January 2017 Polo Players' Edition

J A N U A R Y 2 01 7

Rocking P Lockton rocks in U.S. Women’s Open $5.00 US/$5.50 Canada

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

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CONTENTS JA N UA R Y 201 7

VOL. 20,

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

28 Power play

6 Association news 12 Instructors Forum

USPA BULLETIN

Rocking P Lockton dominates women’s Open

32 Win some, lose some by Ernesto Rodriguez

by Tom Goodspeed

14 Full Moon

Two favorites split in first two legs of Triple Crown

by Sam Morton

38 5 for 5 by Sharon Robb & Arianna Delin

16 Equine Athlete by John

USA remains undefeated in International Cup

18 22 24 40

J A N U A R Y 2 01 7

OUR COVER Hazel Jackson leads Rocking P Lockton in the final of the U.S. Women’s Open Photo by: Kaylee Wroe

Rocking P Lockton rocks in U.S. Women’s Open $5.00 US/$5.50 Canada

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

NO. 5

Chambers

Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas

by Ernesto Rodriguez

42 Global 59 Calendar/ Marketplace 60 Yesteryears POLO REPORT

46 Tournament results

Young Guns out shoot rivals in annual Hering Cup

OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.

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THE

OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

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

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©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.

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VOL. 20, No.5 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).

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

From CEO Duncan Huyler Membership in the USPA continues to grow. We crossed the 5,000 member threshold two months earlier than last year and should end the year with nearly 5,500 members. Of these, nearly 1,300 are under the age of 21 and over 2,000 are female, demonstrating the growing diversity and youth of our sport. The social non-playing member category accounts for only about 200 of the total membership. We have reinstated the accidental death and dismemberment and excess medical benefit to go along with excess liability, Polo Plus, and Polo Players’ Edition as well as a discount on U.S. Polo Assn. branded apparel and accessories in the United States. We encourage you to renew your 2017 membership online now.

We relaunched our weekly communications to the membership called “This Week in Polo.” It now includes more news and information, from more sources, along with a featured club section. The staff has worked tirelessly to make the website more engaging, interesting, informative, pertinent and timely with all of the information our membership and polo community demands.

The USPA’s commitment to youth polo as a foundation for the future growth and sustainability of the sport has never been greater. In only the fourth year of the program, nearly 400 youth from across the country were on the rosters in the over 30 National Youth Tournament Series tournaments in 2016. Myopia Polo Club—one of the most historic venues in the United States—hosted the finals over Labor Day weekend adding to the prestige of the event.

The number of interscholastic varsity letter recipients doubled to nearly 90 in the second year of the program.

Furthermore, for the second year, six additional scholarships were awarded to student-athletes who play on an

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

intercollegiate polo team which will result in $100,000 of annual scholarships over the next two years. The Middle School League, which started in 2014, added the Aiken, Country Farms, Darlington and Northwest Arkansas Polo Clubs as hosts with a total of 125 players competing in the tournaments.

Safety continues to be a focus of the association. The USPA recently released a study from Southern Impact Labs in Tennessee on all the commercially available helmets with three point harnesses, readily providing the information to the polo community. We are taking steps to make helmets obtainable that surpass the NOCSAE standard that was adopted by the USPA. For the first time, we are including concussion protocols, heat index charts and equine body condition scoring sheets in the annual rulebook. Background checks are now required of any person— volunteer or staff—who interact with the youth of our sport.

Nearly 60 Polo Development player clinics were provided at no charge to member clubs. A continued commitment to supporting our clubs includes a large increase in the Polo Development Initiative funds available to help grow and sustain clubs across the country.

Similarly, the Umpires, LLC provided umpires at no cost to the clubs for hundreds of games this year. Over 300 USPA tournaments were played across the country in 2016—another all-time high.

I encourage you to contact the USPA staff—all of who are listed on our website: uspolo.org—with any comments, questions, or concerns.

Townsend Cup The Townsend Cup, in which teams from England and America have been competing since 1928, will take place at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 14-15.

Encompassing over 74 acres at WestWorld of Scottsdale, Barrett-Jackson is attended by over 350,000 people per year and routinely sells over $100 million in collector cars. Within the facilities used by Barrett-Jackson is the Equidome, a top indoor equestrian arena with seating for 4,000 spectators.

Leading the American squad will be the country’s only 10-goal arena player, Tommy Biddle Jr. One of the biggest hitters in the sport, Biddle will be joined

by Shane Rice and Team USPA member Jared Sheldon. Crossing the pond for the United Kingdom is their own 10-goaler, Chris Hyde, along with Max Charlton and Ed Banner-Eve. Tickets may be purchased for the individual games January 14 and January 15 for $20 ($17 in advance). Tickets for VIP seating in the first two rows or in sections mid-arena cost $50. Both options can be purchased at Barrett-Jackson.com.

Team USPA women parade during the opening ceremonies in India in 2016.

USPA Tournaments for 2017

International Polo News

International Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club: In the Fifth Annual International Cup held in November at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, Team USA’s Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan and Julio Arellano defeated Uruguay 6-3.

All Pro Polo League Argentina: This fall, the All Pro Polo League, an association formed with the aim to organize entirely professional polo tournaments around the world, fielded a tournament series over three weekends in Pilar, Argentina. Many Team USPA players, with support from the United States Polo Association and Team USPA, participated in the league, including Geronimo Obregon, Jake and Russell Stimmel and Felipe Viana.

TERESA ZUBERBUHLER/ALL PRO POLO LEAGUE

Men’s Team USA in Manipur: In November 2016, The USPA International Committee sent a men’s team, comprised of Lucas Reid, Loreto Natividad, George Krabbe and Ryan Cronin-Prather, to Imphal, Manipur, India, to compete in the 10th Manipur International Invitational.

Team USA lost in the semifinal game securing third place in the tournament.

Team USPA women in Manipur: This month, Team USPA and the USPA International Committee will once again be sending a Team USPA women’s team, comprised of Audry Persano, Carly Persano, Anna Winslow and Stephanie Massey, to Imphal, Manipur, India, to compete and conduct clinics with local women players.

Now is the time to plan for 2017 USPA tournaments at your club. We encourage you to submit your application(s) as soon as possible, and no less than one month prior to the event for processing and approval and to ensure timely delivery of awards.

Download tournament applications at uspolo.org by going to the “Association” tab, then clicking on “Programs” and scrolling down to the “Forms and Documents” section. Applications may be emailed to tournaments@uspolo.org or faxed to (888) 391-7410.

The USPA offers several benefits for hosting a USPA tournament: • Awards provided for circuit and national tournaments • Promotional assistance provided through electronic mail, web and social media • Umpire reimbursement through USPA Umpires, LLC. For more information, contact Maggie Mitchell, umpire manager at mmitchell@uspolo.org.

• Published results in USPA Bluebook • Arena Incentive Program for select USPA arena events Any questions regarding the tournament process or mission of the Tournament Committee may be directed to Lindsey Ebersbach, tournament administrator at lebersbach@uspolo.org.

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 horse during a USPA event to wear a helmet. This new rule went into effect beginning January 1, 2017.

Team USPA member Felipe Viana leads the pack on a breakaway to goal in the All Pro Polo League Argentina.

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

Kris Bowman and David Ragland present David Brooks and Dan Keating with the inaugural IMF Wall of Fame Award for their commitment to the future of the sport.

Wall of Fame at IMF Kicking off a new tradition at this year’s Instructor Manager Forum, Kris Bowman and David Ragland presented the inaugural IMF Wall of Fame Award to two individuals who have exhibited a commitment to the future of the sport through give-back to the polo community on a local and national scale by volunteering their time and efforts.

David Brooks (Triangle Area Polo ClubHurdle Mills, North Carolina) and Dan Keating (Newport Polo Club- Newport, Rhode Island) have both attended IMF for multiple years and have made presentations at the event, sharing their experiences and successes with the group. Congratulations to both David Brooks and Dan Keating.

Team USPA Recap Team USPA players have been busy successfully winning tournaments, becoming certified instructors and teaching YPO clinics in Houston, Aiken, Florida, Argentina and beyond. Congratulations to Jared Sheldon, Jesse Bray, Connor Deal, Kylie Sheehan, Pedro Lara, Wesley Finlayson, Steve Krueger, Herndon Radcliff, Nick Johnson, Remy Du Celliee Muller and 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Audry Persano for their tournament final wins, MVP and Best Playing Pony awards.

In addition, we look forward to the progress of 15 Team USPA members who have been training and competing in Argentina this season, alongside many talented mentors. And we are proud to mention Branden Van Loon and Jorge Estrada both became USPA certified polo instructors. Finally, we would like to thank Connor Deal, Anna Winslow, Kylie Sheehan and Gates Gridley for helping Team USPA host an intensive Young Player Outreach clinic in Aiken, South Carolina, which was a huge success.

Five New CPI Instructors The Certified Polo Instructor Program is proud to welcome five new instructors into the program. Max Secunda of Vero Beach, Florida; Molly Musselman of Midland, Texas; Jeff Scheraga of Menlo Park, California; Jenny Schwartz of Poolesville, Maryland; and Stuart Campbell of Tallahassee, Florida. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments. The last Certification Field Test of 2016 took place in Aiken, South Carolina in late November.

For more information about how to become a certified polo instructor please contact Jess Downey, jdowney@uspolo.org.

College Polo 101 - On the Road USPA I/I staff and contract clinicians have been busy hitting the road this fall and conducting onsite consultations with our intercollegiate polo programs. Thank you to officials at Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M University, University of Texas, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, Emory University and Alfred State College for showing us around.

2017 I/I Score Board Keep up-to-date with your favorite team’s regular season game results and regional standings! The score board, as well as the 2017 I/I tournament schedule, can be found on the I/I pages on the USPA website: uspolo.org. (continued on page 10)

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

(continued from page 8)

Instructors-Managers Forum The picturesque Tonkawa Farm serves as a beautiful backdrop for the Instructors-Managers Forum, powered by USPA Polo Development, which is held there annually in November each year. Over 50 polo industry professionals flock to Houston for this event, where they have the opportunity to share ideas that work for a career in polo, network with their peers, and share in the oral tradition of the sport through lectures, breakout sessions, and interactive teaching. This year’s

Oklahoma City Polo Club’s David Ragland, Devan Groves and Espanta Steppe attended.

from Adam Rieck of Addison Law who spoke about creating a strong membership base from the legal perspective, to Melanja Jones of the Santa Barbara Polo Club who provided insight on the hot-button issue of managing member dynamics at your club.

The various presenters shared their tips and professional knowledge on their topic, candidly answering questions from the group. After wrapping up their presentations, the various presenters were quickly asked to join a continued conversation over lunch or dinner with those interested in learning more.

The formalized learning that happens

Dan Keating answers a question during the panel discussion on club management.

Triangle Area Polo Club’s David Brooks has attended several Instructors-Managers Forums.

attendees represented a cross section of polo from across the country, from graduates of the I/I program to club managers of small and large clubs, and even two U.S. Open winners were in attendance: Tiger Kneece (Aspen Polo ’94) and Martin Estrada (Isla Carroll ’97). Everyone was there for the same reason, to share resources about the sport and gain something to take home to their club.

With the underlying theme “sharing ideas that work” carrying through each presentation, individual presenters tailored their talks to share something unique with the group. Seminars ranged 10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

David Brooks leads a break-out session on building a business plan.

Participants in the 2016 Instructors-Managers Forum held at Tonkawa Farm in Houston, Texas in November. Over 50 polo professionals attended.

at IMF is an invaluable resource to the polo community, but even more important are these side conversations that spring up during breaks or after the day is over.

These small, occasionally one-on-one chats, spring up much like conversations used to in the barns or on the sidelines.

of notes, but were just a small family-run operation. They had a few horses and a small field from a brief foray into polocrosse and a good network of clients in North Carolina, but no one was a polo player. David and Leslie didn’t worry too much as they returned to polo. They start-

Certified polo instructor Jennifer Williams leads an interactive teaching group.

Conversations might start about how two clubs structure their polo schools, but will end up discussing how to plan an interclub trip to encourage new players to stepup and play in their first tournament.

When David Brooks left his first IMF, he and his wife Leslie had pages and pages

ed by forming an interscholastic team and teaching lessons. Quickly, David was working old contacts to get back into the sport, traveling to Aiken and Atlanta for polo whenever he could convince Leslie to make the trip. Over the last five years, David created a business plan and set clear

targets and benchmarks to help him work toward his goal. He incorporated resources from Club Development into his business plan, he applied for a PDI award for his club, returned to IMF whenever possible, became one of the USPA’s first certified polo instructors and continued to coach youth polo, bringing new players into his club. This year David returned to IMF as a presenter, where he shared how he created his business plan and continues to use it to keep his club on track. Today Triangle Area Polo Club has over 25 members and is continuing to see growth.

David’s story is one of many at IMF. Everyone there is somewhere along the path to sustainability. It doesn’t matter if you are talking with Emmalyn Wheaton, Tiger Kneece or Megan Flynn, they are all looking for a way to grow their club and make polo part of the future for their community. The environment created at IMF encourages conversations between everyone in the room whether they are an accomplished polo professional, a young manager at their first job, or an instructor trying to learn new tricks. Everyone has something to offer and everyone has the chance to take something away. The closeness that is created at IMF would take years to build and can lead to many things; for some it may be a job in the polo community, while others may find a mentor. Each year, at the end of the event, everyone is eager to return home and test out new ideas, trying to make polo better at their home club.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11

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TEAM SPIRIT Getting the most out of your teammates begins with being a better teammate

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olo is a team sport, which requires the cooperation and skill of all of a team’s players. Rarely is a team successful when it becomes a one-man show. When putting together a team, it is helpful to find players that will compliment one another, with a good mix of offense and defense.

Teams often have one stronger player to act as a captain. Players have asked me how a captain can get the most out of his teammates. Many players focus on the performance of those around them, while often overlooking their own lack of performance.

Expectations of your teammates’ performance should be within their ability levels. One of my favorite learning experiences came from a teammate handicapped at minus-1. I was rated at 5 goals at the time. I was trying to get a level of performance from the player that he was not yet capable of and I wasn’t doing it in a very respectable fashion.

The player finally turned to me and said, “Goodspeed, I am playing my handicap, why don’t you start playing yours.” His words were spot on. That day made it clear to me that actually being a good teammate might be the best way of getting more from your teammates. A great slogan often used, but seldom practiced is to lead by example.

A great team is one with a “playing handicap” greater than the sum of the actual individual handicaps. The players’ handicap on paper may add up to 14 goals, but a great 14-goal team performs more like a 16-goal team. I am not referring to teams with one or more players playing well above their handicap, more commonly known as ringers. I am referring to a team’s performance being 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

greater due to teamwork. A good captain will work to his teammates strengths, allowing them to play better.

So, how do you get the most out of your teammates? Properly assess ability and mounts when determining player assignments and team strategy. It is not very realistic to have a poorly-mounted 3goal player trying to mark a well-mounted 6-goal player. Determine if the team has the ability and mounts to speed the game up or if it is to your advantage to slow things down. What of your opponents?

If your No. 2 doesn’t pass the ball and instead tries to run through on every play, the No. 1 is going to be left in front with nothing to do. Be sure your line-up allows the entire team to be useful. And don’t tell the No. 1 to stay with a certain player, then get upset they aren’t open for a pass.

Identify what style of communication your teammates are most comfortable with. Some like constant direction, where others would prefer to keep it between chukkers. Most players prefer feedback in a more private setting, one-on-one, as opposed to in front of the entire field.

Most are not going to mind higher volumes as long as you are delivering positive information not packaged with unnecessary remarks.

It might sounds like a no-brainer when sitting around discussing it calmly, but is not so easy when running around the field at full throttle. The very reason polo was used as officer training in our military, was because of this very challenging mix of intensity and respectful, effective behavior. The military found polo was about as close as you could get to re-creating the emotions found on the field of battle without actually shooting someone.

It is so important as a team leader to

know what kind of motivation works and what doesn’t with the individuals around you. The trick is knowing who needs to get psyched up and who needs to be left alone in achieving his highest level of performance.

It is probably a good strategy for all of us to work on both more respectful behavior as well as understanding disrespectful behavior from others. There is no excuse for disrespectful behavior, but it is also important that our own performance should not be tagged to someone else’s behavior. Great athletes can perform and stay focused in the face of disrespectful behavior.

Stay focused on the remaining time of play and do not spend too much time discussing mistakes unless the purpose is to keep them from continuing to happen in the current game. Use the “next play” mantra a great deal, meaning don’t over think a mistake and instead focus on the next play. If you are in a league or tournament, supplement lessons and stick-and-ball sessions to help with individual or team weaknesses that may be improved upon or corrected to increase the chances of your team’s success. Video review is an awesome tool and is not used as often as it should be.

Slow-motion playback in this day and age is stellar.

Coordinate each other’s horse line-ups so you can balance the players’ strings before a game. If one player is on a slow horse for a certain chukker, the other players may want to play their faster horses that chukker. By coordinating the teams horses, you will likely prevent all the players from being on their weakest horses in the same chukker. Too many teams miss the opportunity to share each other’s individual pony line-ups and try to

balance their strings before a game.

So, how can you be a better teammate?

Work just as hard for your teammates as you do for yourself. Try to clear an opponent from getting to your teammate when possible as just one example. Work even harder when you aren’t on the ball to stay in proper position for the developing play. If you are playing the No. 1 position for example, your primary job is to stop the opposing No. 4 from getting to a back shot.

If you are always working on getting a position of advantage on that No. 4 player and you are not allowing their back to turn the play, you are a great team player.

If you are also picking up some passes and scoring goals, that is icing on the cake. However, too many players do not recognize the value of a strong defensive performance. It may be the less-thanglamorous reason for the team’s actual win.

Another aspect not always expected of players is physical conditioning of the ponies and themselves. It is a real handicap to a team’s performance when not everyone is on the same page as to proper conditioning of the ponies and players. Strategy is wonderful, but implementation requires players and ponies to be at least as fit as the opponents. Obviously, the advantage is to be in better physical shape. The conditioning of both the two- and fourlegged athletes taking the field is a major factor in the winning formula.

Hit to your teammates’ advantage. Too many players just hit hard and expect their teammates to get to the play. Work on hitting more accurately to set up a higher probability of your teammate getting to a pass. Often the successful pass requires less distance and better angle. Placement is so much more important than just a big hit with little accuracy.

Know your teammates, their ponies, their abilities and their limitations. One of the reasons you see so many family

compositions on the great Argentine Open teams is the fact that they know each other so incredibly well.

In my better arena days, I had the gift of having Joe Henderson as my teammate. We used to practice a great deal with and against each other. We would also stick and ball a lot together and just practice passing to each other.

We became very familiar with each other’s abilities and even the nuances we both had when approaching a particular ball at whatever angle and that familiarity really translated well to our expectations of each other’s abilities and limitations on the field of play. We knew each other like brothers. Our expectations were very realistic.

Unrealistic expectations on the other hand are just that, unrealistic. Your movement on the field should be based on your teammates’ abilities as well as yours. In lower-goal play, I have heard some players tell teammates to stay too far out front on offense when no one on the team can even hit well enough to get it to them. On the other side of the coin, you will often see players in better polo being too close to teammates who can hit a consistent long ball and are always reacting to the shot instead of anticipating that long ball before the shot, whether it be a forehander or a backhander. Solid play anticipation is being better positioned than your opponent is before the ball is hit.

