Oct 2017 Polo Players' Edition

O C T O B E R 2 01 7

Farmers & Merchants Bank Takes Pacific Coast Open

$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada

DISTINCTIVE SANTA BARBARA PROPERTIES

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Suzanne Perkins is One of the Foremost Experts on Luxury Equestrian Properties in California.

Recognized by the Wall Street Journal as a Top Pr oducing Real Estate Agent in A merica

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CONTENTS O CTO B E R 201 7

VO L . 21 ,

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

28 Back to back by Kylie Sheehan

6

Zone 3 defends NYTS Championship

32 Polo in Paradise by Gwen Rizzo

Association News

USPA Bulletin Club Spotlight

14 Instructors Forum

Santa Barbara high-goal season ends in PCO thriller

by Tom Goodspeed

38 On a Lim by Steve Lim

16 Viewpoints

Diary of a severe polo addict

18 20 24 26 42

O C T O B E R 2 01 7

Farmers & Merchants Bank Takes Pacific Coast Open

NO. 2

OUR COVER Danny Walker won his first Pacific Coast Open this year, fulfilling a dream Photo by: Shelley Heately

44 58 59 64

by Stuart Armstrong Equine Athlete by Gwen Rizzo Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes

Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas

by Ernesto Rodriguez

Polo around the Globe Calendar Marketplace Yesteryears

46 Polo Report

Oak Brook wins Drake Challenge Cup

$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada

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

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

THE

OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

Editor & Publisher

GWEN D. RIZZO

Contributing Editors

HEATHER SMITH THOMAS, ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, ALICE GIPPS, CHRIS ASHTON, TOM GOODSPEED

Editorial Board BOB PUETZ, TONY COPPOLA, TOM BIDDLE, DAWN WEBER, AMI SHINITZKY Art Director DAVID BEVERAGE Prepress PUBLISHERS PRESS Advertising & Editorial Offices USPA Member Subscription Inquiries (800) 232-8772 OR FAX (888) 341-7410 ldolan@uspolo.org

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©Copyright 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. 21, No.2 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449 for U.S. Polo Association, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467.

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

Governor-at-Large Election The United States Polo Association would like to congratulate the following winners of the 2017 Governor-at-Large election. The election took place from mid-June until mid-August. Members were encouraged to participate in the election and voted these 12 candidates into office: Julio Arellano Steven Armour Stewart Armstrong Chrys Beal Maureen Brennan Anthony Coppola Dennis Geiler Stephen Orthwein Jr. Peter Poor Peter Rizzo Charles Smith Scott Walker The USPA would also like to thank all of the candidates and USPA members for their participation in this year’s election.

Umpire App The international and USPA rules libraries on the Polo Umpire app are comprehensive video libraries allowing players and clubs of all abilities to enhance their understanding of the polo rules and procedures outlined in the 2017 United States Polo Association Rulebook. This educational tool provides real life, in-game examples allowing umpires and players to have access to the same benchmarks, bringing clarity to rules and procedures.

In association with the USPA Umpires LLC, video content has been carefully selected using the best footage available from drone and side-line cameras to clearly represent each foul type. Every video selected contains the written rule, 6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

an in-depth description of the play and explanation of the resulting foul, nonfoul call or procedure. Furthermore, there are on-screen annotations to further illustrate the play, displaying line of the ball, right of way and correct/incorrect maneuvers.

The USPA Umpires, LLC have utilized Dartfish technology on the Polo Umpire app to enhance its game review and training as well as improve consistency across all levels of polo. With the integration of the international rules and increased use of Dartfish technology, a 12.5 percent decrease was seen in the total number of fouls between years for the Florida high-goal season, creating a faster, safer game for all players.

Utilizing the video review via Dartfish technology for instant feedback and training, promotes consistency across all umpires and tournaments to ensure players can perform at their best.

All USPA members are invited to receive access to this same technology to further develop the dialogue between players and umpires, to promote the fastest, safest style of play.

For free access to the Polo Umpire app and rules video libraries, please visit uspolo.org.

Member Club Profiles The USPA is thrilled to unveil Club Profiles, the newest feature of the uspolo.org website!

The USPA Communications Department has been developing a club profile template over the past few months and it will now be available for all active member clubs and affiliate member clubs. Uspolo.org receives thousands of daily visitors and wants to leverage this traffic to bring more exposure to member clubs nationwide and internationally.

Each profile will be customized with a unique image header, club logo, contact information, social media accounts, club bio, 12-15 club features, certified polo instructors, USPA tournaments and more. Club Profiles will live in the sport section of the website and users will be able to quickly view clubs in their surrounding area as well as search for them.

All clubs received an emailed Jotform in August detailing what was needed to complete their profile. If your club would like to know more about club profiles, or would like receive another Jotform, please email Cristina Fernandez, club marketing coordinator at cfernandez@uspolo.org.

ANDREW JONES

Third Annual Will Tankard Memorial participants: Cristina Fernandez, Stephen Burr, Marcos and Mae Onetto, Phill Zocco, Dave Strouss, J Paul Meyer, Marion Dierickx, Phoebe Ingram, Cissie Snow, Nick and Violet Snow, Whitney and Águistín Ellis, Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld, Annie Colloredo-Mansfeld, Crocker Snow and Sian Joseph

Will Tankard Memorial The Third Annual Will Tankard Memorial Tournament took place Aug. 26, at the Myopia Polo Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts, to honor Tankard, who died tragically in a traffic accident, along with three horses and his dog in 2015 at the age of 31.

It was a gorgeous weekend for polo as the summer temperatures cooled for a perfect afternoon of play on Winthrop Field. Three teams, made up of friends who had all been touched by Will’s incredible generosity and spirit, took to the field to honor his memory in the most appropriate way—by playing the sport he dedicated his life to pursuing.

Not only did the players don green, gray and light blue jerseys with Will’s polo brand, but many a spectating toddler played fieldside in their Tankard apparel. Friends and family traveled from all over the country to participate in a fantastic weekend of activities including honored guests, Cissie Snow (Will’s mother), and his brother Jason along with Jason’s 3-year-old daughter Kaya. Friday night kicked off with a barbecue at the Harvard Polo & Equestrian Center, followed by polo on Saturday and a beautiful dinner celebration hosted by Franz and Anne Colloredo-Mansfeld.

“Will was one of the most humble and genuine people I have ever known,” said friend Nick Snow. “He appreciated the

simple things in life and pretty much always kept a good sense of humor, no matter the situation. He was a big part of the polo community here are at Myopia and so it was special to have so many of his ‘Yankee’ friends participating in the activities this weekend. We hope to honor him in a similar fashion year after year.”

Honoring Will’s memory, his love of the sport and his willingness to always try something new, a few All Pro Polo League rules were adopted to open up the game with continuous flow under the supervision of professional umpire Sian Joseph. Texas Tech (Felipe Viana, Dave Strouss, Marion Dierickx, Phoebe Ingram, J Paul Meyer), Will’s alma mater where he won the 2006 Men’s National Intercollegiate Championship, took on Nashville (Nick Snow, Franz ColloredoMansfeld, Annie Colloredo-Mansfeld, Crocker Snow, Whitney Ellis), his hometown, in the first game of the round-robin.

Texas Tech then took on Aiken (Marcos Onetto, Stephen Burr, Phil Zocco, Cristina Fernandez), where Will bought a home and spent much of his time with girlfriend Samira Waernlund.

Nashville took home the trophy, narrowly defeating Aiken by a single net goal. Nick and Amanda Snow fittingly donated a perpetual trophy for the occasion, a 2013 National Copper Cup trophy, awarded during a tournament,

which Snow and Tankard won together on two occasions in Aiken, South Carolina.

Samira was unable to attend due to her new responsibilities as the barn manager and head groom for Adam Snow. Snow’s horses were competing in the Pacific Coast Open over the weekend in Santa Barbara, California, under Restoration Hardware’s Santi von Wernich.

“I know Will is somewhere, playing on that big field in the sky with Merlen, Teacup and Red ready to go for their chukkers,” Samira said. “Chewy sitting fieldside with her own personal tailgate spread all to herself, and Will, shredding like he always did. He would be proud to see his horses succeeding and his friends and family carrying on. It may take a great deal of time, and my memories of him will never fade, but with each moment of time it gets a little bit easier, I get a little bit stronger, and my memories begin to feel more like treasures rather than something I lost.”

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

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7

Team USPA Team USPA members had a wildly successfully summer, competing in tournaments across the country. Summer polo provides a unique opportunity for players to give back to local clubs by umpiring, teaching lessons and coaching. On the competitive front, six members of Team USPA played in the Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open in Santa Barbara, California, and were instrumental in helping make both NYTS tournaments at the club a success.

NYTS Youth polo has sky rocketed thanks to the USPA’s National Youth Tournament Series program. Initiated in 2013, the NYTS program has grown to host 37 qualifiers across North America, providing opportunities for 266 youth players to compete against their peers on a grass field.

Each Labor Day, NYTS Championships are held at a different club, this year it took place at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club and was a huge success. (see article page 28). If your club would like to host a NYTS qualifier in 2018 or you want to be a 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

NYTS participant, contact Amanda Snow, asnow@uspolo.org.

CPI Congratulations to USPA’s five new Certified Polo Instructors: Emily Dewey of Detroit Polo Club; Parker Scott of Poway; and Mark Tashjian, Minnie Keating and Juliette Powers of Darlington Polo Club.

For more information on CPI contact Jess Downey, jdowney@uspolo.org.

Wooden Horse Practice, practice, practice. Honing your polo swings can prove invaluable when it comes to success on the polo field or in the arena and doing it while mounted on a wooden horse is a smarter, faster way to achieve better results. Do you have a unique wooden horse or great hitting cage blue print? USPA’s Polo Development is currently collecting photos and building plans of various hitting cages, wooden horses and drills associated with both from polo clubs and polo schools around the country to share with clubs. So, snap a quick photo, forward your hitting cage blueprint or email us about your best wooden horse drill. Send to Elizabeth Hedley, ehedley@uspolo.org.

College Polo 101 This year’s College Polo 101 will be held in Aiken, South Carolina, Oct. 6-8! For more information contact Amy Fraser, afraser@uspolo.org.

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

New Bridge Polo Club Aiken, South Carolina

SHELLY MARSHALL SCHMIDT

Driving into the New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina, you may think you just entered an argentine estancia. With its signature fourboard black fencing and orange clay dirt roads, it is no accident the New Bridge Polo Club alludes to the current mecca of polo. Founded by amateur polo player Russ McCall in 2000, the club was created in partnership with Argentine professional Matias Magrini. “In Argentina, communities build houses around the polo field—they barbecue in the backyard and watch the game,” said McCall. It was with this vision in mind that McCall created New Bridge, a casual yet luxurious horse-oriented oasis situated in the rolling hills only a short drive from the charismatic downtown Aiken.

Like many, McCall began his polo career later in life, age 52 to be exact. A Long Island native, McCall’s business was

based out of Atlanta, Georgia, for many years. McCall credits the widely-known Jack Cashin of Chukkar Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia, with his initial introduction to the sport. It wasn’t long however, before he outgrew his Atlanta polo roots to seek higher-goal polo at the nearby and historic Aiken Polo Club in Aiken, South Carolina. After landing in Aiken, McCall began growing his polo operation, acquiring horses and contracting professionals to play with him

not only in South Carolina but also in Florida.

It was this surge in his polo outfit that triggered McCall and Magrini to search for turnout pasture for a growing string of ponies. The land they settled on for this simple purpose would become one of the most prominent clubs on the East Coast in only a few short years.

The astounding 861-acre New Bridge development boasts five world-class polo fields in a private gated community. While that may sound intimidating, McCall points out that the gates serve less as a barrier to keep people out, but rather as a means to keep the occasional escaped horse in. The atmosphere of the club remains true to its humble beginnings, unpretentious, in a natural wooded setting, framed by southern pines and surrounded by an effortless tranquility.

The centerpiece of the club is the

New Bridge’s clubhouse was constructed of old wood shipped from Argentina and assembled on site.

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

SHELLY MARSHALL SCHMIDT

The club is in a natural wooded setting, framed by southern pines.

Argentine way of life to South Carolina.

The clubhouse also conveniently houses a players’ bar, restaurant and outdoor asado area for post-game festivities. Spectators

SHELLY MARSHALL SCHMIDT

rustic colonial-style clubhouse.

Constructed of old wood that was shipped from Argentina and assembled on site, it brings the history and ambiance of the

Julio Arellano won the 12-goal USPA Pete Bostwick Memorial with his three children at the family-oriented club in the fall of 2016.

are invited to sit on the porch with a spectacular view of Field 1 to watch the featured Sunday matches. New Bridge offers country living without the inconveniences of country distances.

