F E B R U A R Y 2 01 7
La Dolfina takes 10th Argentine Open
$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
DISTINCTIVE SANTA BARBARA PROPERTIES
w w w. S U Z A N N E P E R K I N S . c o m
Suzanne Perkins is One of the Foremost Experts on Luxury Equestrian Properties in California.
Recognized by the Wall Street Journal as a Top Producing Real Estate Agent in America for the Last 10 Years
Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. | CalBRE License # 01106512
CONTENTS F E B R UA R Y 201 7
VOL. 20,
FEATURES
NO. 6
DEPARTMENTS
28 Snow Angels by Sharon Robb
USPA BULLETIN
Polo event raises funds for education
32 Super power by Ernesto Rodriguez
6 Association news 10 Instructors Forum
36 Golden Year
12 14 18 22 24 42
La Dolfina defends Open Championship As the PTF turns 50, focus is on youth
40 It’s a party
Event features fashion, art, cars, music and more
F E B R U A R Y 2 01 7
La Dolfina takes 10th Argentine Open
OUR COVER Ellerstina’s Facundo Pieres is marked closely by La Dolfina’s Pelon Stirling in the Argentine Open final. Photo by: Sergio Llamera
by Tom Goodspeed
Viewpoints Equine Athlete by Heather Smith Thomas Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas by Ernesto Rodriguez
46 Global 60 Yesteryears 64 Calendar/ Marketplace POLO REPORT
50 Tournament results
Clear Lake Aces Sportsmanship Cup
$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.
Certified Equine Appraisals Professionally certified equine valuations for:
THE
OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
Donations • Purchases • Sales Injury or death • Bankruptcys Disputes & litigation • Liquidations • Audits • Insurance • Fraud Editor & Publisher GWEN D. RIZZO Deputy Editor STEVEN A. RIZZO Contributing Editors
HEATHER SMITH THOMAS, ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, ALICE GIPPS, CHRIS ASHTON, TOM GOODSPEED
Editorial Board
TONY COPPOLA, TOM BIDDLE, DAWN WEBER, SUNNY HALE, AMI SHINITZKY
Peter Rizzo, ASEA Certified Equine Appraiser 561.777.6448 or email: rizzo.poloworks@gmail.com
Art Director DAVID BEVERAGE Prepress PUBLISHERS PRESS Advertising & Editorial Offices USPA Member Subscription Inquiries (800) 232-8772 OR FAX (888) 341-7410 ldolan@uspolo.org
General Subscription Inquiries 6008 REYNOLDS RD LAKE WORTH, FL 33449 (561) 968-5208, FAX (561) 968-5209 www.poloplayersedition.com
Visit us on the Web at www.poloplayersedition.com
E-mail:
info@poloplayersedition.com
©Copyright 2017 by USPA Global LLC. No part of this issue may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process without written permission of the publisher. Paul Brown illustrations are ©2016 and are reprinted by permission of Paul Brown Studios, Inc., P.O. Box 925, Hedgesville, WV 25427. Subscription rates: $48/one year, $82/two years. Other countries (air mail), $81 drawn on U.S. bank/one year, $148 drawn on U.S. bank/two years. (GST:134989508). Subscription problems call (561) 968-5208. VOL. 20, No.6 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449 for USPA Brand LLC., 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Periodicals postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. (USPS: 079-770). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Polo Players’ Edition, 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Imex Global, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
4 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
From CEO Duncan Huyler The mission of the USPA is to promote the sport of polo, coordinate the activities of its member clubs and registered players, arrange and supervise polo tournaments, competitions, as well as games and to provide rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts. The Oxford online dictionary defines the word “sport” as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Successful sports in this country have similar traits. Those sports that are accepted by a wide range of the population have prosperous youth programs, amateur and women’s competitions, pro-am alternatives and professional leagues at the very top of the sport, along with elite athlete programs and international competition. Many have regular seasons, playoffs and ultimately culminate in a championship game. The best of the best are recognized with year-end honors and lifetime achievements. The most popular sports are exciting to watch, have an incredible history and are accessible and inclusive at many levels. These sports have certified instructors and coaches, qualified officials and standards in place that ensure the safety of its participants. Our sport of polo has many of these assets. We have hugely successful youth programs such as the Middle School League, the Interscholastic Program, the National Youth Tournament Series and the Intercollegiate Program, all of which have seen double-digit growth in recent years. The very best of our youth participate in various Team USPA programs and international competitions as they progress in the sport. Polo has active and successful women’s competitions such as the Women’s
6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Championship Tournament Series and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship and U.S. Women’s Handicap where dozens of women play incredible polo at the Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas, each November. Women represent a large portion of our members. Out of the 5,500 USPA members, over 2,000 are female. Our reality is that in spite of all of polo’s great attributes, with a little over 5,000 USPA members, polo needs more participation and exposure to be seen as a materially significant sport in the United States. We need more on-ramps that are easily accessible to more people in a variety of places. We need to do better at engaging our membership in meaningful ways including competitions and opportunities to progress at various levels. We need to continue to embrace diversity and inclusivity in our participants and our leadership. In a recent interview Mark Bellisimo of Wellington Equestrian Partners, the new owners of the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, said he hopes to capitalize on the success of the Winter Equestrian Festival by tapping into the entry level in a very disciplined fashion. He went on to say, “If you can’t present something that is easy and accessible with an entry point that is reasonably priced, you are not going to get people into the sport ... Controlling your destiny is packaging and presenting the sport in a way that is very thoughtful and accessible and an investment in the future.” There are unique opportunities in all of our circuits for newcomers to be introduced to our great sport. The USPA is committed to supporting the clubs and membership that provide these opportunities across the country.
FIP Zone A Playoffs The United States Polo Association is proud to announce that the Federation of International Polo has awarded the World Championships Zone A Qualifying Tournament (FIP Zone A Playoffs) to the USPA. The tournament will be played April 22-30, 2017 in South Florida. The United States Polo Association in conjunction with Port Mayaca Polo Club and the International Polo Club Palm Beach will co-host the tournament. Stick and ball, practice games and the first two days of tournament play will be held at Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida. All horses will be stabled at Port Mayaca’s club barns. The final games will be held on Sunday, April 30 on Field 1 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Teams from USA, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala are expected to compete in the event. The USA team will be selected from Team USPA players.
Livestreaming Polo The USPA has entered a three-year partnership with ChukkerTV to be the livestream provider for the USPA Polo Network on uspolo.org. The USPA has begun the process of livestreaming approximately 140 games in 2017 including the 113th U.S. Open Polo Championship and all Florida high-goal tournaments, the East Coast Open, the Pacific Coast Open, the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship, the National Youth Tournament Series, Men’s and Women’s National Intercollegiate Championships, the International Intercollegiate Challenge Cup, the Townsend Cup, the USPA International Cup and the National Twenty Goal. Polo fans will be able to watch live games, past games on demand and special interest shows. The USPA and ChukkerTV will also
A match between Mount Brilliant and Villa del Lago kicked off International Polo Club’s high-goal season in Wellington, Florida.
the Argentine Triple Crown. In 2014, Carla won Best Playing Pony of the Hurlingham Open. Lucky has a very similar story to Carla. Purchased in 2012 from Carlos Avendaño, she too played in that year’s U.S. Open Polo Championship, and was then sent to Argentina where she has played the last four Argentine Open finals with either Adolfo Cambiaso or Pelon Stirling. Their La Dolfina team won all four of those years. collaborate to create and promote a USPA Polo Network App. Polo fans will be able to download the app to watch the sport easily and uninterrupted. This partnership between the USPA
American Bred Best Playing Pony in the Hurlingham Open. This is the second year the USPA Equine Welfare Committee has honored an American-bred horse in the Argentine Open Polo Championship, and
Helmet Rule for 2017 During the Annual Fall Meeting for the USPA board of governors, a motion was passed that will require any person of a team organization mounted on a
Carla (left), owned and played by Adolfo Cambiaso, was honored as Best Playing American Bred Polo Pony in the Argentine Open. Lucky (right), played by Pelon Stirling and owned by Adolfo Cambiaso, was honored as Best Playing American Bred Polo Pony in the Hurlingham Open.
and ChukkerTV will increase the exposure for polo globally with the goal to reach sports fans outside of the polo community. The combined social media efforts will showcase polo from a thrilling perspective through instant video clips during the livestream along with player interviews, vignettes and game updates.
Best American-Bred Horses The USPA is pleased to announce the 2016 American Bred Best Playing Pony in the Argentine Open, as well as the 2016
the first year an American-bred horse was honored at the Hurlingham Open. Carla, owned and ridden by Adolfo Cambiaso was awarded Best Playing American Bred Pony in the Argentine Open and Lucky, ridden by Pelon Sterling and owned by Adolfo Cambiaso was awarded Best Playing American Bred Pony in the Hurlingham Open. Carla, a 12-year-old American Thoroughbred mare purchased from Roberto Gonzalez, played in the 2012 U.S. Open Polo Championship. Cambiaso then shipped the mare to Argentina to play in
horse during a USPA event to wear a helmet. This new rule went into effect beginning January 1, 2017.
Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth, Florida 33467 (800) 232-USPA Chairman: Joe Meyer President: Chip Campbell Secretary: Tom Gose Treasurer: Sam Ramirez Chief Executive Officer: Duncan Huyler
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7
their horsepower wisely. The USPA would like to thank the All Pro Polo League founders Javier Tanoria, Justo del Carril and Marcos Aldao for giving Team USPA players the opportunity to participate in this great program for up-and-coming players.
CPI
Team USPA vs Argentina The All Pro Polo League sponsored a Team USPA versus Pampas International Test Match, which took place at the Pilarchico Polo Club in Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Team USPA members Felipe Viana (5), Geronimo Obregon (4), Russell Stimmel (2) and Jake Stimmel (2) and Team USPA hopeful Matt Coppola (4) competed against Pampas, an Argentine team consisting of Fran Crotto (4), Juan Martin Obregon (5), Mateo Lafuente (2) and Marcos Menditeguy (4). The match was played under the APPL rules, which encourage fast, open and team-oriented polo. The APPL format is played in eight four-minute chukkers. Players are only allowed to play one horse per chukker without a spare, which encourages them to play team polo and utilize 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
The USPA is proud to announce there are now 43 Level 1 Certified Polo Instructors. Visit poloskilz.com to see their full profiles. Congratulations to the following: Bob Ceparano, Branden Van Loon, Carolyn Stimmel, Cindy Halle, David Brooks Ed Little, Emmalyn Wheaton, Ethan Galis, Erik Wright, Frank Stubblefield, Heather Perkins, Hesham Elezaby, James Armstrong, Jeff Scheraga, Jennifer Williams, Jenny Schwartz, Jorge Estrada, Jorge Vasquez, Josie Vidic, Julie Empey, Kelli Newton, Ken Cresswell, Kim Maguire, Kris Bowman, Liz Holson, Mark Prinsloo, Mario Dino, Max Secunda, Megan Judge, Molly Musselman, Paul Kuhn, Peter Poor, Posey Obrecht, Robert Koehler, Robert Lyn-Kee-Chow, Robin Sanchez, Sammie Uys, Savannah Kranich, Scott Weir, Sheila Everett, Stuart Campbell, Sue Lukashevich and Tony Condo. For more information about our instructors or how to become certified, contact Jess Downey at jdowney@uspolo.org.
Intern Program Want to pursue a career in polo? The USPA’s Polo Development Intern Program could be a great place to start. Designed to shorten the learning curve by pairing young talent with seasoned polo professionals, the PD Intern program was created to help expedite the process of creating the next generation of valuable human capital to work in the polo industry. For more information, contact Justin Powers, jpowers@uspolo.org.
I/I Season Begins The 2017 I/I tournament season is here. Interscholastic tournaments kickoff February 10 and Intercollegiate February 17. Keep up to date with live scoring on the USPOLO.org website and the I/I Facebook page: facebook.com/iipolo Good Luck to all teams! ELIZABETH HEDLEY
ELIZABETH HEDLEY
Geronimo Obregon leads the field in the Team USPA vs. Pampas test match.
Russell Stimmel covers an opponent in the Team USPA vs. Pampas test match.
Without officials It’s just recess. USPA Umpires, LLC To date, our professional umpires have officiated over 1,800 ames, at over 80 clubs includ 9 international clubs. For more information r rdin professional umpir either Charles Muldoon: cmuldoon@uspolo.or or For information r
at your club. Please contact Mitchell: mmitchell@uspolo.or
ardin umpire clinics, please contact Steve Lane: slane@uspolo.or
I
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
O
R
S
F
O
R
U
BY TOM GOODSPEED
M
BEING FORWARD How to position yourself when playing No. 1 or No. 2
B
eing successful on the polo field requires an understanding of player positions and their associated responsibilities. No matter what position you play, it is important to be familiar with the responsibilities of all the positions. For instance, knowing the basic responsibilities of the player you are marking will make you stronger at your position. In general, your position and the position you are marking adds up to five. So, if you are playing the No. 1 position, your opponent is the No. 4. If you are No. 2, your opponent is No. 3. There are always variables, so if you are playing No. 1 and the opponent’s No. 4 is a much stronger player, your captain may assign you to cover a different player. Great teams have players that can easily transition from one position to another and cover for each other when needed so it is best to be aware of the responsibilities of all the positions. In other situations, you may be directed to stay with a single opponent or to always stay up or always stay back.
Position No. 1 Ideally, the No. 1 has fast horses, great anticipation of passes and is an accurate hitter, allowing him to score often. However, often the No. 1 position is assigned to the lesser-experienced player. Even though you will be covering the opposing No. 4 throughout the game, you are tasked with successfully marking and neutralizing the opponent’s No. 1 in the throw-ins. Do not allow the opposing No. 1 to get the ball and move up field. Instead turn your opponent in your direction as you prepare to move down 10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
field for a pass. Better yet, take the ball out of the throw-in and make a fast breakaway. If you miss the ball and jump out of the throw-in too quickly, you are more apt to foul, and if nothing else, have left your opponent in a better position to get up field or make a play on the ball you just missed. In the throw-in, place more focus on the opponent and less focus on the ball. Be one step ahead of your teammate and with a tad more angle, ready to jump forward as soon as the ball is bowled in. In the perfect polo world, you are much more skilled and better mounted than the opposing No. 1. In reality, you may be equally skilled or even less-skilled than your opponent. If this is the case, or you are simply not as well mounted, your responsibility is much more defensive. If you are more skilled than the opposing No. 1 your responsibilities will be far more offensive. As soon as the play gets moving, if your team gets possession of the ball, quickly move forward in position for a pass. If the opponents get the ball, leave the No. 1 and get to the No. 4 to cover him. It can be confusing to the developing amateur (most of us) but the transition happens more naturally than you would think as you become more familiar with the game. When the ball is in play and you start marking the No. 4. your job is to do your best to keep the No. 4 from backing or turning the ball. Horses are an important variable and will often dictate your offense to defense ratio from chukker to chukker. If you are not as well mounted or are not as skilled, your entire focus may be riding your opponent out of plays without ever having a play on the ball. This takes a tremendous amount of discipline.
While you may do some defensive work when the other team has possession of the ball, if your team has the ball, playing No. 1 is all about keeping yourself open to receive passes to carry to goal. This can mean out running or out foxing your opponent to stay open. Playing No. 1 can be frustrating at times because you might be working hard, staying in position, yet not receiving passes from your teammates. This can happen for several reasons. A teammate might tell you to stay up for a pass they are unable to actually make, you may be going farther than anyone can hit, you may be too close to the hitter who is capable of making long shots, your teammates may not have confidence in your hitting ability, you may be out of position, your opponent may be doing a good job of covering you, a teammate might be a ball hog or if one of your teammates has hired a pro, the pro is more likely to hit to the person who hired him. If your teammate tells you to go up for a pass he can’t actually make, determine how far he can hit and don’t go much further. The same is true if you are going too far down field or staying too close to the hitter. Determine how far the hitter usually hits, and go to that area. If your teammates don’t have confidence in your hitting abilities, practice more and prove to them that you can hit. If your opponent is covering you, try to evade him. Do what you can to get open for the pass, including changing direction, slowing down or speeding up. If that still doesn’t work, try marking another player. If the first opponent still follows you, you’ll have two opponents with you meaning one of your teammates is now open. Some teammates are just
plain ball hogs who will try to carry the ball themselves rather than passing. In this case, just drop in behind him to clean-up in case he loses the ball. If one of your teammates has hired a pro and the pro keeps hitting to your teammate instead of you, stay closer to that teammate, even dropping in behind him if necessary so you can get the ball if he misses. The No. 1 is expected to stay further up field, but it can be challenging to get back to the No. 4 when the play turns to defense. It can be frustrating if you get criticized for not being in position when you do your best to hustle back when the play turns. The idea is to beat your opponent down field, but not be so far ahead that you can’t get back to position if your opponents take possession. For knock-ins and spot hits, mark the No. 4 by lining up 30 yards from the ball if the No. 4 is hitting the ball. Stay on his mallet side and go to him once he hits the ball. If the No. 3 is taking the knock-in or spot hit, stay with the No. 4 trying to maintain advantage on him as he tries to advance up field. Remember, the opponent is allowed to be closer to the hitter than 30 yards when their team is hitting but you can not be. Wait at least 30 yards out until the ball is hit. Always be cautious when lining up 30 yards from the hitter. Turn your horse away from the hitter and look to see where the hitter is aiming. Don’t position yourself in his line of fire for your safety and that of your horse. When your team is taking a knock-in, mid-field or spot hit, line up straight out from your hitter at about 60 yards (or greater if your hitter can hit 100-plus yards). It is best to put yourself 20-30 yards shorter than your teammate is able to hit as close to the probably trajectory of the hit so you can adjust to the line and proceed to the ball. If you are way out to one side or another, it will be difficult to get to the line of the ball and its associated right of way.