Always be aware of the location of the opponent you are marking. Before any ball is hit (or changes direction for any reason), make your first reaction be identifying the new line of the ball, the location of the nearest opponent to you as you adjust to the new play, the current right of way to the ball and who may already have established the ROW. Great team players are running through the various possible play scenarios based on the current position of the ball and the developing proximities of the players as they are moving around the

field. They run to a ball with that information already at hand. They run to where a ball is more likely to be rather than to where it was. They plot their course on the field taking in a number of variables including their ability, the horse they are on compared to their opponent, the hitting ability of the player approaching the ball and the options they have with respect to the positioning of their players and their teammates.

There are a multitude of variables developing while at top speed on the back of a horse. It is like a chess game being played while being tossed out of an airplane. You can’t come back to your next move tomorrow (boy wouldn’t that be a gift). Polo requires thinking on the run, literally. Wouldn’t it be great if you could stop the chukker, go to the strategy board or video review screen and discuss possible better play options that were available to you? Than you could choose the best one and hit reset and resume play with the best option discussed during the break, just like in video games. These are great teaching tools I have used, but unfortunately, they are not allowed in tournament play. While polo takes a lifetime to master, fortunately for all of us, it is a ton of fun to play right out of the box.

Team meetings, team practices, strategy sessions, and video reviews are all the foundation to improving team communication and performance in both preparation and during your tournaments and leagues.

Helping others play better together, as well as working on becoming a better team player are wonderful opportunities and gifts.

Tom Goodspeed is a renowned polo instructor, coach and horse trainer.

He achieved a 5-goal handicap outdoors and 9 in the arena. He can be reached at polotom@usapolo.com.

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GRACE UNDER PRESSURE It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game

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

But first let’s talk about the team; not the team that stands on the presentation stand, but the team that put them there.

Orchard Hill’s polo manager Chris Stratemann hails from San Antonio and rose to 4 goals playing with names like Evans, Barry and Gracida. His wife, Sonia runs a greyhound adoption program backed by Van Andel that places hundreds of dogs marked to be euthanized into loving homes. Sonia’s sister Rochelle has worked with Orchard Hill’s polo horses for over a decade and Lucas Criado has been a fixture on dozens of winning teams.

The facility of Orchard Hill is modestly beautiful compared to the ostentation of the show world. Using the natural beauty of south Florida, Orchard Hill is yards from a northern reserve of the everglades where alligators routinely migrate into the ponds and canals.

Don’t mistake that Orchard Hill isn’t a SHELLEY HEATLEY

efore the Florida high-goal season hits high gear, taking a look last year’s U.S. Open winner should give everyone a lesson in handling adversity.

You have heard it all before. Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.

Then there is good guys finish last, and I’ve been told sportsmanship awards are for losers. Well guess what? After an unblemished record of sportsmanship and under-the-radar appearances in the high goal, Steve Van Andel and his Orchard Hill team are U.S. Open champions. That in itself means something to every player and fan of polo, not because of the win but because of the way he did it.

Steve Van Andel has been an example of grace under pressure through two decades of competing in the best polo the United States has to offer. He is a quiet, unassuming man whose reticence causes him to request not to compete on the Sunday field unless he gets to the final.

In a sport where teams historically demand exposure on the stadium field in front of the Sunday crowd, Van Andel politely declines when it is Orchard Hill’s turn.

Then there’s the fact that he never protests umpires’ calls or leads his team off the field that has somehow become the norm. As the team patron he fines his players for drawing unsportsmanlike conduct or technical fouls. The offending teammate must buy dinner for the entire team at a restaurant chosen by Steve’s wife, Amy. One player, who shall remain nameless but his initials are Lucas Criado, has served more meals than Ronald McDonald or a homeless shelter at Thanksgiving.

Whether he wins or loses, Orchard Hill’s Steve Van Andel is always gracious and a true sportsman.

winning organization. They have reached the final of the U.S. Open five times during the tournament’s most competitive era in 100 years; competitive because there are more teams, with better players riding better horses than any time in history. Unfortunately, since the Open moved to Florida, everything is judged by how many Opens you win, and up to last year Orchard Hill had lost four.

Since the time Van Andel first began playing in the high goal, the U.S. Open final has been played in three different locations; Palm Beach Polo, Royal Palm Polo and International Polo. In that time Orchard Hill has suffered a series of near misses and out-and-out bad luck.

Orchard Hill first reached the title game in 2001 but Van Andel was injured in a fall and had to watch Orchard Hill lose to an Adolfo Cambiaso-led Outback 14-12. Remarkably, the next year they again clawed their way past 11 other teams to the final but lost to Coca Cola 13-10. From here the bottom fell out with a 14-game losing streak in the Open until 2006 when they again reached the final but lost to Las Monjitas 12-6. Three final appearances in six years was impressive.

Never mind some teams play for a decade and never reach the final game, but being that close had to wear on Van Andel.

It would be nine years before Orchard Hill would return to the final, but in 2015 they rolled up the competition, won the C.V.Whitney and marched into the final of the Gold Cup. By now Orchard Hill had begun to win over fans with something money or talent can’t provide.

It was an appreciation for a competitor that year after year had displayed a level of dignity through all types of scenarios.

This Orchard Hill team was showing the greatest dominance in its 19-year history.

SHELLEY HEATLEY

An overtime loss in the Gold Cup final seemed more of a temporary setback than a meltdown. Regrouping, the team reached the final of the Open and now it seemed their time. Just as the Orchard Hill fans began to believe, the unbelievable happened. Leading by two goals with just over two minutes left, they drew a Penalty 1, meaning the umpires awarded their opponent a goal followed by a throw-in 30-yards in front of their goal mouth. In seven short seconds the game was tied. As time wound down the team committed a Penalty 2 and Orchard Hill had lost its fifth Open final.

The crowd was in shock and it left everyone feeling they had witnessed a snake-bit team. But Van Andel always gracious in defeat, stayed the course and the next year they made a run to reach the final one more time.

With the core of the team back in 2016, Orchard Hill lost its two best players in the Gold Cup—Polito Pieres with a separated shoulder and Facundo Pieres to a fractured index finger. Lucas Criado stepped in and got the save.

Facundo toed his stirrup playing hurt and with Polito’s substitute won an overtime game in the Open semis to send Van Adel to his fifth championship game.

This time, the crowd, hoping but not convinced, held its breath as the game

entered sudden death overtime. If there was a hint of a curse on this team then, Facundo Pieres’ shattered mallet during the crucial overtime play verified it.

To say the crowd held its breath was an understatement. It is not that they were rooting against Dubai, on the contrary.

But everyone there who had ever been fed at an Orchard Hill barbecue or received a phone call two weeks after they had worked there to make sure they got paid or witnessed 20 years of sportsmanship by the Michigan native was praying. And then it happened. The ball bounced out of play giving Pieres time to grab another mallet and moments later, he fired the winning shot that released a roar from the crowd, which spilled into a celebration. Orchard Hill had won the Open.

True to form the first comments from Steve Van Andel were compassion for teammate Polito Pieres who had missed out because of his injury. I have a friend who got caught up in the crowd and went to the Mallet Grill after the game. She trains Quarter Horses, is a casual fan and knew nothing of the players or the trials of Orchard Hill. Her observation summed it up perfectly.

“These young kids walked in and everybody started cheering. I saw they must be the winning team but even when

The Orchard Hill team, support staff, family and friends celebrate the 2016 U.S. Open victory.

they were inside the crowd wouldn’t stop cheering. Then this tall guy came in and the place broke into pandemonium. Two girls next to that me seemed to know who he was had tears in their eyes. This guy looked like he was 6-foot-6. I tried to ask someone who he was but you couldn’t hear yourself think. They all seemed to love him.”

The meaning of those cheers, I told her later, were not about a polo victory but the celebrations of the four corners of sportsmanship; try, class, dignity and humility. All over a 20-year span. Now when you see the Orchard Hill jersey displayed in the Seventh Chukker at International Polo Club, or Orchard Hill’s exhibit in the Polo Hall of Fame you know there is character behind it all.

As the eloquent 20th-century sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote; For when the One Great Scorer comes To write against your name, He marks—not that you won or lost—But how u you played the game.

Sam Morton is the author of “Where the Rivers Run North,” “The Land of the Horse” and his new book, “The Winged Spur” will be released in may.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15

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CINDERELLA STORY The pretty little gray mare from the killer pen

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t was in October when I went to the horse sale in New Holland, Pennsylvania with my friend, Herb Adler.

Horses in the killer pen are considered worthless and are going to slaughter. At the New Holland sales barn, the very far back pen is for killer horses. This day it was filled with a bunch of horses; stallions, mares and colts. It was a particularly wild bunch kicking and fighting.

I saw a gray mare in there that I thought I might be interested in.

Although she was pretty poor, I could see with some TLC she had potential to be a pretty little mare. I inquired and found out that Peter Preston from Virginia had brought her in. It turned out, he had brought in the whole lot of horses in that pen and sold them privately to Frank Carper. I asked Peter what he could tell me about that gray mare. He scoffed, “You don’t want her. She’s just a nothing broodmare. You cant even tie her up.” He added that there was a 3-year-old filly in the pen that was hers. I could see the filly had a bad front foot and was probably why the mare was deemed unsuitable as a broodmare. But, I still wanted that mare.

I offered Frank $50 profit on the mare. He was willing to let her go for that, so I paid him $600, and the mare was mine. Eyeing that wild bunch of horses in the pen, my friend Herb cautioned, “Don’t go in that pen. Those horses will kill you.” He insisted, “John, you’re crazy.

You’ll never be able to catch her.” I figure Herb didn’t know this cowboy that well.

Growing up working at my dad’s livestock auction, D.R. Chambers & Sons, and now running it myself as principle owner, I 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

knew a thing or two about catching a penned horse. Besides, there was something about this mare that told me she was special and worth the effort.

I grabbed a nylon halter with an attached lead rope behind the back seat of my truck. All the while Herb was still warning me to be careful and that ratty little mare wasn’t worth getting killed for.

I said, “Herby, just watch. I’ll catch her.”

So I climbed up on the fence near her, looped the lead rope around her neck and slipped the halter on her head. While I had a hold of her head I did a quick check of her mouth to determine her age and was rewarded with a very pleasant surprise. She had a tattoo on her lip. Only registered Thoroughbred horses who have raced on the track are tattooed. It meant this mare was broke to ride. It also meant I had a piece of information that I could use to my advantage to have a little fun with my friend Herb. So I didn’t mention it. I climbed back down the fence and led her to the gate from the outside of the pen and she walked right out. I never even had to go in the pen.

When I got her out of the pen, I could see on Herb’s face that he was impressed I had caught her and led her out just like that. But, what I did next really made his eyes pop out of his head. I looped the lead rope over her neck. Herb could see I was getting ready to ride her bareback in just a halter and he really started to protest.

“John, don’t be a crazy fool.”

Ignoring him, I hopped on her back and rode her up and down the alley way. The stunned look on Herb’s face already made the purchase of my gray mare worth it.

When I got off the mare, I walked her over to the manger and tied her up. Peter did not lie. She didn’t tie up.

But she had never been tied up in a nylon halter before. She fought and pulled back but that halter held. I loaded her on the truck, brought her home and when I tied her in a single tie stall that night she didn’t pull back and never did again. In one lesson she was broke to tie. That should have been a clue to just how smart my little gray mare was.

I immediately started riding her regularly. Right away I knew she was going to be something special. She had the softest mouth of any horse I ever rode. She was quick and super smart. I liked her so much. I decided right away that I’d keep her for one of my personal polo horses for the next summer.

In March, I got a call from George Oliver. At this time, in the early 1990s, he was about 80 years old, but at one time, he had been a 9-goal polo player and is enshrined in the Polo Hall of Fame. George grew up on a ranch in Salmon, Idaho. As a young man, he and his father raised horses to sell to the U.S. Calvary, and later, the New York City mounted police.

He would tell stories of how they would ride out and gather a hundred head of horse and drive them back to the ranch. The calvary was paying $160 a head for them. George found out that polo players would give $700 a head for green polo ponies. So George, of course, started picking out the best horses to sell as polo ponies. This set George on the path to becoming a renown polo player and polo pony buyer. But this did not come without some sacrifice. The polo players George was selling horses to soon recognized he was a skilled horseman and invited him to come play polo with them.

As the story has been told to me, George’s father was opposed to this and said he’d disown George if he left to play polo, which he did.

I knew George through Memo Gracida, then a 10-goal polo player and now a Hall of Famer as well, who was married to George’s daughter Mimi. George bought lots of green horses for Memo out of Bob Tate’s ranch in Wyoming. George would be a worthwhile customer to have. So when he called looking for a horse he could ride I told him about my pretty little gray mare because I wanted to develop a good impression with George.

I really didn’t want to sell my gray

mare, but I knew if he liked her I’d have a good customer. After he heard about her, George said, “She sounds just like what I would like. I’ll give you $3,500 for her.” At that time, that was a pretty good profit so I agreed to sell her. George said, I’ve got a truck in Saratoga. I’ll send it to pick her up. I don’t know how that truck got here so fast. It must have been already on its way. In a few hours I loaded my pretty gray mare onto his truck and pocketed a hefty profit from my killer pen rescue.

At this point, I thought this was the end of the pretty little gray mare story, but two days later I got a phone call from George. He was so pleased with her he said, “This gray mare is the best green horse I’ve ever ridden.” That’s high praise coming from George Oliver. He called back later to report that within 30 days Memo was already riding her in 26-goal polo matches. George said, “We don’t know how good this mare will be. Every time we ride her she just gets better.”

In another month, George called with his last report on the pretty little gray mare that I bought from the killer pen for $600. “John, I just sold that gray mare to go play polo in England.” I asked, “What did you get for her, $25,000?” He responded, “More.”

About the author: John Chambers was born into the horse industry. His father, David R. Chambers, bought the Unadilla livestock auction in 1937, the year John was born. His mother would tell stories of John lassoing furniture and interrupting her multiple times a day to go out and bridle his pony, Pet, for him to ride as young as 3 years old.

Although he played polo for many years, John and those who knew him would consider him to be truly a cowboy and a horseman of many talents. In his youth, the auction sold cattle every Saturday and horses every second and fourth Friday of the month. His horses were always highly versatile. They were used to round up and rope wild cattle in connection with the auction, win many trophies at local horse shows and fairs, and then were hitched to the manure spreader to clean stables. His father was especially involved in Standardbred horse racing and breeding. As a result, John was also involved in breeding and training trotters and pacers and was a skilled harness horse driver. He got into polo because his younger brother, Dale, played in college at Cornell university. He recognized it as a good way to turn a profit on his highlytrained horses, and loved playing the sport.

Another younger brother introduced him to team penning in the early 2000s.

He embraced it with a passion as it embodied both his horse and cattle skills and he has a collection of trophy saddles and buckles to show for it. On top of winning many East Coast competitions, he has had success in Arizona where he now winters in January and February and is fondly called the New York State cowboy.

Today, at the age of 79, John continues to buy and sell horses and auctioneer at his bi-weekly horse auctions and weekly cattle sales. During the winter months of September and October he has established a tradition of Sunday morning trail rides from his farm to breakfast at the Unadilla Rod-n-Gun club.

This popular event has grown to have as many as 50-60 riders.

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

POLO SCENE N E W S

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HIGH HONORS

Players recognized with USPA awards

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HE UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION recently presented the 2016 George S. Patton Jr. award to Maj. Mark Gillespie (USA, Ret.) in appreciation of his work that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in creating opportunities for military members and their families to become involved in the sport of polo.

Mark began polo in graduate school at Yale in 1983. In his next assignment in Washington, D.C., Mark organized numerous clinics in the area to teach military personnel and their family Maj. Mark Gillespie members. He organized international military polo matches between local foreign military polo players drawn mainly from Washington’s Diplomatic Corps and local U.S. military polo players, and organized the international military polo match between the U.S. and the United Kingdom in the Washington, D.C. metro area that year, making arrangements for U.S. military players stationed in South Korea, New Mexico and California to come to D.C. to participate. Mark then formed the U.S. Military Polo Association to support and further military polo exchanges and to support training of military polo players. He was elected the president of the association and remained so until his retirement from active duty in June 1997.

In addition, Mark organized the annual Military Appreciation Night, which first began in 1994 at the Great Meadow Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia, and numerous others in the greater Washington, D.C. area. He also actively organizes and participates in charity matches to raise funds in support of the military community such as the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon’s Equine Assisted Programs, which provide equine therapy for wounded veterans. He is currently supporting the efforts of a non-profit organization to create a revised form of polo for wounded veterans.

Maj. Gillespie has served as USPA delegate and president of the Army Polo Club since 1998. He has been a member of the Armed Forces Committee since its inception and

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

currently serves as the committee’s cochairman. He was responsible for starting the Army Polo Team in 1994, and leads the team to this day. Mark is also a member of the USPA’s International Committee and its Arena Committee where he continually seeks opportunities to promote military polo events.

In other news, the USPA Florida’s circuit recently honored Peter Rizzo and James “Roper” Morrow for outstanding contributions to the sport.

Morrow of Sarasota Polo Club was honored with the circuit’s Clint Nangle Equine Welfare Award. The honor is awarded by the USPA to a recipient who has James “Roper” Morrow demonstrated excellence in the field of equine welfare.

Morrow, a longtime horseman, is well-known for his passion for horses. He has been a longtime trainer for James Uihlein and his family for more than four decades.

“I’ve been very fortunate to do this,” Morrow said. “I have gotten to watch ponies thrive. It’s like watching a kid progress as they get a little older and mature. It’s rewarding to me to see them go to the highest possible level.”

Rizzo, former CEO of the USPA and a member of Palm City Polo Club, has been a tireless supporter of polo, overseeing the sport’s growth when he worked with the USPA. An avid polo player, he was 4 goals at the peak of his playing career.

Joey Casey who owns and operates Palm City Polo said, “He is big on the heritage of the game, both past and the future. He wants to preserve the integrity of the game as well as its history. ... He is a Peter Rizzo great asset to the sport.”

TIME TO CELEBRATE

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Club raises six figures for charity

LAYERS FROM ACROSS the Great Plains circuit gathered in Goshen, Arkansas this fall, lending their time and talent to play in a charity match benefiting Lifestyles Inc., which helps individuals with disabilities in Northwest Arkansas to live successfully in the community. It was also a great way to celebrate the 27th year of polo in the Ozarks.

The event is held at the Buell Farm and included Walmart and Wells Fargo as team sponsors with local Umpires Doug Brunet and John Govrik flank the winners including (left to right) Bob Koehler, Phillipe NWA Polo Club as a tailgate sponsor. An estimated Nunez, MVP Brian Buell and Kevin Gardner.

1,200 people attended the event, which raised approximately $110,000.

The match was tied 4-4 at the end of the fourth chukker. The players elected for a shoot-out to settle the tie and event creator Dr. Brian Buell scored the winning goal. Robson Macartney, a Cave Springs, Arkansas resident and a senior at Culver Academies as well as its polo team captain was the youngest player on the field at 17.

