Dare to care

Match, auction raise record funds

Photos by Shelley Heatley

Sapo Caset, who scored the first goal of the match, is chased by Hilario Ulloa on his homebred Best Playing Pony Lavinia Coronación.

The U.S. Polo Assn. 40-Goal Polo Challenge was a huge success, raising over $425,000 for those members of the polo community who suffer a serious injury or illness. It was the most raised in any one year since its inception.

The exhibition match includes eight of the world’s best players, and is the highest-rated polo played outside of Argentina. While it is a competitive match, it is more of a fun match. This allows the players to play some of their up-and-coming horses that have plenty of talent but may not be ready for the highpressured polo seen in the Gauntlet of Polo. Others with promising horses may offer them to the players for a chance to get their horses shown. The players

The teams celebrate another successful year. Later, their jerseys were auctioned off to raise funds.

A Future 10s match was played prior to the main match.

may elect to play some of their good horses if they need a fast practice for them. The lack of pressure also allows the players to takes some risks and try more difficult shots.

Played as a four-chukker match, the players are encouraged to make long drives by receiving two points for goals scored outside 80 yards. The teams were once again sponsored by Curtis Pilot’s Pilot Catastrophe Services and Peter Orthwein’s Airstream. Played on a cloudy, windy day, the first goal was scored just two minutes into the match when Sapo

Caset sent the ball through the posts. A few minutes later, Airstream was awarded a Penalty 4 but elected to move the ball back to the 80-yard line, hoping for two points. Unfortunately, the wind took the ball and it went wide. Hilario Ulloa put Airstream on the board with a minute left on a drive downfield.

Both teams shot at goal in the second chukker without luck, but Ulloa added another with a little more than a minute on the clock. Pilot had another scoreless chukker in the third, but Airstream jumped ahead 4-1 after Nico Pieres moved a Penalty 4 back to

the 80-yard line and scored, earning two points. Facundo Pieres drove to goal in the final seconds, dropping it a few feet in front of the goal but time ran out.

The last chukker began with a throw-in in front of the goal, but Airstream turned it the other way. Pilot rallied, taking advantage of the two-point challenge. Facundo Pieres moved back a Penalty 4 to the 80-yard line, converting it and earning two points. Two minutes later, Pelon Stirling ran down field and split the uprights with a 90-yard shot for two more points. Pilot was now ahead, 5-4. Airstream made four attempts at goal but couldn’t find the mark and Pilot took the narrow 5-4 victory.

Pelon Stirling won the Tito’s Handmade Vodka two-point shot of the day; Nico Pieres was Jetcraft MVP and Hilario Ulloa’s chestnut mare Lavinia Coronación was the 5 Star Builders Best Playing Pony. Hilario was very happy to see his mare win the award since she was bred by him and his father.

Prior to the 10-goalers taking the field, the Future 10s Match took place, featuring the children of current and former 10-goal players, as well as children of generous supporters of the PPSG. Participants in the Future 10s Match were extremely excited to be on the U.S. Polo Assn. field in front of a crowd. They put on a great show of up-and-coming talent.

Following the 40-goal game, over 400 people attended the dinner auction, which was cosponsored by Mark Edward Partners and Keith and Michelle Whitman.

Highlights of the auction included Curtis Pilot’s winning bid of $70.000 for horse cloning donated by the Crestview Group of Companies; Don and Carol Pennycook winning an island vacation retreat at IIha do Japonês in Brazil; Facundo Pieres’ jersey raising $9,000 each from Lisa Falcone and the partnership of Mike Egan and Jim Kravitz. To sweeten the deal,

Pilot Catastrophe Services Facundo Pieres ...................................... 10 Pelon Stirling ......................................... 10 Sapo Caset .............................................. 10 Gonzalo Pieres Jr. .................................. 10

Airstream Polito Pieres .......................................... 10 Hilario Ulloa .......................................... 10 Miguel Novillo Astrada ............................. 9 Nico Pieres .............................................. 9

Pieres and the Pilot Catastrophe Services crew offered to play a practice with Liliana Falcone and Mike Egan while Kim Kravitz will photograph.

The biggest applause of the night went to Juli Ezcurra who auctioned his vest, which was bought by Curtis Pilot. Pilot very kindly gave Juli his vest back and then gave him his Pilot team jacket.

The PPSG is grateful to everyone who contributed to the event in any way, allowing it to continue to provide financial assistance to members of the polo community who have fallen ill or gotten seriously injured. Since its inception, over $2.5 million in assistance grants have been awarded to 81 different players and grooms.

If you were unable to attend the game, you can watch it online at globalpolo.com. •

Facundo Pieres tries to push his cousin Polito Pieres off the ball.