When your team is taking a Penalty No. 4, line up outside of one of the goal posts and try to keep the ball in if it is going wide. Position No. 2 The player at the No. 2 position is usually very well mounted as he is charged with covering the opposing No. 3, the team’s quarterback and very often the best player on the opposing team. The No. 2 will be in position to take passes from his No. 3 and 4 teammates when on offense, while quickly transitioning to defense to get an advantage on the opposing No. 3. The No. 2’s offense to defense ratio depends largely on the skill and ponies of both the No. 3s on the field. In our perfect polo world, the No. 1 and 2 position themselves well for successful passes from the No. 3. The No. 2 works closely with the No. 1 on offensive drives, following behind and hitting the ball back up if the No. 1 misses. He also supports the No. 3 when the team switches to defense. The ability of a No. 2 being able to neutralize the opposing No. 3 is a huge factor in any team’s success. A No. 2 that is also effective in supporting and creating offensive drives is a complete player. A good No. 2 has a thorough understanding of the responsibilities of the No. 3. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 should have quick mallets, be able to carry the ball and be accurate hitters. Accuracy and placement is almost always more important than distance with respect to hitting. A long ball can be a real asset as long as it is packaged with accurate placement. The responsibilities of the No. 2 in the throw-ins are similar to that of the No. 1. The No. 2 will line-up with the opposing No. 2 but is responsible for quickly covering the opposing No. 3 if the opponents win the throw-in. The No. 2 may do a little more moving in either direction out of the throw-in, though still
generally forward. There are some situations where a No. 2 will turn back, following his No. 3 and 4 if the ball goes through the line-up. If your team gets possession of the ball, the No. 1 and 2 should make their way up field for the pass. When the opposing No. 3 is knocking in or taking a spot hit, position yourself 30 yards from him on his mallet side until he hits the ball, then you can move in closer to mark him. If the opposing No. 4 takes the knock-in or spot hit, cover the No. 3 as closely as you can without getting closer than 30-yards from the hitter until he hits the ball. When your team is taking a knock-in, move towards the boards on the side your team is knocking in from, about 40-50 yards from the hitter, hopefully with an advantage on the opposing No. 3. This distance may increase based on the hitting ability of your hitter. For mid-field hits taken by your team, stay to the middle of the field as opposed to the sidelines but still try to maintain advantage of the opposing No. 3. When your team takes a Penalty 4, the No. 1 and 2 usually line up on either side of the goal to keep the ball in play if it is going wide. Players that are easily able to interchange positions are more effective. And players that are able to neutralize a higher-rated player are a valuable asset on any team. It is not very practical to assign a lower-rate player who is poorly mounted to a higher-rated player who is well mounted. However, a lower-rated player that is a strong rider on good horses and has a sound understanding of the game may be able to successfully neutralize a higher-rated player. 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.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
V
I
E
W
P
O
I
N
T
S
RULES OF THE GAME Keep up with the current rules to better enjoy the game
T
he next time you play in an umpired match, take a close look at the score sheet at the end of a game. It may be surprising to find that often more goals are scored from the penalty line than from the field. Even more penalty goals would be scored if players practiced taking penalty shots. This means that if your team is fouling too much, you are probably losing the majority of your matches. Players are eager to play polo. Polo can be fun, but winning a polo game or two
Sometimes more goals are scored from the penalty line than from the field. Practice taking penalty shots often.
12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
makes the enormous cost of playing somewhat bearable. Players buy the best horses and use the finest equipment available because they know that a good horse is 85 percent of the game and having a bad mallet can just about ruin your day. More fortunate players can afford to hire a professional player or two to make the games even more interesting. But even great horses, well made equipment and talented professionals may not be enough to win on a consistent basis. Often, the one thing lacking in order to play and win is a complete understanding of the rules of polo. Polo rules make the game safe and enjoyable. Therefore, it is important to try to have the best available umpires on the field to officiate the match. No sense having all the teams understanding the rules if the umpires themselves do not know the rules and procedures of polo. Using properly qualified umpires is a club’s responsibility, but will only happen if club players demand a certain degree of excellence from their game officials. There is no excuse for a poorly trained umpire. Once the training of the umpires has been accomplished, it is time for the players to know the rules that will be enforced in each and every game. It is quite surprising to see certain players making the same mistakes game after game. All too often, these chronic foulers are been conditioned to play the way they do. They are conditioned by not being informed by the umpire’s whistle of the times they foul. For instance, if a player refuses to use the near side because of fear or uncaring, all too often this player will drift across the line to make a back shot. In too many clubs, these fouls may be called every now and then, but sometimes, the umpires will let some of the offenses go if
done repeatedly by the same player. Umpires must be consistent with their calls. It is hoped that eventually the chronic foulers will be stopped because no one will want to lose games via opponents repeated trips to the penalty line. Many beginning players get frustrated when playing in umpired matches. All too often, club practices are not umpired, so players acquire bad habits without the benefit of finding ways to correct mistakes on the polo field. While for most clubs it is impractical to
Players are not entitled to talk to the umpires about theirs calls in a game. You can try calmly clarifying a call after the game.
have all practice chukkers umpired, it may behoove the better players on the practice fields to instruct the novice players. This instruction, when done in a calm tone of voice, will make practice and umpired match games better and much safer for everyone. Novices can also learn much by watching the better players play and by asking for help on something they do not understand. Most professionals will share their knowledge of the game with you if you ask them in a calm, polite way. Do not get frustrated if it appears that the umpires are picking on you. Maybe the umpires do not like you personally, but that you may not be able to change. You can change your behavior by deciding to play the game by the rules. Players are not entitled to talk to the umpires about their calls in a game; however, if you feel that you cannot understand some of their calls, ask them for help after the game when you are calm. If the umpires have time, and are so inclined, perhaps you can invite one or both of them to watch a videotape of one of your games. Do not use this viewing time to argue calls, use the time wisely and learn about the game. Also learn what fouls umpires will always call and stop making those plays. No sense fighting with the umpires’ perception of the game. They have the power to make the calls, no matter if you like those calls or not. From time to time, rules change. Recently, a set of international rules was created for events at the 20 goal and above handicap level. Some polo clubs have requested and received variances to use the international rules in competition lower than 20 goals. Each year, find out what rules or procedures have changed, which set of rules they are using at your club and then adapt yourself accordingly.
Rules and rule interpretations can change from year to year so it is important you are aware of the current rules and how the umpires will call them. Clubs can also get variances to certain rules, so check with your club to see if they will be using any variances to the rules.
Sometimes a rule interpretation will change, so be aware of how the umpires will view all plays. It is not usually fun to lose, but to lose a game because of a technicality is never any fun. For example, make sure all players are properly handicapped prior to the start of a game and check your horses so that they comply with the rules (i.e. proper shoeing, sight in both eyes, and no blood showing). Find out what penalties are defended and where players can line up for each of these penalties. Learn what happens when a player is hurt and cannot continue. How and when is that player substituted and is the other team penalized? Not knowing what happens after the whistle blows may cost you the game. The best way to learn the rules is to read them–yes, all of them. Read even the longer ones that do not seem to make sense. If you don’t have a current copy of
the rule book, request one from the USPA. Better yet, you can access the rule book on the USPA’s website: uspolo.org. Clubs sometimes hold umpire or rules clinics. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about the rules and how they will be applied. It is also a great opportunity to clear up any confusion you might have. Ask plenty of questions and listen carefully. If you play enough polo, all the rules will be used at some point in the season. Just like any other rules of conduct, ignorance of the rules is no excuse. Know what the umpires know to save you from the embarrassment of losing games because of repeated fouls or failing to know the proper procedures. Last but not least, remember rules and rule enforcement are two of the best ways to keep a game safe, fair and enjoyable for both players and their horses. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13
E
Q
U
I
N
E
A
T
H
L
E
T
E
BY HEATHER SMITH THOMAS
SOUND ADVICE Be involved with your horses to better detect any lameness issues
H
orses can be tremendous athletes with exceptional speed and endurance. Keeping them at peak performance can be a challenge however, since even a subtle or minor injury may result in an “off” day with the horse not doing his best. Dr. Duncan Peters (Director, Equine Lameness and Sports Medicine Department, Michigan State University) says the most important thing is to know your horse, and know what’s normal. “The only way you can tell what’s not right is to know what is right. Then you can detect subtle deviations or impairments and changes,” Dr. Duncan Peters he explains. “Keeping a horse at his peak boils down to basic management—good nutrition, good shoeing intervals, good exercise program, good disease prevention. These all play into perfect fitness. If you are involved in all of this, you get to know what is normal for that horse. If you are always expecting someone else to take care of those things, it is hard to stay on top of what’s normal or optimum for your horse.” In order to detect any change, you must be in tune with that horse. “Rather than thinking he’s just a little tired today and not giving his best effort, having an ‘off’ day, you need to find out why. Was he shod two days ago and his feet are tender? Was the footing bad when he worked last 14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Smart players do not ignore early warning signs of a problem; they become aggressive in finding out what’s wrong and deal with it to make sure their horse stays at the top of its game.
time? Was one leg a bit swollen the next day? Maybe the swelling is gone today but he still doesn’t feel top-notch. Being observant is important, to know what is different today,” says Peters. “Know what is normal for the horse, and then be observant to notice any small changes,” he says. A small change might be the start of something more serious if you don’t figure it out and address it. If you keep using the horse, a small injury may become a big problem. “Whatever the original problem—a swollen leg, a scrape, or the horse seems a bit tired—there are three ways to approach it. You can either do nothing, go a conservative route, or you can be very aggressive in terms of figuring out what’s going on and then treating it. To keep your horse in top shape, the first option (doing nothing) is not a good choice. You think it’s just a minor
problem that will get better on its own—‘a long ways from his heart.’ But that can be a problem that may come back to bite you later on,” says Peters. “It might be something as small and simple as a scrape/bruise from an overreach—the hind foot striking a front heel. This is something that shouldn’t be ignored. Two days later the horse may be running slower because he’s sore. If you want your horse to give optimum performance, doing nothing is a poor choice,” he says. “This leaves two other choices. You can either be conservative or you become real aggressive. If you choose to be conservative, you must be willing to have some leeway in your plans for that horse. With a horse that overreaches and takes a hunk of skin off, if you want to deal with it conservatively and put a bandage on it overnight, that may work fine—but it may
take a few days for it to heal. You have to be willing to adjust your plans and give the horse some days off. In the long run this will work, to let the horse heal and get back to maximum performance. You might have to skip your next competition but you realize it will be best for the horse if you miss it,” he says. “This conservative approach is something you can manage yourself; the injury is not terrible, and something you can deal with while you give the horse a chance to heal. But you need to make the right decisions and not just put a bandage on and try to keep on with your original performance schedule,” says Peters. “The aggressive approach would be to realize that even though you can manage this injury, you’d like to have a professional oversee this problem and help you with bandaging it. Get someone who is not so emotionally invested in the situation, who could tell you how serious it is or isn’t. That person might say that you need to really back off and forget about any more competitions until it is fully healed. A veterinarian could look at
it from a structural standpoint and might tell you that it’s just superficial, or that it tore down into the corium. In that situation, you’d want to rest the horse until it’s fully healed or you might end up with a quarter crack that will be a serious issue on down the road. It would pay to back off now for two or three weeks, rather than just a couple of days like you’d thought,” he explains. “The aggressive approach may not be much different than what you might do yourself, but you have a knowledgeable person helping you—someone you trust and you are willing to pay for that opinion. If the future athletic ability of your horse is at stake, this might be a really good investment. It doesn’t mean that you have to pay someone; the person you ask for help might be a knowledgeable friend who can point you in the right direction,” says Peters. “This can reinforce what you feel you might need to do, or give you confidence to follow that advice. You may need to make adjustments, but at least you are starting at a point where you have a good
An aggressive approach to an injury includes having someone who is not emotionally invested in the horse exam it. If the future athletic ability of the horse is at stake, it is likely good investment.
plan. There might be an important competition coming up in six weeks and you realize that’s really what you are shooting for, and can forego events in between,” he says. If you are trying to work toward the top of your sport, be proactive in keeping your horse at his peak or helping him get back to his best performance. “You can apply these guidelines to any kind of injury—a wound, swelling, sprain or strain, pulled muscle. If you come out the morning after a game and notice the horse’s right front leg is puffy, he’s telling you something. A conservative approach might be to ice the leg, give him some oral bute and give him a day or two off and see if the swelling goes down. You might even bandage it for awhile with a poultice. Then you might ride him a little to see if he’s sound. You wouldn’t want to compete again just yet, but simply take him out to see if he feels any different. There are several ways you can treat a minor injury and give it some time,” says Peters. “This might work fine, giving the horse a couple weeks’ rest before his next game. But if you think you have to be at an event next week, you need to take the next step and be more aggressive—to know if there is damage to the leg and if there’s any risk involved in working him again that soon,” he says. “If you want to compete at the top level or strive for that level, you need to make this kind of decision more often than not. This will help you and help your horse, to know how to plan ahead and how to treat that horse. Then he’ll be able to get back to top performance level and you won’t be hurting him in the process of trying to get there.” Being able to evaluate the seriousness of a problem is important. If the horse strikes or grabs himself during athletic maneuvers, pulls a shoe off and tears his foot or bruises himself—or worse yet cracks or breaks something—and pulls up lame, you know you’ve got a problem. “On the other hand, if he finishes the game and you don’t realize he’s hit himself or lost a shoe until afterward, he POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15
probably didn’t hurt himself that much.” But if he’s holding that leg up or feels a little off, you’d better find out why. With any competitive sport, there is a lot of mental assessment, juggling and planning. “If you think your horse is not right, he’s not right. If he’s not making that turn correctly, or is slow to pivot and turn, you need to figure out why. You know there is something wrong and it frustrates you and builds on you, and if you don’t explore it there’s a chance it might get worse. You have to stay on top of things to keep the horse at top level. It’s worth taking that next step to find out why the horse isn’t quite right,” says Peters. “The same applies with a horse that’s losing weight. You may notice that he’s not eating as well as he normally does, or is losing weight even though you are giving him the same feed. He may seem to be slowing down a bit in his performance. You can try to increase the nutrition level of his feed, get more calories into him, or try a feed that’s a little more palatable. You might change his hay to something more energy dense. This would be the conservative
When you know your horses well, you will be able to identify if something is just not right with one of them. It is important to have them examined to lessen the chances things will get worse.
approach,” explains Peters. “If you want to get a little more aggressive, you’d have some bloodwork done, and have someone else look at him, check his teeth, and do a thorough examination. Your veterinarian might ultrasound his abdomen or evaluate what’s been happening with his history and how he’s been performing, and
Some horses maintain fitness better than others and don’t need as much work. Some horses may do well on sets regularly, while others may need to be ridden individually to stay fit.
16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
analyze your nutrition program.” Your whole program can be evaluated, in case you’ve been overworking him or he has ulcers. “If you know the normal, you can tell what’s abnormal, and go from there. The people who are at the top of their sport do not ignore early warning signs; they become aggressive in finding out what’s wrong and dealing with it. This is how you can help make sure your horse stays at the top of his game with peak performance—by paying attention,” Peters explains. Preparing for success “You do the same with conditioning. Everyone conditions/exercises their horse differently to get him into (and keep him in) top shape. Every horse is different. Some maintain fitness better and don’t need such steady work. The same is true in humans; there are some people who don’t have to do as much athletic activity to stay fit. If you have an individual that doesn’t need as much work to stay in top form, you may be overtraining him if you do too much practice. It all comes back to knowing the horse,” he says. You sometimes walk a fine line on what’s enough, what’s too much and what isn’t enough when it
Therapies to return to soundness “That being said, there are times when a horse has sore joints, sore back or sore neck and does need some help. He may need some injections at that point, and along with that may need some time off and maybe some massage, acupuncture or some helpful therapies like a cold water spa.” There are many helpful therapies that can be part of the management to help an injury heal faster or to keep a minor injury from becoming a major problem. “Knowing what enables your horse to
Making and keeping a top athlete Horses must be fit for their job and capable of doing what they are asked to do. You can’t expect a horse to go out there and be a star if he hasn’t been properly prepared for his best efforts. “A horse should also enjoy what he’s doing. He will put his whole heart into a job he enjoys,” says Peters. Part of this involves the horse’s personality and natural talent, and part of it depends on how you ride him—working with him instead of against him, making the work a pleasant experience for him. Good equipment is another part of the equation. If your tack fits and doesn’t make him uncomfortable or
sore, he will perform better and make his turns quicker than if it hurts him. “If you are having trouble or struggling with a horse, frustrated that he can’t meet your expectations, maybe you need an outside opinion—a neutral, knowledgeable person to evaluate that horse for you and give you an honest estimate of that horse’s abilities,” says Peters. Then you can be more confident that he is meeting his potential (and can’t go much beyond what he’s already doing) or if there is still more that he can do. A realistic assessment can be very helpful to know if you are doing right by that horse.
SERGIO LLAMERA
comes to fitness conditioning. You can learn a lot by talking to other people in the sport. “Find out what they do, what works for their horses. What is your horse’s breeding? This can make a difference on how much exercise he needs—to get in shape and keep in shape.” Some have more natural endurance and athletic ability than others. “It usually takes a team to keep a horse at the top. It takes a good trainer/rider, a good farrier, a good veterinarian who knows sports medicine, a good barn manager, a good nutrition program. It also takes a good horse; the first step is selecting one that has the potential and talent to excel. It makes us become better horseman, to get the most from a horse and bring him to his peak (whatever that might be) and keep him there without hurting him or having him become unsound.” Horses always teach us a lot. “We have to be good stewards of the horse, to enable and allow them to work at their maximum abilities. In this regard, I caution people about overmedication—using drugs as a crutch to try to keep a horse going or to improve his performance. There is no secret at the end of a needle. People who think this makes a difference are kidding themselves. It may work in the short term, but it won’t work in the long term and is not in the best interest of the horse,” he says.
be the most comfortable so he can perform at his top level can be a big help. Some people can afford to do a lot of things, using many kinds of therapy, and some people can’t,” says Peters. “The complementary therapies can be important to the athletes. Things like therapeutic ultrasound, cold laser therapy, cold water machines, ice boots, chiropractic therapy, massage, acupuncture, etc. can all have a place. When and where you use these various therapies would still be based on what you know is normal for your horse and what you observe about that horse,” he says.