Cottage-style bungalows are situated on residential lots lining Field 1, as well as larger estate houses with the option to buy or build.

New Bridge Polo & County Club has been host to numerous prestigious tournaments over the years, such as the USPA Gold Cup in 2005 and 2006, as well as the Monty Waterbury Cup from 20082010. General Manager Raza Kazmi attributes New Bridge’s success to the superior quality of its fields. Originally designed by Magrini, the current condition of the fields is an obvious result of his dedication to the details of their construction. The gorgeous fields are, Kazmi asserts, the primary draw of players both nationally and internationally.

New Bridge offers two competitive polo seasons in the spring (end of April to the beginning of June) and fall (midSeptember through October). After a recent collaboration with neighboring POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11

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

SHELLY MARSHALL SCHMIDT

The club now offers all levels of polo from 4- to 12-goal tournaments.

SHELLY MARSHALL SCHMIDT

Wagener Polo Club, the club now encompasses all levels of polo, ranging from 4- to 12-goal tournaments.

Conveniently located in the middle of the East Coast, it is a well-situated middle point for players and teams traveling to Florida for the winter and summer clubs in the Northeast, West and Midwest. Club amenities for polo include an exercise track and miles of unpaved roads for relaxing day-off trail rides. During the polo season, member practices are offered three times a week when pros and amateurs play together.

What began as solely polo has been diversified to include a turn-key equestrian operation aptly referred to as “The Stables.” Accommodating dressage riders, hunter-jumpers, fox hunters, eventers and carriage drivers alike, New Bridge caters to all equine disciplines. It is an exciting addition considering the broad span of equine disciplines that can be found within many of its member families. On many occasions, you can find a polo player, who also participates in other equine disciplines, schooling his horses in the state-of-the-art, 30,000 square-foot jumping ring with all-weather GGT footing.

Family is another exceptional quality fostered by the club. Numerous members boast parent-child playing duos. In fact, this family-oriented polo culminated in the 2016 fall season when 8-goaler Julio Arellano won the USPA Pete Bostwick Memorial 12-goal alongside his three children, Agustin, Lucas and Hope Arellano.

When asked to give his advice to aspiring polo players and newcomers to the sport, McCall quickly answered, “join a club.” Contrary to popular belief McCall asserts that you don’t need more than one horse to play polo. “Play two practice chukkers on one horse with a long break in between, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Go in at the level you want, small scale or big scale,” he said. “Joining a club like New Bridge allows amateurs the opportunity to learn from the people around them. Go to practice, get coached by your peers and if you like it, expand.

Estimating about $300 a month for an annual membership, it is well worth the investment. Or get it for free as a property owner!” Not to mention, members and

The excellent fields are the primary draw for players both nationally and internationally. The club also offers a turn-key equestrian operation, including a state-of-the-art jumping ring.

residents also have use of the swimming pool and clay tennis courts.

New Bridge echoes an older era of American polo--when polo was not just a hobby but a lifestyle and a fixture in the greater community. New Bridge is truly a microcosm of its adjacent horse-obsessed town. “It’s about the scenic countryside the good friends and neighbors and the

ability to live in a special place where we can enjoy our horses, no matter the discipline,” wrote McCall in his welcome address in the 2015-2016 New Bridge Polo & Country Club Magazine.

Visit newbridgepolo.com, follow it on Instagram @newbridgepoloclub and “Like” it on Facebook for up-to-date schedules of tournaments and events.

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

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SPEED BUMP Properly executed ride-offs are gateways to ball possession

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

Before making contact with an opponent, adjust your speed, angle and position.

ing on passengers and carefully follow the rules of the road. On the road, it is not safe for a car traveling 20 miles per hour to pull in front of a car going 60 miles an hour.

In polo, field awareness and following the rules are just as important. When executing ride-offs, know where your opponents are, be aware of how fast they are going and only execute ride-offs when they can be done safely.

Horses are amazingly stable when bumped squarely, side to side, shoulder to shoulder, saddle to saddle and hip to hip.

There are three major considerations when making a ride-off, what I refer to as ASAP: adjust speed, angle and position. Adjust these three things as you make your safe ride-off.

Adjust your speed to the player you are going to ride-off prior to making any contact. They may be behind you but if they are at a full run, going much faster than you, they will soon be flying by you. No matter how tempting, you cannot try to make contact with them as they come by you. If you are not able to appreciate why, you have either not experienced it directly or you

have little respect for the laws of physics.

A thousand-pound horse at a full run has incredible force. If you were to try to make contact with that force at a slower speed, the impact would cause one or both horses to fall. Instead, either speed up or slow down to match the opponent’s relative speed before laterally making contact.

Some players use a lot of force in a bump, but most times they have adjusted their speed and angle to within necessary perimeters to make contact safely.

As speed increases, adjust your angle of approach. At full speed, any angle must be slight. Conversely, you could broadside someone at almost 90 degrees at a walk (as long as you didn’t run your horse’s head into him) with virtually zero danger. Any angle at full speed could knock a horse off balance. Previously, 45 degrees or less in a ride-off was the mathematical measure.

Keep it at less than 45 degrees in a trot or canter and less than 30 degrees at a run.

These angle numbers are guidelines. In the arena you sometimes see larger angles at the higher levels, but these players and their mounts are used to a more physical

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

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ride off can be a bump intended to move another player off the ball, to get possession of the ball, or to steer a player in a desired direction away from the ball to put you or your teammate in a better position to make a play on the ball further down the field.

You may also hear phrases such as ‘taking a man’ or ‘marking a man.’ Those phrases are sometimes intended for you to physically ride someone off or keep the player out of the play. They can also mean for you to not make contact but simply position yourself at an advantage to the nearest opponent. Players with great anticipation of plays will have a better understanding of this concept since anticipation allows for better positioning, making it easier to gain advantage of opponents without a lot of contact. These players seem to move around the field effortlessly.

Properly executed ride-offs are a gateway to ball possession, however poorly executed ride-offs are very dangerous to you and those around you. Anyone with decent riding skills should not be afraid to try to make a ride-off, as long as he does it carefully.

Almost all of us jump in and out of cars multiple times a day with very little thought to potential downsides. We do this despite being forced to watch accident videos back in driver’s education class that were meant to scare us (a crunched car from an accident might have even been placed at the entrance to the high-school parking lot) or having driven by a horrific accident scene.

The safest drivers are those that are aware of their surroundings, travel at a safe speed, refrain from distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, eating or focus-

game, and arena, even at the higher levels, is considerably slower than outdoors.

Once you have adjusted your speed and angle to safely make contact with an opponent, adjust your position. This component will likely dictate who has the advantage once contact is made. Ideally, you want your leg just ahead of your opponent’s leg. By just ahead, I mean the back of your leg is touching the front of your opponent’s leg. This position will be to your advantage as long as your riding skills and your horse’s abilities allow you to maintain that position.

If you get too far ahead, you risk knocking your opponent’s horse off balance. If you drift too far back, you risk knocking his horse off balance or getting your horse’s front legs tangled with his horse’s back legs, which can cause one or both

horses to fall.

If your leg is touching your opponent’s leg, either side by side, or with one in front of the other, you are likely in a safe position for making contact. If your opponent starts getting ahead or behind, pull away from him so you are no longer making contact to avoid danger.

Some players push the envelope a little too hard with respect to aggressive riding and bumping, whether they are being overly competitive or taking frustrations out after losing a play. Either way, the cost is too high for this type of aggressive behavior. Ask yourself, what is more important, winning a ride-off or player and pony safety? You can recover from a lost ride-off, but a number of players have been seriously hurt from poorly executed ride-offs.

Other important considerations when

making a ride-off are the size of the two ponies, a lack of readiness of your opponent to your approach and state of exhaustion of the horses. As a way to remember these considerations, think SOS! S for size, O for opponent’s readiness and S for state of exhaustion. I have personally witnessed all three of these considerations play out in accidents. Though it may not be as common as speed, angle and positioning, these are still important considerations when making ride-offs.

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

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

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

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HIT AWAY! Eliminating foul will speed up the game and make it better to watch

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ears ago, when I learned to play, the watch word was “hit it hard, first time.” The rationale behind this mindset was the knowledge that the ball could easily be taken away by a defender simply by riding you off. The result was an open game where teammates spread themselves across the length of the field and the game moved “at the speed of the ball.”

It was beautiful to watch and fun to play. It required an ability to hit long shots while traveling at top speed. Those long passes, backwards and forwards, combined with enlightened teamwork, made polo a joy to watch.

Not too long ago, the watch word of the modern game became “parate” (translation: stop). Changes in the interpretation of the rules almost three decades ago have made stopping on the ball a more effective strategy to win games than hitting away. As time passed, watching a 26goal game was scarcely different than watching an 8-goal game. Each teammate tried his hand at dribbling the ball to goal while a “posse” of players chased after them in hot pursuit hoping to hook the ball carrier. Polo was played “at the speed of a horse”… a man dribbling the ball as fast as his horse could run.

Watching this game was a bore, as was playing it. Everyone turned the ball. No anticipation was required to defend because you had an abundance of time to prepare for the dribbler to try and run past you using his skill and horsepower. A long backhand pass was a rarity.

Enter Javier Tanoira. He deserves a medal for his thesis on this subject. And the result has been a marked improvement in a few rule interpretations, which have led to a better game with less turning and more 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Allowing a defender to approach the ball carrier from directly behind the ball forces the ball carrier to hit away or outrun the defender.

backhands. The game is fun to play again.

But we are not done yet.

One rule is standing in the way of taking the game back to the open style that will make polo even better for players and spectators. Surely, we can all agree that rules designed to let “the best team win” are healthier for our sport than rules that aid and abet a victory by the best individual player.

So, in case you haven’t already guessed it, my recommendation is to eliminate the foul called for “riding in from behind.”This rule has done more to slow the game than any other rule change during my lifetime.

The net effect of allowing a defender to approach the ball carrier from directly behind the ball (on top of the line of the ball) is to force the ball carrier to either hit away or outrun the defender. If he fails to take advantage of either option, his loss of possession is probably eminent. And a

full stop will almost certainly result in a loss of possession.

The benefits of eliminating this foul include: (1) Decompression of handicaps— once all four players are needed to win a game, their respective value will increase.

Handicaps will be adjusted upward to reflect this increased value; (2) Fewer horses will be required to be well mounted—when the game is “running and flowing,” as opposed to “stop and go polo,” horses can compete for more minutes at their highest level. So, changing frequently is less important strategically; and (3) a better spectator sport—more speed makes for more excitement. The ball travels at more than twice the speed of a horse.

Returning to the original rule interpretation, which allowed “riding in from behind,” could help address some important concerns of our polo community.

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uring the last few months, polo players have faced numerous weather-related disasters that have put their horses in jeopardy.

Raging wildfires were burning across the West. In late August, Hurricane Harvey came ashore in Texas, and lingered for several days while dumping over 50 inches of rain in Houston and southern Texas.

Just 10 days later, Hurricane Irma left a path of destruction across the Caribbean before making landfall in the southern tip of Florida and again on the West Coast. It traveled up the state and into Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee with wind and rain extending into the Carolinas.

Fires, floods and hurricanes often come with some warning. One of the most difficult things to determine is if and when to evacuate, especially as forecasts change rapidly. Don’t wait to make a plan.

It was heartbreaking to see horses left to themselves in floodwaters. When water rises, horses can get caught in fences and downed trees they may not be able to see.

Water also moves swiftly, with a lot of force, sometimes making it impossible for animals to keep their heads above water.

Flood waters also contain bacteria, which can cause many types of infections. And snakes, fire ants and other critters can be in the water looking for an escape.

Wayne Kvalsvig and his wife Barbara manage a horse and cattle farm in Brookshire, Texas, west of Houston. They were no strangers to flooding when Hurricane Harvey approached.

The area located between Houston, Dallas and San Antonio has been called Flash Flood Alley and it has certainly lived up to that name recently. In April 2016, 24 inches of rain fell in Brookshire in nine hours. A month later, an area to the 18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

BRYAN MIDDLETON

How to protect your polo horses when extreme weather hits

As water started rising, polo ponies in Brookshire, Texas, were gathered up so they could be moved to higher ground.

north received 22 inches of rain, causing the Brazos River to break its banks and flood the Brookshire area again.

“We had two floods last year that helped us make our decisions,” said Barbara. “When we knew on August 21 the hurricane was headed into the Gulf, we thought about evacuating horses we knew could leave and putting those that would stay in higher-ground pastures.”

It is not unusual for animal owners and caretakers to stay put even when officials recommend evacuating. Preparation is key, including stocking up on food and water for humans and animals alike.