Greg Summers’ Isabella was awarded Best Playing Pony and Buell received MVP. In other circuit news, Northwest Arkansas Polo Club, one of the newest clubs to join the Great Plains circuit, Dragonfly’s Alexandra Hissom Buell, Tina Natorp combined its annual Chix with Stix Women’s Arena and Anne Branscum won the women’s flight.

Challenge with a middle school event with promising results.

Four teams entered the women’s flight including two collegiate teams, Oklahoma State University and Southern Methodist University. Seven youth entered including four players from the Bentonville, Arkansas area with three players traveling from St. Louis and Oklahoma City.

Dragon Fly, with Anne Branscum and Tina Natorp from St. Louis with local resident Alexandra Hissom Buell, won in a shoot out over OSU 15-14 in the women’s division. Natorp’s gelding Cowboy received Best Playing Pony.

NWA youth players Alex Swope Bell, Jordan Cook and St. Louis’ Winifred Branscum won the youth event over Jose Tadeo, Emma Johnson, Marguerite Johnson and Jaden Porter. Porter’s gelding Britain received Best Playing Pony.

Visit Bentonville supported the event with a $1,000 grant and players were treated to a VIP reception at the impressive Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The event also raised $1,700 for Saving Grace, a local nonprofit that helps young women transition Jordan Cook, Winifred Branscum, Alyx Swope-Bell, out of foster care.

Marguerite Johnson, Jaden Porter, Emma Johnson and —Susan Koehler Jose Tadeo competed in the middle school event.

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

SILVER SEASON

Newport

Rhode Island club celebrates its 25th year

Polo, home of the Westchester Polo Club, Howe and Stefanie Boyer tied for the 2016 Sportsmanship celebrated the conclusion of its 25th anniversary season on Award. Nearly a dozen mustache-clad nominees in each November 1 and recognized honorees category were on hand in anticipation, with special awards. until the winners were announced.

Glasses were raised in appreciation Captain Dan Keating expressed of its 2016 sponsors including NBC10, unanimous appreciation to polo BMW Centers of RI, ALEX AND ANI; manager Dave Markell for his 13th Cox, Newport Daily News, Veuve season with the club.

Clicquot Champagne, Vanderbilt The presentation culminated in an International Properties, Forty 1° induction into the Newport Polo Hall North; Hyatt Regency Newport, Hotel of Fame: none more deserving than Viking, NAVSTA Newport, RISD, the beloved voice of Newport Polo, Stella Artois, Rockstar Limo, Clarke commentator William Crisp, who has Cooke House, Lufthansa, Shreve been part of the polo series since its Crump & Low, Atria, Greengear inaugural year, captaining the first Global, WaterRower and McGrath English team in 1992, and then Clambakes. becoming a U.S. citizen and playing Shiney 25th anniversary medallions for USA, then serving as polo series were presented to the private lodging umpire until starting his assent in hosts of international teams.

2006 as the legendary commentator, Heather Souto was voted as Most Improved Player by her peers.

International Polo Charity Ball arguably one of the best in the world ovations were expressed to 2016 Gala today. During his address, Keating Ambassadors Heather and Roger Souto and newportFILM explained, “William has been instrumental in advancing founder and artistic director Andrea van Beuren, and to the the sport of polo, even more so in his career as a auction committee members present, commentator and soon to be published Lynn Kaye, Stacie Mills, Ann Clemens author.” and Agnes Keating for their time and The Newport Polo Hall of Fame was energy in supporting beneficiary officially inaugurated in August 2016, newportFILM, and to all 400-plus with the retirement of legendary generous attendees this year, without mount, Ginger, a 27-year-old whom the results would not have been Thoroughbred owned by Dan Keating so successful. and ridden by most of the club’s Also acknowledged were the 2016 members as they learned to play, and Best Playing Ponies: Persia loaned to favored among international teams as Mexico and Jamaica; Skyfall loaned to the most-named Best Playing Pony.

Australia; Missy loaned to Italy; Raton Marking his 25-year milestone of loaned to Ireland; Jack loaned to contributions to the polo series and France; Negrita loaned to England; forthcoming book on polo and Arnold loaned to Morocco by commentating, Crisp was named as the Minnie and Dan Keating. first human inductee.

Presentations of this year's “The awards dinner is an manager Dave Markell presents Laurel Sportsmanship Award and Most Polo opportunity to express appreciation for Howe the Sportsmanship Award, an honor Improved Player Award were conveyed the leading figures that make the polo she shared with Stefanie Boyer. by previous recipients Sam Clemens series a great tradition,” said Newport and Alexander King. Chosen by their peers, the perpetual Polo president, Dan Keating. “After celebrating the trophies were awarded to Heather Souto, voted Most successful 25th anniversary season, plans are already Improved Player this season (also in 2009), while Laurel underway to make exciting improvements for 2017.”

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

Certified Equine Appraisals

TB MAKEOVER

Applications now open

Professionally certified equine valuations for:

RETIRED RACEHORSE Project has

Donations • Purchases • Sales Injury or death • Bankruptcys Disputes & litigation • Liquidations • Audits • Insurance • Fraud

opened applications for the 2017 $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover.

Approved trainers will acquire recently retired Thoroughbred racehorses and introduce them to second careers in one of several disciplines, most notably polo.

Horses and their trainers will compete for $100,000 in prize money and the title of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred on the first weekend of October at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Professional, amateur and junior trainers may apply whether they have acquired an eligible horse or not.

For complete rules and more information go to the website at: retiredracehorseproject.org.

Peter Rizzo, ASEA Certified Equine Appraiser 561.777.6448 or email: rizzo.poloworks@gmail.com

PARKER’S POLO MINUTE UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

BY PARKER SCOTT

There are eight swings in polo.

Practice all eight shots every time you stick and ball.

SanDiegoPolo@hotmail.com

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21

Taking it in Making the most of the Team USPA experience 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 Cornelia Henderson

Anna Winslow at Team USPA tryouts

“Team USPA has been great,” says Anna Winslow. “Without it, I’d have dropped out of polo after college. The networking … the ability to ask a mentor about horses, or strategy has been more than helpful. It’s a great resource.

“The biggest thing for me was the mentoring on the grass, I never had formal training on the grass; I knew enough to play, but the strategy wasn’t there.”

Part of Anna’s Team USPA experience was spending part of the past summer in Wyoming, working for Tom Gose, and playing with Team USPA. “I took my own horses to Sheridan,” 22 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

“The most valuable practices for me Anna says, “and it was pretty busy; I had were each week at Flying H,” Anna says. a full-time job with Tom, and even got to “There was no pressure, but it was polo play his horses in the 14 goal while he at a higher level … everybody was really was in Argentina.” supportive and helpful. Medium goal ‘Pretty busy’ is something of an was a big jump for some of us on Team understatement, says Tom: “Anna was a USPA, and the mentors really helped hard worker and after putting in a full during the practices.” day with me, she’d take care of her Anna’s polo career stretches back to horses before and after work. I’d be Garrison Forest and Cornell University, going to the house at the end of the day, and ask her where she was off to, and it was to ride her horses.”

The Sheridan Team USPA experience lasts seven weeks and is a full immersion in the polo experience, he adds.

“Team USPA really promotes a good work ethic, and gives young players a feeling for what it’s like to manage a barn, play as a pro or as a green horse trainer.

“Anna had an advantage that a lot of kids have coming out of the intercollegiate program in that she’s ridden a lot of different horses.

“Anna played green and young horses for me, and was able to take most of my practice chukkers in the 14 goal.”

Sheridan’s Team USPA program gets in a lot of polo for its participants, with 12to 14-goal games at Flying H and three practice games and a match game on Sundays at Hall of Famer Tommy Wayman offers Team USPA member Anna Winslow some tips in Wyoming this past summer.

Big Horn.

NANO’S POLO MALLETS

The 2016 Women’s NIC champions Cornell are Hannah Noyes, Claire Stieg, Emma Eldredge, Coach David Eldredge, Elena Wicker and Anna Winslow.

where she was twice a national intercollegiate champion and was named the Polo Training Foundation’s Women’s Intercollegiate Player of the Year in 2016.

Cornell coach David Eldredge recognized her promise early on, when he first met her while she was an underclassman at Garrison Forest, and told Garrison coach Cindy Halle, “She’s going to be special.”

And special she was. “Anna played in four national finals while she was at Cornell and won two of them,” David says. “She’s a good horsewoman, and a good player who can get the most out of the horse she’s riding.

“Anna has tremendous motivation and works hard at improving her game, and she’s good with the horses. It takes all of those things to be successful, and she is.”

Now graduated from college, Anna and her teammates Devin Cox and Posey Obrecht made it to the final of the National Women’s Arena tournament in Charlottesville this fall. “We lost by two goals,” Anna says, “but it was great fun playing with my friends from college.”

Anna is looking forward to the Women’s Polo Tour in India this January, with a 4-goal woman’s rating

(she is A on the grass and 1 goal in the arena). She will be joined by Carly and Audry Persano and Stephanie Massey, all Team USPA members.

A 2016 Cornell University graduate in economics and business/law in society, Anna enjoyed a six-month hiatus from the job search while she improved her polo skills. “I’m starting the job process, but I plan on keeping polo in my life—but as a pastime, not a career,” she says. “Horses are a passion for me, and I hope to continue doing something with the team, but I need to make some money somewhere!”

That ongoing involvement already includes a bit of coaching and umpiring in the arena, both at Garrison Forest and in the interscholastic tournaments. “I’m certified for outdoor polo umpiring and am going to get certified in the arena,” she says, “I enjoy helping when I can.”

Garrison coach Cindy Halle says the girls look up to Anna, and appreciate whatever time she has to spend with them. “Anna likes to give back,” says Cindy. “I’ve known her since she was a 7th grader, and she’s a natural at polo.”

Anna may not plan to make polo her full-time career, but it’s clear the sport will always be an important part of her life.

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Raise ‘em up Tournaments encourage friendly competition

BY EMILY DEWEY

F

or most middle school students, Saturday mornings are reserved for sleeping in, cartoons and weekend sports. Equipment is packed up, siblings are loaded into the car, and the family heads out to various types of fields and courts. In the last three years, polo arenas have been added to the list of weekend destinations for middle school competition.

In East Palestine, Ohio, Seth Goehring hops out of his dad’s truck with his best friend Ethan Seikel. They open up the tack room and walk to the back of the trailer to take control of horses coming off of the trailer. Seth’s dad, Rob Goehring, is a member of the Darlington Polo Club and an avid polo player.

“My introduction to polo came later in life,” explained the elder Goehring.

“Despite my late start in polo, I’ve

Ruby Decker, Taylor Olcott and Sara Espy play for Central Coast Polo Club in Los Osos, California.

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

Country Farms Green included Joseph Schwartz, Blake Boatswain, Haley Kriege and Mary Duncan. The team is located in Medford, New York.

EnviroScapes’ Aiden Meeker, Josh Escapite and Gracie Brown are from Aiken, South Carolina.

The Powers Polo School’s Grace Pritchard, Ben Crivella and Ella Watterson are from Darlington Polo Club in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Maryland’s Garrison Forest School’s Grizzlies’ Madison Jordan, Amelia Shaw and Georgia Schmidt. Emma McDonnell is not pictured.

Gardnertown’s Maegan Byrne, Robbie Neis, Winston Painter and Jack Whitman are from Newburgh, New York.

Rohan Sampath, coach Ted Torrey, Teghan Torrey and Vlad Tarashansky represent Glen Farms’ Green from Rhode Island.

enjoyed the sport immensely. My wife, daughter, and son look forward to the weekly Friday night games. It’s been great fun. My only regret is that I didn’t start playing this sport sooner.”

Seth won’t have the same regret. He and Ethan started taking lessons at the Powers Polo School in the summer of 2016. They joined five other middle school-aged students for weekly instruction on the rules and strategy of the game. To give her students a goal, instructor Juliette Powers scheduled a USPA I/I middle school tournament for the first weekend of October. The

tournament was the perfect carrot for the kids and the parents.

“I’ve seen many events like this in the POLO Players’ Edition magazine, but never imagined that my son and his friends would ever participate in one right in our own back yard, representing the Darlington Polo Club. I am so very impressed and grateful for the help and involvement of the USPA,” remarked Goehring.

Many middle school sporting events are a far cry from looking like the game at the high school and college levels.

Polo seems to be quite the opposite.

While Seth and Ethan’s team didn’t win their tournament final, the experience was a positive one.

“The Darlington Polo Club middle school tournament was awesome. The last two chukkers were like watching adults play,” Goehring observed. “All the parents and friends that were watching the polo match were standing on their feet cheering for every player that hit the ball, made a hook or rode off an opponent. I’ve never seen a more exciting end to a game, wow!”

In Newburgh, New York, a sibling rivalry is sparking in the Painter home.

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

Middle school action at Glen Farm in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Drumcliffe Gray’s Rory Knox, Grace Fleischmann and Catie Stueck won at Marlan Farms in Freeland, Maryland.

Elite Physical Therapy’s Isabella Stolley, Daniel Miranda and Maika Panzarini won in Maui, Hawaii.

Dragonfly’s Jordan Cook, Winifred Branscum and Alyx Swope-Bell won at the NWA Polo Club in Gravette, Arkansas.

Winston will age out of the middle school tournaments after this year, while sister Saralyn is gearing up for her first year of competition. For the Painters, the middle school tournaments aren’t just about the polo.

“Each year, Winston looks forward to seeing the friends that he made in the prior year’s tournament as well as meeting new friends and sharing his love of polo,” explained Winston and Saralyn’s dad, John. “The middle school tournament is a unique experience where players are both encouraging and supportive of each other as well as 26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

competitive and pushing each other to play their best polo.”

The newest tournament series in the I/I program is focused on allowing youth players a safe and fun avenue to experience tournament polo. By giving the youngest USPA members an avenue to compete against players of similar ability and age, the tournament series has continued to swell with participants.

For many, the middle school level is their first taste of tournament competition.

“In the same way that the middle school tournament inspired Winston as

he was learning polo, this year’s tournament was a formative experience for Saralyn and the highlight of her first year of learning to play polo,” commented Painter. “Having the middle school tournament as a clear goal to work towards motivated Saralyn to practice and focus on improving on her riding and polo skills.”

To create the best atmosphere for the young students, players from different clubs are mixed up as often as allows to form teams that are evenly matched.

Managers, umpires, and coaches are on board with the relaxed tournament

Middle school action at Glen Farm in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

atmosphere, and players have responded positively as well. The six-team middle school tournament at Gardnertown Polo Club is the largest tournament to date and the Painters were placed on different teams.

“For Saralyn, this year’s middle school tournament exceeded her expectations. She ended up playing against her brother in the final and the overall experience has made a lasting impression on her and her love for

Houston Middle School’s L.A. Waters Quarter Horses’ Laird Boone, Lillian Lequerica, Madison Outhier and Trenton Werntz won in Texas.

polo,” remarked Painter.

In Winston’s case, his last year in the middle school tournament competition didn’t disappoint. His team took home the top spot in the tournament and he was selected as a tournament All-Star by his peers.

“Winston has learned invaluable lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship through his experience in the middle school tournaments,” explained Painter.

“His middle school tournament experience has given him a great foundation and a leg up as he moves on to compete in the I/I polo season.”

If your young polo player will be in one of the fifth through eighth grades in the fall of 2017 and would like to participate in the middle school tournaments, watch for the middle school tournament schedule to come out this summer. If your club is interested in hosting a middle school tournament in 2017, contact Emily Dewey at edewey@uspolo.org.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27

Power play Rocking P Lockton dominates women’s Open Photos By Kaylee Wroe

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

ocking P Lockton, led by Hazel Jackson, crushed San Saba 9-2 in the final of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship held in November at Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas.

Over 70 women gathered at the Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas, November 813 to play in what has become the largest women’s tournament in the country, showcasing some of the best women’s polo talent in the world. The club offered four levels of women’s tournament polo including the Bayou Cup (0-2 Goal), Farish Invitational Cup (4-6 Goal), U.S. Open Women’s Handicap and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship.

The competitive week of polo included six teams from 20 to 26 goals (women’s handicap) battling for the title of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, with Rocking P Lockton (Athena Malin/ Courtney Price, Kristy Outhier, Hazel Jackson, Sarah Wiseman) taking on San Saba (Dawn Jones, Melissa Ganzi, Sunny Hale, Clarissa Echezarreta) in the final.

After a stop-and-go first few minutes of play, Hazel Jackson scored the first goal for Rocking P Lockton. Jackson was followed up a few minutes later by a Penalty 2 conversion by Kristy Outhier to give Rocking P Lockton an early two-goal lead.

Sunny Hale answered with a breakaway out of the throw-in, which was left behind for Dawn Jones. She sent the ball high and through the goal to put San Saba on the board. The 30-second horn blew and Jackson scored again, this time a skillful drive-by nearside backshot to end the first chukker 3-1, in favor of Rocking P Lockton.

Rocking P continued to dominate into the second chukker with three unanswered goals, including a goal from Athena Malin and two more from the unstoppable Jackson, bringing Rocking P Lockton’s score to a resounding 6-1 lead at the half.

San Saba curtailed Rocking P Lockton’s scoring to one goal in the third. An impressive 260-yard carry from Sarah Wiseman with a nearside finish from Jackson, widened the gap to seven. Despite San Saba’s solid efforts they were unable to find the goal, moving into the final chukker trailing 7-1. A Penalty 3 conversion by Outhier two-minutes into the fourth continued the momentum for Rocking P Lockton. Time was winding down as the ball popped over the boards and out of play numerous times. A final goal from Jackson—an exceptional carry from behind the center line—sealed the deal with only 1:30 left in regulation time. Despite the spread,

Sullivan Group’s Lucy Bailey, Joanie Jackson, Lauren Carson and Debbie Shelton won the Farish Invitational. With them is Kristen Brandon, Clare Jackson and Barlee Flanders.

Rocking P Lockton’s Kristy Outhier, Sarah Wiseman, Hazel Jackson, Athena Malin and Courtney Price won the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship.

San Saba battled until the very end, with Dawn Jones scoring the final goal as the 30second horn blew to end the game. Rocking P Lockton seized the 2016 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship with a decisive 9-2 victory over San Saba.

“For me it was a fantastic tournament with amazing teams,” said Sunny Hale.

“With the Women’s Championship Tournament and this tournament there were a total 20 teams, that makes it not only the largest women’s tournament, but the largest tournament in the United States. I think it’s a credit to the club, and the girls participating. I thought Rocking P Lockton

was well organized and put on a great show—they were amazing. I think something else that needs to be mentioned is that the reason this tournament is back in competition, is due to the efforts of Luis Echezarreta, Martin Muñoz and Scott Wood. They wanted to have a women’s Open, went to the USPA, petitioned and got it back, and also to the club for bringing in so many great players. It’s fun for the young players to see other women that are coming from overseas and gives them something to aspire to,” Hale continued.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Hazel Jackson who scored six of the total POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29

My Table/Riveroaks.com’s Lia Salvo, Carolyn Stimmel, Courtney Price and Grace Mudra won the U.S. Women’s Handicap. With them is Kristen Brandon, Hollis Reed and Luisa Paredes.