“We can throw all these things at a horse, but are we actually helping him? That’s the question. In some cases you don’t know until you use it. Some people use the vibrator plates and are convinced that this calms the horse enough that he’s not so much on edge and is more relaxed. A relaxed athlete is generally a better athlete,” Peters says. You don’t want to make the horse too calm, but you don’t want him nervous and using up all his energy and adrenalin before his game. “You always want to look at the big picture, and figure out what helps your horse the best.” POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
POLO SCENE N E W S
•
NO T E S
•
T R E N D S
•
Q U O T E S
GETTING HITCHED
Player married in picturesque national park
POLO
PLAYER BOB EDMUNDSON married Kathleen Parke on September 3 at the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park in Moose, Wyoming. The bride and groom live in New Orleans but spend summers in Jackson Hole enjoying the cool mountain air and the spectacular polo at the Jackson Hole Polo Club. Bob plays strong defense while Kathleen cheers him on and prepares after-game libations. Many polo friends from around the country celebrated with Bob and Kathleen over five days of festivities, including a rehearsal dinner at the ranch home of Paul Von Gontard, 2014 recipient of the Polo Hall of Fame’s Iglehart Award and owner of the polo club. As Paul was out of the country, his daughter Oatsy Von Gontard made the welcoming toast and encouraged guests to get their pictures as the sun set over the lake and behind the Bob and Kathleen at the rehearsal dinner mountains. Ladies hosted at the Von Gontard’s home. received pashminas in the wedding colors of blush, coral and smoky blue to ward off the night chill, and the evening’s western theme was carried out with antler and birch bark decorations, hay bales, wooden signage, and of course cowboy boots! For the ceremony on Saturday, Kathleen’s son walked her down the aisle. The chapel is a small log cabin with handhewn aspen pews, its one picture window behind the altar framing the Grand Tetons. The couple consider it one of the most beautiful and spiritual places they know, and the guests seemed to agree. The groom forgot to bring the wedding rings to the ceremony, but that did not detract from the beauty of the day. The reception was at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, which overlooks the National Elk Refuge. When not enjoying
18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Edmundson
the sites, guests danced to the tunes of an eight-piece band while wearing their party favors: light-up, sequined cowboy hats! The bravest of the lot, which naturally included members of the polo club, finished the night at the after-party at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on the Jackson town square. One of the traditions of the Jackson Hole Polo Club is a Monday afternoon float trip down the Snake River, featuring stunning views and Bob’s famous frozen margaritas. With a touch of fall in the air and leaves beginning to turn, this polo club tradition made the perfect conclusion for a weekend to remember.
NANO’S POLO MALLETS SAYING GOODBYE
Player mourns loss of polo partner
RITA BACA, FROM EL PASO, TEXAS had to make the difficult decision to
humanely euthanize her first polo horse, Hennessey, in October after the pretty gray mare became ill. Baca explained the special relationship she had with the horse: “Hennessey was a noble horse who gave her best whether on or off the polo field. She was my first polo pony and we connected as one. She not only played polo, but she also jumped. She had [such] a sweet and gentle manner [that] anyone could ride her. She was always ready to get on the polo field and run like there was no tomorrow, [often] surprising the opponents when she caught up with them. She was an older mare, but played with such vigor and heart.” Our sincere condolences go out to Rita for her loss.
CUSTOM MADE MALLETS
Professional and Prompt Mallet Repair Service Tipa Wood Heads Wide Selection of Canes We supply cane, grip heads for repair We have light mallets for women children
PARKER’S POLO MINUTE BY PARKER SCOTT
NEW MALLETS IN STOCK OPEN YEAR-AROUND We honor Visa/Mastercard/AMX
3500 Fairlane Farms Road Suite #6 Wellington, FL 33414 www.polomallets.com info@polomallets.com
“I don’t skate to where the puck is; I skate to where the puck is going to be.” —Wayne Gretzky, hockey champion This insight is no different for polo SanDiegoPolo@hotmail.com
(800) 903-NANO (6266) Tel: (561) 793-4911 Fax: (561) 793-4714 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19
OPERATION TOY BOX
Women’s event collects toys for needy children
OPERATION TOY BOX has been raising toys for needy
A WINTER CLASSIC
County Line hosts arena event
T
HE USPA ARENA AMATEUR CUP was hosted at the County Line Polo Club’s 3rd Annual Winter Classic. Spectator’s enjoyed hanging out by the fire pit listening to the live music and watching some upclose arena polo action. The round robin tournament was played by teams from Two Wishes Ranch, County Line and San Antonio. Two Wishes took the Victory and filled their winning cups with beer at the end of the match. County Line Polo Club thanks all of its sponsors, volunteers and players for a magnificent tournament.
20 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
KERRI PEARSON
two) donation to Operation Toy Box, and game attendees kids on the North Shore of Oahu for over 25 years, and and tailgaters who brought a toy had their entry fee this year the women of Hawaii Polo Club in Waialua, significantly reduced, resulting in a big pile of toys for the Hawaii teamed up with the charity to create an exhibition kids, just in time for Christmas! Local sponsors around fundraiser game with a secondary purpose geared towards Oahu generously donated swag and a variety of gifts for introducing new the ladies, so no women players to one left emptyParticipants in the Winter Wahine Challenge. polo. handed. The The “Winter newcomers were Wahine (Women) truly grateful for Challenge” focused the opportunity on two-and-a-half to participate in weeks of practice this exhilarating leading up to the and challenging game, where more sport and may experienced have gotten women players hooked in the spent their time to process. teach and coach The polo game a “new-to-polo” was also a tribute group how to play. to the “leading The ladies learned lady of polo,” the rules, strategies, Murph Dailey, and techniques in who with her an “induction by fire” process, and had fun doing it! The husband Fred, established Hawaii Polo Club in 1969. The game itself mixed experienced and novice players to make legacy is continued by her son, Mike Dailey and her for an exciting battle in the saddle. grandson Devon Dailey, who have carried on the tradition The interest level of women who participated in the of Polo Sunday as a favorite pastime activity in the Islands. event far exceeded expectations, and the event was so The club sends a big Mahalo (thank you) to all of its successful that Mike Daily, president of Hawaii Polo Club, sponsors and everyone who contributed time, money and declared after the game that HPC will create a new ladies’ goodwill to the kids of Operation Toy Box and the ladies of league for the upcoming season. Hawaii Polo Club. The entry fee for each lady was an unwrapped gift (or —Siri Masterson
DANNY’S TACK SHOP
695.
$
ON THE MEND
00
Also available in Havana Leather American Express, Mastercard & Visa accepted
Player injuries
Danny’s Tack Shop also offers a complete line of products for all your polo needs.
A
USTRALIAN RUKI BAILLIEU, set to play for Michael Bickford’s La Indiana team in the 20-goal Joe Barry Memorial at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida was injured during a practice match before his first game when his horse fell. He suffered a broken clavicle and will miss the rest of the season. He was replaced on the team by 6-goal Gringo Colombres.
a steel-reinforced tree which is lined with latex rubber panels to assure comfort and
Marcos Heguy Saddle
an excellent fit for both player and horse. 70 Clinton Street • Tully, New York 13159 Phone/Fax 315-696-8036 • E-mail: dannypolo@aol.com
ALEX PACHECO
Olathe Boots—$279 Chukker Bridle complete w/bit Gag—$399 Pelham—$359
This suede saddle has
Sugar Erskine
Last fall, Stuart “Sugar” Erskine injured his neck when his horse fell during a collision in a 12-goal match at the Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas. Erskine fractured his C7 vertebrae, which required surgery to repair it. He is in a neck brace and expected to make a full recovery but will miss at least part of the Florida high-goal season.
CORRECTION
ACTION PHOTOGRAPHS which
ran in the article covering the USPA Middle School League in the January 2017 edition were incorrectly identified as being from Glen Farm. The photos were taken at Newport Polo Club’s outdoor arena polo facility. We regret the error.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21
Future investment Team USPA members experience polo at its best The United States Polo Association established Team USPA in 2009 to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities. By Kylie Sheehan • Photos by Elizabeth Hedley
There is nothing quite like walking into the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo to watch the final of the Argentine Open. Watching polo in its stadium, known as “La Catedral,” is a sacred experience for many. While the audience ranges from gauchos to jetsetters, the utmost respect for the sport, players and equine athletes is contagious among everyone in attendance. The environment in the stadium is emotional and electric. There is reverential silence as intricate plays unfold and then zealous cheering when a team makes a goal or a horse makes an impressive play. The evident passion for the sport exemplifies the true culture of polo which is paramount in Argentina. For any player aspiring to move into the upper levels of the sport, Argentina is truly inspiring. It is the ultimate training ground for players to improve. There is an abundance of quality horses, high-level polo often in an all-pro format, and a concentration of the top players and polo operations which make it the best place in the world to play polo. Former 10-goal player and Team USPA mentor Adam Snow’s advice to players hoping to climb their way up in handicap is to play the best polo that will have you. Many of the Team USPA members recognized the importance of this advice and decided to make an investment to go play in Argentina. This year, 15 Team USPA members traveled to Argentina to play in medium- and high-goal polo and mentor with some of the best players in 22 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
the world. Team USPA members Jared Zenni, Felipe Viana and Costi Caset were able to play in 20-goal and above tournaments in Argentina. All three of these players are playing on teams in the 20 goal this winter in Florida. Training in Argentina was a great way for them to prepare and sharpen up for the Wellington winter season. Jared Zenni, a 4-goal player who will be playing with Villa del Lago this winter, said, “I am always working on improving my level of play and handicap. Being in Argentina and immersing myself in the best, most competitive polo pays off and I think I
have come back for the Florida season thinking and playing a lot quicker.” Team USPA member Felipe Viana described training in Argentina as a personal investment that helps players continue to grow. Most of the year, professional players have to make money playing polo in order to support themselves. These players, however, also have to constantly push themselves to get better and stay competitive. Argentina is where many of these players go to improve their own polo. Even though players are often not paid to play in Argentina, the pay off is huge. Viana, 5 goals, said, “It’s worth it
Geronimo Obregon goes to goal in the All Pro Polo League’s Team USPA vs. Argentina match.
Marcos Aldao, Bob Puetz, Gloria and Glen Holden, Jake Stimmel, Tony Coppola, Matt Coppola, Geronimo Obregon, Russell Stimmel and Felipe Viana at the APPL awards ceremony
for the competition, networking and knowledge you gain. It’s something you have to do if you want to challenge yourself to get better and grow.” He said it is a humbling experience to go to Argentina and play against players you didn’t even know before but who are better than you. Many practices and games in Argentina are played without a sponsor which makes players challenge themselves. Team USPA member Geronimo Obregon said, “Playing in all professional polo makes for competitive hit-and-run games and practices, which are the best way to improve in my opinion. The four-man polo makes you work with your team, play harder and react faster.” Several Team USPA members participated in the All Pro Polo League in Pilar. This league is designed to encourage more open, dynamic and team-oriented polo. The APPL sponsored a Team USPA versus Argentina International Test match in December. Felipe Viana, Russell Stimmel, Jake Stimmel, Geronimo Obregon and Team USPA hopeful Matt Coppola played for Team USPA. “It was a great learning-curve for me and the rest of the team,” said Russell.
Although they came up short, the challenging game against Argentina pushed the American team to raise their level of play. “We had some organizational issues in the second chukker which cost us dearly. However, the mistakes we made in that game will only make us stronger
and faster as players in the future, which was the intended outcome,” explained Russell. “[Playing in Argentina] was the best polo opportunity for me in all of 2016. It combined players from all over the world with a common goal, which is simply to improve their game and expose themselves to better polo.” Baseball executive Branch Ricky once said, “Luck is the residue of design.” Team USPA players are taking control of their own fate by exposing themselves to opportunities that will pay off in the future. In the polo world, many of these opportunities are in Argentina. Between the competitive play, impressive horse selection and a culture that embodies the true soul of the sport, it is only natural that so many players have made the investment to go there each year to improve themselves. The knowledge, experiences and relationships these Team USPA members are gaining will not just improve their personal game. With better players comes a better sport and it is exciting to see American players taking the steps to improve themselves in the game that we all love so much.
Team USPA hopeful Matt Coppola, shown congratulating an opponent, enjoyed playing in Argentina where networking opportunities are abundant.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23
Looking back Tournaments encourage friendly competition BY AMY FRASER
T
he 2016 I/I Season was another one for the history books, with new teams continuing to join the ranks each year. For the sixth year in a row, the I/I program has seen a record number of teams with 2016 topping out at 121 teams across the United States, Canada and Guatemala, which was welcomed to the field this year. Also breaking the charts, the USPA hosted 38 intercollegiate and interscholastic tournaments in the spring, and an additional 11 tournaments in the Middle School League in the fall season. The regular season kicked off in September, where teams compete in games throughout their region to prep for tournament time. These games are an
integral part of the I/I program, as not only do they qualify a team for competition, but these games are used for seeding purposes for the I/I tournament season, and additionally, teams compete
for their Regional Regular Season Divisional Championship, based on a team’s regional record. In 2016, the following teams earned their divisional championship:
I/I Tournament Managers participated in weekend training in Aiken, prepping them for the upcoming I/I Season.
24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Intercollegiate team representatives took time out of the annual College Polo 101 Mentoring Clinic to cheer on the Aiken Middle School players during their first USPA Tournament.
Interscholastic Northeastern—Country Farms Polo Club; Southeastern—West Shore Polo Club; Central—Prestonwood ERIN ECKERT
Southeastern Interscholastic Open— Maryland Polo Club; Central Interscholastic Open—Houston Polo Club; Northeastern Interscholastic Open— Gardnertown Polo Club; Western Interscholastic Open—Central Coast Polo Club; Southeastern Interscholastic Girls’—Maryland Polo Club; Central Interscholastic Girls’—Midland Polo Club; Northeastern Interscholastic Girls’—Cedar Valley Polo Club; Southeastern Intercollegiate Women—Michigan State University; Central Intercollegiate Women—Texas State University; Northeastern Intercollegiate Women— Alfred State University; Western Intercollegiate Women—California Polytechnic State University; Northeastern Intercollegiate Men— Cornell University; Central Intercollegiate Men—Southern Methodist University. Not only do the number of teams continue to increase each year, but the level of play executed by teams and players grows exponentially each year. The regional tournaments bring together the top seeds from each region as well as the respective preliminary tournament winners. On the line is a trip to the National tournament. Regional Champions for 2016: Girls’ Interscholastic Northeastern—Cornell Polo Club; Southeastern—Garrison Forest School; Central—Culver Academies; Western—Central Coast Polo Club. Open
The Cornell Girls’ team prep their horses prior to their first game at Girls’ Nationals at Empire Polo Club in March.
Polo Club; Western—Central Coast/Santa Barbara Polo Club. Women’s Intercollegiate Northeastern—Cornell University; Southeastern—University of Virginia; Central—Texas A&M University; Western—Cal Poly. Men’s Intercollegiate Northeastern—Cornell University;
Southeastern—University of Virginia; Central—Texas A&M University; Western— Westmont College. The 2016 National Tournaments didn’t disappoint, with everything from first time winners, to a repeat performance, to a three-peat! In the Open Interscholastic Division we had Prestonwood Polo come out on top with its first ever National Championship title for coach Vaughn Miller, and in the Girls’ Interscholastic Division, coach Kelly Wells is making room in her trophy cabinet for her Maryland team’s threepeat championship. Coach Mike McCleary of Texas A&M University hoisted the men’s National Intercollegiate trophy for the first time since 2010, and Cornell University women brought home a repeat title for coach David Eldredge. The PTF awarded its annual I/I Player of the Year awards, and the 2016 recipients were: Russel A. Sheldon Male Interscholastic Player of the Year—Tommy Huber, West Shore Polo Club. Female Interscholastic Player of the Year—Sharia Harris, Work to Ride. Daniel J. Wallace Female Intercollegiate Player of the Year—Anna Winslow, Cornell University. Male Intercollegiate Player of the Year—Cacho Galindo, Texas A&M University. To cap off the tournament season, in just its third year, the 2016 I/I Middle POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25
School league increased participation by 65 percent from the first year, and hosted 11 tournaments across the country available for our youngest players. One other special event that happens each year is our rivalry match-up of USA vs. Britain in the International Intercollegiate Challenge Cup. In February of 2016, the USPA sent Tony Uretz of Westmont College, Emma Eldredge of Cornell University, Daymar Rosser of Roger Williams University and Casey Woodfin of Texas A&M University to Rugby Polo Club in England. The team narrowly lost in the final chukker to Great Britain, but did secure a win over newly added team, Ireland. For the third year, and its first year as a standalone tournament, the USPA National I/I Alumni Tournament: The Feldman Cup, continues to gather speed, hosted this year at Central Coast Polo Club with four teams of alumni from around the country represented. Outside of tournament time, players had the opportunity to work towards their Interscholastic Varsity Letter in Polo. In 2016, we doubled the number of Varsity Letter’s awarded from 2015. Additionally, players had the opportunity to apply for one of the USPA 26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Emma Eldredge of Cornell was one of four players selected to represent the USA in England in February of 2016.
our College Polo 101–On the Road series, and hosted 12 additional collegiate representatives during the annual College Polo 101 Mentoring event in Aiken, South Carolina. New to our
ERIN ECKERT
KAYLEE WROE
Pelham Hardie from West Shore Polo Club was awarded the 2016 Open National Interscholastic Sportsmanship Award, presented by Southwestern Circuit Governor, Paul Jornayvaz.
Intercollegiate College Scholarships, and in 2016, seven players were awarded a yearly $4,000 Scholarship. Those award recipients were Tommy Huber (West Shore, University of Kentucky), Ruth Witmer (Cornell, Skidmore College), Olivia Graham (Glen Farms, University of Kentucky), Franz Felhaber (Rancho Naranjo, Westmont College), Ally Vaughn (Culver, Texas A&M University), Megan Rahlfs (Houston, Southern Methodist University) and Julianna Gallo (Gardnertown, UCONN). Outside of the arena, we continue to make huge strides with our equine welfare initiatives, in 2016 launching our pre-tournament horse inspection, which included a lameness exam and Body Condition Scoring, before horses appeared in the arena. Additionally, resources continue to be updated and available to our teams via equine welfare books available in print and online, and Polo Skilz videos. In 2016, the I/I team visited 12 intercollegiate polo programs as part of
Kyra Umrigar from Cornell Interscholastic team was awarded the 2016 Girls’ National Interscholastic Sportsmanship Award, presented by PD LLC board member, Denny Geiler.
calendar in 2016 was the introduction of the I/I Tournament Managers Boot Camp, which brought in 10 of our I/I tournament managers for training and prep for the upcoming tournament season. As we look forward to the 2017 I/I Tournament Season, we have implemented new coaches’ requirements including background checks, CDC Concussion Training and U.S. Olympic Committee Safe Sport Training. Additionally, over girths will be required at all I/I events. We have some heavy hitters returning to the scene and new faces joining the ranks in 2017. The tournament season kicks off the weekend of February 10, and culminates with the National Championships: National Intercollegiate Championships held April 3-9 at Santa Barbara Polo Club; Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship held April 19-23 at Virginia Polo Center; and Open National Interscholastic Championship from April 26-30 at Cornell University. For a full schedule of events and to follow live scoring visit the USPA Scoreboard on uspolo.org and on facebook.com/iipolo.
Bronzes by
Polo in Bronze for over 30 years Rich Roenisch is a long time polo player, which brings authenticity to his pieces. His bronzes have an international reputation. A wide variety of polo 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 "Thank You"
L 15" x W 26" x H 16"
edition of 35
www.richroenisch.com
THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
LIVE PASSIONATELY USPOLOASSNGLOBAL.COM
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27
Snow Angels Polo event raises funds for education Words by Sharon Robb • Photos by Nick Tininenko
F
lexjet knocked off defending champion U.S. Polo Assn. to capture the World Snow Polo Championship for the first time December 18 at Rio Grande Park in Aspen, Colorado.