“Wayne and I would stay because of our responsibility to the ranch and the livestock that were staying on it. We bought 40 bales of alfalfa to feed after the storm passed. We learned from before that even though our pastures were full of grass, once the water recedes, the grass is dirty and the animals won’t eat it.

“The loss of power is a given so we made sure our generators were working and ready to connect to our water wells so

we could continue to have water. We still filled every water trough and a 2,000-gallon water ball in case we needed it.”

The Kvalsvigs started preparing a week before Hurricane Harvey was scheduled to hit. “We learned to move sooner rather than later ... moving horses off as soon as possible and moving cows to higher ground,” said Barbara. They also made sure they had access to a boat. “Even if we leave ourselves, we don’t go far. We need to be able to get back on the ranch everyday to check on things.”

Hurricane Harvey made landfall five hours south of Brookshire, but Barbara explained they were on the ‘dirty’ side of the storm. The storm dumped 30 inches of rain in their area over five days.

As water was rising, inching closer to their house, the Kvalsvigs made the difficult decision to leave. Barbara said the drive to a nearby friend’s house was scary and they were lucky to get out just in time.

The boat came in handy as they needed it to get back to the ranch to check on the animals the next day.

All the preparations paid off as they didn’t lose any animals. They weren’t able to move bulls, which suffered from painful rain rot and exhaustion from standing in the chest-deep water but they are expected to recover.

Other polo players in the area also had to evacuate properties. Houston Polo Club members Tim Kelly and Carl Price told the USPA that leading up to the hurricane, they began transporting their horses from Simonton to Houston. It soon became clear the situation in Houston was unsafe so they had to frantically move their horses again.

It was heart-warming to hear how the polo community pulled together to help each other out. Kelly and Price explained that San Saba Polo Club opened its doors to them. Hernan Tejera, experiencing hurricane conditions himself, still helped get their horses to safer conditions. Billy and

Pam Mudra and Chad Bowman also pitched in, driving a trailer through treacherous weather to get the horses to higher ground. There were numerous others who helped out, offering their homes and pastures.

The Kvalsvigs were assisted by fellow polo players, including CJ Lequerica and George Krabbe who helped get alfalfa to their horses, Neil Osburg who provided the boat and Taylor Freeman who helped out even though his own property was flooded. Kaylee and Mason Wroe helped relocate horses, Bryan Middleton helped with the cows by boat and Jimmy and Traci Seward housed the couple during the storm.

As the nation watched the situation unfold in Houston, Hurricane Irma was growing in size and strength as it was slowly making its way across the Caribbean.

With Hurricane Harvey’s devastation

fresh in their minds, polo players across the state of Florida began preparing.

In the days leading up the storm, gas, bread and water were difficult to find.

Even when they were getting replenished daily, shelves were wiped clean within a few hours. Gas stations were running out of fuel and those with gas had hours-long lines, even at 3 a.m. This was happening around the state.

Many horse owners chose to evacuate, moving further north only to learn the hurricane was heading directly up the middle of the peninsula, effecting every part of the state. Even those that fled to Georgia, Tennessee or Alabama soon learned they were still in Irma’s sights.

If you didn’t evacuate days in advance, officials were telling people to shelter in place. Northbound lanes of the major highways were looking more like parking (continued on page 62)

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

POLO SCENE N E W S

•

NO T E S

•

T R E N D S

•

Q U O T E S

CHAMPAGNE, CAVIAR & CHUKKERS

Club benefit raises $366,000 for hospital foundation

T

HE ASPEN VALLEY POLO club in Carbondale, Colorado, hosted a Champagne, Caviar & Chukkers fundraiser during the Mount Sopris Cup subsidiary final Aug. 13.

The funds raised will benefit the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, which is in the midst of raising muchneeded funding for its third phase of a four-phase master facilities project.

The sold out crowd of more than 600 enjoyed a lavish four-course menu prepared by Caribou Club Catering of Aspen. With white-glove service and impeccable attention to detail in the VIP tent, tables fetched from $10,000 to $50,000.

While watching the subsidiary and final, which Travieso won, guests enjoyed gazpacho, shrimp and asparagus cocktail, sea bass, decadent desserts, roving caviar cart and bottomless Champagne.

The highlight of the day was the live

Local artist Marcel Kahhak painted the match on location while it was being played.

auction. Guest auctioneer John Sarpa, the vice chairman of the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation Board, served as emcee and auctioneer.

Sarpa directed lively bidding between matches on items such as a package to the invitation-only Masters Golf Tournament at the hallowed Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, and an on-location painting of the polo match by Carbondale-based artist Marcel Kahhak.

In addition to the live auction items and paddle A sold out crowd of more than 600 enjoyed a lavish four-course menu with white-glove service while enjoying a spirited polo match. raise, the day also

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

featured the auctioning off of the subsidiary game winning La Karina players. The crowd was thoroughly entertained as Sarpa showed off Brian Boyd’s muscles with help from the club’s Polo School Director Juan Bollini.

Bollini, an Argentine former 8goaler, earned the highest player bid of $10,000 in exchange for two polo lessons at the club.

The event attracted several sponsors including title sponsors Nancy and Richard Rogers and Chukker Lounge sponsors Corrine and Lenny Sands.

The event was hosted by several wellknown Aspen residents and community leaders who contributed greatly to the event’s success. They were: Pam Alexander, Dawn Arnall, Jody Cooper, Marilyn and Chuck Frias, Lacy Fyrwald, Melissa and Marc Ganzi, Alex Halperin, Kimberly Higgins, Dale Hower, Lexie and Robert Potamkin,

GREENER GRASS

Club moves to new facility, with new fields

Allie Azzaro gave an aerial silks performance.

Julie and Dave Ressler, Sally Sakin, Jan and John Sarpa, Bari and Eric Stahl, Dana and Michael Werner, and Regina Yunami and Les Fraser.

In addition to the auctions, there were pony rides, kids activities, various vendor tents and a live aerial silks performance by Allie Azzaro, daughter of Amy and Mike Azzaro, a Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler.

The Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, now entering its fifth year, is a non-profit solely focused on encouraging philanthropic support for the current and future needs of Aspen Valley Hospital. Deborah Breen was named the foundation’s first president in January 2013. She had worked in the philanthropic field for 17 years.

“It was a leap of faith, a build-it-andthey-will-come idea with tents and caterers,” Breen said.

Breen said the goal was to raise $200,000 and it ended up $166,000 over that goal for a total of $366,000.

Brian Hodson, Tyler Robbins, Keith Potter, Shaina Gerber, Katy Keffer, Pam Fisher, Jack Moran, Stock Keffer, Larry Olson, Jolie Liston and Sharon Delay Lambert Not Pictured: Ben Au and Ahmed Fathy

THE CINCINNATI POLO club hosted

members of the Atlanta Regional Polo Center Club for the first match on its new field at Chatsworth Farms, owned

by Tom and Dianne Wygle. In a fast, hard-fought game, it ended in a 8-8 tie and all went home happy. Jolie Liston was leading scorer for Atlanta and second year player Tyler Robbins was leading scorer for Cincinnati. Half of the horses on the field were Jolie’s.

Over the years, the Cincinnati Polo club has bought most of its ponies from her with great results!

Best Playing Pony was Barbie, a palomino quarter horse ridden by Jolie. We played the next day as well to get some green players and green horses involved. A big thank you to Atlanta for participating in our event.

Two years ago, at the end of the

2015 season, the club found itself without a field for the 2016 season. It put a message out that it was looking for land or someone to host the club on its property. Tom and Dianne Wygle contacted us and said they just bought 100 flat acres and would be happy to have the club’s new home on their property.

Last October, we planted the field and mother nature was kind. Ten months later it is thick, smooth and ready to play on. A brand new state-ofthe-art barn was built. For the remainder of the season we will host out-of-town clubs, have a charity event as well as host our third polo clinic.

We have grown the club to 16 playing members as well as numerous social members. Several charity events are on the radar for the 2018 season and beyond.

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

CHUKKERS FOR CHARITY

Rochelle Center and Saddle Up! benefit from polo match

THE 21ST ANNUAL Nissan Chukkers for Charity polo match

swept guest Up, Up & Away! on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Riverview Farm in Franklin, Tennessee.

The signature event, hosted by Lee Ann and Orrin Ingram, raises funds for Rochelle Center, which supports people with disabilities, and Saddle Up!, a Therapeutic riding program.

Two local teams, Nissan and Ash Blue, saddled up for the event. The Nissan team included Virginia Ingram, Orrin Ingram, Wes Finlayson and James Armstrong, and the AshBlue team included Lexie Armstrong, Zulu Scott-Barnes, Whistle Uys and Stevie Orthwein.

This is the first-ever polo match in Chukkers for Charity history to include a father and daughter playing together, as well as a husband and wife on opposing teams.

Team Nissan prevailed with a score of 10-4, naming Virginia Ingram as the most valuable player. Attendees enjoyed perfect polo weather, in addition to a classic car show, cabana decorating contest, silent auction, petting zoo and signature Jack Daniels “Pony Up” cocktails. Thanks to generous sponsors and attendees, the 21st annual Nissan Chukkers for Charity event raised more than $200,000 to be divided between Saddle Up! and Rochelle Center.

Above: Lele Thompson, Nic Donahue and Margaret Orthwein; Right; Laurie Kush of Saddle Up! and Debbie Chadwick of Rochelle Center; Below, left: Virginia Ingram snuggles with a calf in the petting zoo; Below, right: Nissan’s James Armstrong, Wes Finlayson, Orrin Ingram and MVP Virginia Ingram won the match.

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

TEAM TONY

Club expands season with charity match

THE OAK BROOK Polo Club

challenges. in Oak Brook, Illinois In an effort to garner expanded its season to include public support and help a benefit match Sept. 17 in Sekera in his recovery, a honor of friend and fellow “Team Up for Tony” benefit teammate Tony Sekera. match was planned as an allOn June 2, Sekera was fieldside tailgate ticketed badly injured while stick and event. Guests will bring their balling near Aiken, South own picnic and beverages Carolina. He was riding his while enjoying a game of high favorite pony, which stumbled, goal polo. All proceeds will be sending Tony somersaulting donated to the Sekera family over the pony’s head. Sekera to support Tony’s longterm fractured his C4 and C5 care and therapy. vertebrae, damaging his spinal “Tony has and will always cord. He stayed in the Shock be a dear friend and teammate Trauma Unit for two weeks to the entire Chicago polo until he was stabilized enough community,” said Danny to be flown to Chicago’s worldO’Leary, managing director of Daughter Molly Seago and son Matthew Sekera visit class Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Oak Brook Polo Club. “We are Tony at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.

Due to significant committed to helping the immobility below his Sekera family raise donations shoulders, Sekera relies on 24/7 nursing care. Anyone who for Tony’s longterm care and therapy. His profound love of the knows him is aware of his determination, tenacity and positive game and recollections of his time in the saddle go back attitude, however, this injury also presents insurmountable decades, not just at Oak Brook, but across Chicagoland.”

CHILD’S PLAY

Young players gather on Long Island for NYTS qualifier The Southampton Polo Club in Southampton, New York held an NYTS qualifier July 19, attracting 16 players from ages 9 to 18 years old. McKenzie Weisz, who played for the VanLith Ranch team, went on to win the NYTS Championship final on the Zone 3 team in Carpinteria, California Aug. 31–Sept. 4.

Magnolia’s Vlad Tarashanksy, Luca Natella, Matias Gonzalez and Caroline Falcone; VanLith Ranch’s Antonio Aguerre, Liliana Falcone, Catie Stueck and McKenzie Weisz; Knoll’s Jed Cogan, Joseph Post, Joey Schwartz and Kurt Mion; and Palmers’ Winston Painter, Sophia Neis, Corey Williams and Kristos Magrini

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

Westward Ho! Several members shine in Santa Barbara The United States Polo Association established Team USPA in 2009 to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities.

By Kylie Sheehan • Photos by Shelley Heatley

For so many young up-and-coming polo players, having the chance to play in the high goal at the Santa Barbara Polo Club is a dream come true. Numerous Team USPA members have started from humble beginnings at this special club and have worked their way up to the pinnacle of summer polo on the West Coast, competing in the Pacific Coast Open.

Team USPA member Jim Wright has spent many years at the Santa Barbara Polo Club. “I used to come here as a kid with my dad. My first official job in Santa Barbara was grooming and riding for one of my idols, Adam Snow,” said Wright.

Now rated 2 goals, Jim has worked hard to build up his own string using what he has learned from various mentors. Wright was asked to play with the Sol de Agosto 16-goal team for the summer and jumped on the opportunity.

