with a 5-4 advantage at the half.

Columbus knotted the game early in the third. Wolf tallied but Everett responded with a penalty conversion to end the chukker 6-6. In the last chukker, Wolf put Surface back in the lead but Everett evened the score for the third time with a Penalty 2. Both teams struggled to gain the advantage, but missed opportunities and failed to close the game in regulation time.

In the penalty shootout, Columbus

P O L O

Derby Day Tailgate was won by Jordan Lee, Sheana Funkhouser, Tammy Havener and Brayden Foster.

R E P O R T

The Summer Starter participants included teams Twice the Ice, Hickory Furniture Mart, Rocking B Saddle Shop and winners WCHL’s David Brooks, Banks Holcombe and Mark Hauser.

the mark with a pair of goals to come within one, 9-8. Brooks put WCHL up by two, 10-8.

WCHL withstood another attempt at a C o l u m b u s comeback, taking the title.

Jordan Lee was tournament MVP Gold Dragoons’ Luis Galvan, Marcos Onetto, Meghan after scoring 10 Burggraaf and Gary Knoll won the Congressional Cup. goals in two nailed two penalties while Surface games, all from the field. Leslie Brooks’ missed the mark, sending Columbus to Blue Boy, who played in the second and the final against WCHL. fourth chukkers, was named Best WCHL began with a handicap goal Playing Pony. and Brooks slammed in a pair of goals.

Club owner David Brooks said, Everett converted a penalty to put “The tournament was played with the Columbus on the board but Lee new tournament conditions. It proved followed with a two-pointer to put to be very important to make your foul WCHL up 5-1. With five seconds to go shots and accurate outside shooting was in the first chukker, Everett sank an beneficial.” incredible two-pointer to pull within The club kicked off its spring season two, 5-3. Lee scored early in the second, with its annual Easter Baskets club but a Penalty 1 on WCHL and a goal tournament. Passover Plaids’ Dawson out of the lineup pulled Columbus Brooks, Sheana Funkhouser and Matt back within one, 6-5. Lee added one Hansen won the A Flight and The more to end the half 7-5.

Peeps’ Amy Dunlap, Brayden Foster In the third, Everett scored to bring and Peggy Baron-Antolin won B Flight.

Columbus back within one, 7-6, but Later, in the Spring Has Sprung Brooks and Lee answered back to take club tournament, WCHL’s Leslie a three-goal lead, 9-6. Columbus Brooks, Jordan Lee and Tatiana Wolf wouldn’t back down and Everett found won the A Flight while Youth

Development’s Natalia Hernandez, Brayden Foster and Carson Tucker won B Flight.

In the Derby Day Tailgate match, Orange County’s Jordan Lee, Sheana Funkhouser, Tammy Havener and Brayden Foster defeated Wake County.

The Summer Starter club tournament had WCHL’s Banks Holcombe, David Brooks and Mark Hauser taking the win.

GOLD DRAGOONS TAKES CONGRESSIONAL CUP

Gold Dragoons topped six teams to take the 6-goal USPA Congressional Cup title at Wagener Polo Club in Wagener, South Carolina, on June 5 In the final, Gold Dragoons (Gary Knoll, Luis Galvan, Marcos Onetto, Meghan Burggraaf) faced Simpatico (Marty Miller, Conner Deal, Pedro Lara, Antonio Galvan).

Simpatico nearly used up all its bullets in the first chukker, with Pedro Lara and Antonio Galvan combining for five goals while Marcos Onetto sunk a Penalty 2 for Gold Dragoons only tally. Onetto scored a hat trick in the second, including a Penalty 4 and 2, while Lara scored once for Simpatico, keeping Simpatico in the lead 6-4 at the half. Onetto continued to pound the goal with four in the third, including a

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51

R E P O R T

KATIE ROTH

DAVID MURRELL

P O L O

Crestview Genetics’ Julio Arellano, Hugo Lloret, MVP Aiden Meeker and Alan Meeker won the Hitchcock Memorial.

pair of Penalty 2s to take an 8-6 lead.

Simpatico answered back with goals by Deal and Galvan to level the score at 8all. Onetto put through his ninth goal and Meghan Burggraaf added another for good measure. Lara answered back to bring Simpatico within one, 10-9, but time ran out and Gold Dragoons took the silver. Connor Deal was named MVP and Marcos Onetto’s Fanta wore the Best Playing Pony blanket well.

To get to the final, Gold Dragoons edged Goose Green, 6-3, fell to Simpatico, 8-5½, then downed Field One, 8-3½. Simpatico not only beat Gold Dragoons but got the best of Derry Heir, 6-5, before falling to LBL Polo/Woodlawn. In other preliminary matches, Derry Heir defeated Field One, 11-7½, Goose Green defeated LBL Polo/Woodlawn, 6-4, LBL Polo/ Woodlawn narrowly edged Field One, 7½-7, and Goose Green defeated Derry Heir, 9-6½.

Golds Dragoons—Richard Terbrusch, Meghan Burggraaf, Luis Galvan, Marcos Onetto, Charlie Hutchinson, Gary Knoll; Simpatico—Marty Miller, Conner Deal, Pedro Lara, Antonio Galvan; Derry Heir–Bob Donahey, Craig Frazer, Eddy Martinez, Will Donahey; LBL Polo/Woodlawn–Alison Patricelli, Malia Bryan, Omar Cepeda, Chilo Cordova; Field One–Stacie Simpkins, Derek Berg, Horacio Onetto, Alejandro Alvarez;

52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Army’s Joe England, Zach Grob and Paul Knapp won the Commander-in-Chief Cup at Two Wishes Ranch in Lockhart, Texas.

Goose Green–Will Green, Hope Arellano, Willie Hartnett, Lucas Arellano.

CRESTVIEW CAPTURES HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL

Crestview successfully defended its title in the 12-goal USPA Tommy Hitchcock Memorial at New Bridge Polo Club in Aiken, South Carolina on June 3.

Four teams battled over two weeks, with Crestview Genetics (Aiden Meeker, Alan Meeker, Hugo Lloret, Julio Arellano) and Blackberg Ranch (Derek Berg, Marcos Onetto, Horacio Onetto, Dennys Santana) qualifying for the final.

Julio Arellano struck first for Crestview and teammate Hugo Lloret followed with a goal of his own. That is when Derek Berg jumped into action, slamming in three in a row to give Blackberg the 3-2 lead. Arellano added another at the end of the chukker for a 3-3 tie.

Lloret scored early in the third but Horacio Ontetto responded. Berg added another and Arellano answered back, leaving the teams knotted, 5-5.

Arellano sunk a Penalty 4 in the third and Lloret and Aiden Meeker each scored to give Crestview a 8-5 lead.

Dennys Santana shot through the goal for Blackberg, keeping it in the game, 8-6, at the half.

The next 14 minutes of play were all Crestview as Lloret added his fourth

goal and Arellano connected with Penalties 2 and 4, all while Blackberg shot at goal a handful of times with no luck. Arellano added a lone goal in the fifth to double Blackberg’s score, 12-6.