Engel & Völkers’ Caroline Anier, Betty Gerecht, Martha Hirsch and Heidi Perkins won the Bayou Cup. With them is Ker & Downey’s Kristen Brandon and Engel & Völkers’ Brooks Ballard.

nine winning goals. “Our strategy going into the game was to win. We knew it was going to be really tough. Sunny is always a formidable force to be reckoned with but we stuck to our strategy,” said Wiseman. “Kristy was our warrior, we put her on Sunny. She works so hard and has done great. Amazing team, everyone was focused and it makes a huge difference,” exclaimed Jackson.

At 16 years old, Athena Malin is the youngest player to win the coveted trophy.

When asked what this tournament meant to her she replied, “Winning this tournament has been great. I have made so many friends, and the family concept here is great. I have only ever played in California, so this is my first time branching out and playing in 30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Kristen Brandon from Ker & Downey presents Heidi Perkins with the MVP prize.

another state. I came here wanting to do well for all of the people I didn’t know and have fun and enjoy it, and I think I accomplished that! I learned a lot from the other girls I played with--the importance of going in disciplined and with a strategy. We worked together as a team, we worked with each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we are confident in each other. I think that’s why it worked out so well for us.”

Sharing the No. 1 position with Athena Malin was 18-year-old Courtney Price. For Price it is truly a family affair with a poloplaying father and younger sister and brother competing in interscholastic tournaments, her parents were overjoyed at her accomplishment. “We feel pretty amazed, blessed and fortunate,” beamed mother Kelly Price. “It takes a lot of hard work to make it happen. You have to put the organization together and get the horses and practice with your teammates. This is her second time to the final of the Open and her first win. She did great,” said father Carl Price.

Best Playing Pony Professional was awarded to 5-year-old London played by Sarah Wiseman in the third chukker and owned by Carl Price. Best Playing Pony Amateur was presented to Chici, played and owned by Dawn Jones. American Quarter Horse Association Best Performing American Quarter Horse was awarded to Law Man’s Riata played and owned by Kristy Outhier in the first and fourth chukkers. “The day she was born, I thought wow, she is going to be a polo horse. She was difficult to train, but it was worth it. She has so much heart and go, and is a true testament to a Quarter Horse. So much stamina, not any different than my Thoroughbreds,” said Outhier.

Outhier went on to say, “We came here knowing the game was going to be so hard.

The other team is amazing, all four of them.

We watched game film all week to practice, and watching their games all week made us realize they are four great players. So we came here probably the most studied I have ever come to an event.

“Almost everything that came out today was what we had talked about doing. Even in the fourth chukker, I still thought it could turn at any minute because I just have that much respect for those players. They are so good and it was a tough game. It was awesome that two big operations, Melissa

Rocking P’s Kristy Outhier keeps the pressure on San Saba’s Sunny Hale in the final of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship.

San Saba’s Melissa Ganzi heads to goal with Rocking P’s Kristy Outhier hot on her heels.

My Table/Riveroaks.com’s Lia Salvo makes a run for it in the final of the USPA Women’s Handicap.

Herk’s Store and Grill’s Kendall Plank leads the pack in the USPA Women’s Handicap final.

and Dawn showed up and supported and elevated the level of play. Sunny hasn’t played for a couple years and they also got Sunny back, which was great!”

In the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap, six teams (all but one rated women’s 14 goals) competed for the top prize. In the end, My Table/Riveroaks.com (Grace Mudra, Courtney Price, Lia Salvo, Carolyn Stimmel) and Herk’s Store & Grill (Susan Wix, Kendall Plank, Hazel Jackson, Wendy Stover) surfaced at the top.

My Table’s Argentinean Lia Salvo knocked in the first two goals, including a penalty conversion, before Kendall Plank put Herk’s on the board. Salvo scored two more in the second, but was matched by goals from

Plank and Hazel Jackson. Neither team could reach the goal in the third, carrying the 4-3 halftime score favoring My Table/Riveroaks.com, into the final period.

Jackson scored two in a row to put Herk’s on top 5-4, but a penalty conversion by Salvo knotted the score. Salvo followed with a run to goal for the 6-5 win.

Salvo was MVP after scoring all six of her team’s goals. Best Playing Pony Pro went to Thing 2, owned by Grace Mudra and played

by Lia Salvo. Best Playing Pony Amateur went to Shakin Vibes, owned by Stacey Stover and played by Wendy Stover. AQHA Best Playing Pony went to Mike, owned and played

by Jet Linx’s Sheila Lequerica.

Another six teams played in the 4- to 6-

goal Farish Cup. The final came down to Sullivan Group (Joanie Jackson, Debbie Shelton, Lauren Carson, Lucy Bailey) and Hendrick’s Gin (Esther Kane, Catherine Keen, Julia Florey, Liz Cunningham).

Sullivan Group edged Hendrick’s Gin 2-1 for the title. Esther Kane was MVP and Alacron, owned by Cindy Madole and played by Debbie Shelton, was Best Playing Pony.

In the 0- to 2-goal Bayou Cup, Engel & Völkers (Martha Hirsch, Heidi Perkins, Betty Gerecht, Caroline Anier) took on Gold Quest (Michelle Ludwig, Melissa Nance, Julia Rae). Engel & Völkers got the win.

Heidi Perkins was MVP and Jalisco, owned

by Mark Prinsloo and played by Michelle Ludwig, was Best Playing Pony.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31

Win some, lose some

Two favorites split in first two legs of triple crown

By Ernesto Rodriguez • Photos by Sergio Llamera

W

hile La Dolfina soundly beat Ellerstina 18-12 in the final of the Tortugas Open, Ellerstina came back to win the Hurlingham Open, dashing La Dolfina’s hopes for a fourth straight Triple Crown victory.

The Tortugas Country Club Open, played since 1930, is the first step of Argentina’s Triple Crown. Raising the traditional Emilio de Anchorena Cup is one of the most hoped for photos by players around the planet. However the tournament held in the private neighborhood located about 30 miles northwest of the capital was never desired by Adolfo Cambiaso. Although he had won the trophy as part of Ellerstina in 1992, 1994 and 1995, when he founded La Dolfina he decided to give it less importance, taking the contest disputed by the six most powerful teams on the planet as a test for the assault on Hurlingham and Palermo.

Adolfito changed his thinking in 2011, deciding to compete, reaching the final against La Zeta and losing in the last second by 14-13. The following year, the Pieres team earned its sixth consecutive title after defeating Cambiaso & Co. by 1211 in an final unusually held in Palermo.

The unstoppable winning streak for La Dolfina began in 2013 and continues with an unprecedented sequence of three consecutive Triple Crowns.

The beginning of the 2016 highhandicap season did not contain the classic doubt of who would be the winner 32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

The sun shines on Facundo Pieres as he looks up to the sky after Ellerstina defeated La Dolfina in the final of the Hurlingham Open.

It was the eighth Hurlingham Open victory for Ellerstina, but the first high-handicap victory since its 2012 Tortugas Open win.

but what would be the difference between La Dolfina, increasingly affirmed as the dominating quartet, and the rest of the teams. So it was no surprise the definition of the first tournament was a resounding display by the quartet from Cañuelas’ to stretch its unbeaten sequence to 36 high-handicap matches.

The contest began on Tuesday, September 27 with two matches. In the opening match, La Aguada/Las Monjitas won 11-10 over El Paraíso in a highlycontested clash in which the Novillo Astrada brothers managed to escape 10-7 before El Paraíso evened it at 10-10 in the seventh chukker. Then appeared Miguel Novillo Astrada, returning to the high competition after a sabbatical year, scoring the definitive goal for the team from Open Door.

The next match was also defined by a single goal. Alegría beat Washington 1211 in a clash with Alegría dominating the first half, so much so that they took a sixgoal lead (10-4) at the start of the fifth chukker. A hat trick by Facundo Sola and goals by Cristian Laprida (played in place of the injured Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario) and Diego Cavanagh put Washington on top 11-10 with 14 minutes

remaining. The game went back and forth and Alegría eventually leveled the score. Washington lined up to take a 60yard penalty in the closing minutes, but Sola’s shot went wide. Alegría then got a chance from the penalty line which Hilario Ulloa sailed between the uprights, giving the victory to his crew.

On Saturday, October 1, defending champion La Dolfina Sancor Seguros launched like a demolition machine against El Paraíso. Cambiaso & Co. managed the rhythm of the game and got some advantages, but the main concerns were the falls suffered by players of both teams. From an overwhelming start (5-0 before 10 minutes of play), Adolfito added six goals in the process to seal the deal at 12-6.

The following day, rain slightly altered the game plan pushing Ellerstina Johor’s match against Washington back a day to Monday, October 3.

Ellerstina substituted Polito Pieres with coach Mariano Aguerre after Polito was suspended for a game. On the other side,

Tomás García del Rio replaced the injured Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario.

La Zeta exhibited its power against Washington, reversing a match that started with Washington commanding a 3-1 lead after the initial 14 minutes. In the third chukker, Facundo Pieres turned it on, signing three of his 11 goals and the course changed. From there it was Ellerstina’s game as it powered to a wide 16-5 finish.

On October 8, La Dolfina secured its presence in its sixth consecutive Tortugas final. While on paper, the difference between La Dolfina, the perfect quartet at 40 goals, and the Novillo Astrada’s La Aguada/Los Monjitas (35) was just five goals, the score was abysmal. Without dazzling, but faithful to his style, Cambiaso & Co. quickly took control of the match to reach the end of the fifth chukker at 8-4. In the last two periods, from the strength of Back Juan Martín Nero (also opportunistic in attack conquering four goals), the team from Cañuelas closed its defense and took

every opportunity to score, thus giving way to a conclusive victory by 12-5 with five conquests of Cambiaso.

Ellerstina also did not have difficulty securing its tenth ticket in a row into the Tortugas’s final. And just as on the previous day, it was another demonstration of efficiency that denied Alegría, separated by just a goal on handicap (38-37). After the first chukker ended equal at 2-2, Ellerstina deployed a remarkable attacking game that was based on the great defense of Nicolás Pieres against the pair of 10-goalers Hilario Ulloa and Guillermo Caset, alternating at the No. 1 position. In the attack there was good distribution of goals to finish obtaining a comfortable victory by 11-5.

The final of the 74th Tortugas Open was a clash for the books. It was played in a wide open and fast mode, with the teams prioritizing the attack (there were only seven goals coming from penalties).

The teams were tied at 4-4 after the first two chukkers but La Dolfina showed it

La Dolfina’s Juan Martin Nero gets his mallet caught under the flap of his saddle as he is marked closely in the final of the Tortugas Open. It didn’t stop the team from winning the title.

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

had an extra gear and after each throw in managed to break the line of La Zeta’s horses, something rarely seen. Cambiaso also had one of those games where he plays 11 or 12 goals.

While the Piereses were able to close the distance to one in the fourth (11-10), they did so by using their best horses and left the image that they had spent all their strength in the attempt. The final three periods were a polo festival from La Dolfina, with remarkable precision in attack and solid defense to take the score to a remarkable 18-12, the biggest difference achieved by them in the nine finals played against Ellerstina in an unbeaten streak that already covers four seasons.

Adolfito accumulated 11 goals in the afternoon to become best scorer and also got the Most Valuable Player award. To complete a day of personal prizes, Dolfina Cuartetera Clone 06 was chosen as the best horse in the final. “It’s not a weight [on us] to be the favorites. It’s okay to do so. We did it with our game and it is a nice responsibility to have to prove it on the court. The last four chukkers we played almost perfect. In addition, I fulfilled my dream and I used six clones of Cuartetera in an important final, something that I have always dreamed of,” Cambiaso said on the podium, with champagne bubbles glistening on his smile.

Gonzalo Pieres controls the ball with four off the floor in the Tortugas Open final.

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

Hurlingham Open Ellerstina Johor achieved what looked impossible: the Pieres team overcame a 9-6 deficit to defeat La Dolfina Sancor Seguros 10-9 in the final of the 123rd Hurlingham Open, ending La Dolfina’s 39-game winning streak in Triple Crown play.

To paraphrase a celebrated man, for 1133 days, “there were three things that were certain in life: death, taxes and La Dolfina winning a Triple Crown match.”

Since 1892, Hurlingham, the old institution located 15 miles west of the capital city, has hosted its traditional Hurlingham Open, one of the oldest tournaments in the world.

For the last three years, the tournament has been dominated by Adolfo Cambiaso’s team. And up until

A well-placed backshot by Nico Pieres set up his brother Gonzalo to bring Ellerstina to within one goal in the last chukker of regulation time in the Hurlingham Open final. A minute later, their brother Facundo tied the score, forcing overtime. Ellerstina went on to win.

6:18 before the final bell, everything indicated the trend would hold. But, things happen.

As tradition dictates, La Dolfina Sancor Seguros, the defending champion, got the action started on opening day, October 23 for League A. The match was played on borrowed ground: the complex owned by the Argentine Polo Association in Pilar, 35 miles northwest of Buenos Aires. Its rival was Cría Yatay, one of two teams that earned its place after topping the qualifying tournament.

On paper the teams were separated by 10 goals on handicap, but the difference on the field was even greater. Cambiaso & Co. won the initial throw-in and took all of 30 seconds to score. It continued to dominate, winning 23-9 despite suffering the loss of Juan Martin Nero to a fall at the end of the first chukker. He was replaced at Back by Sebastián Merlos

who quickly found his fit on the team.

As usual, Adolfo Cambiaso led the scoring with nine goals, accompanied by seven goals from David Stirling.

In the next game, El Paraíso clashed with La Aguada/Las Monjitas. Just four weeks earlier in the Tortugas Open, La Aguada had squeaked out an 11-10 victory over the same team. This time, Eduardo Novillo Astrada was replaced by Francisco Elizalde after Astrada suffered a blow to the face that fractured his nose and hit his right eye during a practice match. He credits his goggles with saving his eye from further damage.

El Paraíso struck first and held a 3-1 lead after the first 14 minutes. The hardworking team maintained its distance to reach a final 11-10 victory, thanks to a great performance by Ignacio Toccalino.

The same day on the Hurlingham fields, League B was launched with Ellerstina Johor, with Polito Pieres

debuting at the No. 2 position, leaving behind La Irenita (the other team that came through the qualifier) by a convincing 21-6 led by 10 goals off of Facundo Pieres’ mallet.

Later in the day, Alegría Assist Card beat Washington 14-11, thanks to an excellent display by Guillermo Caset, game striker with 10 goals, including six in a row.

Almost without rest, on October 26, League A teams returned to Pilar and there were repeat winners: El Paraíso (with eight conquests coming from Agustín Merlos) overcame Cría Yatay 1511, in a game with the eventual winners ahead by only 12-11 at the start of the last period.

La Dolfina (without Nero, again replaced by Sebi Merlos) had no problems to overcome La Aguada/Las Monjitas by 16-9 in a match with much arguing among the players and in which POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35

La Dolfina’s Juan Martin Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, David Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso celebrate their Tortugas Open victory.

Adolfito made 75 percent of his team’s goals (12). A day later, at the Hurlingham fields, League B also saw repeat winners.

Alegría overcame La Irenita by a wide 23-8 thanks to Hilario Ulloa’s 11 goals, while Ellerstina suffered a setback that modified its plan in its match against Washington: Polito Pieres injured his back just hours before the match and had to be replaced by Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade. The Brazilian, who had played the day before, could not stand the eight chukkers and in the beginning of the seventh left his place to the team’s coach Mariano Aguerre. Despite the changes, La Zeta did not have a problem triumphing 16-11.

Bad weather prevented playing the two remaining dates on the last weekend of October as scheduled. On November 4, Pilar hosted two matches between the teams that no longer had a chance to 36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

move to the final.

In the first round, for League B, Washington unduly defeated La Irenita by a resounding 26-10 with an unusual production of Facundo Sola: 15 goals!

Then, for League A, La Aguada/Las Monjitas beat Cría Yatay 13-11 thanks to the difference made in the sixth chukker

by Alejandro Novillo Astrada, who scored three of his five goals.

League A was defined November 5 on Hurlingham’s Field 1. La Dolfina did not shine as expected, but the return of Juan Martin Nero gave the team enough strength to overcome El Paraíso by 14-11 in a match more even than anticipated.

Only 24 hours later, on the same stage, Ellerstina topped League B after beating Alegría 16-14 in a match in which the difference was Facundo Pieres, author of nine goals, some of them in hot moments.

For the final, the scene was usual with Ellerstina facing La Dolfina for the seventh consecutive time but the Wednesday play date was unusual.

Despite November 9 being a working day, a good number of public attended the match on Hurlingham’s Field 1.

During the first five chukkers it was all equal (5-5 after 35 minutes of play) like boxers who measure their strength without throwing big blows. Then La Dolfina pressed the accelerator and began to get methodical differences in the following two chukkers to go up 8-6 heading into the last chukker. Cambiaso converted his fifth goal of the afternoon, a penalty from the spot just 42 seconds into the last chukker, and increased the lead to 9-6. That sentence of the three sure things gained strength.

But something broke in the machinery of what seemed like the

Facundo Pieres, Polito Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres and Nicolás Pieres are all smiles after winning the Hurlingham Open.

perfect quartet while Gonzalo Pieres appeared as a superhero. Ellerstina’s No. 3 made his seventh goal with a half-field break when there were three minutes remaining. A minute later, the eldest Pieres took advantage of a precise backhander of younger brother Nicolás, left behind Cambiaso and brought La Zeta within a goal.

The public exploded in a euphoria that had been lacking in the previous 54 minutes while the field was a hell. It was all nerves. La Dolfina tried to stop the action and Ellerstina fought hard to equalize the score. The clock was ticking, while the players disputed the ball almost walking to avoid committing fouls. Short shots let La Zeta approach La Dolfina’s goal, allowing Facundo Pieres to level the score. There was only 13 seconds left, not enough for La Dolfina to seal its 40th consecutive victory.

The rest before the overtime period was a war of nerves. And when the teams went back to the field, they were filled with pure adrenaline. La Dolfina went on the attack but after almost two minutes was still unable to convert. Ellerstina responded and Facu Pieres missed a chance to finish the game from less than 10 yards away from the goal. La Dolfina knocked in and David Stirling rode straight to the target, but Gonzalo Pieres cut it short in his own 40-yard line and changed direction. With two touches he covered more than half the field and with the third swing broke the plane with a ball that entered just to the inside of the left post.

The entire Ellerstina organization broke into celebration. Gonzalito was lowered from his horse by his fans, while La Dolfina protested because it denied the ball went in the goal, something

multiple replays of the TV could not confirm. But the goal judges did not give rise to the claim.

The victorious succession of La Dolfina had ended in this controversial moment. Ellerstina lifted a trophy for the first time since its 2012 Tortugas Open victory, managing to raise The Ayrshire Cup for the eighth time (1994, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010).

“It was given to us. We were able to win because of our guts. I think I played the 10 best minutes of my life. We had everything against us and finally we managed to stop this run without victories,” explained Gonzalo Pieres, chosen MVP of the match, who was also awarded the best Polo Argentino product for his mare Open Z Jones. Meanwhile, the Daniel Kearney Cup for the best horse in the final went to Anay Sur La Peluda, played by Juan Martin Nero.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37

5 for 5

USA remains undefeated in International Cup

By Sharon Robb & Arianna Delin

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eam USA edged Uruguay 6-3 to capture the International Cup held at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida on November 26.