In front of an overflow crowd including a sold out VIP tent and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, Flexjet, led by two first-time snow polo players, defeated U.S. Polo Assn., 7-4, to win the coveted trophy. Flexjet avenged last year’s 10-5 final loss by dominating the four-chukker game with Melissa Ganzi and first-timers Jason Crowder and Jesse Bray. It was also the first time the California players and long time friends competed on the same team. U.S. Polo Assn. (Bash Kazi, Ricky Cooper, Tommy Biddle), making its third final appearance in four years, could
never find its rhythm or offensive punch against lightning-quick Flexjet. Bray, 25, an up-and-coming pro and Team USPA member rated at five goals, was named Most Valuable Player. Bray scored a game-high four goals and played well defensively. “We had a good game plan, we stuck to it and finished strong,” Bray said. “It was a really fun team to play on. Melissa up front did a good job when we would get stuck with Tommy. We were able to just clear the ball and Melissa was always there to bring it down field. “Jason did a great job with Tommy as well which left me a lot of time when I The Aspen ski slopes serve as a picturesque backdrop.
On a cold afternoon, steam rises from the ponies as blankets are placed on them between chukkers.
28 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
was able to get the ball.” Bray and Crowder had no trouble transitioning to the snow surface which was ideal on game day due mainly to the efforts of the Aspen Skiing Company that prepared the surface, removed the loose snow from Friday’s deluge and packed the arena surface. “All the pros came off the field saying this is the best surface they have played anywhere in the world,” co-host Marc Ganzi said. The arena had weathered two extra feet of snow the day before forcing shootouts instead of full games for the qualifying round to ensure the safety of the horses and players. “The footing for the arena was great,” Bray said. “I have played a little bit of arena in high school but other than that I haven’t played too much arena and never snow. It was a very fun tournament.” Tampa Glitter, a chestnut mare ridden by Ganzi in the third chukker and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was named Best Playing Pony. Ganzi is the first woman to win the World Snow Polo Championship. Last
U.S. Polo Association’s Tommy Biddle sets up for a penalty shot.
Flexjet’s Melissa Ganzi slips the ball past a defender and into the goal.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29
Guests in the sold out VIP tent got an up-close look at the action on the field.
January, Ganzi made history as the first woman to compete in the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup Tournament in Switzerland since its inception in 1985 and will return to compete in January. Flexjet jumped out quickly in the opening chukker when Bray, with Biddle on his hip, took the ball on the near side and scored at the 2:07 mark. A minute later, Crowder followed with another goal for a 2-0 lead. Biddle converted a 15-yard penalty shot to end the chukker with Flexjet leading, 2-1. Early in the second chukker, Crowder connected with Ganzi who scored to give her team a 3-1 lead. A penalty one gave Flexjet a 4-1 lead with 2:20 left. Bray came up with the shot of the day when Crowder hit a neck shot off the wall
and Bray leaned out of his saddle to pick up the loose ball on the rebound out of the air and scored with 30 seconds left for a commanding 5-1 lead after two chukkers. The third chukker turned into a defensive battle with U.S. Polo Assn. missing four scoring opportunities. Cooper scored the only goal of the chukker on a penalty shot with 21 seconds left to trail, 5-2. Bray scored back-to-back goals in the fourth chukker at 3:44 and 2:59, the last goal aided by Crowder taking Biddle completely out of the play. In the final 40 seconds, Biddle scored back-to-back goals. Biddle finished with three goals and Cooper added one on a penalty shot.
Flexjet Sales Director Eli Flint, left, and actor Sterling Jones, right, present the trophy to Flexjet’s Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder and Jesse Bray.
30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Libations kept VIP guests warm.
“This was my first time playing with Jason,” Bray said. “Of all my years playing against him we finally got to play together and we were able to win.” In the consolation game, Audi (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan) defeated St. Regis (Bernie Uechtritz, Carlitos Gracida, Nacho Figueras), 7-4. Figueras was named MVP. Ganzi scored a game-high five goals. Winning team members and MVPs from both the championship and subsidiary games were awarded luxury Franck Dubarry watches. Actor Sterling Jones, known for his movie roles in “Lone Survivor,” “Very Good Girls” and “All In A Day’s Work,” presented the team trophy along with Flexjet Sales Director Eli Flint.
Guests watched from the heated VIP tent featuring Alpine luxe furnishings.
Audi’s Nic Roldan keeps the ball away from St. Regis’ Carlitos Gracida.
For the fourth consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club co-founders Melissa and Marc Ganzi, hosted the star-studded event along with Figueras, polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur and his wife Delfina. “This event doesn’t happen without
the support of the community,” Marc Ganzi said. “We would like to thank the City of Aspen, without them this event cannot happen. We would also like to thank the City of Aspen Parks and Recreation who helped us have this venue and put it on.”
Bash Kazi and Grant Ganzi
The event has joined the St. Moritz Polo World Cup as one of the world’s top snow polo tournaments. It is the kickoff to the social season in Aspen and the only snow polo tournament held in North America. Flexjet now joins past champions: 2013, St. Regis (Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips) defeated Audi (Facundo Pieres, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini), 1-0; 2014, Piaget (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan) defeated U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Brandon Phillips, Tommy Biddle), 4-3; and 2015, U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini) defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Juan Bollini), 10-5. Polo fans enjoyed the action-packed polo from the opening chukker. VIPs and sponsors watched from the heated VIP tent that featured Alpine luxe furnishings, a fine array of food from the St. Regis Aspen Resort and a DJ. Ticket proceeds benefitted the Aspen Education Foundation, a private nonprofit education foundation dedicated to supporting the Aspen School District by raising funds from the community. “One of the most important parts of snow polo is giving back to the community and to recognize the things that are going on here in the valley,” said Marc Ganzi. “One of the causes we think is important is continuing kids’ education.” POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31
Super power La Dolfina defends Open Championship By Ernesto Rodriguez • Photos by Sergio Llamera
T
he 123rd edition of the Argentine Open saw a new format with some surprising results but the end result was still the same: La Dolfina Sancor Seguros won its 10th victory over Ellerstina Johor 16-12.
At the end of last June, the Argentine Polo Association officially made a fundamental change in the format of the Argentine Open, modifying the schedule to increase the chances of less powerful teams to be successful while adding two matches to the game schedule. The new system divided the eight teams into two brackets with the teams playing each of the other teams in its bracket. The best team in each bracket automatically earned a spot in the semifinals while the second and third place teams played quarter-final matches against the teams from the other bracket
with the same placing. The implementation of the new system can best be explained by a quote Italian writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa made famous in his book “Il Gattopardo”: “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” The latest edition of the most important tournament on the planet released a new design, had surprising results but finally confirmed a tradition: La Dolfina Sancor Seguros lifted the champion cup guided by an extraordinary Adolfo Cambiaso. Preliminary matches began on
Saturday, November 12. Only three days after losing the Hurlingham Open final, La Dolfina Sancor Seguros (Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough and Juan Martín Nero) was in action on Palermo’s Field 2 against one of the quartets coming from the qualifying competition: Cría Yatay Colony (Guillermo Terrera, Cristian Laprida, Joaquín Pittaluga and Ignacio Laprida). The 10-goal difference in handicap became 15 on the field, with a solid and efficient game from Cambiaso (12 goals) and company, that ended up with a huge 22-7 win in Bracket A.
The opening ceremony of the Argentine Open final in Palermo.
32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Later, on Field 1, Alegría Assist Card (Guillermo Caset, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Frederick Mannix) got more advantages than expected before Washington Fly Emirates (Diego Cavanagh, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci). In a duel of scorers (Ulloa scored 10 and Sola nine), Alegría celebrated a clear 18-13 win, the third win against Washington in the season. The bad weather deferred the beginning of Bracket B playoffs until Monday, November 14. Ellerstina Johor (Facundo Pieres, Pablo Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres and Nicolás Pieres) had no problem with La Irenita (Juan Ruiz Guiñazú, Juan Martin Zavaleta, Clemente Zavaleta and Matías Mac Donough), the other team coming from the qualifier. On Field 2, the Pieres men consolidated their lead at the start (12-4 at halftime) and managed to finish 17-10. Field 1 saw one of the most emotional crossings of the opening date: La AguadaLas Monjitas (Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Novillo Astrada) against El Paraíso (Agustín Merlos, Ignacio Toccalino, Ignacio Heguy and Santiago Toccalino). These two quartets with the same handicap (35) could not break the tie in eight chukkers in which
Alegría Assist Card’s Fred Mannix winces as Ellerstina’s Polito Pieres takes a deep neck shot. The match was close until the sixth chukker when Ellerstina took over, earning a spot in the final.
both squads had their moment of domination. With the score 12-12 at the end of regulation time, an extra chukker was necessary. In just 33 seconds, Negro Novillo Astrada got the goal for the NA brothers, allowing them to close the third
Juan Martín Nero easily slips the ball through the posts with no opponents in sight during the final of the Argentine Open at Palermo. He was named best mounted player of the final.
duel between these teams in positive way (11-10 in Tortugas, 10-11 in Hurlingham). The second round began on November 19. For Bracket A, on Field 2, Alegría Assist Card spent more trouble than expected to remain unbeaten before Cría Yatay Colony. In fact, Fred Mannix’s team was at a disadvantage until the middle of the fifth chukker. A flurry in the sixth period (3-0) allowed Alegría to secure the laborious 9-7 victory. The procedure for La Dolfina Sancor Seguros was different. On Field 1 against Washington Fly Emirates, the 40-goal men were so confident in a win, they dedicated themselves to trying mares they were considering for more decisive matches. With well-rounded scoring (six from Cambiaso, and five from Stirling and Mac Donough), the defending champion sealed a wide 18-8 win. The next day, Bracket 2’s La AguadaLas Monjitas had to perspire enough to leave behind La Irenita, who, with order and spirit, evened the score 8-8 when they had completed 35 minutes of play. In the last three chukkers, thanks to the goals of the younger Novillo Astrada (Alejandro converted eight), the brothers POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33
La Dolfina’s Pablo Mac Donough and Ellerstina’s Gonzalito Pieres lock mallets in the Argentine Open final. Ellerstina led 7-6 at the half, but La Dolfina eventually won by four, 16-12.
secured a 14-10 victory. In the Cathedral, Ellerstina Johor showed a flawless performance to leave behind a tough opponent like El Paraíso that resisted until a barrage of goals by Ellerstina in the fourth chukker (4-0) defined its fate. Facundo Pieres was the scorer of the afternoon (eight goals), but his brother Nicolás showed off in his new position at back to get the 13-8 victory. The last qualification day brought the first surprises to Palermo. On November
22, Cría Yatay Colony amazed everyone after beating Washington Fly Emirates to earn a place in the quarterfinals. The clash on Field 2 was a hard-fought match in which Cría Yatay took advantage in the sixth chukker with a 6-2 partial to enter the last episode up 13-9, thanks to a huge production by Joaquín Pittaluga (eight goals). Washington, coached by Pepe Heguy, struggled to force equality, but came up one goal short: 13-12. On Field 1 there was no place for
unexpected things. La Dolfina Sancor Seguros rolled Alegría Assist Card with another display of offensive power (Cambiaso, Stirling and Mac Donough converted half a dozen each) to seal a convincing 20-10 win that put La Dolfina in the semifinal. The next day there was a second surprise, also on Field 2. La Irenita was not frightened by the five-goal disadvantage against El Paraíso and came back to win 14-12. The big difference was achieved in the sixth chukker, with a 3-0 ride thanks to Juan Ruiz Guiñazú (author of 11 goals in the match) to escape 10-6. In the next 14 minutes Matías Mac Donough displayed his experience on the turf to reach the end with an unexpected success, allowing the two teams that came from the qualifier to score victories in Palermo for the first time in history. In the second round, on Field 1, Ellerstina left no doubt and scored the third triumph of the tournament in a family duel against La Aguada-Las Monjitas: it was victory for the Pieres team by 14-9 against the Novillo Astradas who had to play the second part of the match with Francisco Elizalde replacing Ignacio Novillo Astrada, badly injured after suffering a fall. The quarter-finals took place after the
David Stirling’s mare Zippi was recognized as the best horse in the final, receiving the Lady Susan Townley Cup.
34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
La Dolfina’s Juan Martín Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, David Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso celebrate their 10th Argentine Open victory after losing to Ellerstina in the Hurlingham final.
weekend, on Monday, November 28. Palermo opened with a new novelty: on Field 2, a women’s test match was played for the first time between Argentina and England, in which the local quartet (Mía Cambiaso, María Bellande, Lía Salvo and Paola Martínez) defeated England (Hazel Jackson, Tamara Fox, Sarah Wiseman and Claire Brougham) by a wide 13-3. Then all eyes moved to Field 1 where almost the third surprise of the Open occurred. During seven periods, Alegría Assist Card confirmed its favoritism and after a balanced start, was building a four-goal lead (12-8). La Irenita came out with everything in the last chukker and conquered three goals to turn the stadium into a cauldron when it was close to converting the equalizer. But it fell short and Hilario Ulloa, with his eighth goal of the match, sealed the 13-11 victory for Alegría. The surprise that did not happen on Monday occurred on Tuesday. Cría Yatay Colony was not impressed by the history of La Aguada-Las Monjitas, which had to change its structure since Nacho Novillo Astrada had not recovered. Alejandro Novillo Astrada played back and Elizalde moved to No. 1. With every minute that passed in the Cathedral grew the certainty of a historic day. And when the eight chukkers were closed and the
scoreboard exhibited 14-10 for the Cría Yatay Colony, the feat was fulfilled. “We already won Palermo,” said Magoo Laprida, the figure of the afternoon. In the semifinals, there was no place for shockers. On Saturday, December 3, Cría Yatay Colony returned to La Cathedral to face a team as La Dolfina Sancor Seguros going for its 16th final out of 17 disputed Opens (since its creation, it only missed in 2004). Cría Yatay Colony would get a second chance with La Dolfina after its first round game ended in a 22-7 defeat. If that score was any measure of La Dolfina’s strength, this time Cambiaso & Co. left no room for doubts. It played every minute in depth to complete one of the three biggest goal differences in history: 27-4 with 10 coming from Adolfito and nine from Nero. In spite of the beating, the defeated left with their heads held high because of the round of applause they received recognizing that they were the first team to come from the qualifier to reach the top four. On Sunday, December 4, it was another course. Ellerstina Johor and Alegría Assist Card had already met in the previous two tournaments with both victories going Ellerstina’s way by just a pair of goals (11-9 and 16-14). And again, there was a collision in which both
quartets alternated in control of the game and score in the initial 35 minutes. Between the sixth and seventh chukkers appeared the forcefulness of the Pieres men, sealing a 6-0 run, to unlocked the match and reach a 15-11 victory, which led the Pieres to reaching their 10th definition in the last 12 years. La Dolfina and Ellerstina met on Saturday, December 10 for the 39th time (14 of those matches in Palermo). At stake was the honor of the 2016 season and the most desired cup on the planet. That is why both teams bet on the game of attack and came out playing a fast and pleasant match for the audience that filled the seats in the Cathedral. Ellerstina took a one-goal advantage that it maintained until the end of the first half (7-6), while Cambiaso seemed a more “human” player, making some mistakes rarely seen. After two periods without differences (11-11), Adolfito showed his skills as a leader and guided his team to a remarkable seventh period in which they achieved a three-goal advantage. There were seven minutes left and memories of La Dolfina’s incredible loss in the Hurlingham final, with a similar difference, flew over Palermo. But this time there was no doubts. David Stirling completed a dream final and converted his sixth goal of the afternoon to confirm the win. The conversions of Facundo Pieres (best scorer of the game with eight) and Nero, gave shape to the final score: 16-12 for La Dolfina to confirm its historic record against Ellerstina (25-14), allowing the club from Cañuelas to conquer the most important trophy in the world for the 10th time. “We knew how to stand up and we showed that we are still hungry for glory,” said Stirling, MVP of the final so he received the Gonzalo Heguy Trophy. The Uruguayan also won the Gonzalo Tanoira Prize for being the best mounted player of the contest and the Lady Susan Townley Cup for the best horse in the final thanks to his mare Zippi. The Javier Novillo Astrada prize to the scorer of the championship was for Cambiaso, author of 40 goals. Nero received the Fomento Equino Cup for being the best mounted player of the final. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35
Golden Year
As PTF turns 50, the focus is on youth
A
fter five decades, the Polo Training Foundation continues it mission to support scholastic and collegiate polo, promote international goodwill through polo competitions and teach young people the principles of polo, with an emphasis on sportsmanship.
Valentino Olivas celebrated his 3rd birthday at the PTF-sponsored Joanna Monaco kids’ tournament a few weeks ago with his dad, George.