Blackberg fought back in the final period with Horacio Onetto splitting the uprights from the field, then sinking a Penalty 2 to close the gap to four, but time ran out and Crestview Genetics had the win.

Aiden Meeker was named MVP and Marcos Onetto’s Mani, a flashy black gelding, wore the Best Playing Pony blanket back to the barn.

Crestview Genetics—Alan Meeker, Aiden Meeker, Julio Arellano, Hugo Lloret; Blackberg Ranch—Derek Berg, Marcos Onetto, Horacio Onetto, Dennys Santana; SD Farms–Tristan Hurley, Sayyu Dantata, Juan Martin Obregon, Peco Polledo; Upatoi Blue–Mason Lampton, Eddy Martinez, Alan Martinez, Polo Baez.

SOUTHWEST

ARMY SEIZES

C-I-C CUP IN TX The Central Texas Polo Association hosted the first USPA National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup at its Two Wishes facility in Lockhart, Texas, over Memorial Day Weekend.

DAVID MURRELL

P O L O Zach Grob carries the ball with pressure from Jake Flournoy.

The tournament was played at the 4to 8-goal level and had four teams representing the Army (Sgt. 1st Class Joe England, Cpl. Zach Grob, Sgt. Paul Knapp), Marine Corps (Lt. Col. Dean Daggett, Sgt. Chris Jones, Capt. Jake Flournoy), Navy (Lt. Cmdr Mike Yermakov, AE3 Alex Jenkins, Cmdr.

Karl Hilberg) and Air Force (Maj. Mark Gillespie, Maj. Cody Goetz, Sgt. Rob Phipps). All the players were active duty, retired or former military members. Players traveled from all over the country to compete in this inaugural event. As beautiful, warm weather was predicted for both days, excitement built up for the tournament.

In Saturday games, Army flew past the Air Force, 19-3, and the Marines sailed passed the Navy, 18-14.

The consolation match pitted Navy against Air Force. The first two chukkers had Air Force dominating, 73, going into halftime. Once play resumed, Navy was revitalized, scoring five goals. However, Air Force’s Gillespie responded with four of his own including the first two-pointer of the day, ending the third chukker, 11-8, in favor of Air Force. Navy continued to rally, with Hilberg again scoring a two-

pointer and Jenkins adding one more to tie the score with less than a minute remaining. Goetz was able to convert in the final seconds, winning the game, 12-11, for Air Force.

The championship match had 5goal Paul Knapp leading Army while 4goaler Jake Flournoy led the Marines.

The first chukker turned out to be the highest-scoring of the match as both teams came out to fight for the win.

Daggett struck first with a backshot to goal. This was closely followed by Knapp scoring from the field to tie the game up, if just for a minute. Flournoy then scored twice from the field.

However, key fouls by Marine Corps allowed Knapp to convert two Penalty 4s to tie up the chukker.

Early in the second, Army converted a Penalty 3, which was again matched

by Flournoy to tie the score at 4-4.

Army responded with goals by Grob and Knapp to end the first half, 6-4, in favor of Army. The third chukker was all Army with England scoring his first of the match and a Penalty 1 was called on Marines.

With an 8-4 lead at the start of the final chukker, Army was playing strong defense and continuing to increase its lead with two goals by Grob and one by

R E P O R T England. Marine Corps was not done as Jones scored a last two-pointer for a final score of 11-6. Army won the inaugural USPA National Arena Commander-in-Chief Cup. Alex Jenkins was named MVP and Best Playing Pony was presented to Javier Insua’s Solita, ridden by Jake Flournoy, Cody Goetz and Paul Knapp.

“Although most of the players had never met before, there was an immediate sense of camaraderie based around the sport and all having the common experience of military service,” Sportsmanship Award recipient and Team USPA alumni Grob explained.

“The military forces you to become a team player and these tournaments are perfect examples of how those values translate directly to polo. It makes it obvious as to why polo was so readily adapted by the armed forces and used as part of the training cycle.”

WHITEHALL RANCH ACES WESTERN CHALLENGE Whitehall Ranch slipped past Tonkawa, 9-8, in the final of the 12goal Western Challenge at the Houston Polo Club on June 3.

Whitehall Ranch (Bill Lane, Toly Ulloa, Facundo Obregon, Sterling Giannico) came from behind in the last 14 minutes to overcome a strong Tonkawa squad (Jeff Hildebrand, Cody Ellis, Matt Coppola, Tommy Biddle).

Tonkawa began with a handicap goal, but Toly Ulloa wasted no time in overcoming it after jumping on a pass from Sterling Giannico. Biddle scored a Penalty 2 for Tonkawa to put it up 2-1.

Matt Coppola sandwiched goals around an out-of-the-air goal shot from Facundo Obregon to give Tonkawa the 4-2 advantage. Giannico matched a pair of goals from Biddle to end the first half in favor of Tonkawa, 6-4.

Giannico sunk a Penalty 4 then scored a cut shot from a bowl-in at the

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R E P O R T

Whitehall Ranch’s Bill Lane, Toly Ulloa, Facundo Obregon and Sterling Giannico, with Brooks Ballard, center

BTA’s Steve Krueger (with daughter Shirley Jean), Cody Ellis, Julia Smith and Chrys Beal won the Cowboy Cup.

Sullivan Group’s Nicolas Gomez, Sarah Prinsloo, Mark Prinsloo and Joanie Jackson won the 4-goal Knockout/Pass-out!

EEW Steel Trading LLC’s Chad Bowman, Julia Florey, Roxy Mounter-Riggs and Luc Messier won the American National Classic.

20-yard line to knot the score at 6-6. A Penalty 2 by Biddle put Tonkawa back on top at the end of the fourth, 7-6. In the fifth, Giannico battled Coppola down the field, carrying the ball and cutting it to goal for the 7-7 tie. He followed up with a booming 80-yard shot through the post for the 8-7 Whitehall lead. In the sixth, Giannico approached the goal and Ulloa finished it with a neckshot to give Whitehall a two-goal lead. Coppola fought back, sending the ball through the goal but time ran out for Tonkawa and Whitehall Ranch had the win.

Sterling Giannico, scoring a gamehigh six goals, was MVP and Lavinia Infama, played by Facundo Obregon and owned by Toly Ulloa, was Best Playing Pony.

Four teams played in the tournament. BTA (Kelly Beal, Steve

54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Krueger, Shane Rice, Mason Wroe) finished in a three-way tie alongside Whitehall Ranch and Tonkawa with 2-2 records, but BTA’s two losses came at the hands of Whitehall and Tonkawa so they advanced to the final. Eureka (Rene Campos, Alvaro Ara, Jorge Cernadas, Geronimo Obregon) finished 0-2.