He played alongside Team USPA member Costi Caset who was last year’s winner and MVP of the Pacific Coast Open with the Restoration Hardware Polo Team.

“It was a defining moment this year, getting to play against some of my role models in the game. It changed my perspective having the opportunity to see how my horses and I can compete against players I have admired in the U.S. Open, such as Adam Snow, Jeff Hall and Lucas Criado,” said Wright.

Wright said that one of the best parts about the Santa Barbara Polo Club is the community. “I am lucky enough to have had the chance to play at almost every level at this club and learn from lots of great players and horsemen here,” said 24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Wright. He has been able to mentor with a staple in the Santa Barbara polo community and a California legend, Santi Trotz. Trotz has taken on young upand-coming players on the West Coast for years and brought them up through the ranks.

“He teaches players the polo fundamentals that are necessary to compete at the highgoal level,” said Wright. “He pointed out that when a young player finally gets the opportunity to play on a high-goal team, you have one shot. Santi gives you the best chance of being prepared to perform at your best for the team.”

Wright’s preparation was evident this summer. He put on a competitive performance that will surely set him up for success in the future.

Trotz has mentored many Team USPA players including Remy Muller, Patrick Uretz, Jesse Bray, Jared Sheldon, Jim Wright and many other young talented players that have gone on to have successful polo careers. The example that

Jesse Bray

Trotz has set for these players has clearly resonated. All of these players also do a great deal of giveback themselves, playing in coaching leagues, helping young players and more. The effects of Trotz’s leadership have been evident at the Santa Barbara Polo Club and many other clubs and these players are extremely grateful for his generosity.

Matt Coppola

Another Trotz understudy and Team USPA member is Jesse Bray, who has been a Santa Barbara regular for years.

While he has been a part of the 16-goal scene for three years, he has played at every level at Santa Barbara. “Santa Barbara is a family community. Although the polo is very competitive at the higher levels, the polo is accessible and there is a great deal of camaraderie.” Bray has been with his current sponsor Justin Klentner of Klentner Ranch Polo Team for five years. “One of my favorite parts about being part of the Klentner organization is that Justin has two sons that I have been able to help coach and bring along.” Over Labor Day weekend, Jesse was able to coach the older son Jake Klentner and the Zone 1 team in the USPA National Youth Tournament Championship, which was hosted at Santa Barbara Polo Club.

When the Klentners first started playing with Bray, they started off as a half team in the 8-goal and lost almost every game according to Bray. Five years later, Klentner Ranch competed in the 16goal season, winning two of the tournaments and making it to the final of

the Pacific Coast Open where they lost in double overtime.

Although the loss was heartbreaking, Bray’s gray mare Disney was awarded Best Playing Pony.

“Being a young player who has not played much in the Florida scene, it is amazing to be able to measure up your horses against some of the most outstanding strings in the country.

It was cool to see that my string, which I have worked very hard on, is competitive in these tournaments, said Bray.”

This is the second summer Klentner Ranch has put in the same 16-goal lineup.

Team USPA member Geronimo Obregon was able to be part of the team that included Justin Klentner, Bray and his brother Facundo Obregon. Geronimo said it was the team of a lifetime and he was happy to be part of such a great

organization. “Even though we lost, we feel good about the performance that we put on and we had a great summer,” he said. “I love being part of the Santa Barbara community and a team like this.

The polo is competitive, but at the end of the day, everyone is friends.”

For Team USPA members Matt Coppola and Jared Zenni, this was their first time competing in Santa Barbara.

Matt played for Restoration Hardware and Zenni played for Lucchese. Lucchese has seen a lot of success in the high goal all over the country and Zenni particularly enjoyed being part of this team. “It was a great experience to learn under such a great organization and from my teammates in such a fantastic setting,” said Zenni.

Whether players have been coming to play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club for years or are new to the club, a summer of playing at this beautiful location gives them more than just memories. It gives players the chance to become a part of a special community that promotes competitive, fun polo where sportsmanship and comradery is at the forefront. In this way, the atmosphere Santa Barbara promotes aligns with the principles of Team USPA: competitive polo, giveback and a greater community of players sharing a love for the sport.

Geronimo Obregon

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

Old school The Feldman Cup brings together polo alumni

BY AMY FRASER • PHOTOS BY MIKE RYAN

S

ince 2014, the National I/I Alumni Tournament—The Feldman Cup—has been gaining traction in the world of I/I alumni. From being offered as a handful of chukkers alongside the NIC, it is now its own standalone event.

This year marked the fourth annual Feldman Cup, with a record-breaking seven teams, and the offer of two flights of competition. The event was hosted by Maryland Polo Club, which is not only deep in I/I alum and tradition, but is also home to the event’s namesake, the Feldman family.

On a picturesque weekend in August, 18 I/I alum descended upon the Maryland arena to vie for their chance not only at a national championship, but to get back in the saddle and reunite with old friends.

Bringing alumni back into the sport who had otherwise tossed in their mallets is the main goal of the alumni tournament. Reconnecting with friends and having a great time while doing it is a bonus. Entry into the event promotes both igniting that old polo flame and giving back to the I/I program.

In order to qualify, players need to have played in an I/I alumni event within the last calendar year; been an active coach of an I/I program; managed an I/I event; umpired at least three I/I games; or donated to an I/I team. The entry fee for the event is kept small to accommodate post-grad budgets. For a $100 donation to any I/I polo team, a player is in the competition.

Although the teams could have been filled with all local participants, players came in from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, 26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Berube Polo’s Nate Berube, Liv Berube and Posey Obrecht won this year’s Feldman Cup.

Interscholastic player Parker Pearce graciously volunteered to umpire.

and Ohio. Eight collegiate programs and four interscholastic programs were represented including Cornell (maxing out at seven participants), University of Wisconsin, Colorado State University, University of Connecticut, University of Kentucky, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Michigan State University,

Garrison Forest School, and Brandywine, Sea Coast and Baltimore Polo Clubs.

Participation levels ranged from seasoned competitors to those who dusted off their polo boots and hoped that they still would zip up.

Molly Muedeking (GFS ’03 & UVA ’07) said, “I’m very grateful for this opportunity to play again. With this event it gave me a sense of ‘coming home’— playing with your old teammates and competitors. Between completing vet school a few years ago and working in an animal clinic, there has been little time for me to dedicate to polo. This event gave me an outlet to play where I could be confident in the quality and safety of the players and horses. With it being an I/I event, we’ve all been through the same ‘training’!”

Seventeen of the 18 players are first generation polo players, who happened to get their start in I/I polo.

The tournament began with the

semifinals of the A Flight on Friday night that pitted Berube Polo (Nate Berube (UCONN), Liv Berube (CSU) and Posey Obrecht (UK)) against 2 Bolds & An Old (Erin Bold (Cornell), Emily Bold (Cornell) and Molly Muedeking (UVA)).

Berube Polo took the semifinal with a score of 16-9.

The second game showcased Rise Brewing Co. (Nik Feldman (Cornell), Stan Feldman (Cornell) and Senter Johnson (Cornell)) vs. Melinda’s Prospects (Anna Winslow (Cornell), Liam Palacios (Cornell) and Alyssa Daniels (UW)). Rise Brewing Co. took the game with a score of 21-14.

In the B Flight on Saturday, a round robin was played with Reggie’s All Stars (Molly Muedeking (UVA), Liv Berube (CSU) and Lauren Connors (UVA)); Blue’s Clues (Nate Berube (UCONN), Kristen Wenning (CSU) and Grace Brown (CSU)); and Tickled Pink (Jenny Schwartz (VT), Kacie Campbell (MSU), Posey Obrecht (UK) and Amy Fraser (UCONN)). Reggie’s All Stars came out

Eventual runner-up Rise Brewing Co.’s Nik Feldman outruns Melinda’s Prospect’s Anna Winslow.

the victors and Lauren Connor’s Margarita, played by Molly Muedeking, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

The final of the A flight saw Rise Brewing Co. vs. Berube Polo in a fastpaced game, that ended with a buzzer-beater goal to take the win.

Rise Brewing came out hot with quick stick action by Senter Johnson.

Johnson and Nik Feldman combined for 10 goals in the second chukker to give Rise Brewing a six-goal lead going into the second half.

Nate Berube came alive in the third chukker on a little chestnut mare named Omega and went on a seven-goal scoring spree for Berube Polo, earning Omega Best Playing Pony honors.

2 Bolds & An Old’s Emily Bold In the fourth

chukker Berube Polo continued to trail, but edged closer and closer to the lead while keeping Rise Brewing scoreless. A field goal tied the game with a minute left, and with less than 10 seconds to go, Berube Polo was driving to its goal when a Penalty 2 was awarded to it. Nate sank the penalty shot, bringing the victory home for his team.

The competition was fierce, but in the end, after all the ponies were taken care of and players caught their breath, everyone gathered around, drank some ice-cold Rise Brewing iced coffee (check it out!) and reminisced over the old days: polo trips that had been had, that one pony that everybody knew and loved, and the best place to get pizza in each of the college towns.

Senter Johnson summed up the event best, “I’ve played a lot of good polo but nothing more fun or enjoyable than intercollegiate. I would play the Feldman Cup over the U.S. Open any day.”

Thank you to our host site, Maryland Polo Club and managers Posey Obrecht, Liv and Nate Berube; Mike VanDerwerken, Alex Lopez, Parker Pearce, Lila Bennet, and Emily Wiley for umpiring; and Beth Supik and Waylon for third manning, score keeping, and presenting awards. A huge thank you to the Feldman Family for bringing the Feldman Cup to life.

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

Back to back Zone 3 defends NYTS championship

By Kylie Sheehan • Photos by Elizabeth Hedley

F

resh from a 16-goal Pacific Coast Open win, Nico Escobar led a team representing the Florida Circuit to victory in the NYTS Championship for the USPA Cecil Smith Cup.

Landon Daniels represented the East team in the East vs. West match at the NYTS Championship.

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

This Labor Day weekend, spectators gathered at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in Carpinteria, California for the fifth annual National Youth Tournament Series Championship for the USPA Cecil Smith Cup. “There is no other tournament like it.

It really shines a light on young up-andcoming players in this country and gives them opportunities to make connections with peers that they wouldn’t get to make otherwise,” said three-time NYTS Championship contender and Zone 1 competitor Sloan Stefanakis.

This is exactly why this tournament series was created; to provide more opportunities for youth players to compete against their peers in competitive, fun polo.

This year, 24 talented youth polo players, 19 years old and under, from four zones and two coasts were selected to play in the national championship. As a part of the championships, there was an inaugural East vs. West Challenge, which preceded the championship. This second level was created to give a wider range of all-stars from qualifying events the opportunity to play at the final. The maximum handicap for competitors in the East vs. West Challenge was A.5, and four female players qualified to play on the teams.

Over the last five months, 93 teams and 400 players competed with and against their peers at 37 NYTS qualifying events to earn the chance to play in this championship tournament. A total of 166 all-stars were named, which made them eligible to be selected to represent their home zone in the national championship.

The players were not only selected for their exceptional talent, but also for their leadership, horsemanship, sportsmanship and ability to work as a team player.

For Zone 1, Conrad Kissling (1.5 goals from Empire Polo Club), Harrison Azzaro (A.5 goals from Houston Polo Club), Sloan Stefanakis (1 goal from Houston Polo Club) and Jake Klentner (1 goal from Santa Barbara Polo Club) were selected to represent the Western Region of the United States, (comprised of the Border, Hawaiian, Pacific Coast, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Circuits). Zone 2 (representing the Central, Great Plains, Mid-States, and Southeastern Circuits) consisted of Jack

Nico Escobar carries the ball with ease in the final of the NYTS Championship against Zone 4.

Mclean (A rated from Darlington Polo Club), Carlos Font (A.5 goals from Arranmore Farm and Polo Club), Mich Ward (1 goal from Toronto Polo Club) and Harry Caldwell (A.5 goals from Bluewater Creek Polo Club). Zone 3 (Florida Circuit), the 2013, 2014 and 2016 NYTS Champion, was comprised of Nico Escobar (1.5 goals from Santa Clara Polo Club), Justin Daniels (1.5 goals from Grand Champions Polo Club), Lucas Escobar (A rated from Santa Clara Polo Club) and Mackenzie Weisz (1 goal from Two Year Polo Club).

Zone 4, the 2015 NYTS Champion, consisted of Brennan Wells (A rated from Maryland Polo Club), Liam Lott (A.5 goals from Skidmore Polo Club), Tenzin Tognini (1 goal from Branbury Cross) and Will Green (A rated from Maryland Polo Club) from the Northeast and Eastern Circuits.