When the Polo Training Foundation was officially launched on January 20, 1967, its stated mission was to teach the game of polo to “young men” by promoting youth clinics and scholastic and collegiate events, all with a focus on good sportsmanship through friendly competition. At the time very few women competed in the sport. All that has changed, and today, with 40 percent of the sport made up of women, and women being the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. Polo Association, the PTF’s mission has 36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
changed to include training for all youth. Further, both men and women are honored with annual scholastic and collegiate awards. When the PTF was founded, Northrup R. Knox was its president, William T. Ylvisaker was vice president and C. Heath Manning was secretary treasurer. The impetus for its founding was a gift of
Al Bianco led a PTF clinic in the early 1980s at the fields the Barker Welfare Foundation donated to the PTF in Old Westbury, Long Island.
approximately 28 acres of land near the historic Meadowbrook Polo Club in Old Westbury, New York on Long Island from the Barker Welfare Foundation. The land was given with the understanding at least one polo game would be played per year; the land could only be used for polo; and no structures could be built on the property. If the PTF does not meet these obligations during the lifetimes of Charles and Katherine Barker Hickox and their four children, the land reverts back to the Barker Welfare Foundation. Polo fields were constructed on the property thanks to a lease agreement with the Meadowbrook Polo Club which continues to this day. The first PTF clinics were held in 1968 at several clubs as well as at Yale, Cornell and the Southern Arizona School for Boys. The clinics were instructed by such polo talents as Dr. Billy Linfoot, Terence Preece, Dan Wallace, Col. James Spurrier, Robert Skene and Tony Veen. The PTF also began focusing on umpire training. Umpire schools were offered but attendance was poor. Still, the PTF soldiered on until the idea began to gain strength. PTF officials hoped to hire an instructor but didn’t have sufficient revenue to do so until
The PTF has been offering youth clinics since it was founded in 1967. They were originally geared for boys but are now for girls as well.
much later. The PTF exists largely through private monetary donations of between $25$10,000. Contributions in the early days were between $5,000-$12,000 annually. In 1977, the organization had saved enough to open an investment account, but financial constraints limited the number of clinics it was able to hold. Contributions grew in the 1980s and, under the leadership of PTF Chair George Haas, jumped when a donation check-off system for PTF was included on USPA membership renewals. It was during this time the PTF sponsored and helped develop a summer polo school at the Virginia Polo Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, taught by Rege Ludwig. The organization also focused on umpire training, primarily financed by PTF benefactor Carlton Beal. Working with PTF Chair George Alexander, Beal was responsible for the USPA blue book rules video and umpire training with the goal of creating a core of professional umpires. Another project began when the Polo Training Foundation’s Hall of Fame Committee spun off into its own entity after accumulating enough funds to start the museum. Aside from expanding programs, the
The PTF sponsors the USPA-sanctioned 6- to 12-goal George Oliver tournament, played in Wellington, Florida during the week of the U.S. Open final.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37
additional funds allowed the PTF to hire Danny Scheraga in 1986 as a part-time director of intercollegiate and interscholastic polo. Five years later, Scheraga was hired as full-time field director to teach player and umpire clinics in the summer and direct the intercollegiate and interscholastic programs in the winter. When Dan Colhoun Jr. took over as PTF chair, he and the Executive Committee took a hard look at the future of the organization and decided major funding would be required for it to grow. In 1996, they hired a fundraising firm to determine the possibility. The firm learned that polo players were unsure of the PTF’s role but would be willing to support clearly outlined objectives. It also recommended an executive director be hired to manage programs and raise funds. Scheraga was hired as executive director, Cissie Jones was hired to
This match at Central Coast Polo Club in Los Osos, California was a fundraiser for the PTF’s Mack Jason Leadership program, which offers playing opportunities and keeps alumni close to the sport.
A matching grant from the Oxley Foundation helped fully endow a head umpire instructor.
develop a PTF school at Brushy Creek Ranch in Burleson, Texas, and Wilbur O’Ferrall and Chris Blythe were hired as field directors. Lane was hired as head umpire instructor, kicking off the $1 million “Guardians of the Game” campaign with a matching grant from the Oxley Foundation to endow the position. That campaign was successful and a head umpire instructor position is now fully endowed. Like her late husband Carlton, Mrs. Keleen Beal continued supporting the growth of polo and umpiring with a $1 million donation. PTF chair Jesse Upchurch joined in with $1 million in 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
The Wes Linfoot Memorial is a PTF fundraiser played at South Bay Polo Club in Gilroy, California. Linfoot was a horse shoer, one-goal player and horseman who coached Stanford for many years.
gifts and pledges. PTF revived its Instructors and Trainers seminars where instructors and trainers met to exchange ideas and teaching techniques. It also offered advice on marketing, legal and insurance issues and polo school development. While attending umpire schools and
clinics, Lane worked closely with the USPA to identify umpires that could be certified. Meanwhile, the PTF continued teaching umpire, youth and players clinics throughout the U.S. In 2012, Lane became an employee of the USPA’s Umpire LLC. Today, the PTF has a focus on youth,
Danny Scheraga, PTF executive director, helps instruct an interscholastic clinic and tournament at the University of Virginia’s polo center.
Clubs are encouraged to host PTF seniors tournaments. Participants have to be a minimum of 50 years old and entry fees go to the PTF.
more than ever. It now offers four annual academic scholarships for members of collegiate polo programs and holds a college fair bringing together college applicants and coaches. It also honors a male and female at both the intercollegiate and interscholastic level with an annual Player of the Year award based on playing ability, horsemanship, leadership and sportsmanship. The PTF also holds junior and youth clinics around the country, some with over 200 participants, and co-sponsors
the Eldorado Polo Club’s junior program, the only junior program held every weekend throughout the season with 30 participants. The PTF’s international exchange program takes youth teams to New Zealand and England and hosts both countries as well. And the PTF sponsors the USPAsanctioned 6- to 12-goal George Oliver and the 0- to 6-goal Jimmer Newman tournaments. While the PTF makes up the teams for most of their events, the players make up the teams for the George
The PTF promotes international competition by taking teams to England and New Zealand.
Oliver and Jimmer Newman. Kids aren’t the only ones to benefit from the PTF programs. The PTF’s Mack Jason Leadership program helps keep intercollegiate alumni in touch with polo while they begin careers outside the sport. Five mentors across the country are available for alums to contact for assistance. PTF alumni games are held to help raise funds for the program and offer opportunities for alumni to compete. The PTF also recognizes an Umpire of the Year annually and sometimes arena and regional umpires. Additionally, PTF tournaments, such as senior tournaments and the Wes Linfoot Memorial tournament held at South Bay Polo Club, help raise funds for its programs. The PTF is grateful for the many volunteers and donors that help maintain the many programs the organization runs. This year, in honor of the 50th anniversary, the PTF is encouraging clubs to host a family oriented tournament, with some of the entry fees donated to the PTF. The PTF will provide trophies to the winners and gifts to all the players. Now, under chair Dick Riemenschneider, with officers Tony Coppola, Gillian Johnston and Melissa Ganzi and its board of directors, the PTF looks forward to continuing its mission to offer a variety of training programs for polo’s youth, along with scholarships and awards. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39
It’s a party
Day features fashion, art, cars, music and more Photos courtesy of Dave Seibert
T
he 6th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, played in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 5, will go down in the history books as the best polo event Arizona has ever hosted, with record-breaking food and beverage sales and sponsorships.
Started in 2011, the show features numerous events on and off the field. The ArtPolo Auction Pavilion featured a day-long auction of beautiful artwork by Scottsdale-based J. Levine while fashion models made up the World’s Longest Catwalk Fashion Show produced by Phoenix Fashion Week. For car enthusiasts, there was a preview of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and for animal lovers, dogs strutted their stuff in a canine fashion show and riders competed in a preview of the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show at halftime. For the second year in a row the Bentley’s Aspen Valley Polo Club (Melissa Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini) won the coveted Molina Cup against Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach team 7-5 in front of more than 11,000 people. “I am thrilled to have won the Molina Cup again this year. Our team executed our game plan and it paid off in a win. I am honored to have the opportunity to come back to Scottsdale again next year to play in the most attended polo event in the country,” said Ganzi. “The whole day with everything going on is a sensory overload.” 40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
In other match-ups Molina’s Scottsdale All-Stars fell to Northwestern Mutual’s Palm Springs Polo Team 9-7, while Purely Sedona’s Polo Azteca defeated Nationwide’s La Jolla’s Polo
team 11-5. In the inaugural Women’s Sunset Match, Stick and Ball’s Chloe Carabasi stole the show scoring seven of her team’s 13 goals against SOHO Scottsdale’s three goals. “I am so honored to have been a part of this year’s Polo Party. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The crowd was electric and made the women’s sunset match an absolute rush to play in,” said Carabasi. From a high goal count to a 28 percent increase in food and beverage sales, organizers attribute the big sales to the extended day, which lasted eight hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offered fans a “Cultural Concert” during the Women’s Sunset Match that consisted of hip-hop violinist Maestro Hughes, hiphop artist RoQy TyRaiD, members of the Arizona Opera and the Scottsdale Philharmonic. Backed by some of Arizona’s best brands along with sponsors that have been involved since the inaugural year the 2016 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships also grew in its number of sponsorships which soared to more than 30 this year.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41
P
O
L
O
I
N
T
H
E
P
A
M
P
A
BY ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ
S
PINK SEASON Alegría HPA wins popular Cámara de Diputados Cup PHOTOS BY SERGIO LLAMERA
A
legría HPA, clad in bright pink shirts, defeated El Remanso 13-11 in the final of the Cámara de Diputados Cup, which exhibited a record number of participants, held prior to the Argentine Open final in Palermo on December 10. The Cámara de Diputados Cup has become the most popular tournament of the Argentine season and moreover, draws the highest participation of any high-handicap event on the planet. Established in 1924 by the Chamber of Deputies as homage to the national team that won both the British and U.S. Opens in 1922, it became over time an ideal trampoline for the players and teams to gain experience before trying to jump into Palermo. The teams that could not take part in the Triple Crown for different reasons remained highly competitive while disputing this traditional trophy. In recent years, enrollment has grown in a surprising way. The competition base usually hovered over 12 teams, as it did a decade ago when a La Dolfina representative was crowned with players with vast experience in the United States such as Nic Roldán, Magoo Laprida, Matías Magrini and Mariano González. Two years later, with the support of several foreign players, a remarkable figure of 19 quartets in dispute was reached. In the following years it declined slightly, although the number of teams never dropped below a dozen. The entries of organizations and patrons from other countries generated 20 teams fighting for the 2014 title, which was finally won by 2013 winner La Irenita with Juan Ruiz Guiñazú, Juan Martín Zavaleta, Clemente Zavaleta, Matías Mac Donough and
42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Alfredo Cappella Barabucci, five players that entered Palermo this season demonstrating the very high level of competition. Last season there were 19 participants in the contest in which El Remanso, an international quartet with Englishman Matt Perry, Argentine Francisco Bensadón, Brazilian Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade and South African Ignatius du Plessis, was the best. This year’s 85th edition of the cup saw a new record with 21 teams between 2329 goals. The high number made it necessary to hold an elimination bracket for the 10 lowest-rated teams. In addition to the traditional prize, there was a new
incentive because of the change of Argentine Polo Association regulations establishing that the winner of the tournament could participate in the qualifying tournament for Palermo and Hurlingham in 2017 if it kept at least three of the four players next season. The 10-team elimination bracket was held at the APA headquarters in Pilar on Tuesday, November 15. Winners of each of the five games earned their entry to the main tournament. Capilla del Señor Vetifarma Unión del Salado overcame La Natividad/La Mancha (with two former 10-goalers as Bautista Heguy and Bartolomé Castagnola), 17-13; Coronel
An exuberant Julian Mannix celebrates the victory. The team is eligible to play in the qualifier next year, however the minimum player rating is 6 goals and Mannix was just raised to 5.
Alegría HPA’s Jaime Garcia Huidobro, Alejandro Muzzio, Francisco Elizalde and Julian Mannix defeated defending champion El Remanso 13-11 in the final, surfacing at the top of a record-breaking 21-team roster.
Suárez defeated La Alegría de Lobos, 125; La Fija Namuncurá won against Pilarchico La Martina Escorihuela Gascón, 14-11; La Cabaña conquered La Cañada, 15-9; and Las Rosas disposed of Nuestra Tierra, 17-12. From there, the remaining 16 teams were matched-up for the first round of the cup, held between November 18-25, also at the fields in Pilar, 35 miles from Buenos Aires. League 1 remained in the hands of El
Remanso. The defending champion made two changes to the formation that lifted the trophy a year earlier: the patron Charlie Hanbury, injured in 2015, took the place of his compatriot Matt Perry, and Marcos Di Paola entered in place of Ribeiro de Andrade. With that formation the team surpassed Las Rosas, 15-11; La Mariana, 12-11; and Capilla del Señor Vetifarma Unión del Salado, also 12-11. League 2 had a winner that suffered
Alegría HPA’s Alejandro Muzzio keeps the pressure on El Remanso’s Ignatius du Plessis in the final. Du Plessis put El Remanso up by two in the fifth, but the team was unable to score again.
more to reach their objective. La Indiana Biopolo (Pedro Falabella, Marcos Araya, Julio Novillo Astrada and Diego Araya) began with a stumble against La California, 15-14, but rebound to defeat La Esquina Navarro Correas, 13-8 and led the league after beating La Fija Namuncurá, 14-10. League 3 also had an undefeated winner: La Dolfina Río Uruguay Seguros (Raúl Colombres, Matías Torres Zavaleta, Joao Paulo Ganón and Rodrigo Rueda), after overcoming in successive clashes La Quinta, 13-11; Coronel Suárez II, 13-9; and Coronel Suárez, 13-11. League 4 had another unbeaten quartet with players from various destinations: Alegría HPA (Canadian Julian Mannix, locals Francisco Elizalde and Alejandro Muzzio, and Chilean Jaime Garcia Huidobro). They defeated Mariano Aguerre’s Machitos Etiqueta Negra, 12-11; La Cabaña, 18-5; and Sebastián Merlos’ El Paso Polo Ranch, 15-12. For the semifinals, there was a change of venue and both meetings were held on Friday, December 2 at Palermo’s Field 2. At the first crossroads, in the morning, El Remanso maintained the winning pace and narrowly defeated La Indiana Biopolo, 10-9 in an extra chukker, thanks to a golden goal by Francisco Bensadón when he converted a penalty. In the afternoon, Alegría HPA exhibited its best equine organization in front of La Dolfina Río Uruguay Seguros after completing the first five chukkers equaled 8-8. In the sixth period, when they began to repeat horses, Alegría HPA got a decisive partial of 5-0 that set them on the way to a convincing 14-10 victory. The final was played on the same field on Saturday, December 10, as an opening act for the Argentine Open final. And it was a remarkable contest in which both teams left everything on the table for the victory. While El Remanso held a threegoal handicap advantage (29-26), the game was played on the flat. Even so, the first four chukkers showed a remarkable parity as they closed 1-1, 3-3, 5-5 and 8-8. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43
In the fifth chukker it seemed that El Remanso was on its way to back-to-back victories when it drew two goals ahead (11-9) thanks to great achievements of Nachi du Plessis (a pair of goals in seven minutes). But, it was soon all over after the defending champion’s horses seemed to run out of gas. Getting a surprising second wind, as it did in the semifinals, Alegría HPA controlled its rival’s defense with the excellent work of Chilean García Huidobro, who prevented it from reaching the goal in the last 14 minutes, and managed to dominate the score at the hands of Canadian Mannix and the effectiveness of Fran Elizalde (top scorer of the match with six, only one coming from a penalty). Alegría HPA managed to hold a 13-11 lead when the final bell sounded, turning the team—sponsored by Fred Mannix, older brother of the No. 1—into a champion for the very first time. The APA prize for the best horse in the final was for Marta, played by Elizalde, while the AACCP trophy for the Best Argentine Polo Breed went to Open Buchón, played by García Huidobro. Elizalde, the only one on the team who had won the trophy previously (2012 playing for Las Overas), showed his euphoria after receiving the informal MVP title of the day. “It’s a huge joy for how we played. We were complicated but we had a great closing and we were able to raise this cup that makes us dream about playing the qualification next year. I hope we can keep this organization,” said Elizalde, who was promoted by the APA to 8 goals after the tournament. In order to play the qualifier, Julian Mannix would have to give up his spot (players are required to be at least 6 goals and he went up to 5), but the remaining three players add up to 23 goals so with a player of the 6 goal minimum rating they would be able to participate in the qualifier tournament. The top two teams in the tournament earn spots in the eightteam roster competing for the Hurlingham and Palermo Opens. 44 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Capilla del Señor Vetifarma Unión del Salado: Tomás Fernández Llorente Alfredo Bigatti Juan Britos Patrick O’Dwyer
24 6 6 6 6
La Mariana: Alejo Aramburu Juan Cruz Merlos Juan Ignacio Merlos Manuel Toccalino
24 5 5 8 6
Las Rosas: Genaro Ringa Franco Gai Gastón Máiquez Bautista Bayugar
24 6 6 6 6
27 6 7 7 7
Coronel Suárez: Manuel Plaza de Ayala Ignacio Badiola Alejo Taranco Matías Fernández Llanos
24 6 6 6 6
La Esquina Navarro Correas: 27 Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña 6 Juan Agustín García Grossi 7 Gonzalo Von Wernich 7 Nicolás Espaín 7
La Cabaña: Bautista Ortiz de Urbina Juan Chavanne Martín Aguerre Nicolás Corti Maderna (Matías Benoit 6 played qualification)
23 6 5 6 6
La Natividad La Mancha: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. Lucas Díaz Alberdi Bautista Heguy Bartolomé Castagnola
24 4 5 7 8
La Alegría de Lobos: Lucas Torales Agustín Obregón Adrián Laplacette Juan Curbelo
24 6 6 6 6
La Cañada: Facundo Obregón Guillermo Ivanisevich Mariano Obregón Tomás Dartiguelongue
24 6 6 6 6
Pilarchico La Martina Escorihuela Gascón: Benjamín Araya Lucas Lalor Erasmo Goti Juan Sánchez Elía
24 6 6 6 6
Nuestra Tierra: Tomás Ruiz Guiñazú Brieuc Rigaux Guillermo Cavanagh Facundo Fernández Llorente
24 6 6 6 6
Alegría HPA: Julian Mannix Francisco Elizalde Alejandro Muzzio Jaime García Huidobro
26 4 7 8 7
El Remanso: Charlie Hanbury Francisco Bensadón Marcos Di Paola Ignatius du Plessis
29 5 8 8 8
El Paso Polo Ranch: Bautista Arrastúa Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade Sebastián Merlos Tomás García del Río
28 4 8 9 7
La Dolfina Río Uruguay Seguros: Raúl Colombres Matías Torres Zavaleta Joao Paulo Ganon Rodrigo Rueda
Coronel Suárez II: Gonzalo Deltour Agustín Canale Juan José Brané Marcelo Frayssinet
27 7 6 7 7
La Indiana Biopolo: Pedro Falabella Marcos Araya Julio Novillo Astrada Diego Araya
26 6 6 7 7
Los Machitos Etiqueta Negra: 25 Juan Martín Zubía 5 Segundo Bocchino 6 Mariano Aguerre 9 Jerónimo del Carril 5 La Quinta: Oliver Cudmore Mark Tomlinson Luke Tomlinson Héctor Crotto
25 6 6 7 6
La California: Marcos García del Río Pablo Llorente Matías Magrini Ignacio Negri
25 6 6 7 6
La Fija Namuncurá: Francisco Fucci Joaquín Máiquez Malcolm Borwick Santiago Marambio
24 6 6 6 6
Take your game to new l evels with TOM GOODSPEED
Lesson 1 MALLET WORK
Lesson 2 POLO EQUITATION
Lesson 3 DEFENSIVE SKILLS
Lesson 4 OUTDOOR STRATEGY
Lesson 5 ARENA STRATEGY
Polo DVDs
The benchmark of polo training...