In the Cowboy Cup, the last 8-goal of the season, BTA (Chrys Beal/Kelly Beal, Julia Smith, Cody Ellis, Steve Krueger) downed Rocking P/W-S (Carl Price/Grayson Price, Marcos Villanueva, Agustin Arellano, Wesley Sinor), 13-6.

BTA began with a one-goal handicap and shot out of the gate with three in a row, two from Cody Ellis and one from Steve Krueger. Krueger added another goal early in the second before Agustin Arellano put Rocking P/W-S on the board. Ellis shot through another goal ending the second 6-1. BTA kept

pounding away in the third, while Rocking P/W-S struggled to break through BTA’s defense. Ellis scored two in a row, Kelly Beal knocked through a Penalty 3 and Julia Smith split the uprights before Marcos Villanueva scored Rocking P’s second tally. The half ended 10-2 in favor of BTA. Rocking P regrouped at the half and effectively shut down BTA in the fourth and sixth chukkers while Carl Price converted Penalty 2s in each of those chukkers. In the fifth, Ellis and Smith equalized a pair of goals by Arellano, keeping Rocking P from making up too much ground. BTA took the 13-6 win.

BTA’s Julia Smith was named MVP and Dobel, played by Cody Ellis and owned by Alejandro Gonzalez, wore the Best Playing Pony blanket back to the barn.

Five teams competed in the event,

P O L O

TPC Mav’s James Clark, Mark Prinsloo, Martha Hirsch and Jennifer Peterson won the Tejas Custom Boots Cup.

with the top four teams moving on to a semifinal round. Cinco Canyon Ranch (David Marks, Bryan Middleton, Drew Luplow, Robert Orthwein) came in fifth place so it was eliminated. In the semifinals, BTA knocked out Pegasus/Propaganda (Paul Hobby, Nick Cifuni, David Andras, Mason Wroe) and Rocking P/W-S ousted Horsegate (Nick Stefanakis, Sloan Stefanakis/Ariel Mancebo, Joe Wayne Barry, Shane Rice). Horsegate and Pegasus/ Propaganda had the best records (3-1) heading into the semis.

The 4-goal season concluded with the Knockout/Pass-out!, with six teams divided into two brackets competing on three days from May 30-June 6. The winners from the first round, along with a wildcard team, advanced to a semifinal.

In the first round, Ghurka (Abby Benton, Fox Benton, Drew Luplow, Nick Cifuni) edged Bearsden/Tylee Farms (Al Pepi, Jimmy Seward, Carol Farnsworth, Cody Woodfin), 5½-5; BCI/CW Petroleum (Chris Williams, Taylor Freeman, Cara Kennedy, Chad Bowman) defeated Dunbar Capital (Nick Dunbar, Emma Tooth, Tommy Costello, Bryan Middleton), 6-4½; and Sullivan Group (Joanie Jackson, Sarah Prinsloo, Nicolas Gomez, Mark Prinsloo) got the best of Ghengis Khan (Alston Beinhorn, Tiamo Hudspeth, Joe

R E P O R T

Harrison’s Fine Antiques’ Laird Boone, James Clark, Sarah Prinsloo and Cindy Madole won the Sauna Challenge.

Wayne Barry, Joe Fitzsimons), 6-2.

Dunbar Capital took on wildcard Bearsden/Tylee Farms in the first semi, with Dunbar coming out on top. At the same time on a different field, Sullivan Group defeated BCI/CW Petroleum.

In the final, Joanie Jackson got the scoring started for Sullivan Group.

Bryan Middleton answered back for Dunbar Capital but a Penalty 4 conversion by Nicolas Gomez put Sullivan back on top. Jackson wrapped goals (including a Penalty 2 conversion) around a goal from Middleton in the second and Prinsloo added another, putting Sullivan comfortably ahead, 5-2, at the half. Gomez scored a lone goal in the third. Prinsloo increased Sullivan’s lead in the final chukker but then Middleton came alive. He hammered in three goals in a row to bring Dunbar within three goals of Sullivan Group, but time was not on his side and Sullivan Group took the 7-4 win.

In 2-goal action, there were several winners. EEW Steel Trading LLC’s Chad Bowman, Julia Florey, Roxy MounterRiggs and Luc Messier won the American National Classic; TPC Mav’s James Clark, Mark Prinsloo, Martha Hirsch and Jennifer Peterson won the Tejas Custom Boots Cup; and Harrison’s Fine Antiques’ Laird Boone, James Clark, Sarah Prinsloo and Cindy Madole won the Sauna Challenge.

CALIFORNIA

ANTELOPE PREVAILS IN VIC GRABER CUP

Antelope defeated Klentner Ranch in a high-scoring final match of the 12-goal Vic Graber Cup at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, on June 12.

In Antelope’s first match-up against Klentner Ranch during the Vic Graber Cup, Trotz found success for the team by jumping out strong and creating an early lead. Antelope’s strategy proved to be successful again, catching Klentner Ranch flat-footed in the first two chukkers of play, creating an eight-goal lead, 9-1. Klentner Ranch tightened its defense in the third chukker and held Antelope from scoring, but were only able to convert one of its five shots on goal from the field to end the half, 9-2.

Antelope came back from halftime with its head down, ready to solidify its victory. Hilario Figueras scored three more times and was only matched by one goal from Klentner for a 12-3 Antelope lead. Klentner Ranch had a small break in the fifth chukker cutting Antelope’s lead to seven, 15-8. Santi Wulff converted one penalty and two goals from the field, in addition to two goals from teammate Jesse Bray, but

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 55

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

R E P O R T

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

P O L O

Antelope’s Santi Trotz, Geoff Palmer, Peke Gonzalez and Hilario Figueras won the Vic Graber Cup.

Gonzalez and Figueras tallied a combined three goals. Justin Klentner scored two in the final chukker of play to help the final count, but Antelope’s early lead was too much to overcome.

Antelope rode away with a solid, 17-12, victory in the Vic Graber Cup. Chava, owned by Santi Trotz, won her second consecutive Best Playing Pony recognition of the 12-goal tournament series.

Most Valuable Player Hilario Figueras attributes his performance in the final to focusing on the basics. “My main strategy was to concentrate on hitting the ball smoothly and counting the players on the other team to create opportunities for our team. I am very proud of how the horses went today and how the team performed,” he said.

A few weeks later, Klentner Ranch celebrated its win the USPA IntraCircuit after a tight final match against Novis Insurance, made up of Ivan Weiss (taking the reins from Geoff Palmer) and the rest of the Antelope team.

They say revenge is sweet and after Klentner fell to virtually the same team in the previous final, it was hungry for victory.

The first chukker of the match was déjà vu as Trotz and his teammates stormed the field, leaving Klentner Ranch in the dust, 3-0, to get the scoring started. Santi Wulff put Klentner Ranch on the board for the first time with a short penalty shot, but Novis Insurance

56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Klentner’s Santi Wulff, Jesse Bray, Luke Klentner and Justin Klentner won the 12-goal USPA Intra-Circuit Cup at Santa Barbara.

kept its momentum going, scoring the next two goals from the field and creating a 5-1 spread midway through the second chukker.