Team USA remains undefeated with a hardfought 6-3 victory over upset-minded Uruguay to capture the fifth annual International Cup. In front of a packed house including a sold out VIP tent and worldwide Chukker TV audience, Team USA’s Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Julio Arellano and Nic Roldan were pushed to the limit before claiming its fifth consecutive title.

Team USA has now beaten England, Chile, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay in international play at Grand Champions. Marc Ganzi, Arellano and Roldan were teammates last year.

Arellano was named Most Valuable Player this year.

“We missed a few opportunities to score early-on,” Arellano said. “We were a little tight in the beginning. We seemed to get our momentum in the third chukker and we were able to hold it. It was a great, fun, fast, open game.

“It’s always awesome to represent the U.S.,” Arellano said. “That’s something we are all very proud of. You never want to let your country down. There were a lot of people on the sidelines rooting for us as a country rather than a certain team.

It’s a great honor.”

Cantina Mama, a 10-year-old dark bay 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Team USA captain Marc Ganzi said the Uruguayans are the best international team that has played the cup so far.

mare, ridden by Uruguay’s Juan Curbelo and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was selected Best Playing Pony.

Grant Ganzi, at 18, a freshman at Lynn University, made his International Cup debut and was the youngest player to compete in the game’s five-year history. It was Ganzi’s second time representing the U.S. internationally. He led Team USA to victory against Canada in the Royal Polo Match in Toronto earlier this month.

“It means a lot to represent the U.S., it’s a really big deal for me,” Grant Ganzi said. “I felt the pressure. These guys haven’t lost here and putting me in the mix instead of Jeff Hall is a big difference and big shoes to fill. I was nervous and tried to play my best. This is a great team I’m on. All these guys together have great chemistry.”

Uruguay’s national team, making its international debut in the U.S., proved to be a formidable opponent for Team USA. The foursome of Mauricio Sanchez, Alexis de Boismenu, Guillermo Besozzi and Curbelo had several scoring opportunities throughout the fivechukker game but could not finish.

“We had our chances, but you cannot miss your chances against a good U.S. team like that,” Curbelo said.

The game was action-packed from the opening chukker. Team USA scored first when Grant Ganzi jumped on a loose ball to score at the 3:23 mark.

Curbelo got Uruguay on the scoreboard in the second chukker converting a Penalty 2 to tie the game at 1-1 with 5:50 left.

The U.S. regained the lead late in the second chukker when Roldan connected with Arellano on a great pass to score for a 2-1 lead late in the chukker.

The U.S. kept its momentum and found its chemistry going into the third chukker. Roldan’s Penalty 3 conversion gave the U.S. a 3-1 lead. Arellano’s early goal in the fourth chukker extended the lead to 4-1. Another early goal from Arellano after a great back shot pass

Team USA’s Grant Ganzi, Julio Arellano, Nic Roldan and Marc Ganzi

The Uruguayan team presented Melissa Ganzi with a book to thank her for her hospitality.

Aspen Valley’s Cali Garcia-Velez, Carlitos Gracida, Mariano Gracida and Tim Dutta won the Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo Memorial played prior to the International Cup.

from Marc Ganzi, gave the U.S. a 5-1 advantage.

Uruguay found its scoring punch in

the fifth and final chukker with two goals from Sanchez and Curbelo, but ran out of time.

Uruguay, with only one practice session together as a team on Friday, handled the horses provided by Santa Rita Polo Farm well. Sanchez and Curbelo have competed in the U.S. For Boismenu and Besozzi, both first-time national team members, it was their U.S. debut.

“We watched them play in practice and we knew it was going to be a tussle,” Team USA captain Marc Ganzi said. “Credit to them, they played well. They were organized and kept it close after two. We knew we had to really fight hard. They made a match of it and testimony to them and their horsemanship.

“This is probably the best team that’s come here, all four players knowing how to ride, even better than when the British came. ... They played really well and are a classy group of guys. This is what polo is all about, inviting friends to come and play polo ...”

In addition to Arellano’s three goals, all from the field, Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi and Roldan each scored one goal.

Curbelo led Uruguay with two goals and Sanchez added one.

The fifth annual International Cup was part of a doubleheader and holiday weekend tradition that ends the biggest week of fall polo and the season at Grand Champions Polo Club.

In the opening game, Aspen Valley (Tim Dutta, Mariano Gracida, Carlitos Gracida, Cali Garcia-Velez) edged Grand Champions (Peter Rizzo, Weston Gracida, Martin Estrada, Tommy Biddle), 6-5, in the Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo Memorial. The four-chukker game honored the legacy of Gracida, who died tragically in February 2014 at age 53.

Mariano Gracida, the youngest son of Carlos Gracida, was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a game-high three goals. Older brother Carlitos Gracida scored two goals including the gamewinner.

World Cup, ridden by Carlitos Gracida, was named Best Playing Pony. Melissa Ganzi purchased her as an embryo from Carlos Gracida and his legendary horse Mexicana.

The afternoon also featured a fun onechukker kids’ foot mallet game and a grooms’ race.

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

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UP-AND-COMERS Two important kids’ tournaments hosted on same day PHOTOS BY SERGIO LLAMERA

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wo major tournaments for adolescents were held at the Argentine Polo Association’s fields in Palermo on October 11.

Tortugas E.N. won its third consecutive title in the Argentine Under-21 Open, while Las Cañuelas won the Santa Paula Cup in its debut of the high school tournament.

The thousands of people who were direct witness to the tournaments and so many who follow the news on the internet are confident the future of Argentine polo is assured after seeing the talent demonstrated in these tournaments.

The final match of the 34th edition of the Argentine Junior Open was scheduled for the early morning. Reserved for participants under 21, the tournament has been held since 1983 to allow novice players high-goal competition before launching into polo against adults in medium- and high-goal polo.

This event had an absolute favorite, Tortugas E.N., which kept the same lineup that allowed it to beat Martindale 10-8 at the 2014 final and repeat the success in 2015, this time after leaving behind La Mancha Ghantoot by 12-11 in an extra chukker.

The team with Juan Martin Zubía, Isidro Strada, Segundo Bocchino and Jerónimo del Carril increased its rating from the 15 goals it held before lifting the first cup to 21 goals this season (Bocchino 6 and the rest 5), yet still allowing it to qualify for the event.

Six teams from 17 and 22 goals enrolled in the tournament. The quarterfinals were celebrated on September 21, held on the grounds that Argentina Polo Association has in Pilar, 35 miles outside Buenos Aires.

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

Two very tight games were decided by only one goal: the defending champion had to work hard to outrun Betania 1110, while La Lucila beat La Natividad 8-7.

The next day, the finalists were defined.

This time Tortugas E.N. made clear its superiority against La Lucila, by a convincing 12-6 while La Mancha (the team with maximum value) needed to sweat to defeat Venado Tuerto 8-7. The final was scheduled for October 4, but rain caused the match to be postponed for a week.

After the delay, the final match lived up to expectations. After recovering from an 0-2 deficit, La Mancha adjusted its

defense and scored seven straight goals between the first and third chukker in a great display of teamwork between Juan Zubiaurre and Lucas Díaz Alberdi.

Tortugas E.N.—using black jerseys instead of its traditional orange because the opponent had the same color—finally scored shortly before the bell signaled the halftime break, down 7-3.

In the fourth chukker, Zubiaurre scored two more goals to bring the score to 9-4, a hole that seemed all but impossible for Tortugas E.N. to climb out of with only 14 minutes to play.

Then Jerónimo del Carril appeared at his best, scoring three of his six goals in

Juan Martín Zubía makes it look easy with an opponent on his hip. He scored the winning goal with just a few seconds left to give Tortugas E.N. the Argentine Junior Open victory.

Tortugas E.N.’s Jerónimo del Carril, Segundo Bocchino, Isidro Strada and Juan Martín Zubía came back from a five-goal deficit in the last 14 minutes to win its third straight victory.

the fifth segment to leave Tortugas E.N. behind by just two goals (9-7).

In the last chukker, Bocchino cut the deficit to one when the clock approached two minutes. Then they blocked a short penalty by Bautista Bayugar that could have meant the title to La Mancha. With just over a minute left, Del Carril tied the score after a long run. And with just a few seconds left, Juan Martin Zubía scored to seal the final at 10-9 and give Tortugas E.N. the championship for the third year in a row.

“It seems that if we do not win with a little suffering, is not worth. In 2014, we

[came from behind] in the last chukker, as now, and last year it was in overtime. I think it is a little tastier this way,” joked Del Carril who, after receiving the championship cup, was awarded the Machi Trotz trophy as the most valuable player of the match.

In the afternoon, the venue offered the final of the Santa Paula Cup, the event that since 1951 brings together the best players from high schools in Argentina.

This time, 13 teams between 0 and 11 goals played off beginning on September 26 in the resort of Pilar. The highestrated quartet was Los Medanos, a school

Las Cañuelas’ Bartolomé Castagnola Jr., Ignacio Velasco Gallo, Felipe Dabas and Camilo Castagnola won the Santa Paula Cup in their debut, beating three-time winner Los Medanos in the semis and St. Catherine’s Moorlands A in the final.

from Trenque Lauquen (280 miles away from Buenos Aires), winner of the last three editions, which kept on the field Juan Martin Zubía and Simon Prado (present in the previous three celebrations) and Manuel Sundblad (winner in 2014 and 2015). After passing the initial phase with three wins, in the semifinals held on October 3, the team collided with a team making its debut: Las Cañuelas (with Bartolomé and Camilo Castagnola), who won 9½-5. The other finalist would be St. Catherine’s Moorlands A, after beating María Immaculada by half a goal: 8-7½.

Though the Castagnola brothers (sons of former 10-goal Bartolomé Castagnola) already know what it feels like to win a trophy in Palermo (they won the República Argentina Cup in March and San Jorge Open handicap in early September) to be the protagonists of the match generated pressure, especially for the youngest Camilo, at only 13 years old.

Las Cañuelas got 2½ goals to start, but in only two chukkers its rivals narrowed the gap to a half-goal (4½-4) thanks to the efficiency of Manuel Calafell and Mariano González. The match was scoreless in the third chukker, and in the fourth, St. Catherine’s Moorlands A went on to command the score 6-5½.

In the last seven minutes Barto Castagnola was the only player able to reach the goal, giving the 6½-6 victory to Las Cañuelas.

“Today was a strange game because Jeta (Big Mouth, the nickname of his younger brother) missed a lot of goals, something that never happens. Felipe Dabas and Ignacio Velasco Gallo supported us well and I was lucky to score; that’s why we won,” said the older Castagnola, top scorer of the match with four goals. A hundred of his companions, who had traveled more than 45 miles from their home city in school buses, showed their joy dressed in the schools uniforms. The subsidiary Zeus Cup was defined the previous Thursday in Pilar with Colegio del Pilar beating Fasta Child Jesus by a tight 4-3½.

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

Oxford University Polo Club is one of the four oldest continuing polo clubs worldwide. And after 143 years the club is still going strong. At is recent fall freshman fair, Sally Schwartz, the club’s press officer, reported that 603 people signed up for the polo club.

The students train with Oxford University team has record-breaking year David Ashby at the Oxford WORDS AND PHOTOS COURTESY SALLY SCHWARTZ Polo School, with facilities 20 minutes outside of Oxford.

During the summer, the club plays at Kirtlington Park Polo Club and in the fall and winter arena season it plays at Holbrook Farm.

Ashby provides horses for most students to lesson on and play, while some members have their own ponies. The club raises money through donations, sponsorships and partnerships to subsidize the £45 per lesson fee. Schwartz wrote, “Our goal as a club is to raise money ... for any student that wishes to play at Uni.” The club has a full schedule throughout the year. Beginning at the end of October, the club plays in weekly matches and tournaments. Highlights include a 4-goal arena tournament at

DESTINATION: BRITAIN

Rugby Polo Club, Beach Polo at St. Andrews, winter Varsity (varsity refers to any official match against Cambridge) and summer Varsity at Guards Polo Club sponsored by La Martina.

The club also has at least one official social per week, however Schwartz indicated the players spend a lot of time together, whether studying at the library, having coffee, going to the pub, dinner or parties. “We find polo to be a fantastic outlet for the stress of work,” explained Schwartz. “For committee members we have to balance our love of the club and sport with our school work as we are so often drawn into wanting to commit all of our time to [the club].”

This past summer the club competed in the London Challenge at the Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China.

Schwartz said the team trained weekly for the trip. “We are fortunate enough to have really experienced players such as Louis Maddison and Charlie Hitchman on the team who have gone the extra mile in helping train us as a team. Our teamwork and strategy is what set us apart in China and helped us have such an incredible victory in the tournament.”

Winning the event was the cherry atop a record-breaking season. The team,

The club’s social secretary, Heather Winsor battles an opponent in a playoff match in Tianjin.

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

The Oxford team won the London Challenge at the Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China.

consisting of Heather Winsor, Sally Schwartz, Louis Maddison, Charlie Hitchman, and Lizzy Hamilton as reserve, competed against Harvard, Cambridge, Cornell, London, and Skidmore the week of July 10-18. Oxford

was the only undefeated team throughout the event.

One of the tournament’s highlights was the third chukker of the final between Oxford and Cornell. Oxford’s Hitchman was driving a ball from the

The Oxford Team played Cornell in the final of the London Challenge at the Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China in July.

S P O T L I G H T

right flank, his last shot finishing just a couple of feet away from the right goalpost; overestimating the space, Hitchman plowed through the post cartwheeling off his pony. Everyone went silent as he lay on his back for a few minutes, but how the crowd cheered when he got up and mounted his pony.

Just moments after the game restarted, Hitchman left Cornell’s defenders in the dust as he tore down the left flank, unleashing a huge open shot that harpooned between the goal posts. As Hitchman galloped off in celebration, his helmet flew off and the crowd went wild!

Cornell put up a fantastic fight.

Oxford was especially proud to have competed and won against coach Eldredge, the most successful coach of any sport in Cornell’s history. Christian de Koning, an Oxford PhD student and himself a longtime member of Oxford’s polo squad, coached.

“Although I don’t have Eldredge’s experience, the hours I’ve spent with the team both on and off the pitch lets me know them in a way that would take a normal coach many years to achieve with their team,” said de Koning. “Being their teammate and good friend gave me insight into how to advise each member individually and then bring them together as a coordinated team.”

“The current squad’s breadth of experience and understanding of the game has really helped new players in the club flourish,” said captain Maddison.

“It’s exhilarating to see your teammates improve game to game, responding to the advice you’ve given.”

“Having experienced players like Charlie and Louis on the team is the best training we can have,” Winsor added.

“Rather than waiting until the end of a chukker to hear feedback on a play that has become a blur of ponies and players, our team can constantly evaluate and readjust on the field; we are always adapting and improving in the moment to be a step ahead in the next play. We also think and work as a team instead of POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43

four individuals diving for the ball.”

Being a completely student-run club means its success depends upon whether or not there is a group of passionate students willing to dedicate a ton of time to the success of the club and the sport of polo. “Right now OUPC is in a type of golden age,” said ex-chairman Hamilton.

“By luck of the draw OUPC has an allstar varsity team with three 0-goalers and a 2-goaler who have played polo all their lives. On top of that we have such a committed chairman, Issa Patel, with a fantastic committee behind him working to make OUPC the best it can be on all fronts … accessibility, social, sponsorship, press … really a full force.”

OUPC’s biggest success off the field was perhaps the partnership with La Martina and Guards Polo Club, made possible by the hard work of Hamilton and Patel. It is up to the students to find sponsors and partners for the different tournaments and the club more generally, and without sponsorship the club’s expenses come out of the students’ pockets. “Our goal is to make polo accessible to all students so they can get a taste of this fantastic sport,” explains Patel. “That is why it is so important to us to secure as much

Records indicate the Oxford University Polo Club played in Hurlingham in 1876 and organized an exhibition match (above) between Christ Church and Brasenose College in July 1877.

The Oxford Polo Team in 1901 included W. Astor, Viscount Helmsley, R.F. Wade-Palmer and Maharaj Kumar of Cooch Behar.

H.R.H. The Prince of Wales (center) competed in the Annual Varsity Match in 1980. Oxford defeated the Prince’s Cambridge team 11-1.

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sponsorship as possible so we can subsidize the sport for any student who wants to play.” Oxford fielded 18 teams throughout the year with students of levels ranging from complete beginners up through its 2-goal varsity team.

The partnership with La Martina is credited for the success of the reinvigorated Atlantic Cup and La Martina Varsity Polo Day, which had over 300 student attendants from Oxford alone. Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale competed over the weekend of June 3-5. The success in Tianjin followed in the wake of Oxford’s sweeping victory in this tournament; the highlight was Oxford’s record-breaking 19-0 win over

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

squash and fencing when she played the 1964 Varsity. Claire achieved a 5-goal handicap, one of only two women in the world to reach that handicap. Today, Oxford continues this proud tradition with George Pearson (+2), who plays for England; he most recently played for the Cowdray Vikings in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

OUPC is more than just an athletic club: for many of the players it is the

S P O T L I G H T

heart and soul of their social life at Oxford. “We’re a very close team,” explains Hitchman, “and I think our fun off the pitch helps us work so well together once we’re on it.”

Winsor, the club’s social secretary, agrees: “It doesn’t matter if we’re dead focused on winning the final, out clubbing, or just hanging out in someone’s room, we’re having the best time ...”

2017 Interscho olastic Tournamen nt Season Coming g to an Arena near you! u!

February 10-12

The team had a record-setting 19-0 win over Cambridge at the La Martina Varsity Polo Day.

Cambridge at the La Martina Varsity Polo Day at Guards Polo Club. Oxford’s 2-goal team, George Pearson, Louis Maddison, Vere Harmsworth and Charlie Hitchman, beat the previous record of 19-1 set in 1911.

Oxford Polo was founded in 1874 by Walter Hume Long, who became the First Lord of the Admiralty. In traditional English style, the first match was said to have been played in weather of the most unpleasant character, rain falling the whole time, accompanied by a cold wind.

Since that first match, Oxford has had its share of historical members. Winston Churchill came over from Blenheim to play with and coach Oxford’s Varsity team, “giving them a good gallop and a pipeopener” before the varsity match. Prince Charles received his Half-Blue for Cambridge in 1968. Cambridge lost 2-1 in extra time, but Prince Charles scored his side’s goal, which must have pleased the Queen, who had arrived unexpectedly to watch the game.