For the East vs. West Invitational, Landon Daniels (A rated from International Polo Club), Malia Bryan (B.5 goals from Farmer Road Polo Club), Maddie Grant (A rated from Maryland Polo Club) and Joseph Post (B.5 goals from Gardnertown Polo Club) represented the East Coast. The West Coast team was comprised of Cory Williams (A rated from Santa Barbara Polo Club), Athena Malin (A.5 goals from Empire Polo Club), Bayne Bossom (A rated from Will Rogers Polo Club) and Grayson Price (A.5 goals from Pecan Acres Polo Club).

Each team was given a coach that worked with the players throughout the weekend, holding team meetings, strategy sessions, tape reviews and giving game

advice. Two Team USPA members were coaches for the event; 5-goal player Jesse Bray for Zone 1 and 4-goal player Nick Snow for Zone 4. Veteran Tom Goodspeed returned as the Zone 3 team coach and former 7-goal player and U.S. Open winner Tiger Kneece coached Zone 2. For the East vs. West Challenge Tiger Kneece and Jesse Bray teamed up to coach the West Coast and Tom Goodspeed and Nick Snow collaborated for the East Coast Team.

Their enthusiasm and dedication to the teams throughout the tournament was evident, and the teams made visible improvements as the weekend progressed.

The players first gathered on Aug. 31 and immediately jumped into a Polo Development, LLC. Player Performance Analytics filming session. Each of the players were given access to the video footage of their swings with suggestions as a point of reference to improve their hitting form in the future.

That afternoon, the zones practiced together and began to form strategies for their games the next day. That evening, players gathered for a welcome dinner and draw party at the Santa Barbara Polo clubhouse.

Friday morning, play began with the East Coast facing off against the West Coast in a coached scrimmage. The first game for East vs. West players was modeled after the elite training experience Team USPA members receive with two mounted coaches providing instruction and (continued on page 63) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29

Polo in Paradise

Santa Barbara high-goal season ends in PCO thriller

By Gwen Rizzo

D

anny Walker’s Farmers & Merchants Bank team capped off its summer high-goal season with an exciting double overtime victory in the historic Pacific Coast Open

The Farmers & Merchants Bank team came away with two wins, including the season finale, but they didn’t come easy.

The team began preparing six years ago and this year, went to the mat to bring home the top prize, fulfilling Walker’s lifetime dream.

The Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, offers polo at a variety of levels, truly something for everyone, from April through October. The high-goal series is the highlight of the season, running from July through August.

The first event in the high-goal series was the Belmond El Encanto Polo Classic. It had two entries: defending champion Klentner Ranch and newcomer Santa Clara. Justin Klentner brought back the same team as last year, including brothers Facundo and Geronimo Obregon and Jesse Bray, which gave it an edge.

Santa Clara included Francisco Escobar and his son Luis joining Mariano Obregon and Joaquin Panelo.

Klentner Ranch flexed its muscle early, taking a 2-1 lead after the first seven minutes. The team just got stronger, tallying eight times in the next two periods while holding Santa Clara to two, ending the half 10-3. Santa Clara regrouped at the half and managed to hold Klentner to one goal in the next two periods while splitting the uprights twice. But, it was unable to make up any more ground. The teams traded goals in the last period, leaving Klentner Ranch the 13-7 winner.

Jesse Bray was named MVP and his 32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

horse Curly was Best Playing Pony.

Four more teams joined the fray for the remaining tournaments, beginning with the Karma Automotive Robert Skene Trophy. Klentner Ranch advanced to the final with an undefeated record.

Santa Clara, Farmers & Merchants Bank and RH Polo ended the preliminaries in a three-way tie, broken with a penalty shootout. Santa Clara’s Luis Escobar was the only one to find the mark each time, earning his team the other finalist position.

With Klentner Ranch facing Santa Clara, it would be a rematch of the previous final. And it was played with similar results. Klentner didn’t have the frenzy of goals seen in the first half of the earlier tournament, but it still led 52 at the half. A strong fourth chukker saw Klentner jump ahead 9-2. Santa Clara matched Klentner’s two goals in the fifth and outscored it 2-1 in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit. Klentner went on to win easy 12-6.

Geronimo Obregon was named MVP and Joaquin Panelo’s Andrea was Best Playing Pony.

The third tournament was the Engel and Völkers Santa Barbara USPA America Cup. Santa Clara took no chances and went undefeated in bracket play to advance to the final. Farmers & Merchants Bank took on Klentner Ranch in the last game of the preliminaries. Both teams had 1-1 records, while the remaining three teams had 1-2 records. The Klentner vs. F&MB match would advance the winner to the

final. F&MB sent Klentner packing and readied itself for its first final.

In an email, Walker explained his team’s weakness was patience while it had many strengths. “Horses; best players in the U.S. as a team; compatibility, honesty & integrity; patience, confidence in each other as teammates and that we could win. Never stop pushing; our best two ½ chukkers recorded, we scored 11-1 goals. An amazing moment in an earlier game.”

The Walker family have been staples at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club for 50-some years. Walker’s grandfather, Gus Walker, won his first tournament at the club in 1958. Danny began competing 10 years later.

The final match saw three generations of polo players on the same field. Santa Clara’s father-and-son duo would face F&MB’s 17-year-old Nico Escobar, Luis’ son and Francisco’s grandson, playing the No. 1 position. Still, both teams were eager for a win. From the sidelines, Georgette Escobar was rooting for both teams, her husband and father-in-law on one side and her son on the other.

Santa Clara was hoping the phrase “third time’s the charm” would prove true, while F&MB was looking for its first win of the season. The teams managed to match each other in the first two periods in a tight race. Costly mistakes by the F&MB team gave Santa Clara two chances from the penalty line. Luis Escobar capitalized each time, giving the team the edge it was looking for.

F&MB, however, was not ready to

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

Klentner Ranch’s Jesse Bray is hot on the heels of Farmers & Merchants Bank’s Pipe Vercellino, while Facundo Obregon, far left, waits for a chance to move in during the final of the Pacific Coast Open. He is trailed by Nico Escobar.

concede. Walker jumped on passes, sending the ball to goal twice to tie the score. Santa Clara fought back with Luis Escobar and Panelo hammering in goals.

Criado responded with a goal but Luis Escobar added another to keep Santa Clara in the lead by two going into the final chukker.

Nico Escobar sunk a pair of goals to knot the score early in the chukker.

Panelo broke the tie in Santa Clara’s favor but Nico Escobar’s third goal of the chukker leveled the score once again. Criado tipped the scales after pushing the ball over the goal line for the hard-fought win.

Nico Escobar was rewarded for his efforts with MVP honors. “Winning the final was a great experience for me.

Playing against my father and grandfather at the club I grew up at was mentally tough for me because of everything they have done for me,” he explained. “I challenged myself to focus and channel everything that I was

thinking about and put it out on the field. In the last minute, I was not nervous because we had just tied the game. We used the momentum to go and score the winning goal.”

Lucas Criado’s Bandana earned Best Playing Pony honors.

The teams then shifted their focus to the crown jewel of the season, the Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open. The tournament dates back to 1909 when it was played at the Coronado Polo Club in California. In 1924, it was played at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. It was not played for again until 1928, when it was held at the Midwick Polo Club in Alhambra. It was played there until 1941. It reemerged after the war at the Beverly Hills Polo Club in Brentwood from 1948-1951. It was not played again until 1962 when it was played at Santa Barbara. It has been played there ever since, with the exception of 1968-1974 when it was not played for.

Walker has played in the Pacific Coast

Open since the late 1970s, but it is the only high-goal trophy at Santa Barbara that has eluded him. He explained polo has not changed all that much since he first began competing. “Always competitive, always teams with the best possible horses, the winning team typically had the best strategy and teammates, supported by the polo horse strings. The difference, the horses have become Thoroughbreds and the players have become athletes. The best horses available to each player was supplied, the weekly team meetings, the horse care and teams of grooms for each set of horses is at a higher level than ever before.”

Eight-goal Lucas Criado began playing with F&MB in 2012. “[It was] our worst year. We lost 15 out of 16 games.

We decided that year [to make] the appropriate changes, [finding] the best players available with the best horses available,” wrote Walker. “Compatibility between the players [was] important, [as POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33

Farmers & Merchants Bank: Danny Walker Felipe Vercellino Lucas Criado Nico Escobar

16 2 5 8 1

Klentner Ranch: Justin Klentner Geronimo Obregon Facundo Obregon Jesse Bray

16 1 4 6 5

Lucchese: Jared Zenni Agustin Obregon Jeff Hall John Muse

16 4 5 7 A

Santa Clara: Francisco Escobar Luis Escobar Mariano Obregon Joaquin Panelo

16 4 3 6 5

Restoration Hardware: Ben Soleimani Santi von Wernich Matt Coppola Jason Crowder alt. Hope Arellano alt. Adam Snow

16 A 6 4 6 A 6

Sol de Agosto: Francisco de Narvaez Paco de Narvaez Costi Caset Hilario Figueras

16 1 8 5 2

Klentner would face defending champion Restoration Hardware, while F&MB took on Lucchese.

Klentner Ranch advanced with a 12-8 defeat of Restoration Hardware, while F&MB advanced after downing Lucchese 13-8. The final promised to be an exciting match.

The F&MB team had a solid strategy for the final. “1. Win the throw-ins and control the best men across from you with the ball going to [No. 1] Nico Escobar. 2. Defending set plays, Danny

SHELLEY HEATLEY

was] the desire to create an environment that allowed the team the best chance to win.”

This season, Walker started with 14 horses, 10 of which came with him to the final. “Each of them did their part in each of the games in order for the team to win. Half of the horses came from Lucas Criado’s farm in Argentina, the other half were horses I raised from birth or from [yearlings],” wrote Walker.

F&MB carried its momentum from the America Cup into the first round of the Pacific Coast Open, edging Sol do Agosto 11-10 in a spirited overtime match. Later in the day, Lucchese stomped Santa Clara 16-7 while Klentner Ranch got the best of RH 14-7.

The second round had F&MB topping RH 13-9, Lucchese slipping Sol do Agosto 13-12 and Klentner Ranch handing Santa Clara its second loss 13-12.

Four days later, Klentner won its third match with a 10-5 defeat of Sol do Agosto. F&MB also won its third match with a 13-9 drubbing of Santa Clara. The preliminary rounds ended with Lucchese getting the best of RH 12-9.

Klentner Ranch and F&MB both finished preliminary play undefeated and moved on to the semifinal round.

Farmers & Merchants Bank’s Nico Escobar, Pipe Vercellino, Lucas Criado and Dan Walker finished the season with wins in the America Cup and Pacific Coast Open.

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

against the hitter, Felipe against Geronimo, Lucas against Jesse and Nico against Justin. 3. Offensive set players, Danny against Facundo (I did a poor job and ultimately changed with Lucas who went against Facundo), Felipe against Geronimo, Lucas against Jesse, although he changed to Facundo and Nico alone to receive the ball,” explained Walker.

“Our focus for all the tournaments was a high level of communication between the FMB players, back the ball and utilize our quickness to move past the other team, to shoot on goal inside the 60-yard line if there was an opening, control our fouls, quiet with the umpires, win the game,” wrote Walker.

“We entered the game and each chukker never in doubt that FMB was going to win the PCO. Lucas Criado as our captain was relentless with encouragement for each of us. Another reason we were able to outlast the opponent and win all games.”

The final had an anxious F&MB catching the umpires’ whistles, which ended in a pair of penalty conversions for Klentner Ranch early in the match.

Lucas Criado put F&MB on the board, but Jesse Bray responded for Klentner.

Nico Escobar knocked in a Penalty 2 to keep F&MB close, 3-2. Filipe “Pipe” Vercellino traded goals with Bray in the second. F&MB jumped out front in the third chukker after capitalizing on three open-goal penalty conversions and Criado hammered the ball through the

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

Klentner Ranch’s Jesse Bray, aboard Best Playing Pony Disney, leads the charge in the final of the Pacific Coast Open.

Bray counted on the mare about two minutes in each of five chukkers. He said she has a huge heart and never quits.

uprights to take a comfortable 7-4 lead at the half.

Both teams were trying hard and the players were marking each other closely.

Nico Escobar was unseated after a hard bump and landed on the ground. Later, he was bumped hard again, but this time Geronimo Obregon was the one to come off his horse.

“The first two chukkers we played well. It was really only the third chukker we lost badly. We just fouled a lot in the third chukker,” said Bray.

Fouls continued to be the name of the game in the fourth. First Facundo Obregon knocked in a Penalty 2, then F&MB was awarded a Penalty 1. Klentner converted a Penalty 2 to end the chukker with F&MB ahead 8-6. Facundo Obregon found the mark early in the fifth with a Penalty 6, then he tied it up with a run to goal with 1:55 left in the chukker.