Wulff converted a second penalty to keep it in the game followed quickly by a goal from Trotz on a run down the field. Luke Klentner capitalized on his field position, scoring the final goal of the second chukker, 6-3, in favor of Novis Insurance.

Klentner Ranch dominated the next two chukkers of play, scoring a combined six goals while holding Novis Insurance to a single goal from the penalty line. Justin Klentner added two of Klentner Ranch’s tallies on goals from the field, pulling his team up by two goals after the fourth chukker, 9-7.

Peke Gonzalez changed the game for Novis Insurance as he rode out into the fifth chukker on a white-faced mount named Poncho. Gonzalez changed the pace of the game, running coast-to-coast, scoring two goals from the field. A third goal from Trotz tied the score up with 10 goals a piece as the fifth chukker came to a close.

It was looking like overtime as the eight players waited for the ball to be put into play in final chukker of regulation time. Klentner Ranch gained a small lead as Wulff scored from the penalty line, but it soon vanished as Gonzalez once again streaked down the field, tapping the ball through the uprights to tie once again, 11-11. With the clock

ticking down, Wulff once again nudged Klentner Ranch ahead from the penalty line. A perfect pass from Luke Klentner to Bray went wide and Novis Insurance reclaimed possession of the ball with less than a minute and a half remaining.

The whistle blew and Novis Insurance teed the ball up for a final Penalty 4 to tie the match up and send it to overtime.

But Bray had eyes on the ball, stopping it before it crossed the goal mouth and sending it over to teammate Wulff as time ran out.

Luke Klentner’s defensive prowess earned him Most Valuable player honors. He said, “We had a team dinner last night and Santi [Wulff], Jesse [Bray], my dad and I were discussing our plan for the game and who would mark Trotz.”

Bray interjected, laughing, “Luke quickly told us Trotz was his for the game, not to worry. He did a really good job of marking Santi throughout the game and making clean plays on him. It helped us open the field up, which is what we struggled with against this team last time.”

Wulff has been a mainstay at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club for years but the USPA Intra Circuit title remained elusive until this year.

Costi Caset’s Poncho, played by Peke Gonzalez, was named Best Playing Pony.

Poncho was also named Best Playing Pony in the 2016 Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open under Caset.

R E P O R T

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P O L O

PoloSF’s Vladimir Rivkin, John Ziegler, Jaime Restrepo and Hernan Agote, with Alfredo Goti, center, won the SF Polo Classic.

VIC GRABER CUP

Antelope Jr.—Grant Palmer, Jim Wright, Felipe Vercellino, Herndon Radcliff; Klentner Ranch—Luke Klentner, Jesse Bray, Santi Wulff, Justin Klentner; Antelope—Hilario Figueras, Peke Gonzalez, Santi Trotz, Geoff Palmer; Farmers & Merchants Bank—Dan Walker, Marcos Bignoli, Felipe Viana, Leigh Brecheen.

USPA INTRA-CIRCUIT

Novis Insurance—Ivan Weiss, Jim Wright, Felipe Vercellino, Herndon Radcliff; Klentner Ranch—Luke Klentner, Jesse Bray, Santi Wulff, Justin Klentner; Farmers & Merchants Bank—Dan Walker, Marcos Bignoli, Felipe Viana, Leigh Brecheen; Barrossa—Jef Graham, Jim Wright, Felipe Vercellino, Herndon Radcliff.

POLOSF TRIUMPHS IN SF POLO CLASSIC PoloSF topped a four-team roster in the SF Polo Classic held at the Wine Country Polo Club in Oakmont, California, June 23-24. The event was part of an international line-up of “Polo Champagne Around the World” tournaments to be played this summer in Rome, Vienna, Prague and Tangiers. It was organized by player Alfredo Goti and, in part, by PoloSF.

Papa Polo’s Vladimir Rivkin, Jack Ziegler, Jaime Restrepo and Hernan Agote, with John Ziegler, center, and Alfredo Goti, right

Each team played two four-chukker matches over two days to decide the winning team and players’ bragging rights.

The first Saturday line-up matched PoloSF against Ferrari. Both teams played hard and made masterful moves.

However, the first two chukkers the game was a little sticky and attracted multiple penalties. As the teams revised their strategies, the game opened up and resulted is a fast, all-out running game that flowed into Chukkers 3 and 4.

The players settled down and organized their moves into long passing shots of 100-plus yards. John Ziegler, mounted on a brand-new string of Argentine imports, carried the ball to the goal on several occasions as well as taking one out of the air into the goal on a Penalty 4.

Ferrari proved to be too quick for PoloSF, even for PoloSF’s captain Toto Socas (first cousin to Adolpho Cambiaso) and former Team USPA player Collin White, playing the No. 2 position. Going into the last chukker, Ferrari was ahead. A couple of Penalty 2s and 3s that went wide of their mark could have evened the score. The final score was 5-3 in favor of Ferrari.

The second game pitted Taqueada, led by 5-goal Martin Tassara, against Cerro Pampa, captained by Alfredo Goti.

Both teams moved the ball well, and Tassara, playing No. 4, was able to staunchly defend his goal. This meant

solid team play by Cerro Pampa’s Goti and Crotto close to goal was often broken up at the last second. Taqueada was also able to score two goals in quick succession from the mid-field line-up.

Kennedy, Desenzani and Jack Ziegler were also quick to ride to looselymarked positions ready to receive and carry forward for Taqueada. In the end, despite the valiant efforts of Cerro Pampa’s Argentine 3-goalers (Goti and Crotto) to even the score late in the game, Taqueada ended victorious, winning 5-3.

Sunday was a new day, and much cooler than the 90-degree-plus field temperature the day before. In Game 3, PoloSF faced off against Cerro Pampa.

Cerro Pampa, playing with a new lease of life, was quick to match each goal scored by the opposition, and so the game was no more than one goal apart for the first three chukkers. Attempts by PoloSF to defend sure goals resulted in a couple of Penalty 2s late in the fourth, making the difference. When the horn sounded, Cerro Pampa found itself going down in defeat, 9-6.

The final game was introduced by a procession of Ferrari’s, one of the tournament sponsors. For the many spectators, it was difficult to decide on the more beautiful sight and who had the greater horsepower. Was it eight beautiful cantering ponies ready for battle or a bevy of immaculate Ferrari’s in hot pursuit? Both polo teams had

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 57

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learned much from the day before and showcased fast and organized polo that flowed with great flair from one end of the field to the other.

In the end, Martin Tassara and his gang, despite having a higher overall team rating, were no match for the teamwork and speed of Ferrari. Twogoaler Jaime Restrepo played an outstanding game, scoring three of his team’s goals from the field, as did Vladimir Rivkin, tying up Tassara for much of the game and scoring two additional goals from the field.

John Ziegler scored the final goal off a penalty, and the game ended with a 64 victory for Ferrari. Field owner Victor Trione presented the winners’ trophies and congratulated the players for an outstanding weekend of sport.