00
$140 each $50000 for all five dvds Discounts available for I/I & youth programs
• Endorsed by the Polo Training Foundation • Received top honors from Polo Magazine • Access your subject of particular interest with a simple click of the listed chapter titles • Each DVD is packed with Tom Goodspeed’s four decades of experience
Plus shipping
TO ORDER: email:
polotom@usapolo.com
619.993.5553 6422 Malaga • Irving, TX 75039
CLINICS
•
PRIVATE TRAINING
•
COACHING POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45
The La Aguada Polo Resort in Open Door, about an hour’s drive outside Buenos Aires, Argentina, offers a full tournament schedule in both the spring and fall, as well as a youth tournament played at Guards Polo Club in England during the summer. Most recently, the club La Aguada Polo Resort holds full fall schedule completed its spring PHOTOS BY MATIAS CALLEJO season, played at the height of Argentina’s highgoal season, and included a ladies tournament along with 12-, 16and 20-goal events. The La Aguada brand was established over 60 years ago by the Novillo Astrada family, who continue to run it to this day. For those looking for a minivacation, the estancia offers accommodations in one of two houses on the property. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities from polo, riding and clinics to wine tastings, golf, tango, asados and more. The facility can be rented for weddings, seminars, team building and parties. Guests can also enjoy massages, yoga and personal training. During the high-goal season, the club Alejandro Pistone duels Will Emerson
DESTINATION: ARGENTINA
in the La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy.
El Paso Polo Ranch’s Milagros Sánchez reaches to hook In the Wings’ Sol Lopez Llames in the La Aguada Ladies Cup.
46 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
has one and sometimes two teams competing in the Triple Crown. The team was founded by Don Julio Novillo Astrada in the 1930s. His son Taio continued the tradition. Today, the team is led by Taio’s sons Eduardo, Miguel, Ignacio and Alejandro. A fifth son, Javier, lost his four-year battle with cancer in 2014 at the age of 38. Miguel, Eduardo and Javier reached a 10-goal handicap in the U.S. Ignacio reached 9 goals and Alejandro 8. In Argentina, Miguel was rated 10 goals, while Javier, Eduardo and Ignacio reached 9 goals. Alejandro is 8. A team with Javier, Miguel, Eduardo and Ignacio took Argentina’s Triple Crown in 2003 after winning the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Argentine Opens. La Aguada also holds an annual selection horse sale. This year’s auction was held at the La Indiana Polo Club in General Rodriguez, Province of Buenos Aires on November 24. The auction drew a large crowd including breeders, players, international patrons and special guests. La Aguada presented Machitos Lider’s first fillies as well as many embryos including those by Open Honor and Omaha, the leading stallion imported by Las Monjitas and Sebastian Merlos. The biggest attractions were the fillies of Open Enaguita, Aguada Dinámica and a sister of @Digital. Since the first sale 11 years ago, it has become one of the most acclaimed events of the polo season in Argentina. The quality of horses at the auction over the years is evident as many that were previously sold are already playing highgoal competition. The sale has helped to improve genetic and bloodlines in the sport. A few days later, Los Cocos captured the XIII Jaeger-LeCoultre Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, presented by Rio Uruguay Seguros and honoring the club’s founder. Four teams competed in the event including Las Monjitas (Camilo Bautista, Francisco Elizalde, Eduardo
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
Jolly Rodgers’ Nicolás Johanssen and El Milagro’s Federico Tomasevich duel in the La Aguada Cowdray Park Polo Trophy final.
El Milagro’s Ignacio Novillo Astrada, Santiago Solari, Tomás Pistone and Federico Tomasevich won the La Aguada Cowdray Park Polo Trophy.
S P O T L I G H T
Novillo Astrada Jr. and Martín Donovan), El Milagro (Federico Tomasevich, Guillermo Villanueva, Santiago Solari, Ignacio Novillo Astrada), Los Cocos (Rafael Zubillaga, Valentín Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Tomás Lalor) and La Ensenada Escorihuela Gascón (Ernesto Gutierrez, Jerónimo del Carril, Benjamin Araya Jr., Alejandro Novillo Astrada). In the final, Los Cocos beat El Milagro 12-9. El Milagro received a onegoal handicap and with Santiago Toccalino filling in for the injured Ignacio Novillo Astrada, the teams were tied at 4-all at the half. Los Cocos took its first lead by the end of the fourth chukker after a goal by Valentín Novillo Astrada. El Milagro managed to tie the score at 7-7 halfway through the fifth chukker but Los Cocos got the advantage after a pair of goals by Miguel Novillo Astrada. In the sixth chukker, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Rafael Zubillaga combined for three goals to widen the gap to 12-7. Goals by Santiago Toccalino and Guillermo Villanueva got El Milagro back in the game but with Los Cocos tightening the defense, the team ran out of time. Among other prizes, members of the winning team received exclusive JaegerLeCoultre watches. Tomás Lalor was named MVP while Federico Tomasevich took the Fair Play award. Best Polo Argentino Bred, awarded by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Association, went to @Frescura, owned and played by Miguel Novillo Astrada. On the same day, El Paso Polo Ranch took a 10-5 win over In The Wings in the final of the IX La Aguada Ladies Cup. El Paso consisted of Lia Salvo (9), Mia Novillo Astrada (2), Milagros Sánchez (2) and Andrea Ferreira (0) and Pilar Courreges (0) who split a position. Annabel MacNaught Davis (6), Lavinia Fabre (3), Stef Haverhals (3) and Sol López Llames (4) stepped up for In the Wings. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47
El Paso defeated In The Wings 14-4 in the first of two matches. Sol López Llames was MVP and Lavinia Fabre received the Fair Play award. On December 2, El Milagro beat Jolly Rodgers 9-7½ to capture the 16-goal La Aguada Cowdray Park Polo Trophy. The tournament serves to strengthen the partnership between the La Aguada Polo Club and Cowdray Park Polo Club in Midhurst, West Sussex, England, home to one of the most coveted polo trophies, the Gold Cup for the British Open. Eight teams divided into two brackets played in the event. El Milagro (Federico Tomasevich, 0, Tomás Pistone, 1, Ignacio Novillo Astrada, 9, Santiago Solari, 6) led League B while Jolly Rodgers (Nicolás Johanssen, 0, Justo Novillo Astrada, 1, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr., 9, Jamie LeHardy, 4) led League A. In the Subsidiary I, Clearwater (Camp Campbell, 1, Chip Campbell, 2, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, 8, Juan Carlos Harriet) edged Irongate (James Scott Hopkins, 0, Tomás Dartiquelongue, 6, Alejandro Pistone, 3, Matias Fernández Llanos, 6) 11-10. In Subsidiary II CT Polo (Alessandro Bazzoni, 1, Jamie Grayson, 1, Miguel Novillo Astrada, 9, Nick Manifold, 5) beat Cowdray Vikings (Lila Pearson, 0, Manuel Novillo Astrada, 0, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Gastón Lahulé, 7) 8-6. In Subsidiary III Conosco (Jeremy Pemberton, 0, Will Emerson, 5, Guy Gibrat, 6, Juan Pedro Harriet, 4) knotted with In the Wings (Andre Fabre, 0, Rufino Bensadon, 1, Francisco Bensadon, 8, Julián de Lusarreta, 7) 7-7. Tournament MVPs were CT Polo’s Jamie Grayson and Clearwater’s Camp Campbell, while Fair Play award went to Cowdray Vikings’ Lila Pearson. A week later on December 9, Cowdray Vikings (Lila Pearson, 0, Alejandro Pistone, 3, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Juan Pedro Harriet, 4) defeated La Vanguardia (Williem Melchior, 1, Will 48 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Cowdray Viking’s Juan Pedro Harriet, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Lila Pearson and Alejandro Pistone won the VI La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy.
La Aguada Las Monjitas’ Ignacio, Miguel, Eduardo and Alejandro Novillo Astrada competed in this year’s Argentine Triple Crown.
El Paso Polo Ranch’s Mia Novillo Astrada, Pilar Courreges, Milagros Sánchez and Lia Salvo won the La Aguada Ladies Cup over In the Wings.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
Los Cocos’ Tomás Lalor chases down El Milagro’s Santi Toccalino in the final of the XIII Copa Julio Novillo Astrada.
The XI La Aguada Selection Horse Sale included Machitos Lider’s first fillies, fillies of Open Enaguita, Aguada Dinámica and a sister of @Digital, as well as many embryos.
S P O T L I G H T
Emerson, 5, Felipe Martinez Ferrario, 5, Gastón Beguerie, 5) 10-6 to capture the 16-goal VI La Aguada Guards Polo Trophy. The four participating teams each featured members of Britain’s Guards Polo Club. Guards, founded in 1955 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, husband to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is located within Windsor Great Park and is one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe. Each year the club hosts the Queen’s Cup, one of the biggest tournaments worldwide, attracting top players. The Queen typically presents the trophy to the winners as she has since 1960. The subsidiary went to Conosco (Jeremy Pemberton, 0, Facundo Lebon, 2, Miguel Novillo Astrada, 9, Pedro Harrison, 4) that took a narrow 6-5 win over SHP (Charlie Grayson, 1, Juan José Irastorza, 3, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr., 9, Cristian Condomi, 2). Jeremy Pemberton took tournament MVP, while the Fair Play award went to Willem Melchior. The next day, La Campana (Lucas Bosch, 1, Mariano Bosch, 0, Juan Pedro Harriet, 4, Juan Manuel Harriet, 3) beat Clearwater (Camp Campbell, 1, Gonzalo Teves, 4, Juan Carlos Harriet, 5, Chip Campbell, 2) 13-11 to capture the 12-goal IX La Aguada Spring Cup, which closed out the club’s season. Juan Carlos Harriet was injured in the fifth chukker and was replaced by Juan José Irastorza. Six teams were divided into two brackets and played off during the week. Mariano Bosch earned MVP honors and the Fair Play award went to Camp Campbell. Los Nocheros (Sebastian Schenberger, 1, Segundo Saravi, 0, Valentin Novillo Astrada, 5, Tomás Lalor, 6) defeated Mungo (Patrick Einsenchteter, 1, Diego Bosch, 1, Brieuc Rigaux, 6, Ernesto Trotz Jr., 4) 9-5 in Subsidiary I. For Subsidiary II, Irongate (James Scott Hopkins, 0, Charly Holly, 2, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Cruz Novillo Astrada, 2) beat La Aguada (Carlos Menéndez Behety Jr., 0, Manuel Novillo Astrada, 0, Miguel Novillo Astrada, 9, Carlos Menéndez Behety 2) 10-8. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49
POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO SOUTHEASTERN
STEPHEN SAVAGE
CLEAR LAKE ACES SPORTSMANSHIP CUP
Memphis’ Oscar Atkinson and Clear Lake’s MVP Herndon Radcliff battle in the final of the 6-goal Sportsmanship Cup at Point Clear Polo Club in Point Clear, Alabama in October.
C
lear Lake got the best of Memphis Polo Club, 8½-6, in the final of the 6-goal Sportsmanship Cup at Point Clear Polo Club in Point Clear, Alabama on October 23. Four teams played off over two days for the trophies. Clear Lake (Midge Ellison, Hutch Radcliff, Herndon Radcliff, Alfredo Guerreno) was the clear winner in the first playoff game against Bobcat (Bob Edmundson, Steve Tipler, Bonnie
50 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Corner, Robert Orthwein). Clear Lake received a 1½-goal handicap to start and went on to score four more in the first chukker while holding Bobcat to a single goal from Bob Edmundson. Clear Lake kept up the pressure in the second with three unanswered goals. Bobcat silenced Clear Lake in the third while capitalizing on a Penalty 2 and 4 to end the first half with Clear Lake ahead 8½3. Bobcat slowed Clear Lake down in
the second half, allowing just a goal in the fourth and fifth and two in the sixth, but was only able to reach the goal once, giving Clear Lake the 12½-4 victory. The next match had Memphis (Mikhal Newberry, Jimmy Wetter, Oscar Atkinson, Juan Valerdi) up against Carson Hill/Arcola Ranch (Wood Bramlett, Bill Mackey, Juan MartinezBaez, Sain Joseph). Memphis received a half-goal handicap and went on to score
R E P O R T
STEPHEN SAVAGE
P O L O
Clear Lake’s Alfredo Guerreno, Herndon Radcliff, Midge Ellison and Hutch Radcliff won the 6-goal Sportsmanship Cup.
a half dozen goals in the first two chukkers while Carson Hill/Arcola Ranch came up empty. Sain Joseph put Carson Hill on the board in the third, but Juan Valerdi added two for Memphis to end the half with Memphis comfortably ahead 8½-1. Valerdi scored early in the fourth, but Wood Bramlett and Bill Mackey responded. Juan Martinez-Baez scored a pair of goals, but Valerdi and Oscar Atkinson answered with goals of their own. The sixth chukker saw just a Penalty 3 conversion from Joseph, leaving Memphis ahead 11½-6. The teams came back the next day with Carson Hill/Arcola Ranch taking on Bobcat for third place. Carson Hill got a half-goal handicap, but Bobcat soon negated it with a Penalty 4 conversion and a field goal from Robert Orthwein. Joseph fired back in the second to get Carson Hill in the game. Orthwein traded goals with Martinez-Baez in the third to end the half with Bobcat ahead 3-2½. Martinez-Baez put Carson Hill on top with an unanswered goal in the fourth and Joseph and Edmundson traded goals in the fifth. Carson Hill fought to survive but a goal by Steve Tipler tipped the scales in Bobcat’s favor 5-4½. In the final, Memphis faced Clear Lake, which began with a half-goal handicap. The first chukker had Alfredo Guerreno strike first for Clear
Red Fence Farm’s Carlos Praiz, Miguel Yanes, Eden Gonzalez and Lilly Martinere won the Challenge Cup.
Lake, but Mikhal Newberry soon responded for Memphis. Guerreno and Herndon Radcliff scored in the second, while Memphis failed to reach the goal. Memphis came back in the third with an unanswered goal by Juan Valerdi to end the half with Clear Lake ahead 3½-2. Valerdi scored early in the fourth to cut the difference, but Guerreno responded with back-to-back goals. Valerdi went on a tear in the fifth with a trio of goals but Guerreno scored to keep Clear Lake with the narrow advantage. The advantage shifted to Memphis after a Penalty 3 conversion from Valerdi early in the sixth, but goals by Radcliff and Guerreno put Clear Lake back on top. Memphis was unable to recover and Clear Lake had the 8½-7 win. Alfredo Guerreno and Juan Valerdi were high scorers with six apiece. Herndon Radcliff was named MVP and Valerdi’s Jesse was Best Playing Pony. A week earlier, Red Fence Farm surfaced at the top of a six-team roster in the 0-4 goal Challenge Cup. The three guys on the team all groom for members or pros at the club. They weren’t planning on playing because the tournament is the same week as the 8 goal, but Lilly Martinere’s dad wanted her to play and asked if they’d be willing to play if he paid the entry fee. It was a done deal and the team made it worth the effort.
Red Fence (Lilly Martinere, Eden Gonzalez, Miguel Yanes, Carlos Praiz) faced Summergrove Polo (David Fenelly, Slade Sharpsteen, Luis Ansola, Fernando Ayala) in the final. In the final, Red Fence began with a 1½-goal handicap. Slade Sharpsteen put Summergrove on the board early in the first. Luis Ansola knocked in a Penalty 2 to take the 2-1½ lead. Back-to-back goals by Eden Gonzalez put Red Fence back on top. Ansola put Summergrove back within half a goal, but a Penalty 4 conversion by Carlos Praiz gave Red Fence a 4½-3 lead. The teams played a tight final chukker, matching each other goal for goal. When time ran out, Red Fence Farm had held on for the 6½-5 victory. In the consolation, Wineberry (Ericka Fuchsloch, Bill Webb, Manuel Ontiveros, Jorge Medina, Juan MartinezBaez) defeated Bonorino Polo (Buddy Terral, Dennis Antolik, Carlos Garcia, Sebastian Bonorino) 3-1. In that match Dennis Antolik struck first for Bonorino Polo. Juan Martinez-Baez had the answer when he converted a Penalty 3 in the second chukker. Martinez-Baez found the goal in the third to put Wineberry on top. Another Penalty 3, this time from Jorge Medina sealed Bonorino’s fate. In the battle for fifth place, Zupay (Mikhal Newberry, Pablo Tejada, Elio Yanes, Segundo Ortiz) overcame Carson Hill (Wood Bramlett, Gabriel
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51
P O L O
R E P O R T
Parrot Heads’ Roni Duke, Herndon Radcliff, Carlucho Arellano and Tom Gose won the 8- to 12-goal Intra-Circuit Cup over Tiburon’s Cathy Alba, Collen Clark, Luis Ansola and Tommy Collingwood. The match was also played as the Polo at the Point benefit.
Maldonado, Bonnie Corner, Sain Joseph) 6-3. In earlier matches, Summergrove topped Wineberry 3-1 and Zupay 5-1 in a round robin. Wineberry and Zupay tied 1-1. Another round robin had Red Fence beat Carson Hill 4-2 and tie Bonorino Polo 2-2, while Bonorino tied Carson Hill 3-3. The same weekend, the final of the 8to 12-goal Southeast Intra-Circuit tournament was played. The final also serves as a benefit for the club’s Polo at the Point event. Played since 1988, the club has raised millions of dollars to benefit cancer research, local non-profit organizations and children’s charities. It is known as the Gulf Coast’s most prestigious charity sporting event, providing a unique experience for diehard fans and those experiencing polo for the first time. The final pitted Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, Herndon Radcliff, Carlucho Arellano, Tom Gose) against Tiburon (Collen Clark, Cathy Alba, Tommy Collingwood, Luis Ansola). Parrot Heads got on the board early with a run to goal by Carlucho Arellano. Luis Ansola answered for Tiburon, then added a Penalty 3 conversion for the lead. Arellano answered back and Herndon Radcliff added another for good measure. Another Penalty 3 by Ansola knotted the score at 3-all. Ansola and Arellano swapped Penalty 3 conversions to end the half level at 4-4.