Thirty seconds later, Nico Escobar broke the tie.

In the sixth chukker, a Penalty 2 put

F&MB ahead by two, 10-8. Geronimo Obregon was fouled in front of the goal, and came off his horse. Klentner Ranch was awarded a Penalty 1, bringing it within a goal. The teams kept battling as the time was ticking away.

Geronimo Obregon headed to goal but was ridden wide, still he managed to neck the ball out of the air, scoring what seemed like an impossible angle shot to level the score with just under three minutes left. Klentner Ranch shot to goal again with 2:05 left, but it went just wide, letting F&MB’s fans breath a sigh of relief.

The teams volleyed the ball back and forth. Walker grabbed a pass and carried the ball on his nearside, but Klentner Ranch stopped his drive and sent it to Bray. That drive was stopped by Criado.

Finally, with just five seconds on the clock, Criado was in scoring position with the ball just outside the goal, but was blocked by a Klentner Ranch player.

The final horn sounded, sending the

game into overtime.

The teams came back out for the seventh chukker and before long, Klentner was awarded a spot hit. Before the penalty was taken, Geronimo Obregon was off his horse with a cramp and Bray was given time for a tack issue.

The time out seemed to break up the team’s momentum. With the ball back in play, F&MB was awarded a Penalty 5 from midfield, but a Vercellino drive bounced off a horse. Walker got a hold of the ball and shot for goal, sending it just outside the posts.

A minute later, Geronimo Obregon sent the ball to Bray who shot to goal, but it too went wide. Geronimo made another attempt but Walker hooked him and the ball rolled wide yet again. After a brief time out for a horse injury, F&MB took the knock-in, sending the ball to Escobar. He made beauty of a nearside, but the ball rolled wide by a few inches. Despite the valiant effort, he put his hand over his face in frustration.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35

SHELLEY HEATLEY

A dream in the back of most up-andcoming polo players’ minds is to get the call up from a high-goal team. Imagine being just 14 when that call comes. It would be like a little leaguer getting a call from the Mets.

Well, that is just what happened to Hope Arellano. Former 10-goaler Adam Snow called Hope’s dad, 8-goal Julio Arellano, to see if she could fill in on the RH team in the 16goal Karma Automotive Robert Skene Trophy at Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California.

“Adam Snow called me wondering if we would let Hope go play in Santa Barbara because [Snow’s patron] Ben [Soleimani] was in England playing the Gold Cup. [Snow] had played with Hope in games in Aiken a few months earlier,” explained Julio.

“I was so excited when my dad told me I was asked,” explained Hope. “I didn’t think we would be able to go because it was so far away.”

The family was in Wyoming for the summer so it would take a big effort for her

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

SHELLEY HEATLEY

Friends and strangers make it all happen

to do it. “We actually felt she was ready, but only if she played her horses because she is so young. So, [my wife] Meghan decided to drive the truck and trailer there with Hope,” said Julio.

Mother and daughter set out on the 24hour road trip. “When my mom and I were driving to Santa Barbara, I was getting a little nervous,” explained Hope, “then my mom told me not to worry and just have fun [so] my nerves started to fade.”

The first day, the truck started running hot. They found a mechanic, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with the it. They set out again the second day, making it to Las Vegas at 9 a.m. before the truck broke down.

There, mechanic Carey Lindley worked on the truck throughout the day and into the night. In the meantime, Meghan and Hope rode the horses Hope seems unfazed by 5-goal single in a nearby arena Pipe Vercellino, left, closing in. to get them some

exercise in preparation for the matches.

They finally got on the road again at 2:30 a.m., but after 10 minutes the truck broke down again. Meghan looked at Hope and conceded they weren’t going to be able to get to Santa Barbara. Remarkably, the mechanic turned to Hope and said, “You know what, Hope? I will drive you and your horses to your match. Just help me get everything out of my [truck].”

“He literally hooked up his truck to their trailer and took them. He had never met them before,” explained Julio.

Hope made it in time but once in Santa Barbara, Meghan watched an earlier game and thought, what was I thinking? Hope had played and won the 12-goal in Aiken in the spring and fall of 2016 and had also participated in a few higher-level practice games during the winter, but this seemed much faster.

“We knew some of her horses could handle it, but were worried about a few others. Adam and Ben let Hope borrow one each,” explained Julio.

Just before the game, when everyone stood up to leave the tent, teammate Matt Coppola said, “If I can give any advice, just have fun and play your game.”

The first game pitted the team against eventual tournament winner Klentner Ranch.

Hayley Heatley wrote, “Within minutes of the first bowl-in, Arellano dug into [Jesse] Bray, fearless, yet disciplined in taking her man.”

Bray was impressed with her style of play and tenacity. “Hope’s discipline and skill were very evident. I enjoyed playing against her and watching her play against other teams. She commits to her man and can take out a higher-rated player,” said Bray.

When I asked Julio if he and Meghan were nervous watching Hope play against some of the best professionals in the sport, Julio quipped, “I thought I needed to give Meghan a shot of ace!”

The team lost its first match, but later defeated Farmers & Merchants Bank 15-14 in overtime. Bray explained, “When I was watching her play against Farmers & Merchants Bank, one of her teammates missed the ball and she was right there to

SHELLEY HEATLEY

TEENAGE DREAM

Hope’s parents, Meghan and Julio, adjust stirrups between chukkers.

pass it back up to them. She is a great polo player and will continue to improve.”

Hope said she really enjoyed playing the 16-goal and hopes to continue playing at that level. “I have played with and against the Obregons and Jesse before so, I was very happy that I got to play against people I was comfortable with my first game,” said Hope.

Hope is A rated, but she is slated to go to 1 goal in January. She was a standout on the winning team in the 2016 WCT Championship. “Although women’s polo is fun, I like coed better,” she admitted.

Her future goals are to be the best player she can be and one day play in the U.S. and Argentine Opens.

Who are her favorite polo players to watch? “My two favorite men players are Adolfo [Cambiaso] and my dad. My two favorite women players are Gillian [Johnston] and Tiffany [Busch].” Aside from polo, she says she loves to play tennis. What is it that she likes about polo? “My favorite things about polo are the horses and how we form bonds with each of them,” said Hope. “My second favorite thing is that polo is like an extended family.”

Once the games were over, Meghan said, “I thought she did great. We were super proud of her.”

Player Santi Wulff lent the family his truck to drive the horses back to Las Vegas to get their truck and another friend drove Wulff ’s truck back to Santa Barbara. “It was definitely a group effort by a lot of great people,” said Julio.

It seemed no one could find the goal.

With time ticking away, and the players and horses tired, F&MB got a spot hit. Once again, the ball was sent over the backline wide just ahead of the bell to end the chukker.

The tired teams remounted for an eighth chukker in one of the most exciting games in recent memory. The umpire threw in the ball to start the chukker with Criado taking possession, but it was stopped by Geronimo Obregon. Seconds later, Klentner was cross hooked, giving it a chance from the 60-yard line. Facundo Obregon’s shot had the distance but not the direction, rolling wide. Vercellino knocked in, firing the ball far left, but no one was there. Bray took advantage, racing to the ball. Escobar, hot on his heels, hooked him before he could launch the ball.

Klentner followed up, backing the ball but Criado was there. He took control of it and forcefully necked it through the goal for the hard-fought victory with 5:51 left on the clock.

The F&MB teammates and fans burst into celebration.

Despite the disappointing loss, Klentner Ranch could hold its head high after a remarkable effort and a 2-2 season overall.

Lucas Criado was named MVP of the final, as well as the Robert Skene best player of the season. Jesse Bray’s beautiful gray mare, Disney, a 12-yearold Canadian Thoroughbred, was Best Playing Pony. Bray relied on her for a couple of minutes in each of five chukkers. “Disney has a huge heart and never quits. That’s what makes her so special,” said Bray.

Walker was happy with his horses’ performance throughout the game.

“Four amazing horses that contributed maximum to the team were Santiago, Josefina, Garapinada and Falucho. Each of these horses either played a full chukker or played three times within the eight chukkers. Santiago and Josefina are siblings and have been recognized for many years as my two best.

Garapinada and Falucho arrived from Argentina this year and were large (continued on page 60)

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Steve Lim handles a bouncing ball in Argentina.

On a Lim Diary of a severe polo addict

By Steve Lim

J

ust five short years since he began taking polo lessons, Steve Lim has already set his sights on playing in the U.S. Open. He knows it will be a long and difficult task, but he is not deterred. Here, he journals his adventures into the polo world.

One morning in Oct. 2016, I was watching my friend Guillermo Usandizaga’s team play against a Valiente team at La Dolfina in Canuelas, Argentina, about 40 miles outside Buenos Aires. After an early morning polo practice with 5-goal Tavi Usandizaga, we watched the game near the half-line under a beautiful blue Argentine sky.

There, I met a very unusual man wearing a hat and sunglasses sitting a few feet away from me watching the game closely.

When I shook his hand, I instantly felt his “divine” handshake. I did not quite get his name but I thought he introduced himself as Dolfi. Behind him, a boy of 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

about 10 years old sat on a kid-sized motorcycle watching the game on and off, coming and going.

We chatted lightly while watching the game. I told him I had come from California and it was my first trip to beautiful Argentina to practice polo in a high-goal setting. I mentioned how much fun I was having and that I would love to be back regularly to play polo in Argentina.

The game was interesting, as it was fast with a lot of good plays. I enjoyed watching the horse trainers from La Dolfina playing and winning the game.

Still learning about the sport, I asked Tavi

why it was a foul whenever there was a whistle. The man sitting next to me paid close attention to my questions.

During the game, a friend of the man came by and played a voicemail from “Sugar” the unmistakable name from the Coca Cola team. I overheard that Sugar was doing better and recovering quickly after an accident during a game in the U.S. My question intensified, who is this gentleman with the divine handshake watching the game next to me?

After the game, we got in the truck to meet up with Guillermo at the players’ tent. To my surprise Tavi said, “Wow, you were chatting with Cambiaso for a while!”

I jumped out of my seat with surprise and excitement. “Really, that man is Cambiaso? I had no idea!” I said. Then, I remember his hat had the initials A.C.—Adolfo Cambiaso, the undisputed best polo player in the world.

I know his signature look very well when I see him on TV playing polo, but I could not recognize him when he was sitting next to me with his hat and sunglasses. Just recently, I realized the young kid on the motorcycle was his son, Poroto, who will, in the very near future, succeed his father’s throne.

I grew up in Seoul, South Korea.

When I was about 7 years old, I watched western movies with my family on TV on Saturday evenings. As a kid, it was the most exciting thing to watch the action on the horses. My childhood hero was John Wayne. He always did the right thing amid all the action going on.

During my junior high school days, we had a school trip to an amusement park.

All the kids were busy getting in line to ride roller coasters all afternoon. I spent the day riding ponies. Until then, having always lived in the city, I had never seen a real horse up close, not to mention touching or riding one.

That day, I found my heaven on those ponies. They were gentle creatures with big brown eyes. I could almost see their soul through their eyes.

It wasn’t until my mid-30s that I was able to get involved with horses. By then, I was living a fastpaced life in California. I had finished college, gotten married and was working 80 hours a week with medical device software in Silicon Valley. One day, I happened across some dressage riders while driving on a back road. That was when I learned to ride and occasionally competed for blue ribbons.

Dressage is great training and discipline. After about three years of weekly lessons, I would often get compliments about how well I rode, but I wanted to experience that

Rafael Castillo, left, helped Steve get started in polo. Steve calls him his Master Polo Jedi.

heart-pounding excitement on horses.

Polo suddenly appeared in my life while on a trip to Wellington, Florida to meet friends. We watched the 26-goal games at International Polo Club and since then, I can not shake the addiction called polo! I have a severe case!

One sunny afternoon, I laid down in the grass on the number one field at IPC Steve had a wonderful time at Saratoga and said this picture shows the spirit of polo.

when no one was around. I decided then, that someday I will play in 26goal polo—the U.S. Open—on that very field. I know it will be a difficult path, and not many people think I will make it. But, I have been doing my best with every step in the process and having the time of my life in every polo game I play, whether in California, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, New York or Buenos Aires.

About five years ago, I had business about every two months on the East Coast. Each time, I would take a side trip, flying out to West Palm Beach for polo lessons. I met Rafael Castillo, a former 4-goal player, through a good friend of mine. He helped me get started in polo. I call him my Master Polo Jedi.