The next weekend, the club hosted the Goti Cup, this time attracting Golden Gate Ducati Motorcycle Club, whose riders displayed their bikes on one side of the field as if they were Roman sentinels.

With the teams evenly matched at 6 goals apiece, there was no shortage of exceptional plays and coordinated team work. However, by working together, Papa Polo’s Jaime Restrepo (Columbia), Hernan Agote (Argentina), Vladimir Rivkin (Russia) and No. 1 Jack Ziegler (USA) were able to be one stride ahead for much of the match. They were seemingly always in the right place ready to score or defend goal.

While umpire Dan Healy gave each side its fair share of penalties, on the field it was Papa Polo’s Restrepo and Agote who were able to capitalize, often initiated by a 100-plus-yard tailshots by Rivkin. Papa Polo was also quicker to turn around broken plays, with Ziegler picking up the ball, running hard, and scoring. The result was that Papa Polo was well in charge of the game and up by 6-2 going into the last quarter. Papa Polo gave up a penalty in the closing seconds, however. The game ended with a final score of 6-3 in favor of Papa Polo.

In the earlier consolation game, STG edged Escorihuela Gascón by a score of 58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Participants in Denver’s Constitution Cup and 4th of July Polo Classic

6-4. As often happens in polo, the game might have gone either way except for some rapid scoring by STG’s Will Harris, who nailed it twice from center field lineups in a matter of seconds.

Players and supporters celebrated their weekend of sportsmanship with an Argentine asado. As a tribute to his father, a Polo Hall of Fame recipient, the late Henry Trione, Victor Trione added to the post-game enjoyment by contributing to the festivities a special blend of his Trione Vineyards wine called Made Pony.

--Paul Griffin ROCKY MOUNTAIN

MYERS RANCH WINS CONSTITUTION CUP

Myers Polo Ranch came away the winners in the USPA Constitution Cup played at the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia, Colorado, July 7-8. The event was part of the club’s annual Military Appreciation 4th of July Polo Classic tournament.

In total, five games were played throughout the weekend, including a round robin. In the final of the Constitution Cup, Myers Polo Ranch bested Left Hand Polo Club, 8½-4.

Meyers Ranch (Annie Myers, Gabe Myers, Bauti Panelo, Cristobal Duggan), a 3-goal team, received a 1½-goal handicap from the 5½-goal Left Hand team (Victor Vargas, Govinda Quish,

Federico Ceballos, Santi Bottaro).

Left Hand quickly neutralized the handicap given to its opponent after Bottaro shot through two goals including a penalty conversion. Myers didn’t reach the goal in the first but when they did, they couldn’t be stopped.

Panelo scored, then Annie Myers tallied.

Duggan added a goal before Panelo scored another, giving Myers a 5½-2 advantage. Bottaro and Panelo swapped goals in the third, keeping Myers ahead by three-and-a-half goals going into the final period.

Bottaro got the scoring started in the fourth, but that was all the team could muster. Duggan had the answer, sinking a penalty then following it up with a run to goal for the win.

Panelo was named MVP and Victor Vargas’ California, played by Bottaro, was Best Playing Pony.

In the Constitution subsidiary round robin, Wicked Windy Ranch/Crossfit El Cid (Jason Wates, Craig Russell, Cecelia Cochran, Penny Smith) edged UBS/Victory Polo (Jorge Donovan, Maurice Nissam, Kevin Schmiets, Mark Wates), 3-1½, and Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Erica Gandomcar, Carlitos Galindo, Nick Morrison), 3-1½. UBS Victory Polo slipped past Evergreen 3½3 for second place.

The 4th of July Polo Classic was fast and furious with the Denver Polo Club Blue Team bringing home the victory.

Vincenzo Sangline was MVP and Craig Kennedy’s Soper, played by Mark Wates, u was Best Playing Pony.

LAUREN BIDDLE

P O L O

(continued from page 17) can develop terrible secondary systemic disease, including kidney problems, tying up, neurologic issues, and other organ dysfunction.

If you have recognized that your horse is suffering from heat stroke, call your veterinarian. In the mean time while you are waiting for your veterinarian’s arrival, your goal is to decrease your horses core body temperature as quickly as possible below 102°F. Remove all tack from the horse. Better prognosis are seen when this disorder is treated early and effectively, so act fast and rapidly cool your horse! Move your horse into a shaded, well-ventilated area (use fans, if possible). Apply cold or ice water hydrotherapy to your horse’s entire body. Alcohol baths can also be utilized over the horses neck, thorax, and abdomen, if available.

In humid environments where water may not evaporate as effectively, use of a fan and water scraper can help remove heat from the horse faster. Use of a water scraper will allow for water (and thus heat) to be continuously scraped off.

Continue reapplying more cold water and scraping it off until your horse is once again back to normal body temperature (99-101°F). Ice packs can be placed over the jugular furrow of the neck to enhance cooling, but do not cover the entire neck.

Water should be offered to your horse of a variety (cold, lukewarm and electrolyte supplemented) to help encourage drinking.

Now that we have discussed how you should handle an episode of heat stress within your polo string, here are several points of what not to do during such an attack. First off, do not make your horse move. The more your horse moves, the more heat is produced within the bodies’ muscles. The goal is to cool down your horse, not continue to heat them up!

Second, do not withhold water from your horse, as they are most likely dehydrated. Many people are under the impression that they should not allow their horses to drink water when they are

hot due to hyper-distension of the stomach that can lead to colic, but not only can a horse’s stomach hold between two to four gallons of liquid without becoming too distended, but allowing several swallows of cool, fresh water is necessary every few minutes to combat heat stress.

Third, do not use wet towels or blankets on your horse to try and cool them as this can prevent eliminating heat through convection. Fourth, it is also important not to use certain tranquilizers, like xylazine or detomidine, (unless under the direction of your veterinarian) as they have been show to cause respiratory distress. Be sure to monitor your horse throughout cooling to ensure they do not get too cold.

When your veterinarian arrives on the scene, she will do a thorough physical exam on your horse. An antipyretic will most likely be administered to help lower body temperature (dipyrone or Banamine).

Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (Bute and Banamine) should only be administered to a dehydrated horse under veterinary guidance due to the detrimental effects these drugs can have on a horse’s kidneys.

Your veterinarian may want to run some intravenous fluids on your horse to help restore blood volume, hydration level, and correct any electrolyte imbalances your horse may have. Your veterinarian may also suggest running some blood work in order to evaluate all body systems, your horse’s hydration level, electrolyte levels and organ functions. Even after the initial heat stroke episode has been treated, continue to monitor your polo pony for any signs of deteriorating condition.

Your horse can still develop health problems even two to seven days after an episode of heat stress, which makes having your veterinarian assess your horse all the more important after an initial episode. Heat stress can induce myopathies (muscle problems or tying up), laminitis, kidney dysfunction, liver problems, colic, and even cause gastrointestinal ulceration.