Other members include William Kavanagh who played the first Varsity, 1878, and became one of the first highhandicapped English players; American Tommy Hitchcock Sr. (1882 Varsity), one of the first 10-goal players; Devereux Milburn (1903-1905 Varsities), another illustrious 10-goal American player; Claire Tomlinson already held blues in

Girls’ Prelimina ary - Southeastern I: Garrison Forest School chool

February 17-19

Girls’ Prelimina ary - Northeastern I: Gardnertown Polo Club Girls’ Gi Girls l ’ Prelimina P li i ary - Central: C t l ERG Arena/Houston A /H t P Polo l C Cl b Club Club

March 3-5

TBD

To

Club Open Regio iirginia Polo Center er Open Regio onal - Western: Western Central Coast Polo Club Girls’ Regional - Southeastern: Virginia Polo Center er

April 19-23

USPA Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship: Virginia Polo Center

April 24-30

USPA Open National Interscholastic Championship: Cornell Universityy Polo Club

Follow live scores on facebook.com/iipolo and all tournament schedules & results on www w.uspolo.org *subject to change

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

POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO PAC I F I C C OA S T

JIM BREMNER/POLOZONE.COM

YOUNG GUNS OUT SHOOT RIVALS IN ANNUAL HERING CUP

Umpire Kimo Huddleston gets out of the way of Skyler Dale’s breakaway, while teammates Molly Agee and Garrett Bankhead hold off the opponents in the 3rd Annual Hering Cup at Lakeside.

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he third annual Hering Cup tournament, formed to carry on the legacy of Admiral Eugene R. “Bud” or “Doc” Hering who built the grass arena-sized field in Lakeside, California 60 years ago to play polo with his friends, was a stunning success.

The two-day tournament saw six teams in two flights—the Hering Cup flight and the Sportsmanship flight— keep the spectators entertained and

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inspired, as the players battled it out on the field. USPA Umpire Kimo Huddleston kept the battles clean and safe. Nobody came off—close maybe, but not off!

The tournament began Saturday morning with the Hering Cup qualifying round. The Young Guns’ Molly Agee, Skylar Dale and Garrett Bankhead overwhelmed the Last Minute Desperados of Nicole de Berg, Ruben Katz and Mariah Mudgett 19-1.

The second match was probably the finest of the tournament with Los Viejos and the Kid’s Andrew Scott and Kip Hering with Rik Crane and Steve Geyer splitting chukkers, squeaking past the Tres Amigos team of Frankie Questel, Shaun Cornell and Nicole Bankhead in a fast, hard-fought and thrilling match with a final score of 9-4.

The third match was the Sportsmanship round, so named for the love and dedication to the sport of polo.

R E P O R T

JIM BREMNER/POLOZONE.COM

JIM BREMNER/POLOZONE.COM

P O L O

Young Guns’ Garrett Bankhead, Molly Agee and Skyler Dale won the 3rd Annual Hering Cup at Lakeside Polo Club in California.

The Shore Thing Café team of Susan Harris, Lamar Rutherford and Dean Daggett took a close 7-6 lead over the Ready 5 team of Brian Truesch, Mariah Mudgett and Monica Soucy. The scoring would carry over to the Sunday final round.

Sunday opened with the continuation of the Sportsmanship Round with the Shore Thing Café players meeting the Ready 5 team. The play was fun, vigorous and evenly matched as evidenced by another tight one-goal advantage to Shore Things for a cumulative two-day total of 12-10. Shore Thing Café took the round.

The Hering Cup consolation round saw the Tres Amigos team pitted against the Last Minute Desperados team, which enjoyed the participation of Sue Landis in its line-up. Again the play was fast and furious with the Tres Amigos coming out ahead 7-4 for the consolation prize.

The final match of the day was Los Viejos and the Kid versus the Young Guns, played before a crowd of about 200 seated at tables overlooking the field and under shade trees. To say the play was fast would be an understatement.

They were flat-bleep flying! Our ponies wanted it as badly as we did.

The score was tied 2-2 after the first chukker but the Young Guns soon out rode and out gunned the Viejos and the Kid, who fought to keep it within two goals for most of the match, but let them

Skyler Dale’s beautiful mare Madonna was honored as Best Playing Pony.

get away in the forth chukker with a final score of 10-6 for the Young Guns.

The Young Guns team of Molly, Skylar and Garrett, who also happen to be Lakeside’s Interscholastic team, were the deserved winners of the Hering Cup, which is a perpetual trophy to be maintained for the year by the winning team with their names engraved on a brass plaque on the base of the trophy.

The Best Playing Pony award went to Skylar Dale’s beautiful mare Madonna.

Dean Daggett and Kip Hering were awarded MVPs for the hard riding and relentless play in their respective rounds. It was later joked that perhaps the MVP was really the “Mas Viejo Players.”

Following the award ceremony the crowd drifted over to the Pepper Tree Cantina at the “barn end” of the field to participate in the silent auction and see who won the many generously donated prizes.

The tournament was hosted by the Bankhead family and the River Valley Equestrian Center and was a fundraiser for the newly formed Lakeside Youth Polo Foundation. The generous donations and proceeds will be used to build a multi-use equestrian event and polo arena at the east end of the ranch.

It was the end of a beautiful polo-filled weekend that reinforced Doc Hering’s legacy of fun and friendly polo in Lakeside!

—Kip Hering

SOUTHEASTERN

LBL/GOLD’S DRAGOONS WINS USPA GOVS CUP

LBL Polo/Gold’s Dragoons, led by Marcos Onetto, overcame Hutchinson/ Whiskey Victor in the final of the 6goal USPA Governors Cup at Aiken Polo Club in Aiken, South Carolina on October 2.

LBL Polo (Richard Terbrusch, Alison Patricelli, Onetto, Luis Galvan) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period thanks to goals from Patricelli and Galvan. Jason Wates put Hutchinson (Wates, Charlie Hutchinson IV, Whitney Vogt, Geoff Cameron) on the board before the chukker ended. Onetto capitalized on a Penalty 3 and a Penalty 6 to put LBL up 4-1 before Wates scored his own Penalty 3 for Hutchinson to stay in the game.

Wates knotted the score in the third with a Penalty 2 conversion and a field goal, but Onetto answered with a Penalty 4 conversion and Galvan scored from the field to give LBL back its two-goal advantage going into the final period.

The teams continued to battle in the last period, but neither team was able to reach the goal. Time ran out with LBL on top 6-4. Luis Galvan was named MVP and Jason Wates’ Remy

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

R E P O R T PAM GLEASON/GARY KNOLL

P O L O

Bendabout’s Hope Arellano, Gillian Johnston, Del Walton and Julio Arellano won the USPA Copper Cup at Aiken Polo Club.

PAM GLEASON/GARY KNOLL

LBL’s Luis Galvan, Marcos Onetto, Alison Patricelli and Geoff Cameron won the USPA Governor’s Cup at Aiken Polo Club.

LBL Polo’s Alison Patricelli carries the ball in the final of the USPA Governors Cup at Aiken Polo Club.

was Best Playing Pony. Peter Christianson from Taylor BMW presented the trophies.

Four teams competed in the tournament, which began on September 19. LBL, Hutchinson and Lithoprint/Blessing Plantation (Tony Sekera, Edouard Des Francs, Matt Sekera, Eddy Martinez) finished with 2-1 records while Hyde Park/Willow Branch (Amy Flowers, Barry

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Limehouse, Del Walton, Kegan Walsh) finished 0-3.

A c t i o n continued a week later when Bendabout edged Crestview Genetics 10-9 in an exciting overtime final of the 12goal USPA Copper Cup. Six teams competed in the tournament over two weeks.

Crestview (Alan Meeker, Pedro Marion, Hugo Lloret, Joaquin Panelo) finished at the top of the six-team roster with an undefeated record. It faced Bendabout (Hope Arellano, Gillian Johnston, Del Walton, Julio Arellano) in the final.

Julio Arellano started off the scoring with a Penalty 4 conversion.

Panelo answered for Crestview and

Chip Cooper from Cooper Motors presents Hugo Lloret’s Rubia with the USPA Copper Cup Best Playing Pony blanket.

Marion added another to give Crestview the 2-1 lead. Hope Arellano nailed a Penalty 2 in the second to tie the score and followed with a field goal for the lead. Panelo found the uprights to level the score at 3-all. Bendabout got the edge in the third period thanks to a trio of goals from Walton. Panelo and Lloret scored to keep Crestview nipping at Bendabout’s heels.

A goal from Johnston put Bendabout up by two but a pair of goals by Panelo tied the score, while Manion’s second goal of the afternoon put Crestview briefly ahead. Walton tied it up early in the fifth, but Panelo answered to put Crestview back on top.

Walton scored a lone goal in the sixth to tie the score at 9-9. Bendabout missed an opportunity to take the lead on a Penalty 3, sending the match into

P O L O

This year’s Battle of the Blues saw Duke University best University of North Carolina for the third straight year.

an overtime chukker. Julio Arellano sealed the deal with the winning goal in sudden death.

Del Walton was named MVP, while Hugo Lloret’s Rubia took the Best Playing Pony blanket presented by Chip Cooper of Cooper Motors.

POLO SCHOOL COUNTS TWO FALL VICTORIES

The Triangle Polo Club in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina celebrated its fall season with several tournaments.

The USPA Challenge Cup was rained out by Hurricane Matthew and was rescheduled for the end of October. The club decided to play the cup the same weekend as the Harvest Cup. Three teams played over two days, with the first day for the Harvest Cup trophies and the second day for the Challenge Cup. Polo School, with David Brooks, Tammy Havener and Meredith Harrell, bested Hickory Furniture Mart and BELLUPUS both days to take a bounty of trophies. Tammy Havener was named Above & Beyond Player for playing most about her handicap. The Brooks’ family’s J.J., played by David Brooks, was Best Playing Pony.

The Fall Club tournament included four teams battling it out, but in the end the Scarecrows’ Bella Hamon, Jordan Lee and Mark Hauser pulled out the win in a shootout.

Play continued with the 4th Annual

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Polo School’s Tammy Havener, David Brooks and Meredith Harrell won the Challenge and Harvest Cups.

Battle of the Blues. The match featured alumni and employees of University of North Carolina vs Duke University. It is polo’s version of the Tobacco Road Showdown. The match was played in front of a great crowd including the Cary Debutante Society and Marines from Camp Lejeune.

UNC won the inaugural event in 2013, but Duke has won it the past two years. UNC got off to a rough start this year when a goal was scored for Duke off one of its ponies. But UNC’s Scott Lail and Randolph Hooks followed with goals to take a 2-1 lead. UNC kept up its momentum in the second when current students Jenn Stone and Jordan Lee combined for four goals whiling holding Duke’s bionic man, Chris Wolf to a single goal.

Duke rallied in the third with unanswered goals by Tammy Havener, Chris Zhang and Maeren Honacher to come within one, 6-5, at the half. Duke kept up the pressure in the second half with Havener and Honacher sandwiching goals around one from Hooks to tie the score at 7-all at the end of the fourth chukker.

Duke took the lead in the fifth with a pair of goals off the mallet of Wolf. Lail responded with a goal in the sixth to bring UNC within one, but another goal for Duke was the icing on the cake as the team took the win for the third year in a row. Havener was pleased with the win. “[I am] proud of my team. We could

have gotten down on each other with the bad start but we hung in. It was big to have the good third chukker to only be down one at the half.”

Zhang was thrilled. “It was so exciting to play in my first B of B. I want lots of pictures to send home [to Hong Kong.]”

Lail took the loss in stride, “That very first goal proved to be the difference. We would have tied in the last chukker and that would have put more pressure on them. Maybe next year we can break the jinx.”

The Brooks family thanks all of its club members and participants for a great year and can’t wait to get started in 2017 with the Shepherd Youth Ranch indoor tailgate and all the fun planned in its new arena and newly enlarged field.

STARFISH/ HYDE PARK WIN COPA DE PLATA

The Starfish/ Hyde Park team overcame Las Vinas in the 8-goal Copa de Plata on November 6 to close out New Bridge Polo Club’s fall season.

The club is located in Aiken, South Carolina.

The tournament included five teams playing off beginning on October 16.

Las Vinas (Stacie Simpkins, Anna Winslow, Pelon Escapite, Dennys Santana) and Starfish/ Hyde Park (Amy Flowers, Justin Pimsner, Del Walton,

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Jason Wates) advanced to the final.

Pimsner and Walton scored to put Starfish on the board in the first, while Las Vinas came up empty.

Simpkins split the uprights for Las Vinas in the second and Escapite traded Penalty 2 conversions with Walton to keep it close. Walton scored another Penalty 2 in the third to end the half with Starfish ahead 4-2.

Pelon Escapite tied the score in the fourth with a field goal and a Penalty 2, then took the lead in the fifth with a Penalty 3 conversion. Starfish would have none of it. A pair of penalty conversions from Walton and a field goal

by Pimsner put Starfish ahead by two.

Another Walton Penalty 2 gave Starfish a three-goal lead. Escapite converted a Penalty 4 to come close but it wasn’t enough and Starfish went home with the trophies.

Walton was named MVP and Santana’s Louisa was Best Playing Pony.

To get to the final Starfish defeated Cooper Home & Stable/Henry Cato 128, then lost to Foxdale Equine 12-9 before topping Foxdale Equine 11-7 in the semis. Las Vinas defeated Blackberg/Powder River 8-5 and Cooper Home & Stable/Henry Cato 10-9 before edging Blackberg/Powder River 6-5.

In 12-goal action, Crestview Genetics (Alan Meeker, Pedro Manion, Hugo Lloret, Joaquin Panelo) downed SD Farms (Sayyu Dantata, Peco Polledo,

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Starfish/ Hutchinson’s Charlie Hutchinson, Cecelia Cochran, Marcos Onetto and Jason Wates won the 8-goal President’s Cup.

SHELLY MARSHALL SCHMIDT

Starfish/ Hyde Park’s Amy Flowers, Justin Pimsner, Del Walton and Jason Wates won the 8-goal Copa de Plata at New Bridge.

Crestview’s Joaquin Panelo, Alan Meeker, Pedro Manion and Hugo Lloret won the 12goal USPA Bronze Trophy.

Rick Hartnett, Willie Hartnett) in the final of the USPA Bronze Trophy.

Dantata and Polledo scored unanswered goals in the first to give SD Farms a boost. Willie Hartnett scored early in the second to increase the lead to three before Crestview turned up the heat.

Panelo knocked in a pair of Penalty 2s, Lloret scored a pair of field goals and Manion tallied and before you knew it, Crestview had a 5-3 advantage. Panelo did further damage in the third with a pair of unanswered field goals for a 7-3 halftime score.

Panelo traded goals with Polledo in the fourth and Lloret answered a Hartnett goal with two of his own for a 10-5 Crestview advantage. Lloret’s lone goal of the sixth was icing on the cake.

Lloret was named MVP and Maruca, played by Panelo and owned by

Crestview Genetics, was Best Playing Pony.

Four teams competed in the event.

On the way to the final, SD Farms defeated Skaneateles 9-8 and Foxdale Equine 9-8 before falling to Crestview Genetics 12-10. Crestview defeated Foxdale Equine 11-9 and Skaneateles 9-8 in overtime.

Earlier in the season, Starfish/ Hutchinson Farms defeated Karna 9-8 in the final of the USPA President’s Cup. Karna (Marcos da Silva, Agustin Arellano, Pedro Lara, Willie Hartnett) led through five chukkers before succumbing to Starfish (Charlie Hutchinson, Cecelia Cochran, Marcos Onetto, Jason Wates). The first chukker had Hartnett, da Silva and Lara reaching the goal to put Karna on top 30. Onetto put Starfish on the board in the second with a Penalty 3 conversion but it was negated by a field goal from Arellano. Onetto wrapped goals around one from Lara in the third, but goals by Arellano and Hartnett put Karna up 7-3 at the half.

In the fourth, Jason Wates converted a Penalty 2, the only goal of the chukker.

In the fifth, Hutchinson scored, then Onetto scored a hat trick to take a firsttime lead, 8-7. Da Silva tied it up early in the sixth, but Cochran sealed the deal with a field goal for Starfish/ Hutchinson Farm.

Jason Wates was named MVP and

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Jesse Coppola presented FlexJet’s Riley Ganzi, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini and Jason Crowder with the Tackeria trophy.

Onetto’s fifth chukker Mozzarella was Best Playing Pony.

The tournament saw six teams divided into two brackets. Preliminary games had LBL/Las Vinas topping Bodega Gratia 11-7; Blackberg Ranch defeating Foxdale Equine 13-11; Starfish/Hutchinson defeating Foxdale 10-2; Karna beating Blackberg 10-6; LBL/Las Vinas defeating Foxdale 11-6; Starfish/ Hutchinson downing Karna 11-7; Blackberg crushing Bodega Gratia 16-8; Karna blasting LBL/Las Vinas 116; and Starfish/Hutchinson edging Bodega Gratia 10-8.

In the semifinals, Starfish/ Hutchinson edged LBL/Las Vinas 10-9 and Karna beat Blackberg 14-7.

FLORIDA

GRAND CHAMPIONS WRAPS UP FALL SEASON

Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida wrapped up a busy fall season with two exciting 20-goal events and its International match (see page 38). But, its medium goal was nearly as exciting.

The season started in early October with the Tackeria Invitational. Four teams battled it out but it was Flexjet (Riley Ganzi, Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Juan Bollini) and Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon, Carlitos

Olexa Mandelbaum presents U.S. Trust’s Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon and Nic Roldan with the U.S. Trust Cup.

Gracida, Juancito Bollini) that made it to the final after defeats of Newport (Gene Goldstein, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Leo Mandelbaum) and Palm Beach Equine (Scott Swerdlin, J.J. Celis, Guille Aguero, Martin Estrada).

In the final, the teams battled back and forth throughout the game with Casablanca taking a 3-1 lead after two chukkers and Flexjet a 6-4 lead after four chukkers. Casablanca tied it up in the last chukker, but with time ticking away, Melissa Ganzi took a pass from Juan Bollini and scored on a cut shot just before the 30-second bell to clinch the win.

Riley Ganzi, a junior at Boca Raton St. Andrew’s School, was named Most Valuable Player. At 16, she is one of the youngest MVPs in club history. “I was pretty happy with how I played considering I haven’t played in over a month,” Ganzi said. “I was just going out there to get back into it and get the feel for things. It turned out really well for me.”

Ganzi played with her mother Melissa, a longtime player, and against her brother, Grant, a freshman at Lynn University and rising player in the sport.

Mother and daughter combined for seven goals in the win.

Open Quarzo, an 8-year-old bay stallion ridden by Melissa Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

In a lightning-shortened subsidiary

game, Palm Beach Equine defeated Newport, 7-5.

The next tournament, The U.S. Trust Cup, was initially postponed due to Hurricane Matthew, however it missed the area allowing polo to go on, albeit it a revised format. The tournament was condensed into a one-day, round-robin format based on net goals.

In the final game U.S. Trust (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon, Nic Roldan) defeated Flexjet (Carlitos Gracida, Jason Crowder, Juan Bollini, Glen Straub) 5½-3 for the victory.

In other round robin games, Flexjet defeated Newport (Guille Aguero, Jesse Bray, JJ Celis, Gene Goldstein) 5-3 and Newport edged U.S. Trust 4-3½.

Jared Sheldon, 29, of U.S. Trust was named MVP and Piaget, a 10-year-old gray Thoroughbred mare played by Sheldon and owned by Halo Polo was named Best Playing Pony.

U.S. Trust jumped out early in the first chukker with a quick goal from Marc Ganzi for a 1½-0 advantage and never relinquished the lead. U.S. Trust lead 4½-1 after the first two chukkers.