I would stay for two days, taking lessons in the early morning and again in the late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day. Rafael used to say, “You are amazing, you can do things right away when I ask you to try something. It takes a month or two for others to learn and do it.”

After 90 minutes of practice, I would be soaked with what felt like a gallon of sweat, perhaps more. I noticed Rafael didn’t sweat much and doesn’t need to drink much water either. He is very healthy and a blessed man. He does not drink, does not smoke, eats small portions, rises early, goes to bed early, serves at his church regularly and has a happy family. At 63, he still plays in 8-goal games as a pro.

I began playing in 1-goal tournaments in California with Dawn Rose and Santos Arriola.

One week before the tournaments, I would fly to Florida to get lessons from Rafael. He was like my swing doctor! When I played my first 4goal game, I invited Rafael to California to play on my team, LimRose.

The week before the game, I practiced in the rain with Rafael. It started raining toward the end of the morning lesson, but the rain did not stop us. It was fun to fly a ball into the air in the heavy rain, but it POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39

Steve, center, with Lori Summers and Guillermo Usandizaga. Summers encouraged Steve to go to Argentina so he could experience polo in a high-goal setting. He will be play there again this fall.

was quite painful when the Florida rain drops, the size of cherries, hit my face as my horse carried me 15 miles per hour.

Even now, I can still hear Rafael telling me on the field, “Steve, no minus-1-goal player hits an 80 yard backshot like you do.�

We had a blast playing the games together. I scored five goals, narrowly missing four more during the two days of play.

The first goal came right at the start of the game. I was on the left, upstream from Rafael when he passed the ball to me. I hit the ball 70 yards into the goal. It was like

magic! I screamed my lungs out when I saw the ball fly into the goal. At that moment, all the tension and anxiety melted away. I was finding my stride with each hit, and even the missed goals were long shots that stopped just before the goal line. I ended up tying the game at 1010, then my neckshot to goal won the game. Even the umpires admitted they were frozen for a few seconds when they saw me score the goal as it was completely unexpected.

Someone once told me that when a student is ready, a teacher appears. It has

Guillermo Usandizaga practices in Canuelas, Argentina.

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

been like that all along my polo journey.

One day, my close friend Lori Summers, a neurosurgeon from New Orleans, told me I must play polo in Argentina with Guillermo Usandizaga in fast, high-goal settings. Lori, Guillermo and I met up in Wellington to play together for the first time and it changed my polo life into a whole new game. I call us the three musketeers!

Guillermo and I have been playing together a little over a year and a half. We have played in Wellington; Point Clear, Alabama; Louisville, Kentucky; Sarasota Springs, New York; and Canuelas, Argentina. Guillermo happens to be my best friend now.

Until I met Guillermo, my polo was just chasing the ball and hitting it, simple as that. Now, I can read the field and the game by learning from the perspective of a seasoned 6-goal player. I have learned the cues of where to go in the games, how to deliver a goal and how to defend.

Guillermo has also trained me to naturally look like a pro instead of a patron ... and now I can somewhat ride like a polo pro.

I don’t know how it happened, but one of my dreams in my high school days was becoming a polo player. In the back of my

mind, I always knew it would come true.

But, I did not imagine a 6-goal player would become my best friend, show me and help open the doors of opportunities in polo. I am grateful. I call Guillermo the mastermind.

This summer, I signed up to play my first USPA 8-goal tournament at the Saratoga Polo Club in Saratoga, New York.

I woke up in the early morning with mild stomach pain on the first day. The evening before, club manager Cuko Escapite told me 2500 spectator tickets were completely sold out and the weather was looking great for the weekend. I did not know what to expect with the crowd until the first game

Above: Guillermo Usandizaga, Steve Lim and Will and Tab Orthwein won the 8-goal Times-Union Cup in Saratoga, New York. Below: When Steve stays in Canuelas, Argentina, he stays in a tree house built around a huge pecan tree. On this day, he woke up at dawn to enjoy the view.

A week before playing in his first 4-goal game, Steve flew to Florida for lessons, rain or shine.

started on Friday evening.

Saratoga is a charming place. If you look at the people at the field, everyone seems to glow with a smile. It may be the mineral water from the local springs!

Guillermo and I were teamed up with two solid longtime local players, Will and Tab Orthwein. Bob Bullock announced the game with his very seasoned style after 30 years with the club. By halftime, I finally started feeling comfortable. The score was 3-3 so the second half would be a whole new game.

I survived two roller coaster up-anddown games, eventually winning the first place trophy. I really enjoyed the time of my life in my first 8-goal games with great people. I am glad it was Saratoga and I can not wait to go back to play in the fun tournaments again soon.

People ask how I can travel all over the world to play polo while having a family with two toddlers at home. The key is the great support from my family. My wife, Hannah, used to be a basketball player in her high school days so she understands tournament schedules and what it takes to be in sports tournaments. Hannah has been the greatest supporter in my polo journey. When I am home in California, we always spend time enjoying the beach in Bodega Bay on the weekends.

We are excited to take Juliana, 3, and Nariana, 16 months, to the kids’ polo school at La Dolfina in a few years when they are old enough to handle the long flights to Buenos Aires. They already love horses.

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

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TIME FOR CHANGE Facundo Pieres will be changing teams in the U.S and U.K. PHOTO BY SERGIO LLAMERA

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ith the 2017 Argentine season underway, Facundo Pieres hopes his family’s Ellerstina team will break the hegemony of Adolfo Cambiaso’s La Dolfina team.

Looking past the Argentine season, Pieres will join forces with Cambiaso in the U.S. in 2018, and says he recently confirmed a team for England after the King Power Foxes team, which he led to victories in the last three British Gold Cups, announced it will be dissolved.

Facundo Pieres has been a name associated with helping mobilize the polo world. He seems to be the victory card on almost every team he plays on. Though he has had his ups and downs in 2017, he is hopefully for what lies ahead in the remainder of the year and looks forward to 2018, which appears to be full of changes. He sat down with Polo Players’ Edition in late August.

Polo Players’ Edition: With the Argentine season getting underway, how do you evaluate your year so far?

Facundo Pieres: I have to recognize I did not have a good season in the U.S. I did not win any major tournaments with the Orchard Hill organization. Losing the U.S. Open final was not good at all because it was a match that, under other circumstances, we could have won. So, I was feeling a bit upset when I began the U.K. season, then we did not do well in the Queen’s Cup. I enjoyed winning the Gold Cup because King Power Foxes needed a great tournament. We have a large group and the organization is used to winning and the expectation is always about winning. When we do not get the result, everything becomes a little bit tense.

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

When we won, we celebrated a lot and the relief was great.

PPE: Will you continue to play with King Power Foxes?

FP: No, we will not continue. Our Thai patron, Top Srivaddhanaprabha, told us that three years of consecutive successes were enough and he wanted to take some time. I understand because maintaining such an organization generates huge pressure. If you are not able to win, it looks like a failure. Nobody is happy, neither us nor the people around us.

PPE: You are also changing your team in the United States. How did that come about?

FP: It is much simpler than many believe. When we were disputing the U.S. Open, Steve Van Andel warned me that he was not going to present a team for next season. I started looking for a new team, since I did not have one. There was a possibility of coming back with Audi, which was a good opportunity to play again with (my brother) Gonzalito on a team I was part of in 2009 and 2010. With that possibility in mind, I flew from Argentina to London to start the British season on a plane with Cambiaso.

We were casually chatting, very relaxed, and I told him I hadn’t yet confirmed a team for Palm Beach. It was just some friendly talk and I almost forgot about it.

We met again a few weeks later in London.

He told me he talked to (his patron) Bob Jornayvaz about my situation and (Jornayvaz) said he’d love to invite me to play. I explained the possibility of me playing with Audi was open and supposed to be defined at the end of June.

Unfortunately, I did not close with Audi so

I asked Valiente’s people if they had a place for me. It was very easy to reach an agreement.

PPE: What do you say to the criticisms that the team will polarize power and there will be no competition.

FP: I know there are many people talking about it. There are many critics that say the two best players on the planet playing together is bad and does not help polo. I talked to several teams for almost two months and could not close anything.

There are many patrons that did not call me. Then, the Valiente people came to me with a proposal that amused me. I said, “Thank you for keeping me in mind. Let’s do it!”

I had the phone open and few called. In the U.S. high handicap, there are few teams. You have to wonder why. Nobody is unbeatable and until we play, it is all speculation.

The season in England made it clear that a true team of four good players—concentrated and knowing what to do—can achieve results. Not everything depends on only one star. There are many good players turning around to put together good teams and do interesting things. It is easier to not take a chance and say, you cannot play Valiente, they are unbeatable so I won’t play. It sounds like an excuse to me.

PPE: How will Valiente line up.

FP: Bob is 2 goals so we need a 4 goaler. One option is Tommy Beresford who is 4 in the U.S. Or maybe take an Argentine boy that can get a handicap (in the U.S.). We will see.

PPE: Would you repeat this union with

Adolfito in England?

FP: I guess not. My original plan was to continue playing there with Gonzalito, but finally I reached an agreement with Michael Bickford to be part of La Indiana in 2018. We don’t know the rest of the line-up by he is a very good player and we are working on it, trying to chose the best available players to make a winning foursome.

PPE: This season in Argentina, where your team will face Cambiaso’s team, has some changes coming. What are your feelings about it?

FP: The rivalry between me and Cambiaso was created because of Ellerstina and La Dolfina, which spread to the U. S. and the U.K. But, it is just something about sports. We are good friends off the field. It is a big motivation to me when I play against him because beating him is much more difficult than beating other players. The best games are always those against him because you have to give your best. Everyone is more focused, more scared. The more frightened you are before the match, the better you do in the game. If you do not do things right, Cambiaso passes you over.

PPE: There will be 10 teams in Palermo this year, two more than usual.

What do you think about the change?

FP: We have to find ways to make the Argentine Open in Palermo a more important tournament. It is a one-of-akind competition. We have to find a way to have the best players and teams. Having such big differences (in teams) in Palermo is not good. Moreover, 10 teams is a strange number because it creates two brackets of five teams, with one team that will have a free date.

Many say the lower handicap games are more balanced but the real thing is we have to go from the top down.

It is true that a 10-team format gives opportunities to more teams and younger players that have the chance to play this level of polo and get better. But, there will be better players and better teams in the

Facundo Pieres, right, is hopeful Ellerstina will be more competitive against La Dolfina this year.

future. If La Dolfina and Ellerstina continue to be the two best teams in the next years, there will be a lot of difference with the lower-rated teams.

Ideally, the season would have many teams in Tortugas, maybe 12, and less in Hurlingham, just to have the best, and Palermo would have only the best teams, making it a serious tournament with six teams that are able to win. Those teams that are left out can play other prestigious tournaments such as the Cámara de Diputados or Municipalidad de Pilar.

PPE: What do you think about Eduardo Novillo Astrada’s new Argentine Polo Association management?

FP: I agree with the decisions taken by this new leadership. They are aiming to do new things for the upcoming season. They are doing good work. Now, we have to wait for the results. There are many people who don’t like it, who say things should be done slowly, but we know polo is going through a big crisis and if we don’t make urgent changes, polo will fall to pieces. As players, all of us together have to support and help move ahead.

PPE: What changes do you want?

FP: Polo needs to be more dynamic.

Games can’t be two hours or more. I support what has been done in the last two

years—less fouls and open up the play more. That has helped and will continue to help if it is improved even more.

PPE: What do you think of the issue of frequent horse changes during games?

FP: Today, the intensity required in every match makes it very difficult to play a horse more than three or four minutes, so you need to change them. If you do things right, by not taking too much time, changing horses is not bad at all. What is really bad is when players are continuously asking the umpires for time so they can get a new one.

PPE: What are your thoughts about your Ellerstina team this season?

FP: For the very first time in many years, I will begin the season in my country relaxed because we finally worked out the team positions. Polito [Pieres] will play No. 1, free, near to the goal, which is what he does best. Gonzalito [Pieres] will play No. 2 because when he moves forward, it is the best thing for all. I will stay at No. 3, and Nico [Pieres] will be Back. If Nico plays the way he did last year, we will have a better team. In terms of horses, we should be better and more organized. I guess we will be able to play against La Dolfina as equals, with great chances to defeat it.

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

While the fields of Santa María Polo Club in Sotogrande, Spain, usually see action from the biggest names in the sport, August 19 was reserved for the best young players between the ages of 5 and 17 years. It was the ninth year the Spanish National Youth Tournament was held.

Youth event showcases future talent A total of 53 children PHOTOS COURTESY SNOOPY PHOTOGRAPHY where divided into 13 teams playing at three different levels, similar to the polo offered to the adults. The high handicap included four teams, the medium handicap had six teams and the low handicap, with the youngest players, had three teams.