Preventing heat stress is the best way to combat this terrible condition. Good news though, this does not mean you have to stop riding and hang up your mallets in the summer time! It is critical that you track your horses feed intake, body condition, and weight during the summer months as the heat does causes additional stress on ponies.

Provide electrolyte supplementation to all your polo ponies during the hot summer months. All of your horses should have free choice access to a salt block or loose salt. Electrolytes stimulate thirst so free choice water should be available. To help keep your horses more comfortable, turn out during cooler parts of the day (early morning, evening, or overnight), provide shade during turn out, watch for sunburns (especially on light colored skin and apply masks or even sunscreen), put fans in stables to keep airflow circulating, provide access to clean, cool water at all times (buckets and tanks may need to be cleaned more in the summer time), clip long haired horses, provide access to a salt block, and watch your horses for normal sweating.

Ensure that your horses’ are fit and acclimated to the environment in which you are asking them to perform. It is best to ride during the cooler parts of the day (morning and evening), but if you have a competition in the middle of the heat of the day it may be best to exercise your horses at that time so they can grow accustomed to the heat.

Again, the Rule of 150 and above will help give you a rough estimate of when you should not be riding or when you should be taking more precautions during your rides. Heat stroke is and should be treated as a medical emergency in any equine athletes as it can have very serious side effects and can occur quite suddenly.

When in doubt about your horses and their ability to compete in summer conditions, contact your veterinarian. By putting these simple tips into practice you and your string should be able to beat the heat and be out competing at your best throughout the summer.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59

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INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS Preparations begin for 1939 matches between Great Britain and the U.S.

A

s the U.S. makes final preparations to face a British squad for the Westchester Cup on British soil, 70 years ago the two countries were beginning to make preparations for the international matches to be played at Meadow Brook in 1939. By December, things were progressing at an accelerated pace: Candor compels the statement that, so far, American plans for defending the treasured Westchester Cup seem more realistic than the British preparations for lifting it. Indeed, the Americans have indicated—by a subtle hint—that their galloping cousins need a bit of help.

During the past month, the American defense committee—Robert E. Strawbridge Jr., chairman; Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Devereux Milburn, C.V. Whitney and J.H. Whitney—invited 13 players to take part in trials for the team to be chosen.

These 13 are the best players in the land today and, while the four tops are clearly indicated, there is no doubt but that every first-class player will have his chance.

Every American player rate at 7 goals or more was invited to participate in the trial matches: Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Stewart Iglehart, Michael Phipps and Cecil Smith, all now rated at 10; Eric Pedley and Raymond Guest, each rated at 8; Elmer J. Boeseke Jr., G.H. Bostwick, Elbridge T. Gerry, Winston Guest and William Post II, rated at 7. In addition, C.V. Whitney, leader of the championship Old Westbury side, and Robert L. Gerry Jr., No. 2 of the Aknusti four that won the Monty Waterbury Cup, outstanding 6-goal players, were also asked to compete.

Th 13 were asked to prepare their affairs, if possible, so that they could 60 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Capt. C.T.I. “Pat” Roark, the English star, was raised to 9 in America in 1938. He was only 6 in England and apparently was not asked to play for the British side.

Michael G. Phipps, brilliant young American polo player, reached 10 goals in 1938. The Americans invited all players 7 goals or higher to try out. The top 13 were asked to train.

report on Long Island on May 1 for training and trial matches.

The British, meanwhile, though heaven knows they will need all the strength they can muster, have not yet decided to invite their best players to try out for their team. That they ought to do so, was hinted in the new handicap list of the United States Polo Association.

The new list, which rates all the players of the country with unfailing fairness and impartiality, advanced Capt C.T.I. Roark to 9, serving notice on one and all that Americans consider Pat Roark the best polo player England possesses. But Pat Roark, carried at the ridiculously low figure of 6 on the English books, has not yet even been invited to try out.

Nor, for that matter, has England’s best No. 1—an Indian player named Raj Kumar Prithi Singh—been asked to com-

pete for the English side. Nor Rao Raja Hanut Singh, the brilliant Indian No. 3 who was to appear against America in 1936 and only failed to represent Britain then because he injured his shoulder a few days before the London matches were to begin.

The British announced some time ago that they expected to play a team something like the following: either Hesketh H. Hughes or Robert Skene at No. 1, each rated at 7; Aidan Roark, brother of the famous Pat, a brilliant player just raised from 7 to 8 on our list, and No. 2; Gerald Balding, captain of the team, rated at 10 in England but only 8 over here, at No. 3; Eric H. Tyrrell-Martin, a steady 8-goal defensive player, at back. This makes a 31-goal combination at best—one which could hardly win our Open Championship.

Mrs. Robert E. Strawbridge Jr. presents the International Polo Challenge Cup to the United States team of Stewart Iglehart, Michael Phipps, Winston Guest and Thomas Hitchcock Jr. With them is the Great Britain team of Gerald Balding, Aidan Roark, Robert Skene and Eric Tyrrell-Martin and Robert E. Strawbridge Jr., chairman of the United States Polo Association.

Of these players, Balding is in India but Tyrell-Martin and the Roarks are in California, and the other members of the squad are waiting there. They will play a number of games this winter in various California centers, depending on financial arrangements still to be completed, but most of their time will be spent preparing ponies for their June test.

The British are bringing the incredible number of 90-odd ponies to the United States for these matches, according to present plans. Most of them will never, of course, see the international matches, but the job of weeding them out—and preparing them for the auction block—will be exhausting just the same.

The new handicap listings, which went into effect the middle of November, added Michael Phipps to the America trio already rated at 10, Hitchcock, Iglehart and Smith. Phipps, who thus reached the height at the age of 27 after a dozen or more years of playing polo, is the No. 1 of the Old Westbury team that has won our Open Championship tournament for the past two years.

This makes possible an American 40goal combination for the first time since 1925 when Watson Webb, Hitchcock, Malcolm Stevenson and Devereux Milburn successfully defended the Westchester

Cup against the British, beating them 165 and 14-5.

Among the others who were raised were Raymond Guest, back of the Aknusti team that finished the season in such a blaze of glory, he going back from 7 to 8; C.V. Whitney, captain and back of Old Westbury, who went from 5 to 6; William G. Reynolds, hard-hitting young players who also went from 5 to 6; Peter Perkins, son of the veteran California star, Arthur P. Perkins, who jumped from 3 to 5; Lewis Smith, the young Buffalo player, who made his debut in high-goal play with Aurora this year, from 4 to 5; Charley von Stade and Mott Woolley, two young Meadow Brook players, from 3 to 4.

The international polo matches to be played at Meadow Brook next June can hardly provide much in the way of close competition, if present plans are carried out. The British will attempt to beat a 40goal polo team, which is as strong as they can come, with one rated at 31.