In the opening game, Flexjet took the lead in the second chukker on a 30yard penalty shot by Gracida and never trailed after that. Bollini led Flexjet scoring with three goals including one penalty goal. Celis had two for Newport.

Newport edged U.S. Trust 4-3½ in the second game. The lead changed hands three times before Celis scored

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FlexJet’s Juan Bollini, JJ Celis, Riley Ganzi and Juancito Bollini won the Pedro Morrison Memorial at Grand Champions Polo Club.

the go-ahead goal with 4:05 left in the third chukker. Grant Ganzi had a gamehigh three goals. Bray and Celis each had two for Newport.

The following week four teams vied for the Fall Classic. In preliminary matches FlexJet (Melissa Ganzi, Riley Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Juan Bollini) bested Postage Stamp (Annabelle Gundlach, Gene Goldstein, Guille Aguero, Kris Kampsen) 7-5 while Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Tony Calle, Jared Sheldon, Jesse Bray) overcame Audi (Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Carlitos Gracida, Glen Straub) 11-9.

In the final, FlexJet was the first to get on the board with a goal by Riley Ganzi. Casablanca answered with goals from Jared sheldon and Grant Ganzi to take the lead. In the second, Jason Crowder converted a Penalty 2 and Riley scored again while holding Casablanca to a single goal from Sheldon. Grant Ganzi and Jesse Bray sandwiched goals around Riley’s third tally to give Casablanca a 5-4 halftime lead.

Sheldon and Calle scored the only goals of the fourth and Grant Ganzi and Bray combined for three goals in the fifth while holding FlexJet to a Penalty 4 from Crowder to increase Casablanca’s lead to five.

FlexJet rallied in the sixth with four goals while holding Casablanca to one, but it wasn’t enough and Casablanca took the 11-9 victory. Jesse Bray was named MVP and Narnia, a 5-year-old

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Postage Stamp’s Annabelle Gundlach, Nic Roldan, JJ Celis and MVP Marc Ganzi won the Palm Restaurant Invitational.

bay mare played by Bray and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation, Postage Stamp licked Audi 8-5. Star War, an 11-year-old chestnut mare ridden by Marc Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

Postage Stamp had even better luck the following week in the Palm Restaurant Invitational. Five teams filled the rosters hoping for a chance at the trophies.

Postage Stamp (Annabelle Gundlach, Marc Ganzi, JJ Celis, Nic Roldan) met FlexJet (Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Jesse Bray, Glenn Straub) in the final.

FlexJet started with a three-goal handicap but goals by Postage Stamp’s Marc Ganzi and JJ Celis in the first cut the advantage to just one. Jesse Bray scored for FlexJet to increase the lead once again. Melissa Ganzi traded goals with husband Marc Ganzi in the second for FlexJet to maintain the two-goal lead.

Melissa scored early in the third but Marc responded with a field goal and a Penalty 4 conversion to end the half with FlexJet ahead 6-5.

Goals by Marc and Celis in the fourth gave Postage Stamp the lead before a Penalty 2 from Bray tied the score at 77. Bray and Straub scored early in the fifth, but their goals were matched by two from Roldan. Roldan scored again in the sixth to give Postage Stamp the advantage. FlexJet failed to reach the

goal leaving Postage Stamp with the trophies.

Marc Ganzi, high-scorer with five goals, was MVP and Rebecca, played by Bollini was named Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation Carbondale Classic, Casablanca (Martin Estrada, Tony Calle, Juancito Bollini, Jared sheldon) captured the round robin final with a 6-4 win over Dutta Corp (Tim Dutta, Gene Goldstein, Jason Crowder, Carlitos Gracida) and a 7-6 win over KIG (Bash Kazi, Omar Mangalji, Guille Aguero, Kris Kampsen). Gene Goldstein was named MVP and Goldstein’s horse, Noche Azul, was Best Playing Pony.

The season continued with five teams in the Pedro Morrison Memorial.

The final came down to FlexJet (Riley Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, JJ Celis, Juan Bollini) and Audi (Grant Ganzi, Tony Calle, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan).

In that game, while FlexJet owned the first period with Juancito Bollini scoring the only two goals, Audi owned the second with three unanswered goals.

The teams matched each other’s goals in the third for a 5-4 halftime score.

Audi increased its lead in the fourth with Nic Roldan scoring a lone goal.

Juancito Bollini put FlexJet on the board in the fifth with a Penalty 4 and JJ Celis tied it up in the sixth with the only goal of the chukker. The game went into an overtime period and Juan Bollini scored the golden goal to give FlexJet the win.

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Juancito Bollini was MVP and Luna, a 9-year-old dark bay mare played by Tony Calle and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

The same weekend, Palm Beach Polo won the Mt. Sopris Cup at Santa Rita Polo Farm. It was the first medium-goal tournament ever held at the new farm.

Palm Beach Polo (Glenn Straub, Martin Estrada, Carlitos Gracida, Carlucho Arellano) went head to head with Santa Rita (Riley Ganzi/Santos Bollini, Jared Sheldon/Roddy Matthews, Jesse Bray, Juan Bollini) on a windy, rainy afternoon.

Glenn Straub was the first to reach the goal, but it was countered by a goal from Jesse Bray. Straub scored a lone goal in the second. Arellano and Bray traded goals in each of the next three periods, leaving Palm Beach Polo ahead 5-4 going into the final period. In the sixth, it was all Gracida as he scored a pair of goals that went unanswered to secure the win.

Glenn Straub took the MVP award, while Oynx, a 5-year-old bay mare played

by Gracida and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

The Fall Plates was played November 4-6 with four teams competing for the top prize. Travieso (Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Jared Sheldon, Carlucho Arellano) and Palm Beach Polo (Glenn Straub, JJ Celis, Nacho Lezica, Guille Aguero) made it to the final.

Sheldon and Teo Calle put Travieso

Travieso’s Carlucho Arellano, Jared Sheldon, Tony Calle and Teo Calle won the Fall Plates trophy presented by Wendy Calle.

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Audi’s Grant Ganzi, Marc Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Nic Roldan won the Polo Gear Challenge Cup presented by Raul Roldan.

on the board in the first. Those goals were answered by a Penalty 2 conversion and a field goal from Celis and Aguero, respectively, in the second. Palm Beach Polo was silent again in the third, while Sheldon added one for Travieso to end the first half 4-2.

In the fourth, Arellano and Celis traded goals to keep it close. Sheldon scored lone goals in the fifth and again in the sixth for Travieso’s victory.

Teo Calle was MVP and Maserati, a 12-year-old chestnut mare owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm and played by Sheldon, was Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation, Riverview (Riley Ganzi, Martin Estrada, Wes Finlayson, Kris Kampsen) topped Newport (Gene Goldstein, Grant Ganzi, Jesse Bray, Carlitos Gracida) 10-8.

The last medium-goal tournament was the Polo Gear Challenge. Four teams battled it out but only Audi (Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini, Marc Ganzi,

Jesse Bray, Juan Bollini, Roddy Matthews, Santos Bollini, Julio Ezcurra, Carlucho Arellano, Glenn Straub, Martin Estrada and Carlitos Gracida played the Mt. Sopris Cup.

Grant Ganzi) and Travieso (Kris Kampsen, Tony Calle, Jesse Bray, Gene Goldstein) made it to the final. That match was a low-scoring defensive showdown. The game featured five scoreless chukkers, three by Travieso and two by Audi. Father and son Marc and Grant Ganzi scored the final two goals. Grant Ganzi scored on a Penalty 3 to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth chukker and Marc scored on a neck shot with 2:39 left in the sixth chukker to lift the team.

Audi’s Marc Ganzi was MVP after scoring four goals, including three Penalty 4s. Kris Kampsen’s 6-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred named Frank’s Chicken Coop was named Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation Polo Gear

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ERG’s Duilio Diaz, Michel Dorignac, Scott Wood, Mike Azzaro and Harrison Azzaro won the Western Challenge in Houston.

Challenge Cup Handicap final Palm Beach Polo (Glenn Straub, Jared Sheldon, Jeff Blake, Carlitos Gracida) came from behind to defeat Dutta Corp (Tim Dutta, Guille Aguero, Timmy Dutta, Jason Crowder) 10-5.

SOUTHWEST

TONKAWA TAKES TWO 12-GOALS IN HOUSTON

Tonkawa came away the winner in two 12-goal finals at the Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas this fall. Six teams filled the rosters in the season’s 12-goal tournament.

The first 12-goal slipped Tonkawa’s hands when ERG took the trophies in the final of the 12-goal Western Challenge on September 18.

ERG’s Scott Wood, Duilio Diaz, Michel Dorignac and Mike Azzaro met up with Tonkawa’s Jeff Hildebrand, Steve Krueger, Matt Coppola and Tommy Biddle in the final.

Krueger struck first to put Tonkawa on the board, but Azzaro quickly responded for ERG. Dorignac followed in the second with two in a row before Biddle sunk a Penalty 4 conversion.

But ERG wasn’t quite done. Azzaro scored a Penalty 3 and Dorignac shot one in from the field for a 5-2 ERG advantage at the end of the first 14 minutes.

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Tonkawa’s Jeff Hildebrand, Steve Krueger, Matt Coppola and Tommy Biddle won the Beal Cup and H. Ben Taub Memorial.

Azzaro and Dorignac combined for two more in the third, while Tonkawa came up empty, ending the half with ERG sporting a comfortable 7-2 lead.

In the second half, Krueger nailed a Penalty 3, then Biddle found the mark on a safety to cut the deficit to three. Azzaro’s Penalty 2 conversion gave ERG an 8-4 lead. Tonkawa made some headway in the fifth period with goals by Krueger and Coppola while ERG was held scoreless to bring Tonkawa to within two. But ERG returned the favor in the sixth with unanswered goals by Harrison Azzaro, who replaced Wood, and Dorignac to finish strong at 10-6.

Michel Dorignac was named MVP and Matt Coppola’s Ganja was Best Playing Pony.

The same two teams battled it out for the final of the USPA Keleen & Carlton Beal Cup two weeks later on October 2. But this time Tonkawa was the powerhouse.

Krueger again struck first, and Azzaro again answered but that is were the similarities in the games ended.

Matt Coppola got on the board in the second chukker. Michel Dorignac responded, but Krueger got in the last word to end the second with Tonkawa on top 3-2. Tommy Biddle added a Penalty 3 conversion early in the third, but Azzaro knocked in two in a row to tie the score at 4-all. Biddle broke the tie and Krueger added another to end

the first half with Tonkawa leading 6-4.

Tonkawa carried the momentum into the second half with Coppola adding two goals in each of the next two chukkers. Krueger scored in the fourth, and Biddle in the fifth, all while keeping ERG from reaching the goal to take a 12-4 lead into the last chukker. Coppola knocked in another for good measure early in the sixth.

ERG rallied with a goal by Duilio Diaz and two from Dorignac, but Tonkawa sailed home with the 13-7 victory.

Steve Krueger was MVP and Matt Coppola’s gray mare Olivia was Best Playing Pony.

In the subsidiary Milagro Cup, Eureka edged Pegasus 5-4. Jorge Cernadas was MVP and Shania, owned and played by Jeff Hall, was Best Playing Pony.

Just two weeks later, Tonkawa made it to its third final, this time in the USPA H.Ben Taub Memorial. It faced a Pegasus team made up of David Andras, Nick Cifuni, Mason Wroe and Joe Wayne Barry.

Tonkawa owned the first chukker with unanswered goals from Tommy Biddle and Steve Krueger. Andras put Pegasus on the board in the second, but it was negated by a goal from Krueger. Mason Wroe made two runs to goal to tie the score at 3-3 after two periods. Krueger broke the tie with a lone goal in the third to end the half with Tonkawa narrowly leading 4-3.

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Eureka’s Rene Campos, Jorge Cernadas, MVP Jeff Hall and Jose Barrientos won the Texas Open in Houston.

Biddle and Wroe traded goals in the fourth, and Hildebrand was the only player to connect in the fifth, stretching Tonkawa’s lead to two.

Tonkawa was shut out in the sixth chukker but Pegasus was limited to a single goal from Joe Wayne Barry, leaving Tonkawa with a 6-5 victory.

Tommy Biddle was MVP and Mason Wroe’s Basil was Best Playing Pony.

The 12-goal concluded with the Texas Open. Five teams competed for the coveted Texas Open spurs and final bragging rights.

Competition was tough with the semifinal matches decided by a goal or two. Tonkawa moved on to its fourth final to face Eureka (Rene Campos, Jose Barrientos, Jeff Hall, Jorge Cernadas), that earned its first berth of the season.

The teams squared off on a cloudy and windy Sunday in downtown Houston on the historic Farish Field.

Tonkawa maintained a one-goal lead for the first two chukkers, but Eureka’s Jeff Hall was not going to remain behind for long. Eureka held Tonkawa’s offense scoreless in the third chukker, and managed to score two goals of its own to take the lead.

Due to the impending weather outlook during the game, the umpires decided to cancel halftime and bring the players out to start the second half as soon as they could. Hall and Barrientos kept the pressure on,

7 Bar W/Rocking P’s Marcos Villanueva, Nick Cifuni, Sheila Lequerica and Carl and Courtney Price won the Delegates Cup.

scoring three goals in the fourth chukker to bring Eureka to a threegoal lead. Tonkawa’s Krueger, Coppola and Biddle each scored in the fifth chukker, closing to the gap to one goal as the teams mounted up for the sixth and final chukker.

Unfortunately for Tonkawa, Hall was having a day for the record books.

He scored three unanswered goals in the last chukker, ending the game with the score Eureka 11, Tonkawa 7.

Hall was awarded MVP honors for a spectacularly played game. His mare Margarita received the Best Playing Pony award, as she was an integral part Hall’s success.

In 8-goal action at the club, 7 Bar W/Rocking P took the win in the Delegates Cup on September 24. The teams included Sheila Lequerica, Carl Price splitting with Courtney Price, Nick Cifuni and Marcos Villanueva for 7 Bar W/Rocking P and Kelly Beal, Tiamo Hudspeth, Miguel Silvestre and Jimmy Seward for BTA 2.

Villanueva got the scoring started with a pair of goals in the first chukker. Carl Price added another in the second before Silvestre and Seward scored for BTA. Tied at 3 apiece, the teams went on a defensive battle for the next two periods with neither team able to reach the goal. Seward finally broke through in the fifth, but his goal was answered by a pair of goals from Cifuni and a goal from Courtney Price

to end the fifth with 7 Bar ahead 6-4.

Price and Hudspeth traded goals in the sixth, leaving 7 Bar ahead by two for the win.

Kelly Beal was named MVP and Nick Cifuni’s Lady Luck, who he played in the fifth chukker, was Best Playing Pony.

On October 5, BTA met Rocking P/Lockton in the final of the National 8 Goal Cup. BTA had Chrys Beal, Shane Rice, Kelly Beal and Jimmy Seward, while Rocking P/Lockton had Carl Price, Charles Fridge, Facundo Obregon and Hernan Tejera. In the first chukker, Rice swapped goals with Obregon and Price scored a lone goal in the second. Rocking P counted goals

by Obregon and Fridge in the third while holding BTA to a goal from Seward for a 4-2 lead at the half.

Seward and Beal combined for three goals in the fourth while Obregon scored one to knot the score at 5-5. Rice and Price traded goals in the fifth to keep the score level. The final chukker was an all-out battle as the teams traded barbs. A Penalty 2 conversion by Fridge put Rocking P on top, but a goal by Rice leveled the score again. Obregon put Rocking P ahead, but a Penalty 2 from Chrys Beal knotted the score at 8-all.

Another costly mistake as time was winding down gave BTA another chance from the Penalty 2 line, which Kelly Beal easily slipped through the

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BTA’s Kelly Beal, Jimmy Seward, Shane Rice and Chrys Beal won the National 8-goal over Rocking P/Lockton.

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post for the 9-8 win.

Jimmy Seward was MVP and Roman, owned by Marcos Villanueva and played by Facundo Obregon, was best Playing Pony.

A few weeks later, the Regional President’s Cup final pitted Lockton/7 Bar W against BTA/Rocking P. Lockton/7 Bar W had Sheila Lequerica, Charles Fridge, Hernan Tejera and Mason Wroe, while BTA/Rocking P had Chrys Beal, Carl Price, Marcos Villanueva and Shane Rice.

The game was close throughout the first half with Lockton taking a 5-4 lead into the half. Lockton began with a one-goal handicap and Fridge and Wroe each scored two goals. Price scored twice for BTA and Villanueva and Rice added one each. BTA went silent after the half until the final chukker. Meanwhile, Wroe added two more for Lockton and Tejera added one for an 8-4 lead after five chukkers.

The last seven minutes had BTA playing catch-up but for each goal it scored, Lockton matched it leaving Lockton/ 7 Bar W the 10-6 winner.

Mason Wroe was high-scorer with four goals, earning him MVP honors and his horse Rocco was given the Best Playing Pony blanket.

The St. Regis Cup was the last 8 goal of the season. 7 Bar W/Rocking

Lockton/ 7 Bar W’s Mason Wroe, Hernan Tejera, Charles Fridge and Sheila Lequerica won the Regional President’s Cup.

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7 Bar W/Rocking P’s Mason Wroe Matt Coppola, Sheila Lequerica, Grayson Price and Carl Price won the St. Regis Classic.

P’s Mason Wroe, Matt Coppola, Sheila Lequerica, Grayson Price and Carl Price got the best of BTA 2’s Kelly Beal, Jimmy Seward, KC Krueger and Steve Krueger. BTA 2 went into the final undefeated, while 7 Bar W/Rocking P was 2-1. Mason Wroe was named MVP and Matt Coppola’s Olivia was Best Playing Pony.

In 4-goal action, CW Petroleum/ Tylee Farms topped a seven-team roster to take the trophies in the singleelimination Autumn Classic on September 18. The team’s Chris Williams, Russell Stimmel, Jake Stimmel and Al Pepi edged Horsegate’s Sloan Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo, Ignacio Saenz and Nick Stefanakis in a penalty shoot-out after the teams deadlocked at 5-5.

Horsegate got off to a good start

with Saenz scoring a lone goal in the first but CW woke up in the second with a flurry of goals by the Stimmel brothers.

Horsegate nearly caught up by the end of the third, 4-3, with goals by Sloan Stefanakis and Saenz, while holding CW to a goal by Russell Stimmel.

Horsegate took a brief lead in the fourth with goals by Mancebo and Saenz but a last effort by Jake Stimmel leveled the score at 5 as time ran out.

In the shootout, three of CW players made their shots from the 40yard line, while only one Horsegate player could find the mark.

Ten days later, Cat Spring and Bad Luck & Trouble/Dunbar Capital survived the single-elimination Houston Cup, which began with seven teams. In the final, Cat Spring’s Kendall Plank, Ray Stainback, Billy Mudra and Nacho Ferrari faced BL&T/Dunbar Capital’s Nick Dunbar, John Tasdemir, Kristy Outhier and Bryan Middleton.

Bad Luck & Trouble actually had good luck in the first half when Nick Dunbar matched a goal from Ray Stainback and Bryan Middleton sunk a Penalty 4 in the first seven minutes. A Middleton Penalty 6 conversion matched a Mudra field goal to end the first half with BL&T ahead 3-2. Cat Spring pounced in the third with

R E P O R T

KAYLEE WROE

KAYLEE WROE

P O L O

Cat Spring’s Billy Mudra, Nacho Ferrari, Ray Stainback and Kendall Plank won the Houston Cup over Bad Luck & Trouble.