52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Parrot heads flew to the lead in the third with a field goal and a Penalty 2 conversion by Arellano and a goal from Tom Gose. Tiburon fought back with a lone goal in the fifth to come within two, 7-5. Costly mistakes by Tiburon gave Arellano chances from the penalty line, which he nailed. Ansola managed a last field goal but it wasn’t enough and Parrot Heads had the 9-6 win. Herndon Radcliff was named MVP pro, while Roni Duke was MVP amateur. Best Playing Pony went to Tommy Collingwood’s gelding Seneca. In the consolation for third place, Bottega/Bobcat (Frank Stitt, Collin McCosh, Alan Martinez, Bob Edmundson) overcame Upatoi-Dream Ranch (Jesse Weaver, Joe Meyer, Jake Flournoy, Eddy Martinez) 10-7, while Clearwater (Hutch Radcliff, Camp Campbell, Gonzalo Teves, Chip Campbell) crushed Fairplay (Esther Kane, Robert Orthwein, Ulysses Escapite, Steve Tipler) 9-4 in the consolation for fifth place. In preliminary games, which began on October 6, Parrot Heads defeated Fairplay 7-4; Upatoi defeated Clearwater 14-9; Tiburon defeated Bottega/Bobcat 9-8; Bottega/Bobcat defeated Upatoi 13-12; Tiburon defeated Fairplay 8-6; Parrot Heads defeated Clearwater 9-7; Upatoi defeated Fairplay 12-9; Parrot Heads defeated Bottega/Bobcat 11-6; and Tiburon defeated Clearwater 12-8.
EASTERN
ARMY WINS NIMITZ CUP
Sgt. Chris Jones, USMCR was on fire during the entire game but former Sgt. Paul Knapp of the Army’s team played a bit hotter and as a result the Army team was victorious over the Marines to win the 2016 Nimitz Cup-the military arena championships. Hosted by the Virginia Polo Center in Charlottesville, Virgina, home to the University of Virginia’s polo team, the four services fielded strong teams but once again the current operational tempo of the U.S. Armed Forces saw fewer active duty players participating. The tournament opened with members of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry “The Old Guard” Caisson Platoon providing a mounted color guard. One of few mounted units still on active duty, they normally provide final honors to service members buried at Arlington National Cemetery but were eager to help. Their mounts, warmbloods and all at least 17 hands, dwarfed the Virginia polo ponies but being ceremonial trained horses, were unfazed by the bright lights, noise or strange horses. Unlike previous tournaments, this tournament was played with all players riding Virginia Polo horses under the
P O L O intercollegiate “split string” rules. For those of you not familiar with the concept, teams switch horses at half time thereby ensuring neither side has an advantage when it comes to mounts. The teams drew for match play and saw the Navy vs. the Marines in the first match and the Army vs. the Air Force in the second match, both played under the lights in the outdoor arena at Virginia Polo. The Navy Team was represented by Cmdr. Stephanie “Mini” Butler, former Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Cojocaru and retired Cmdr. Mike Yermakov USNR. The fourth player, Lt. j.g. Vicky Frederichs was unable to play in the first match as she is currently enrolled in the Navy’s elite nuclear power school in Charleston, South Carolina. For the Marine team we saw Sgt. Chris Jones, USMCR, Officer Candidate Eric Hobby and retired Lt. Col. Dean Daggett USMCR. Play began with Umpires, LLC’s Dana Fortugno bowling in the ball and the Marines soon established a lead. Despite a strong showing by members of the Navy team, the Marines were victorious in the first match downing their Navy brethren 12-5. The second match of the night saw a strong Air Force team captained by former Sgt. and former USPA CEO Peter Rizzo together with former Sgt. Rob Phipps and former Airman Jonathan Burrows face off against the Army team of retired Maj. Mark Gillespie, Capt. Terrence Donahue USAR and former Sgt Paul Knapp. Donahue recently returned from a year in Iraq leading a team of forward air controllers conducting airstrikes on ISIS positions in support of our Iraqi Kurdish Allies and was happy to be back playing polo. (Less chance of getting shot?) The game saw the lead change
throughout the entire match, but several missed penalty shots by the Air Force team combined with Knapp’s aggressive play eventually saw the Air Force team fall to the Army 11-7. On the day between matches, organizers held an introduction to polo for active duty members in the greater Washington D.C. area. The clinic was held at the Virginia Polo Center. Participants included members of all four services including an Army UH-60 Blackhawk Crew Chief from Ft. Belvoir, A marine captain from the U.S. Southern Command, four members from the U.S. Army’s Old
Army’s Col. Marisa Tanner, Sgt. Paul Knapp, Maj. Mark Gillespie and Capt. Terrence Donahue won the Nimitz Cup.
Guard Mounted Caisson Platoon from Ft Myer, Virginia and several others from the surrounding area. A total of nine active duty participated with the players, like Sgt Peter Rizzo, Maj. Mark Gillespie, Sgt. Chris Jones and Col. Marissa Tanner serving as some of the instructors. Using the “training station” concept, the participants were broken down into three groups, each rotating through a classroom session, a hitting cage session and a foot mallet session. The final station was a series of mounted drills in both the indoor and outdoor arenas. After some five hours of instruction, all participants were treated to lunch hosted by the USPA’s Armed Forces Committee. The goal of
R E P O R T the clinic was to expose and hopefully convince more active duty personnel to take up the sport of polo, and based on the response of the clinic, one could say, “Mission Accomplished”! The final day of the tournament, held after a day of off time, started early with the consolation match between the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Cmdr. “Mini” Butler was unable to play due to duties required of her at the Pentagon but fortunately Lt. j.g. Vicky Frederichs was able to replace her for the day. Vicky, an UVA alumni and former captain of the UVA women’s varsity team was a welcome addition to the Navy squad. Joined by Yermakov and Cojocaru, they hustled, dug and fought for the entire match, but in the end the playmaking of the Air Force’s Rizzo proved too much to overcome and they lost 10 to 6. In the final match for the Nimitz Cup, both the Army and Marine teams were fired up, and despite losing Maj. Mark Gillespie to an injury, being replaced by Col. Marisa Tanner, the Army team was victorious. As mentioned previously, the Marines, lead by Sgt. Chris Jones’ strong play, traded the lead with the Army team until late in the third period when it became difficult to continue to match the hitting ability of former Sgt. Paul Knapp and the hustle of Capt. Terrence Donahue. Officer Candidate Eric Hobby, a member of the UVA men’s varsity team and soon to be commissioned in the Marine Corps, had the advantage of playing on horses he knew well, but in the end, the Army team was just too strong to overcome. The Armed Forces Committee and the leadership of Virginia Polo have announced the Nimitz Cup will be played once again next year (2017). —Karl Hilberg
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53
P O L O
R E P O R T
Patagones’ Joaquin Avendano, Santiago Avendano, MVP Benjamin Avendano and Santi Wulff won the Holiday Family Cup at Port Mayaca Polo Club.
FLORIDA
PATAGONES TAKES HOLIDAY FAMILY CUP
Patagones defeated Horseware 7-5½ to win the Holiday Family Cup final at the Port Mayaca Polo Club in Port Mayaca, Florida. Six teams competed in the tournament. Benjamin Avendano earned MVP honors in the final while Hugo Lloret’s Pacha was named Best Playing Pony. The tournament began with Patagones (Joaquin Avendano, Benjamin Avendano, Santiago Wulff, Santiago Avendano) defeating Banbury Cross (Breanna Gunnell, Nelson Gunnell, Tenzin Tognini, Marcos Bignoli) 8-6½. Santa Clara (Brandon Plunkett, Nico Escobar, Lucas Escobar, Luis Escobar) edged Taylor Hill Farm (Sarah Martin, CJ Martin, Marcos Onetto, Jason Wates) 8-7 and Horseware (Barry Finnegan, Tom McGuinness, Hugo Lloret, Wes Finlayson) downed Shamrock (Hayden Walsh, John Walsh, Max Secunda, Will Johnston) 7-3. In the semifinal, Horseware slipped Taylor Hill Farm 8-7 and Patagones downed Santa Clara 5-2½. In the consolation New Year’s Eve Cup, Banburry Cross came out ahead of Shamrock 6-4.
54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
FLEXJET CAPTURES TWO FALL 20-GOALS Flexjet overcame Audi to win the USPA North America Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida on November 18. Four teams rounded out the roster. Flexjet (Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon, Nic Roldan, Jason Crowder) gave Audi (Marc Ganzi, Jesse Bray, Carlucho Arellano, Jeff Blake) a two-goal handicap to start the match, but that was quickly neutralized by a pair of goals from Nic Roldan. Jared Sheldon added another to put Flexjet on top 3-2. Carlucho Arellano and Jesse Bray combined for three goals in the second, while holding Flexjet to one goal to take a narrow 5-4 lead. Sheldon traded goals with Arellano in the third, and a Penalty 2 from Grant Ganzi leveled the score at 6-6 at the half. Roldan motored ahead in the fourth with a pair of goals, including a Penalty 6 conversion. Audi came up empty but more than made up for it in the fifth with goals off the mallets of Marc Ganzi, Bray and Jeff Blake. While Flexjet was silenced in the fifth, it came back with a vengeance in the sixth. Grant Ganzi tied
Benjamin Avendano was MVP in the Holiday Family Cup at Port Mayaca .
the score in the first two minutes, then Sheldon broke the tie. Roldan added another while Audi was scoreless, giving Flexjet the 11-9 victory. Roldan was named MVP and Narnia, a 5-year-old bay mare owned by Santa Rita Farm and ridden by Bray, was named Best Playing Pony. In the Handicap final, Casablanca (Gene Goldstein, Juancito Bollini, Julio Arellano, JJ Celis) pulled away for an 8-2 halftime lead and went on to defeat Dutta Corp (Timmy Dutta, Kris Kampsen, Guille Aguero, Carlitos Gracida) 12-6. Julio Arellano, making his fall tournament debut, was named Most Valuable Player and Sizzurp, an 8-yearold Chestnut mare owned by Santa Rita Farm and ridden by Arellano was named Best Playing Pony. The following week, Flexjet finished off the season with a thrilling comefrom-behind 11-8 victory over Casablanca to capture the USPA National 20-goal. The talented foursome of Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan and Jared Sheldon rallied in the final two chukkers, outscoring Casablanca’s equally-talented foursome of Grant
R E P O R T
CHUKKER TV
CHUKKER TV
P O L O
Brenda Lynn presents the North America Cup to Flexjet’s Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon, Nic Roldan and Jason Crowder.
Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Julio Arellano and JJ Celis, 6-1. Sheldon, one of the original members of Team USPA, was named Most Valuable Player. The scrappy athlete played well above his 4-goal rating and played a big role in the team’s defensive second half and also scored four goals. “It worked out well,” Sheldon said. “What a team. It’s such a fun team playing with Jason, Nic and Melissa. It’s so easy to play with them. We don’t say much, we know what the other is going to do. We played classic, open polo and enjoyed ourselves.” Rebecca, a 10-year-old Chestnut mare ridden by Melissa Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was selected Best Playing Pony. Casablanca frustrated penaltyplagued Flexjet in the first half for a 6-5 halftime lead and 7-5 advantage after the fourth chukker. It was Melissa Ganzi who sparked Flexjet’s second-half rally. “The goal Melissa scored broke the seal for us and from then on we took over,” Sheldon said. “Like Melissa says, it only matters in the second half.” At the 5:34 mark, Ganzi, riding Rebecca, broke away from her defenders to score and cut Casablanca’s lead to one, 7-6. After Roldan just missed an incredible angled neck shot, he then connected with Sheldon who scored,
Flexjet’s Jason Crowder, Melissa Ganzi, Jared Sheldon and Nic Roldan won the National Twenty Goal.
tying the game at 7-7 with 3:15 left in the chukker. Casablanca briefly regained the lead in the closing seconds of the fifth chukker when Arellano converted a Penalty 3 for an 8-7 lead. The sixth chukker was all Flexjet regaining its momentum and outscoring Casablanca, 4-0. “Everything just fell into place,” Roldan said. “They played better than us in the first half but we kept fighting and fighting. We knew if we finished and scored some of the goals that we had been missing we would be there at the end and win.” Roldan scored first at 5:33 lofting a Penalty 3 through the goal posts to tie the game at 8-8. A minute later, Sheldon got loose for a goal to regain the lead, 98. Roldan followed at 2:58 for an insurance goal and Sheldon picked up a loose ball to score one final time for a three-goal victory. “Things just opened up and they finally started going in,” Sheldon said. “Once the pressure kind of mounted everyone got going. Nic did a great job getting the ball up in front.” Roldan scored a game-high six goals, including three on penalty shots. “For Flexjet this is great, they have been a great sponsor and huge supporter of polo,” Roldan said. “Playing with this team was fun all season. We had a great chemistry, kept it simple and moved the ball as much as
possible. It was a team effort in both tournaments all the way. It was a great season.” Arellano led Casablanca with three goals, Ganzi had two and Celis added one. The team also picked up two goals on handicap. —Sharon Robb
RULE ONE WINS SEASON OPENER AT THE VILLAGES
Rule One edged Citizens First in the United Healthcare 6-goal tournament at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida on October 2. The tournament was the first of the fall season. Rule One (Phil Town, Jason Cashin, Lord Lyall, Charly Cendoya) began with a half-goal handicap. Neither team scored in the first but Charly Cendoya put the ball through the posts in the second to get the scoring going. Citizens First (Laura Willson, Casey Hoskins, Paige McCabe, Jamie Mirikitani) answered with a pair of goals by Mirikitani. Cendoya added another and Lord Lyall scored to put Rule One up 3½-2. Casey Hoskins and Paige McCabe scored to briefly put Citizens First on top, but Jason Cashin gave Rule One back the lead 4½-4 at the half. Cendoya scored a pair of goals in the fourth, which went unanswered. Cashin traded goals with Hoskins in the fifth and Phil Town scored to increase Rule
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 55
R E P O R T DAVE BOEGE
DAVE BOEGE
P O L O
Rule One’s Charly Cendoya, Lord Lyall, Jason Cashin and Phil Town won the United Healthcare 6-goal tournament at The Villages.
One’s lead. Citizens First battled back in the final chukker, with Hoskins scoring two in a row but the team ran out of time and Rule One took the trophies. The following week’s tournament, the Galaxy Home Solutions 6 Goal, was delayed for 48 hours due to Hurricane Matthew. The schedule was also condensed into a one-day event. Fross and Fross pulled away from City Fire in the first match of the day by a final score of 11-6, after what was a tightly-contested tilt throughout the match’s first three chukkers. After City Fire jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, the first three periods of play featured three ties and four lead changes between the two teams, with Fross and Fross taking a 5-4 lead into halftime. Fross and Fross outscored City Fire 62 in the final three chukkers to earn the victory, thanks in large part to their No. 1 player, Joe Watkins. “I had a couple of young horses playing today for the first time,” Watkins said after the victory. “It’s always rewarding as a player for them to turn out like that and play good games. Hopefully the rest of the season is a cakewalk now that we’ve seen they can perform.” In the second and final game of the day, McLin Burnsed held off hardcharging Arden’s Jewelers to win 8-7. George Switlyk of McLin Burnsed scored twice in the game’s first two
56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
McLin Burnsed’s George Switlyk, Casey Hoskins, Lord Lyall and Frankie Bilbao won the Galaxy Home Solutions 6 Goal.
chukkers to throttle McLin Burnsed out to an early 5-1 lead through two periods. Not to be outdone, George’s wife, Coco Switlyk led Arden’s Jewelers with three goals as they chipped away at the lead to eventually tie the contest at six early in the final chukker. McLin Burnsed’s Lord Lyall cracked home the game-winner with just 4:38 to play in the last chukker to silence the rally from Arden’s Jewelers. The next week was back to its original schedule for the Villages Insurance 6 goal when Casey Hoskins led Citizen’s First to an 8½-8 victory over UnitedHealthcare. Beginning the championship match a half-point ahead on handicap, Citizens First jumped out to an early 3½-1 lead through the first two chukkers. Three straight goals to open the third from UnitedHealthcare gave it the lead, but the advantage would last just under two minutes, as Hoskins buried his second of the match to push Citizens back out in front once again at 4½-4 entering halftime. In the fourth, the teams gave spectators something to cheer for— fulfilling a promotional requisite of four total goals scored in the fourth period earned those of age a free beverage. A late rally for UnitedHealthcare fell just short, as the action remained in the Citizens’ defensive end for the majority of the last two minutes of play, but the go-ahead goal couldn’t ultimately be
cracked through the posts. Week 4 saw United Healthcare hang on during a wild ride to win the Fross & Fross Cup. After falling behind 8-3½ at the end of the fourth chukker, McLin Burnsed outscored United Healthcare 3-0 in the fifth chukker to cut its deficit to 8-6½. And when Jamie Mirikitani, who scored five goals on the day, added another for McLin Burnsed in the first minute of the final chukker, all of a sudden it was a brand-new game, 8-7½. United Healthcare then found its other gear. In a span of less than two minutes Francisco Bilbao scored twice on break aways and Paige McCabe added one on another breakaway as United Healthcare took the title, 11-9½. “Sometimes when you get a little bit of a lead you tend to relax,” said Bilboa who finished the match with four goals. “We were falling asleep there for a few minutes and Jamie’s goal woke us up.” Bilbao earned MVP honors while his horse Viru was named the match’s Best Playing Pony. “When they got close I was lucky enough to be on the right horse,” Bilbao said. “When I told her to go, we went.” Over Halloween weekend, the ladies took over. A wild flurry of action throughout Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Arden’s Fine Jewelers Women’s Tournament produced three championships awarded across three handicap flights.
R E P O R T
DAVE BOEGE
DAVE BOEGE
P O L O
Citizens First’s Coco Switlyk, Nick Johnson, Jamie Mirikitani and Casey Hoskins won The Villages Insurance 6 Goal at The Villages.
Fross and Fross defeated Arden’s Jewelers 7½-2 to win the top flight A Division title to cap off the weekend’s action, which featured nearly 40 women and a record 11 teams participating. Even while finding herself on the losing end of the main event on Sunday as a member of Arden’s, Paige McCabe, director of polo in The Villages, said the experience of hosting the all-female tournament was a momentous one. “It was a special weekend for us to get all the women together,” McCabe said. “Obviously polo is a co-ed sport and we’re all ranked on the same handicap scale but when you get just women playing together on their own handicaps, you really get to see the skill of the girls and show off their abilities.” Fross and Fross didn’t let a 1½-goal advantage to start the A Division championship game go to waste, immediately jumping out to a 4½-1 lead after two chukkers, eventually cruising to the 7½-2 victory. Claire Brougham, who was named most outstanding player of the tournament, cracked home a goal in the final two chukkers of action to push Fross and Fross to the victory. The all-women’s tournament was a can’t-miss event for three generations of one Villages resident, who took advantage of the underlying message at play. Carole Marshall brought along her daughter and 9-year-old granddaughter,
United Healthcare’s Frankie Bilbao, Paige McCabe, Casey Hoskins and Coco Switlyk won the Fross & Fross Cup.