Based on these official American and British handicap figures, and similar ratings which have worked out time and time again with uncanny accuracy, the Americans would beat the British next June by about 9 goals a game—by scores of, let us say, 15-6 or 16-7—if not worse. Every polo player who has seen the members of the

proposed teams knows this to be so.

If it is true, that there won’t be much in the way of polo in these matches for those who sincerely love the game, is it also true that they can serve no useful purpose—beyond of course, providing a social fiesta par excellence, paticularly if King George VI and his Queen happened to visit Long Island at the time?

The answer is no. The games can do American polo and the American horse industry a great deal of good. Provided the American team plays American-bred horses and only American-bred horses.

We challenge the American team to do so! Let us show that our horses rank with the best, just as our players do. Let us put an end to the cry that we lead the polo world because without money we deplete the stocks of rival nations. Let us demonstrate just exactly what our polo is, not merely the pastime of a few rich men but a national game drawing its strength from all sections of the land and, in turn, giving something back to those who contribute to its greatness.

In the end, United States (Michael Phipps, Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Stewart Iglehart, Winston F.C. Guest) took the matches 11-7 and 9-4. The British squad was Bob Skene, Aidan Roark, Gerald Balding and Eric Tyrell-Martin.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61

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M A Y 31 - A U G U S T 2 5 Rincon League Pro-Am (6-8) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA

AU G U S T 3 - S E P T E M B E R 1 Arena Women’s Challenge (0-3) Commonwealth, Paris, KY

AU G U S T 9 - 12 Officers Cup (4-8) Maryland, Jarrettsville, MD

J U LY 7 - AU G U S T 4 Hampton’s League (6) Southampton, Water Mill, NY

AU G U S T 3 - S E P T E M B E R 5 Landhope Challenge Cup Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA

AU G U S T 10 - 12 The Rocky Mountain Open Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO

J U LY 13 - AU G U S T 12 New York Cup (8) Southampton, Water Mill, NY

AU G U S T 3 - S E P T E M B E R 12 Masters Cup (6-8) Virginia International, Upperville, VA

J U LY 2 4 - AU G U S T 7 USPA National Arena Handicap Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO

A U G U S T 3 - S E P T E M B E R 16 Southampton Cup (8) Southampton, Water Mill, NY

J U LY 2 4 - AU G U S T 13 USPA Players Cup (4) NYC, Patterson, NY

AU G U S T 4 Mashomack Family Day Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY

J U LY 2 7 - AU G U S T 12 America Cup (6-8) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA J U LY 2 8 - S E P T E M B E R 8 Fall League (4) Southampton, Water Mill, NY A U G U S T 1 - 11 Governors Cup (4-6) Denver, Sedalia, CO A U G U S T 1 - 19 USPA Constitution Cup (4) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY

AU G U S T 1 - 2 5 Colorado Open Denver, Sedalia, CO AU G U S T 2 - 4 Family High-Goal St. Ann, Drax Hall, Jamaica AU G U S T 2 - 5 Congressional Cup (0-2) Amateur Cup (-4-0) Central New York, Cortland, NY Sportsmanship Cup (0-2, 4-6) Twin City, Maple Plain, MN AU G U S T 3 USPA Intra Circuit St. Louis, Defiance, MO AU G U S T 3 - 5 The High Alpine Cup Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO The Whitney Cup Saratoga, Saratoga, NY

62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Skeeter Johnston Memorial Flying H, Big Horn, WY AU G U S T 4 - 5 Pacific Coast Arena League Central Coast, Los Osos, CA Players Cup (0-4) Hickory Hall, Whitestown, IN Murray Samuell Memorial El Caso Ranch, Quemado, NM AU G U S T 5 Realty Source Polo Cup Play Polo, Westerville, OH

Luplow Mem/Fremont Motors Cup Big Horn, Big Horn, WY Archie MacCarty Cup Flying H, Big Horn, WY AU G U S T 5 - 12 W. Cameron Forbes Cup (6) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA AU G U S T 6 Hot Shots Tournament Southampton, Water Mill, NY A U G U S T 6 - 11 Presidents Cup (4-8) Tinicum Park, Frenchtown, NJ AU G U S T 8 - 12 Sportsmanship Cup (0-4) Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI AU G U S T 8 - 15 Arena World Cup Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO

Museum of Polo Challenge Cup Banbury Cross, Middleburg, VA AU G U S T 10 - 2 7 Pacific Coast Open (16-20) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA A U G U S T 11 Linfoot Memorial Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA Presidents Cup (4-8) Tinicum, Erwinna, PA Arena Rules & Strategy Clinic Mountain View, Charles Town, WV Moncreiffe Cup Flying H, Big Horn, WY A U G U S T 11 - 1 2 Holly Ward Memorial Sugarbush, Waitsfield, VT Dog Iron Tournament Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA Kem Rogers Memorial El Caso Ranch, Quemado, NM Sportsmanship Cup New Mexico, Sante Fe, NM The Barrantes Cup Saratoga, Saratoga, NY A U G U S T 11 - 19 Congressional Cup (4-8) Bliss, Levering, MI AU G U S T 12 Aiken Nuptial Cup Lancaster, Lancaster, PA A U G U S T 14 - S E P T E M B E R 3 USPA Masters Cup (4-8) NYC, Patterson, NY A U G U S T 1 5 - 19 Officers Cup (4-6) Twin City, Maple Plain, MN M.C. Sifton Memorial Toronto, Markham, Ontario, Canada

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SEPTEMBER

AU G U S T 15 - 2 5 FIP Women’s Invitational (18) Denver, Sedalia, CO

AU G U S T 2 4 - 2 5 Oyster Cup Cerro Pampa, Petaluma, CA

A U G U S T 31 - S E P T E M B E R 1 2 Coal Cup Invitational (14) Mt. Brilliant, Lexington, KY

AU G U S T 15 - 2 6 Governors Cup (0-6) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA

AU G U S T 2 4 - 2 6 The Carbondale Classic Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO

SEPTEMBER 1-2 Labor Day Benefit match Sugarbush, Waitsfield, VT

AU G U S T 15 - 3 0 National Amateur Cup (0-4) Lexington, Lexington, KY A U G U S T 16 - 19 Binger Cup (0, 4) Twin City, Maple Plain, MN A U G U S T 16 - S E P T E M B E R 2 Pacific Coast Open (16) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA A U G U S T 17 - 19 The Mount Sopris Cup Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO The Ylvisaker Cup Saratoga, Saratoga, NY AU G U S T 18 Tuckerman Cup (4) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA Pacific Polo Tour Hollywood Cup Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA Bozeman Trail Cup Flying H, Big Horn, WY A U G U S T 1 8 - 19 I/I Alumni Tournament (2-6) Central Coast, Los Osos, CA A U G U S T 19 Capital City Aviation Cup Play Polo, Westerville, OH A U G U S T 19 - 2 6 USPA Governor Cup (6) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA AU G U S T 2 2 - S E P T E M B E R 9 USPA Tracey MacTaggart Challenge (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY AU G U S T 2 3 USPA Arena Cup Denver, Sedalia, Colorado AU G U S T 2 4 Amateur Cup Hickory Hall, Whitestown, IN