KAYLEE WROE

KAYLEE WROE

CW Petroleum/Tylee Farms’ Al Pepi, Chris Williams, Russell Stimmel and Jake Stimmel won the Autumn Classic at Houston.

Horsegate’s Ariel Mancebo, Sloan Stefanakis, Nick Stefanakis and Ignacio Saenz won the Penny and Governor’s Cups.

Kendall Plank converting two open goal penalties and Nacho Ferrari driving home a pair of goals. BL&T stayed in contention thanks to a goal from Kristy Outhier. Plank scored again in the fourth to put Cat Spring ahead by three. BL&T tried to catch up but was unable to reach the goal, giving Cat Spring the 7-4 win.

The Penny Cup drew eight teams divided into two brackets, with the best team in each bracket meeting in the final. Cat Spring’s Kendall Plank, Chino Payan, Chad Bowman and Billy Mudra met Horsegate’s Ariel Mancebo, Sloan Stefanakis, Nick Stefanakis and Ignacio Saenz, the only team to go undefeated, in the final. Horsegate started with a half-goal handicap.

It was a low-scoring game with the only goals scored in the first half off the mallet of Ignacio Saenz in the first

Shanghai/Bearsden’s injured Steve Armour, his sub Dalton Woodfin, Taylor Freeman, Cody Woodfin and Carol Farnsworth

period. There were no goals in the second, but Cat Spring again pounced in the third. Chino Payan scored, followed by a pair of Penalty 2 conversion by Kendall Plank to give Cat Spring a slight 3-2½ advantage. In the last seven minutes Sloan Stefanakis and Ignacio Saenz wrapped goals around one from Billy Mudra to give Horsegate the 4½-4 victory.

Horsegate had even more success in the USPA Governor’s Cup qualifier.

Again, eight teams were divided into two brackets, with the winner in each bracket advancing to the final.

Horsegate was undefeated at 3-0, while Russo’s Pizzeria advanced with a 2-1 record.

Russo’s Pizza included Sarah Prinsloo, Anson Moore, Duilio Diaz and Mark Prinsloo. Horsegate began with a half-goal handicap and was the

first out of the gate with a goal by Ignacio Saenz, but Mark Prinsloo responded with three goals. Saenz added another to keep Horsegate close at 3-2½. A lone goal by Ariel Mancebo in the second put Horsegate on top by half a goal. Penalty conversions by Saenz and Sloan Stefanakis matched a pair of Penalty 2s by Sarah Prinsloo.

The last chukker had Horsegate sealing the deal with a Penalty 4 conversion by Saenz and a goal by Mancebo while Russo’s Pizzeria came up empty. Final score was 7½-5 in favor of Horsegate.

The last 4 goal of the season drew five teams with CW Petroleum/Tylee Farms (Chris Williams, Russell Stimmel, Jake Stimmel, Joe Stimmel filling in for Al Pepi) duking it out in the final against Shanghai/Bearsden (Steve Armour, Carol Farnsworth,

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

P O L O

R E P O R T

Cody Woodfin, Taylor Freeman) for the Malbec Cup. Shanghai started with a half-goal handicap, which Cody Woodfin added to in the first chukker. CW didn’t get rolling until the second when Jake and Russell Stimmel scored, but their goals were matched by Dalton Woodfin and Freeman, giving Shanghai a 3½-2 halftime lead. Chris Williams and Joe Stimmel split the uprights in the third, but Shanghai had the answer with a pair of goals by Cody Woodfin and a tally by Taylor Freeman. That would be the last of the scoring for Shanghai, but CW was limited to a single goal in the last period. Shanghai held on for the 6½-5 win and the bottles of fine Malbec wine.

H AWA I I A N I S L A N D S

TROPIC LIGHTNING POLO MATCH HELD IN HAWAII

The Third Annual Tropic Lightning Warrior Polo Match was held at the Honolulu Polo Club in Honolulu, Hawaii on October 6. The event is held in conjunction with the 75th Birthday of the 25th Tropic Lightning Infantry Division.

The celebration included a week-long series of competitions of athletic and sports events to showcase the pride and achievements of the Tropic Lightning Warriors.

To prepare for the polo event, eight active duty soldiers get training and coaching for six weeks. Six new soldiers joined the USPA for the event, an example of the efforts of the Armed Forces Committee promoting polo.

The day of the polo match included several special events including the unveiling of a unique tribute to female soldiers at the division’s “United by Sacrifice” memorial. The division of 12,000 plus soldiers then assembled on

Eight active duty soldiers trained for six weeks to prepare for the Tropic Lightning Warrior Polo Match held in Honolulu.

the Gen. Frederick Weyand Parade field for a time honored military tradition, the review conducted by Adm. Harris, commander of the Pacific Command.

The polo match began with Maj. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, division commanding general, throwing in the ball. During halftime, two soldiers were invited from the stands to come on to the field and try their hand hitting a ball with a foot mallet for distance and accuracy. This was a crowd-pleaser and both participants were presented with Honolulu Polo Club shirts and caps.

The match ended with Team Lightning prevailing over Team Strike.

The perpetual Warrior Trophy was presented to the winning team by Honolulu Polo Club officials.

The resources of horses, time, energy and support provided by the Honolulu Polo Club members are greatly appreciated by our military heroes.

Special mahalo to Alice and Beau Broughton, Michael Ebinger, Bob Miller, Tim Fitt, Ed Moneido and coaches Khai Agon and Allen Hoe. Team Lightning (in green) prevailed over Team Strike (in red) in the Third Annual Tropic Lightning Warrior Polo match.

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

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D E C E M B E R 2 9 - JA N UA RY 1 Herbie Pennell Cup (20) International, Wellington, FL D E C E M B E R 31 - J A N U A R Y 2 9 USPA Gen Patton Jr. Tourney (4) Empire, Indio, CA J A N U A R Y 3 - 31 4-Goal League (4) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL JA N UA RY 4 - 15 USPA Governors Cup (6) Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, FL JA N UA RY 4 - 2 2 Joe Barry Cup (20) International, Wellington, FL

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JA N UA RY 7 - 15 Mack & Madelyn Jason Memorial (8) USPA Carlton & Keleen Beal Cup (4) Eldorado, Indio, CA JA N UA RY 7 - 2 8 Limited Edition 12-goal Series Grand Champions, Wellington, FL J A N U A R Y 1 0 - 17 USPA Arena Constitution Cup Flying Cow, Wellington, FL JA N UA RY 12 - F E B RUA RY 4 Cypress Challenge (12) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL JA N UA RY 13 - 2 2 Mayaca Challenge (4-6) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL Club tournaments (6, 8) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL J A N U A R Y 14 U.S. vs U.K. Military match The Townsend Cup WestWorld, Scottsdale, AZ JA N UA RY 15 International Intercollegiate Cup U.S. Sherman Memorial Cup WestWorld, Scottsdale, AZ

MARKETPLACE

The Fourth Annual Polo for a Purpose event is a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The day begins with a poolside cocktail reception, followed by a gourmet lunch with live and silent auctions.

Fans will enjoy a high-goal match, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor and LLS honorary chair Brandon Phillips. The event is capped off with a live performance

by Gipsy Sound Revolution. Go to poloforapurpose.org for information.

JA N UA RY 6 - 15 USPA Carlton & Keleen Beal Cup (12) Eldorado, Indio, CA JA N UA RY 6 - 2 9 Metropolitan Cup (6) Aspen Valley Cup (8) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL

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TRAINING WHEELS Bicycle polo makes a fine foundation for traditional polo

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he history of bicycle polo traces back to when the game was invented in 1891 in County Wicklow, Ireland, by cyclist Richard J. Mecredy, editor of the Irish Cyclist magazine. Mecredy had retired from bicycle racing and was looking for some “strenuous amusement” to fill his time. When he couldn’t find anything suitable, he invented the game.

Mecredy and a few friends roughed out a set of rules and the first bicycle polo match was played in October 1891 at a place called the Scalp, some 20 miles outside of Dublin.

According to a report in the 1891 edition of Cycling, 40 cyclers descended on the Ohne Hast Cycling Club where the Rathclaren Rovers took on the Ohne Hast Cycling Club team.

The report went on to say, “On arriving, the game of cycling polo was inaugurated, and promised to be immensely popular with the members, and not at all so dangerous as would appear from the title. After a few games there were hardly any collisions, and these only occurred when the riders were travelling at a very slow pace. One would think that polo is a sport which would ... gladden the heart of the cycle repairer, but there was not even a bent pedal pin after the game on Saturday. R.J. Mecredy is enthusiastic about it, and hopes to get up a few matches when it becomes more generally known.”

Later, Cycling’s then editor C. P. Sisley wrote, “Quite a little stir has been caused over the announcement of cycle polo. We admit the needed diversity of cycling from mere turning of the cranks, but believe

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

Bicycle polo was featured on collectible cards found in cigarette boxes in 1939. They were produced by John Player & Sons.

that the average rider’s fear for the safety of his wheel will militate greatly against the general acceptance of the new sport.”

Cycling followed with several references to bicycle polo over the following weeks. On October 31, 1891 it published the rules of bicycle polo and on November 21 wrote, “Cycle polo is not a mere trick-riding per-

formance in the sense suggested by a correspondent. On the contrary, it is a scientific athletic exercise, and is rapidly gaining in favour in the land of its inception–Ireland. One very salient advantage of the new game is that it will most efficiently train the hands, head, and eye of the racing man; a highly necessary schooling in these days of huge fields of safety-racing men, when the slightest error in steering loses the race, and perhaps causes a fearful smash.”

Near the end of the 19th century the game wheeled its way to Great Britain. A.C. Hills, who formed the Birmingham Bicycle Polo Club, was a partner in the Osmond Cycle Co. and was the first to design and build a bicycle specifically for polo. Soon after, the Bicycle Polo Association was formed, with headquarters in the Sheen House Club in West London.

The rules permitted a rougher style of play than was previously seen. A September 19, 1898 article in London’s Morning Post read, “Irish polo you play on your own machine. Sheen House polo you play on that of a confiding friend.”

Mecredy brought two teams to play an exhibition match in Britain in 1898. To emphasize the safety of the Irish version, he included a woman on one of the of teams, which went on to win. A report in the Irish Cyclist read, “She proved unmistakably the safety of the game.”

Though Ireland’s version of the game was safer, it proved to be more effective when Ireland beat England 10-5 in the first competitive international match played on September 28, 1901. The match was played

at London’s Crystal Palace.

Bicycle polo seemed to stagnate a bit until July 1908, when a bicycle polo exhibition match was played in conjunction with the Olympic Games held in London. The match, played between Ireland and a German cyclist team in town to compete in track cycling competitions, was held at White City Stadium. Ireland won the match 3-1.

After that, bicycle polo had all but faded away until the late 1920s when the April 29, 1926 edition of The Youth’s Companion published an editorial concerning the rising popularity of bicycle polo in the United States, particularly as a great way for young boys to learn on bicycles the rudiments of the sport of polo that was traditionally played on horseback.

What was truly interesting and of historical value were the enthusiastic letter responses the bicycle polo editorial elicited from a number of renowned polo enthusiasts, many of whom ended up contributing to the preservation and growth of the sport of polo in the early years of the 20th century. Those inspired letter responses were published in the June 10, 1926 edition under the title, “Bicycle Polo; Famous Polo Players Advocate This New Game.”

The editorial declared that bicycle polo, judging from the mail the publisher had received, was going to be one of the most deservedly popular outdoor games for boys in this country. At the beginning of the editorial there were letters from some of the most famous polo players of that era writing about bicycle polo. Yet their tributes, remarkable as they are, formed only a tiny fraction of the mail received from all over the country. Responses thanked The Youth’s Companion for having promoted bicycle polo, and a great many of those responders had written that they had played it themselves when they were boys; in spite of the fact polo on bicycles had never before been organized on a national scale with many of the leading country clubs and schools anxious to foster it.

The letters published at the beginning of the editorial were written by traditional polo players, three of whom participated on

Illustrations of strokes and bicycles found in a booklet put out

by The Bicycle Polo Association of Great Britain in the 1930s.

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

the 1925 American international team and who have since been inducted in the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame. One of the letters came from Malcolm Stevenson who wrote: “Gentlemen: I highly recommend Bicycle Polo to be played under official rules for boys in America. I know it is a fine game, as I played it myself as a boy.”

In addition to Stevenson, it was reported that polo immortal Tommy Hitchcock also began his polo experiences riding a bicycle as a youth.

Another letter was from left-handed, 10goal player J. Watson Webb who wrote, “The game of Bicycle Polo is a great help towards developing polo players later on. I was never fortunate enough to play it. I believe the greatest help the game affords is developing a correct stroke.”

Devereux Milburn wrote, “Gentlemen: I think Bicycle Polo is a most excellent game in every way. It is good fun and good exercise. I don’t know what you could ask of a game more than that. It also serves to develop young players for the real game of polo.

I don’t know of a better school. A great many of our best players started on bicycles. It develops a good natural stroke, and if played the right way, is very instructive in the tactics of polo, which is the most important thing in the modern game of polo.

“If I were looking after a youngster and wanted him to become a polo player, I would start him on his way on a bicycle.”

The fourth letter written in support of Bicycle Polo was from then-chairman of the United States Polo Association Louis E. Stoddard who wrote, “Gentlemen: I have never played Bicycle Polo, but am an enthusiastic admirer of the game. I cannot think of a better game for boys to play. The hitting is exactly like that in regulation polo, and in my opinion is the best possible training for a boy for the big game—much better in fact than indoor polo, where the ball, and consequently the stroke, is very different.”

Of the many letters published, there were several providing brief glimpses of how bicycle polo impacted some of the most storied names and locations of Amer62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

R.J. Mecredy is considered the father of bicycle polo.

ican polo history. For examples, the following letters were sent from various parts of the Unites States: Mr. F.S. O’Reilly, of the Executive Committee of the United States Polo Association, wrote that Bicycle Polo will develop hitting stokes, team play and a sense of balance to a marked degree, and this will put boys well on a proficiency in the most thrilling and fascinating of sports, which is making such great advances throughout the country.”

Mr. John Bowman, president of the Biltmore Hotel in New York City, and an able polo player, believed Bicycle Polo would be a splendid help and impetus to the great

game of polo and everything should be done to foster this game on the “silent steed.”

Philadelphian poloist John W. Converse indicated Bicycle Polo was an excellent thing for boys, and should be encouraged in schools and elsewhere, whether the boy may play real polo afterwards or not. Converse witnessed it played at the Aiken (South Carolina) Preparatory School, noting that some of the boys graduated into regulation polo and were doing well, notably Frankie Hitchcock, Cokie Rathbone, Jimmie Mills and the Gerry boys. He had seen boys having a lot of fun with Bicycle Polo on a tennis court, playing two on a side and noted that many schools have courts of this kind and advised to use a soft indoor polo ball or baseball, which does not travel as far as a wooden one.

Army polo in 1926 was an important segment of those who were playing polo at various military installations scattered throughout the United States. Colonel J.R. Lindsay, who at the time, commanded the 14th Cavalry at Fort Des Moines, Iowa wrote, “I read your article on Bicycle Polo with the greatest of interest and you can quote me as heartily endorsing the game.

Besides advancing the cause of polo by developing young players at an age when they cannot afford horses, The Youth Com-

The first organized game of bicycle polo was played at a place called the Scalp in County Wicklow, Ireland in 1891.

panion is accomplishing a great thing for the development of our youth; for polo, like football, requires and develops head work and initiative, brawn and endurance, in addition to the team work so needed in every walk of life. I have detailed an officer to look into the situation with a view to organizing several teams in the Fort Des Moines district. It is a splendid idea.”

Apparently, the article spurred interest by major bicycle and sporting goods manufacturers who began to take steps to make the wheeled version of the sport safer and less expensive. John T. Doyle, president of the American Sports Publishing Company forwarded the bicycle polo editorial to the “polo expert” at A.G. Spaulding & Bros., who apparently suggested Bicycle Polo rule changes as well as a reminder that regulation Bicycle Polo mallets and balls were available from all sporting good dealers who carried Spaulding goods.

A Mr. H.J. McCarthy, executive secretary of the Cyclist Trades of America, Inc. wrote to inform readers that its engineers were studying bicycles used in the game with a view to producing an ideal machine, which will resist the most common strains and stresses and will make the game even faster and more enjoyable.

The June 10th editorial concluded with the following sentiments: “Boys who feel an

Malcolm Stevenson wrote that he played bicycle polo as a boy, it was a fine game and he highly recommended it for boys.

Many traditional polo players recommended bicycle polo to help develop young players for the “real game of polo.”

impulse to play Bicycle Polo, and so fit themselves for regulation polo within a few years, should secure regulation balls and equip themselves with satisfactory mallets.

The best are the ones you buy. Very efficient substitutes, for practice, can be readily made by any boy … The best time to play Bicycle Polo is summer, and summer is here. It is a wonderful game. Complete rules of Bicycle Polo will be mailed for ten cents.”

In Britain, the game was all but forgotten until Cyril S. Scott, who like Mecredy retired from bicycle racing and was looking for something else to do. Scott was a former hockey player, had played water polo and was acquainted with traditional horse polo but had never heard of bicycle polo. He rode with a local cycling club and the memPOLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63

An exhibition bicycle polo match was played between Irish and German teams during the London Olympics in 1908.

Ireland won the exhibition match held at White City Stadium. The German team was made up of cyclists competing in track cyclists competitions.

The Irish team (above) won the exhibition match 3-1 over the Germans, but took no medals home.

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

bers would take a football with them on their rides to throw around on breaks. One day, Scott and a fellow member picked up sticks and branches of trees and started to hit the football around, while riding their bikes. They set up goals and other members joined in.

Eventually, the cyclists made mallets out of broom handles and used balls made of oak. Several games were played before they decided they needed to come up with some rules. Scott took Hurlingham Polo Association rules and combined them with the rules of the Kent Hockey Association. Within a few months, Scott invited five friends to his house and the Bicycle Polo Association of Great Britain was founded on February 1, 1930. The following month the association had 12 members with two honorary members.

By that summer, leagues were set up and local cycling clubs were invited to join in. But by September, the association had grown by only four new members. It may have been due to an article in Cycling magazine. The article stated, “The greatest drawback to bicycle polo is that casualties to mounts are pretty frequent, so that players have, of necessity, to possess a decent sized stud of machines which they can afford to have smashed up quite often.”

The association responded with a letter to the editor pointing out the errors in the paper’s article regarding supposed damage to the machines.

Whether the letter helped to dispel fears of equipment damage is unclear, however

by December of that year, interest in the sport had grown so much that the association rented a second field. Interest continued to grow throughout the 1930s and by 1938 100 clubs were affiliated with the Bicycle Polo Association, representing 170 teams and more than 1,000 players.

Bicycle polo, for the most part, did not survive the Second World War. There was some bicycle polo still played in France, but it had virtually disappeared everywhere else. Bicycle polo made a comeback in the 1980s. Today, organized bicycle polo is played in at least 20 countries around the world.

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