Elizabeth, to Sunday’s championship action as a way to spend an afternoon together. “When they announced they were having an women’s tournament, I just knew I had to bring my daughter and grandbaby,” Marshall said. “It stands for something a little bigger than a game on horses, I think. It shows my girls, regardless of age, that women can do anything they set their mind to.” For Elizabeth, who had never even heard of polo prior to attending on Sunday, the experience and company of the afternoon is something she’ll remember for quite some time. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Elizabeth said. “But getting to spend time with my mom and grandma, just the three of us watching it together, I won’t be able to forget what polo is.” Week 6 had Francisco Bilbao lead McLin Burnsed to victory in the McLin Burnsed 8-goal. The Argentinean native celebrated his recent acquisition of American citizenship with a monstrous nine-goal afternoon to lead McLin Burnsed to a 13-10 victory over UnitedHealthcare. Bilbao dazzled the crowd by scoring five times in the first chukker of the title game en route to earning Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament—the first of three eight-goal weekend tournaments in the fall season of play– pushing McLin Burnsed out to an early 5-2 lead.
Bilbao’s seven goals before halftime provided a cushion, though it was briefly dwindled down to a one-goal game on two occasions, in the third and fourth chukkers, respectively. Jason Pascarella recorded four goals on the day for UnitedHealthcare to keep them in the game, but it was the smoking mallet of Bilbao cracking home two goals over the final two chukkers to seal the championship for McLin Burnsed. In earlier action, Citizens First defeated City Fire 13-11 to take home consolation honors. Bilbao carried the momentum into the next weekend, dazzling the crowd once again by burying nine of 11 goals for Fross & Fross to help defeat United Healthcare 11-8 in The Villages Health 8 Goal. Bilbao’s scoring outburst was the third straight game of nine goals for the 5-goal player—tallying nine in both Friday’s preliminary action and last Sunday’s tournament championship— quickly putting the polo grounds of The Villages in a special place of the recently turned U.S. citizen’s heart. “I’m honestly loving playing here right now,” Bilbao said after the victory. “It doesn’t really get better than that (today). It’s a feeling we all want—riding to the goal with the ball like that. It’s great being out here and playing like this on these first class fields.” Bilbao picked up right where he left
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 57
DAVE BOEGE
R E P O R T
DAVE BOEGE
P O L O
DAVE BOEGE
Fross & Fross’ Claire Brougham, Cecilia Cochran, Karen Reese and Tess Pimsner won the A Flight of the Women’s tournament.
McLin Burnsed’s Meghan Burggraaf, Paige McCabe, Herndon Radcliff and Frankie Bilbao won the McLin Burnsed 8 Goal.
off on Friday, as he cracked a 6-4 lead into the half. home the first two goals of Radcliff and Nick Sunday’s championship Johnson, of McLin Burnsed, match within the first three traded tallies in the fourth minutes of the opening chukker with two apiece, chukker. before it was once again Quick tallies by Bilbao finding the sweet spot UnitedHealthcare’s Casey between the posts for a 9-6 Hoskins tied the match after lead early in the fifth. the first period of play, A late rally by McLin though the early deadlock Burnsed fell just short, led by would be the closest they’d Johnson’s seven goals on the come to victory on the day. afternoon, as City Fire Fross & Fross’ Laura Willson, Paige McCabe, Herndon Bilbao’s smoking hot eventually pulled away with Radcliff and Frankie Bilbao won The Villages Health 8 Goal. mallet struck four more goals the 11-10 final. Herndon before halftime, pushing Fross & Fross said even he’s never seen from himself Radcliff was named MVP. out to an 8-3 lead at the start of the before. The season wrapped up with the divot-stomping. “This is probably the best I’ve ever Mezza Luna Grill Family Feud. While Francisco Llosa slapped home four played, yeah,” Bilbao said. “First, I’ve the final tally read 5-4 in favor of Fross goals of his own in the second half of had a good set of horses lately. Second, & Fross over Arden’s Jewelers, the action—accounting for the majority of I’ve played with a very good team. I’m special family-themed tournament stood the six goals scored in the second half by not sure what else has added up to all of for a lot more than a game of polo. UnitedHealthcare—in an attempt to this, but for sure, those two things have “It’s really indescribable,” 73-yearcoerce his team back into the match. really helped.” old Belden Hoskins said after playing But it wasn’t enough to bridge the McLin Burnsed jumped out to an with his two sons, Casey and Doug, for gap created by Bilbao, who added on early 3-0 lead after the first chukker of the very first time. “There’s been a lot of three more strikes after the intermission play, capitalizing on a one-goal years that have gone into the sport for to seal the deal for Fross & Fross. advantage to start the match due to an our family. The thrill of playing with Bilbao cracked six goals to lead City uneven handicap. your own sons for the first time is Fire to an 11-10 victory over McLin Bilbao quickly rattled off two goals unmatchable.” Burnsed in the third and final 8-goal of within 20 seconds of each other early in The senior Hoskins scored twice to the season, The Villages Golf Cars the second chukker before Herndon lead Fross & Fross to the weekend Tournament . Radcliff and Paige McCabe tallied championship, as the two-day The six goals put the finishing strikes of their own, pushing City Fire to tournament in The Villages featuring touches on a hot streak in which Bilbao a 4-3 lead at the end of the chukker. teams made up of family members, scored 40 goals over his last five games, Bilbao added two more goals in the celebrated the familial vibe of the sport a recent string of performances Bilbao third chukker, after which City Fire took of polo—an effort that was well-received
58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
R E P O R T
DAVE BOEGE
DAVE BOEGE
P O L O
City Fire’s Laura Willson, Paige McCabe, Herndon Radcliff and Frankie Bilbao won The Villages Golf Car 8 Goal.
by the elder-Hoskins. “I think what they’ve done here is picked up what’s been traditional through the years,” Belden said. “Polo was built on family and the social aspect of it all. Fathers introduce it to sons and you’re just lucky if they pick it up and want to do something with it. I can’t say enough about The Villages and how they foster that.” The head of the Hoskins family started the scoring just 63 seconds into the match, with the tally ending up as the only goal scored in the first chukker. Francisco Bilbao, of Arden’s Jewelers, tied the game in the second chukker of play with a scoring strike of his own, but it was the senior Hoskins firing his second goal through the posts just a minute later to push Fross & Fross back out front—a lead they would never relinquish. All three Hoskins on the field Sunday registered on the scoresheet, along with teammate Lord Lyall, as the five goals were enough to hold off a three-goal final chukker effort by Arden’s Jewelers. For Casey Hoskins, a regular player at The Villages Polo Club, the opportunity to play with his father and brother for the first time competitively is something the Minnesota natives will never forget. “We’ve all gone our separate directions, so this is really special to get to do together,” Casey said. “I’ve played
Fross & Fross’ Doug Hoskins, Belden Hoskins, Lord Lyall and Casey Hoskins took the season-ending Mezza Luna Grill Family Feud.
a lot with Doug in the past up in Minneapolis. My dad was starting to wind things down, but we got him pumped up and gave him a couple horses who know how to play polo and he did a damn good job.” —Cody Hills and Steve Trivett OBITUARY
FRANK WILKENS Frank Allen Wilkens, 62, a valued member and driving force for polo in Cincinnati, Ohio, for decades, passed away peacefully December 19, surrounded by his family and friends after a three-month battle in an intensive care unit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Frank was known for his can-do attitude, sense of humor and keen ability to be there for others in need. He had a vast assortment of friends and never met a stranger. Frank spoke fondly of having the opportunity to play on the Xavier Polo Team in 1978 with Jake and John Sieber in the National Intercollegiate final after the eldest Sieber brother, Rob, had graduated. Frank was a steady player in the Midstates Circuit from the early 1970s until health issues kept him from actively playing polo in 2005. Frank’s father, Herb, served as a USPA governor in the 1970s and 1980s
and supported low-goal polo all over the Midstates Circuit. Frank and his brother, H e r b i e , introduced many new players to the sport in the 1980s making it possible for Cincinnati Polo Club to field three sponsored teams throughout the 1990s. The Wilkens family farm was the home of CPC from the late 1970s until the farm was sold for commercial development in the 1990s, after which Frank invested his share of the money into purchasing 60 acres in Goshen, Ohio. This is where Frank, along with his wife, built a 40-stall barn and regulation size indoor arena. Later, an outdoor field was built, and in 2013 the first game was played on the field, continuing his support of polo in Cincinnati. Frank’s years of contribution to polo in the Midstates Circuit will long be remembered. Frank is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters Kimberly Wilkens, Katherine (Mike) Frizzell, Morgan Wilkens, Gladys Taylor Wilkens and Sydney Wilkens; grandson Lucas Allen Meadors; sisters Nancy (David) Watts and Barbara Wilkens; and numerous nieces and nephews.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59
Y
E
S
T
E
R
Y
E
A
R
1938
S
RIDE AMERICAN HORSES! Horse & Horseman editors rally for American teams to play horses bred in the U.S.
W
e respectfully request, urge, challenge the polo team of the United States to ride horses of American breeding in the international matches against Great Britain at Meadowbrook next June! We respectfully request the United States polo team to play Great Britain in the international matches of 1939 on
American-bred ponies. We urge the United States team to do so. We challenge it to do so! Although some of the greatest polo ponies in history have been bred in the United States, no American international team has ever gone on the field mounted solely on home-bred mounts. There is no doubt about the statement that some of the greatest of polo
mounts were bred in the United States. We can cite examples with ease. Before the war there was a rule in American as well as in England limiting the height of polo ponies to 14.3. In America it was never observed and Americans played ponies any size they liked, which was one reason the British abolished their height limit. Other reasons were (a) the dearth of real 14.3
Cecil Smith’s American-bred Bonnie J, left, did well in England.
60 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Devereux Milburn played the powerful Jacobs, who was bred in the Southwest.
The big slashing chestnut, Carry the News, was brought from Hawaii by W. D. Baldwin.
ponies in England after the war and (b) the feeling at the time that the height question would settle itself, for “no one would or could ride a big horse” in polo, that is something as big as 15.2 and big horses cost so much to feed. Going back a few years to 1909, when the height limit for polo ponies was lifted and the modern mount began to take shape, we had such brilliant mounts as Louis E. Stoddard’s Kentucky-bred chestnut mare, Belle of All, by Cunard out of a Star Shoot mare, who now has a son and a daughter playing in C.V. Whitney’s string. There were such ponies as the celebrated California-bred Cottontail, played by Harry Payne Whitney in three international series and considered the greatest polo pony that ever lived; and powerful Jacobs from the Southwest, played by Devereux Milburn. In the years that followed came Carry the News, the big slashing chestnut sent up from Hawaii by W. D. Baldwin; and the fleet Gallery Girl from New York’s Genesee Valley. Then too came W.A. Harriman’s truly great Gay Boy, from Texas, who met death when a crashing
plane fell on top of him. The parade of top ponies of American breeding is a long one, and answers enough to the criticisms so often heard in England and in Argentina that we would not be at the top of the polo heap but for the tons of easy money with
which we buy up the best ponies bred and trained in other countries. Consider the wonderful Socks, now 13, who has been playing top polo in J. H. Whitney’s string for so many years, and who still gets into an Open Championship final. Consider Hermosa, by the
During the 1927 International Championships, the American team of Devereux Milburn, Malcolm Stevenson, Thomas Hitchcock Jr. and J. Watson Webb rode only seven out of 25 American-bred horses. They played 13 Argentine-bred horses and five English-bred horses.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61
celebrated Senator, played so well by William Post II, and the wonderful brown mare Molasses, played by Dunbar and Pete Bostwick. The dashing chestnut, Quickie, gave such marvelous performances under Tommy Hitchcock. Nor does this complete the list by any means, for there are such other grand ponies as Seymour H. Knox’s The Hawk; Gerard S. Smith’s Easy Ways, by Midway, who was third in the Kentucky Derby; Cecil Smith’s clever Bonnie J., who did well in England this year; J. C. Rathborne’s Cream of the Crop; C. B. Wrightsman’s On Time, who caught the eyes of all Englishmen in London this year as played by Aidan Roark; James M. Spalding’s Hawaiian-bred Foolproof; Howland Paddock’s Red Waif from California; W.A. Harriman’s Never Tell 2nd, a son of the celebrated late Prince Friarstown. Yes, there is no doubt that some of the greatest polo mounts in history were bred in the United States. Nor, unfortunately, is there any doubt about the reluctance of American teams to go on the field mounted on American-bred ponies. The record of the last six international series speaks for itself, and it is by no means to our credit: • In 1936, against the British in London, American players rode 30 different mounts, their nationalities as follows: Argentine 15, United States 10, two of which came from Hawaii; English 3 and Australian 1. • In 1932, against the Argentines in Buenos Aires, the American team rode 21 horses, as follows: Argentine 17, United States 3, Australian 1. • In 1930, against the English at Meadow Brook, the American team rode 33 horses, as follows: Argentine 16, English 8, United States 6, Indian 2, Australian 1. • In 1928, against the Argentines at Meadow Brook, the American team rode 30 horses, as follows: Argentine 12, English 8, United States 7, Indian 2, Australian 1. • In 1927, against the English at Mead62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Louis E. Stoddard’s Kentucky-bred chestnut mare, Belle of All
W.A. Harriman’s truly great Texas-bred Gay Boy met an untimely death when a crashing plane fell on him.
ow Brook, the American team rode 25 horses, as follows: Argentine 13, United States 7, English 5.
Willing to face facts, we state frankly that the only reason our team would hesitate to face Britain on American-
Fuss Budget was an off-the-track Thoroughbred who won 12 races and over $5,000.
The celebrated California-bred Cottontail was played by Harry Payne Whitney in three international series and was considered the greatest polo pony that ever lived.
bred ponies at Meadow Brook next June is because, thus mounted, it might meet defeat.
We do not hesitate to go further. We maintain (a) that our team could be well mounted on home-breds; (b) that it
would be better for American polo and for the future of American breeding if we lost on American-bred mounts than if we won on others; (c) that we could hardly lose to the British in any case and we would be doing matches a favor if we went out of our way to handicap the American team. Frankly, it is not our business to ask the American team to play on American ponies. That demand should rightly come from the National Polo Pony Society, organized in 1919 “for the purpose of stimulating and encouraging the breeding and improvement in the breed of polo ponies.” But the National Polo Pony Society is asleep. Its coffers are full but its energy is empty. It should be alive and alert, fighting the battles of American breeders. It should have insisted, long ago, that our polo teams be mounted on horses of our own breeding. Had it done so, we would have, today, the finest polo ponies of the world bred right in this country. Most American-bred ponies are “chance-bred.” That is, these horses were not deliberately bred to be polo ponies but were bred for something else, generally racing, and were turned over to polo because they were just exactly the right type for the game and probably not fast enough to win races. You will find exceptions of course; (a) there are a few polo pony breeding ranches in the country, in Wyoming, in Texas, in California, in Virginia, etc.; (b) occasionally you find a stake winner playing polo, for example, Fuss Budget, by St. GermansQuartet, who won 12 races and $5,385.00 on the flat. We don’t really believe the American team would be handicapped by playing American-bred ponies. We just don’t see how they can lose the matches of 1939 under any circumstances. We take the liberty, therefore, for the sake of the future of American polo breeding; to carry a spear in the front rank of this battle. “Ride American Horses!” POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63
C
A
L
E
N
D
JA N UA RY 2 5 - F E B RUA RY 12 USPA National Presidents Cup (8) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL
JULY
J A N U A R Y 2 5 - F E B R U A R Y 19 Ylvisaker Cup (20) International, Wellington, FL F E B R U A R Y 1 - 19 USPA Officers Cup (6) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL F E B RUA RY 1 - 2 5 USPA Sieber Memorial Trophy (12) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL F E B RUA RY 1 - 2 6 Halo Polo Trophy (6) Top Pony 8 Goal Series Grand Champions, Wellington, FL
A
R
MARKETPLACE F E B R U A R Y 17 The National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Join in the celebration as several legendary individuals are inducted into the National Museum of Polo’s Hall of Fame at the Museum of Polo in Lake Worth, Florida. Tickets for the awards dinner are $250 per person. For information or reservations, contact Brenda Lynn at the Museum of Polo by phone at (561) 969-3210 or (561) 969-7015 or by email at: polomuseum@att.net.
F E B RUA RY 2 - 2 5 Live Oak Challenge (8-12) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL
F E B RUA RY 12 USPA Players Cup (4) BG Polo, Vero Beach, FL
F E B RUA RY 3 - 5 Fakahatchee (4-6) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL
F E B R U A R Y 17 - 2 6 Fish Creek USPA Constitution Cup Eldorado, Indio, CA
F E B RUA RY 3 - 12 12 Goal Tournament Eldorado, Indio, CA
F E B RUA RY 18 Nespresso 40-Goal Polo Challenge International, Wellington, FL
F E B RUA RY 3 - 2 4 February League (4) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL
F E B RUA RY 2 2 - M A RC H 4 Iglehart Cup (20) International, Wellington, FL
F E B RUA RY 3 - 2 6 USPA Players Cup (4) USPA National Presidents Cup (6-8) Empire, Indio, CA
F E B RUA RY 2 2 - M A RC H 5 C.V. Whitney Cup (26) International, Wellington, FL
F E B RUA RY 4 - 12 USPA Arena Sportsmanship Cup (3) Flying Cow, Wellington, FL 4 Goal Tournament 8 Goal Tournament Eldorado, Indio, CA
F E B R U A R Y 2 2 - M A R C H 11 Sterling Cup (16-20) John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy Grand Champions, Wellington, FL F E B RUA RY 2 3 - 2 5 Tabebuia Cup (Women’s 12-14) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL
F E B RUA RY 5 BG Women’s Invitational Tournament BG Polo, Vero Beach, FL
F E B RUA RY 2 4 - M A RC H 12 Schroeder Manatee Ranch Cup (8) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL
F E B R U A R Y 1 0 - 19 Cupid’s Cup (4-6) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL
F E B RUA RY 2 6 Match Game BG Polo, Vero Beach, FL
F E B RUA RY 10 - 2 6 USPA Uihlein Jr. Memorial Cup (8) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL
64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
FEBRUARY
Note: All dates are subject to change. “USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.
Natural Supplements Abbey Road Presents/Your Road to Success. All natural supplements. Authorized dealer for the Flexineb Nebulizer. 248-521-2221 www.abbeyroadsupplements.com
21 ac. Down by the Sea, Rhode Island Beautiful rolling meadows. Gem. Personal Estate? Horses? Family Compound? price reduced $2.35 m 314.414.0070 ebrinner@gmail.com
IS YOUR RIG CHUKKERED OUT? See Tony Coppola for: • Four Star Aluminum Trailers • Hannover Steel Trailers • New and Used Trucks/Trailers Available at All Times Call Tony:
(561) 793-6422 or 793-2012
DON’T MISS A GAME
Livestreaming on uspolo.org