George Haas Windswept Trophy (2-4) Farmington, Farmington, CT Polo Ponies Memorial (6-8) Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA AU G U S T 2 5 Women’s Challenge Cup Tinicum, Erwinna, PA Endangered Wolf Benefit Spirit Valley, Chesterfield, MO Flying H Cup Flying H, Big Horn, WY 2nd Annual Polofest Denver Denver, Sedalia, CO AU G U S T 2 6 Caribbean Cup Lancaster, Lancaster, PA Amateur Cup (0-4) Hawaii, Waialua, HI

USPA/PTF Senior’s Cup (0-4) Denver, Sedalia, CO SEPTEMBER 1-3 Jon Moeller Memorial Des Moines, Norwalk, IA SEPTEMBER 1-30 USPA Women’s Arena Handicap (12) Virginia Polo, Charlottesville, VA S E P T E M B E R 1 - NOV E M B E R 1 Keleen and Carlton Beal Cup (12-16) Houston, Houston, TX SEPTEMBER 2 Labor Day Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA Bella Vista Cup Play Polo, Westerville, OH SEPTEMBER 2-3 2-Goal Tournament Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

AU G U S T 2 6 - S E P T E M B E R 0 9 East Coast Open (16-20) Greenwich, Greenwich, CT

SEPTEMBER 6-9 Mile High Women’s Invitational Denver, Sedalia, Colorado

AU G U S T 2 8 - S E P T E M B E R 2 NYTS Championship (0-4) Columbine, Littleton, CO

S E P T E M B E R 6 - 16 Willis Allen Memorial Cup (2) San Diego Surf, Del Mar, CA

AU G U S T 3 0 - S E P T E M B E R 2 Labor Day Cup (2) Maryland, Jarrettsville, MD

SEPTEMBER 7-9 Arena Masters Maryland, Jarrettsville, MD

A U G U S T 31 - S E P T E M B E R 2 Women’s Challenge (0-6) Banbury Cross, Middleburg, VA Gerald Balding (6-8) Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA

Polo America Beach Polo Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, CA SEPTEMBER 8 Sportsmanship Cup (3-6) Tinicum, Erwinna, PA

The Triple Crown of Polo Trophy Aspen Valley, Carbondale, CO

Chukkers for Charity Riverview Farm, Franklin, TN

The Saratoga Special Tournament Saratoga, Saratoga, NY

Treehouse Benefit Spirit Valley, Chesterfield, MO

Polo Hall of Fame Tournament Saratoga, Saratoga, NY

Freedom Farm Charity Event Blackberg Ranch, Watertown, MN

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63

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SEPTEMBER 8-9 Garlic Cup South Bay, Gilroy, CA

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Sherman Memorial (3-6) Maryland, Jarretsville, MD

S E P T E M B E R 14 - 3 0 Kentucky Cup Invitational (14) Mt. Brilliant, Lexington, KY

SEPTEMBER 9 National Sporting Library & Museum’s 8th Annual Polo Classic Great Meadow, The Plains, VA

S E P T E M B E R 1 5 - 16 17th Annual Hector Sustaita Memorial Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA

The 8th Annual Polo Classic will include two matches; a parade of the Orange County Hounds; an honor guard; a pipe and drums; an historic carriage driven by staff from Colonial Williamsburg Coach & Livestock, and actress Bo Derek will throw in the ball for both matches. Proceeds will help support NSLM preserve, promote and share the literature, art and culture of equestrian, angling and field sports.

S E P T E M B E R 2 6 - O C T O B E R 14 SW Circuit Governors Cup (0-4) Houston, Houston, TX

S E P T E M B E R 15 - 3 0 Northrup Knox Cup (12-16) New Bridge, Aiken, SC

SEPTEMBER 28-30 Amateur Cup (0-4) Fairfield, Haysville, KS

S E P T E M B E R 16 Windrush Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA

S E P T E M B E R 2 8 - O C T O B E R 14 Governors Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, SC

Sophisticated Living Cup Play Polo, Westerville, OH

S E P T E M B E R 19 - 3 0 Alan Corey Cup (4) Aiken, Aiken, SC

SEPTEMBER 9-30 Club Championship (12) Southampton, Water Mill, NY

S E P T E M B E R 19 - O C T O B E R 6 Masters Cup (3-7) Wagener, Wagener, SC

SEPTEMBER 9-OCTOBER 7 Pro-Pool League Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA

SEPTEMBER 20-30 San Diego Cup (2) San Diego Surf, Del Mar, CA

S E P T E M B E R 11 - 2 2 U.S. Open Arena Championship (20) Country Farms, Medford, NY

S E P T E M B E R 21 Sportsmanship Cup (0-4) Hickory Hall, Whitestown, IN

S E P T E M B E R 11 - 2 3 Gladiator Polo at WEQX Games TIEC, Tryon, NC

S E P T E M B E R 21 - 2 3 Smithfield/Shekomeko Open Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY

64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

SEPTEMBER 23 The Atlantic Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA

S E P T E M B E R 15 - 2 3 USPA Presidents Cup (8) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA

S E P T E M B E R 9 - 17 Regional Presidents Cup (4-8) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA

Fall Classic (8-10) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY

USPA Tournament Bluewater Creek, Rogersville, AL

SEPTEMBER 24 Shades of Gray Seniors Tournament Southampton, Water Mill, NY

S E P T E M B E R 18 - 2 9 Regional President’s Cup (4-8) Houston, Houston, TX

SEPTEMBER 12-23 SW Circuit Masters Cup (0-4) Houston, Houston, TX

SEPTEMBER 22-23 Scott Macintyre Memorial (0-2) Meadowview Farm, Lowell, MI

Pacific Coast Arena League Orange County, Silverado, CA

S E P T E M B E R 9 - 11 USPA Karen Carra Memorial (4-8) Women’s Arena Tournament Mountain View, Charles Town, WV

SEPTEMBER 12 Montechristo Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA

SEPTEMBER

National Arena Chairman’s Cup (9-12) Commonwealth, Paris, KY SEPTEMBER 22 Cardinal Glennon Benefit Kraftig, Defiance, MO Founders Cup (0-6) Horse Park, Redwood City, CA

SEPTEMBER 29 Lawyers Polo La Palmeraie, Morocco

The Lawyers Polo Association is holding its 10th anniversary tournament in Morocco. Lawyers Polo brings together lawyers from around the world to share a week of polo and networking.

SEPTEMBER 29 East Coast Polo College Fair Meadowbrook, Long Island, NY SEPTEMBER 29-30 51st Annual Will Rogers Memorial Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA Congressional Cup (0-2) Meadowview Farm, Lowell, MI SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 7 USPA Wickenden Cup Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA SEPTEMBER 30 Last Chukker Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA Polo For Lyme Benefit Menlo Circus, Atherton, CA Survivor’s Cup Denver, Sedalia, Colorado

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