The event was a collaboration between the Andalusian Polo Federation, the Royal Spanish Polo Federation and the polo club as a way to make polo accessible to the youngest of players.

DESTINATION: SPAIN

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Spectators were encourage to come out and support the young talent. The club offers a polo school throughout the year for players of all ages at its first-rate facilities.

The high handicap saw four matches, while the medium handicap played 10 matches. Three games were held for the low handicap.

It was evident by the smiles on the faces that everyone enjoyed the event.

The high handicap was won by Las Flores, which was coached by renowned British polo coach John Horswell. The team included Chaney Norton, Natalia Bayarri, Alannah Horswell and captain Patricio Fraga-Errecart. Indi 96, with Alba Campos, Pablo Mora Figueroa Jr., Victoria Urite and Rufino Merlos won the medium handicap. In the low handicap, Iridike Polo Club, with Beltrán Irazábal, Celestino Merlos, Lorenzo Nero, Felipe Iturraspe and Santos Valent, took the top prize.

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

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

POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO CENTRAL

KARL KNAPP

OAK BROOK WINS DRAKE CHALLENGE CUP

Oak Brook’s Pamela Flanagan splits the uprights in the Drake Challenge against Jamaica.

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he Oak Brook team overcame Jamaica in the Drake Challenge Cup, one of Oak Brook’s oldest and most celebrated trophies, kicking off the International Polo Series Aug. 6 at Oak Brook Polo Club in Oak Brook, Illinois. It was also the 55th year of Jamaican Independence Day. Jamaica (Marc Melville, Jose Laritirigoyen, Charles Chambers, Chris Vangel) began the four-chukker match with a two-goal handicap against Oak

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Brook (Pamela Flanagan, Horacio Onetto, Tomas Obregon, Mariano Gutierrez). Flanagan struck first to put Oak Brook on the board. Gutierrez followed to tie the score at 2-2 before Obregon and Onetto gave Oak Brook the 4-2 lead.

Oak Brook remained in the driver’s seat for the second chukker shooting in another three quick goals–two in regular running play from Gutierrez and Flanagan, added to an impressive

neck shot goal from Onetto.

Laritirigoyen put in the first field goal for Jamaica before Vangel passed to Melville who put one in. Vangel also got one through the posts after a good ride off against Obregon. At halftime, Oak Brook held a 7-5 lead.

Following the traditional divot stomp, the third chukker began with Oak Brook receiving a Penalty 4, which Obregon converted. Melville responded with one of his own, followed by Vangel

R E P O R T

KARL KNAPP

KARL KNAPP

P O L O

Oak Brook’s Tomas Obregon, Pamela Flanagan, Horacio Onetto and Mariano Gutierrez won the Drake Challenge Cup.

and finally Laritirigoyen. In the last 30 seconds of play, Onetto launched a nice 75-yard hit up to a perfectly positioned Flanagan who finished off the last 40 yards with a shot between the posts. Oak Brook maintained a two-goal lead, 10-8.

If the fourth chukker had a theme, it would be “hit and run.” Onetto was the only one to score for Oak Brook while both Melville and Vangel scored one each for Jamaica. Chambers made a valiant attempt to match the score but ran out of time. The horn sounded and Oak Brook won 11-10.

Best Playing Pony was awarded to Onetto’s Lili for the second time this season while Melville took MVP. Previously, in a “fast and furious” afternoon, Team Ferrari defeated Team Maserati 16-12 in the “Horses and Horsepower” match July 9.

In partnership with the Ferrari Club of America and Continental AutoSports Ferrari and Maserati, the 12-goal match attracted a record-setting crowd of more than 800 people who came out to flaunt their Italian and Ferrari pride while participating in the festivities. The prematch parade featured anthem singer Scott Ramsay, followed by 20-plus new and classic Ferraris and the teams.

Oak Brook Polo Club’s Team Ferrari was captained by Chicago business leader Jim Drury and included Horacio Onetto, Tomas “Toto” Obregon and Mariano Gutierrez while Team Maserati had Matias Obregon, Del Walton, Chris

Ferrari’s Mariano Gutierrez, Tomas Obregon, Horacio Onetto and Jim Drury won the “Horses and Horsepower” event.

Vangel and Samantha Falbe. Umpires were Joe Blanco and Todd Rackley.

“We knew right from the get-go that this was going to be a very fast-paced polo match,” said Jim Drury, president of the Oak Brook Polo Club. “The field was in magnificent condition allowing the ponies and players to perform at the highest level. We could not have wanted a more beautiful and exciting day for the record crowd that turned out to enjoy the true Thoroughbreds of polo and the sports car world.”

Maserati began the match with three goals on handicap. Ferrari didn’t waste any time in making up the spread and then some, after Onetto scored two and Gutierrez and Toto Obregon one each.

In the second, Maserati’s Walton came out on a fast horse and quickly scored two goals from the field, while Mariano Obregon converted a Penalty 3. Falbe made a few break-away plays to the roars of fans, and she and Vangel were well positioned for passes being fed by Mariano Obregon and Walton. At halftime, the score was even 8-8.

During the traditional halftime divot stomp, the wooden horse, “Flicka” was brought out onto the field for guests to try their own swing at a polo ball. Club guests were also treated to a complimentary glass of Champagne as they walked and socialized on the field.

Ferrari roared onto the field in the second half with four quick goals.

Gutierrez had a ‘play of the match’

scenario as he necked the ball from the far-right corner of the field toward the goal only to chase it down, overshoot the goal mouth, and then cut it back between the posts to score. Onetto scored a Penalty 4 that he lifted way over the Maserati defense, and Toto Obregon scored a pair to end the chukker ahead 12-9.

In the last chukker, Onetto scored for Ferrari, but Maserati owned the road.

Vangel scored, followed by two from Walton who came out with another turbo-powered horse. It wasn’t enough and Ferrari held on to its 16-12 advantage at the bell.

Onetto’s Lili was Best Playing Pony and MVP honors went to Falbe.

TWIN CITIES TOPS

PTF SENIORS TOURNEY

Blackberry Polo Club in Batavia, Illinois, hosted four teams July 15-16 for the Central Circuit PTF Seniors’ Tournament played in memory of Thomas J. Wigdahl.

Semifinal matches Saturday yielded two closely fought games. The Twin Cities team of Tony Natale, Bill O’Leary, Peter Alworth and Jim Drury sneaked by Peoria’s Chuck Weaver, Len Monson, Bob McMurtry and Joan Brugue with a 6-5 score.

In the second semifinal, Grand Rapids’ Stephanie Rubie, John Rosene, Clifton Yandell and Les Johnson

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

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Twin Cities’ Bill O’Leary, Jim Drury, Pete Alworth and Tony Natale won the PTF Seniors’ Tournament in Illinois.

prevailed 4-3 with two goals each by Cliff and Les. The Chicago team of Jack Murphy, Memo Font, Roueen Rafeyan and Joe Messer almost beat the clock to tie as time ran out.

Sunday’s matches were played before a benefit crowd supporting the Batavia Arts Council. The consolation match was dominated by Peoria’s Joan Brugue, scoring six, supplemented by Bob McMurtry’s three and one by Weaver for a 10-1 victory over Chicago.

The final between Grand Rapids and Twin Cities was fast-paced and slowed only by Les Johnson’s bad fall late in the third chukker with the score tied at two each. Les returned for the fourth, scoring a goal but Pete Alworth put in two for a 4-3 Twin Cities’ win.

David Wigdahl presented the trophy in honor of his father, Tom, to the Twin Cities team sponsored by Batavia Bulldog Plumbing.

Grand Rapids was sponsored

by Mirror Image, also of Batavia.

A few weeks later, the club hosted the Central Circuit Women’s Challenge for the 30th consecutive year, July 29-30. The three competing teams were: Twin Cities (Haley Klintworth, Mackenzie Skatter, Robbin Figge, Mimi Alworth), Passion for Polo (Frauke Leuders, Shannon Eldridge, Megan West, Tracy Riff), and

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

Haley Klintworth, Robbin Figge, Mimi Alworth and Mackenzie Skatter won the Central Circuit Women’s tournament.

Volar (Emily Meyer, Tessa Walton, Pamela Flanagan, Mimi Shirey).

The Saturday round robin began with Twin Cities over Passion for Polo 41. Shannon Eldridge scored for Passion for Polo and Robbin Figge had all four for Twin Cities. Passion for Polo fell to Volar 2-1 with two goals by Pamela Flanagan. Twin Cities rolled over Volar 6-0 with all four players scoring.

The round robin carried over to Sunday with Volar over Passion for Polo by a final of 4-1 thanks to goals by Flanagan and Shirey. Twin Cities prevailed over Passion for Polo with an 8-2 final score. Twin Cities left no doubt by adding four more goals and finishing

New Hope’s Tim Cherompka, Marcos Bignoli, Jesus Ontiveros, Rhea Lowenthal and Rich Weidel with Chris Cerbering, second from left, and Hesham ElGarby, right

10-1 over Volar. Pamela Flanagan scored the sole Volar goal and Tess Sabatini replaced Tessa Walton.

Excellent teamwork and player positioning was displayed by Twin Cities throughout. Mimi Alworth received the MVP award and Robbin Fiffe’s mount, Sophie, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

—Barb Alexander EASTERN

NEW HOPE TAKES USPA PRESIDENTS CUP Tinicum Park Polo Club in Erwinna, Pennsylvania, hosted the annual 8goal USPA President’s Cup on Aug. 12. New Hope and TravMedia faced off in a match that kept the crowd on the edge of its seat throughout the six chukkers and busy stomping divots between them. The play followed lofted shots from end to end on a field damp from an early morning rain.

Four-goalers Marcos Bignoli, in his first game at Tinicum Park, and Jesus Ontiveros joined Tim Cherompka, Rhea Lowenthal and Richard Weidel as the New Hope Team. A total of seven goals gave them a one-goal head start. Nick Wayland’s TravMedia Team included Mark Mulligan, Donni Wastey and 5-goal Hernan Tasso.

DEENA JIH

P O L O

Seamonsters’ Lea Jih-Vieira, game MVP, puts the hard pressure on coach Laura Goddard, playing for Mountain View in the Mountain View Challenge.

TravMedia with two more goals to tie the game with the clock ticking down.

Ontiveros scored the final goal making New Hope the winner. MVP went to Marcos Bignoli and his horse, California, took Best Playing Pony honors.

The game was umpired by Dennis Santana and Leandro Berrios and Cheryl Arnold was the referee.

MOUNTAIN VIEW ACES 0-GOAL ARENA

USPA Mountain View Challenge, a 0goal tournament June 17-18.

Five teams filled the rosters including La Barra (Jessica Henwood, Maureen Marsh, Chris Abularrage), Old Farm Vet (Susan Leslie, Khris Baxter, Derek Wilson), Yo!o Polo (Constance Chatfield-Taylor, Tracey Godey, Pamela Patton), Seamonsters (Willow Longerbeam, Cailin Phebus, Lea Jih-Vieira) and Mountain View (Kerry Davis, Akemi Tinder, Laura Goddard).

Seamonsters, the young team of interscholastic players, and hometeam Mountain View, comprised of two former Cornell intercollegiate players, met in the final.

The energetic Seamonsters started with a lead in handicap goals, but all of the Mountain View ladies, mindful of the starting deficit, fired four goals home during the first chukker to surpass the gap. The young Seamonsters rose up and tied the game going into the second half, giving the old ladies of Mountain View a run for the polo ball.

Mountain View’s collective years of team wisdom dominated the third chukker, helping Laura Goddard sink her eighth goal to secure a three-goal lead. Through the fourth chukker, the young Seamonsters showed no signs of slowing down, but could not overtake the old ladies, and Mountain View took home the trophy with a final score of 12-8.

MVP of the game was awarded to Seamonster Lea Jih-Vieira for her valiant efforts to lead her team and overtake her coach, Laura Goddard. Best Playing Pony was awarded to Laura Goddard’s unstoppable appaloosa, Windy.

The club initiated this tournament to promote more participation in USPA tournaments by its low-goal members and other area players.

DEENA JIH

Mulligan evened the score soon after the ball was thrown in and teammate Tasso secured the lead by two with a pair of hard-fought goals in chukker one. A lot of action filled chukker two with Bignoli scoring for New Hope, answered by a goal by Tasso and another by Mulligan for TravMedia.

Bignoli retaliated with another shot through the uprights but Tasso responded before the chukker ended.

A game of long hitting, successful passing and skillful defense kept the spectators in suspense as the ball closed near the posts repeatedly, only to be turned or backed by the defending team and sent up the field in the opposite direction. This occurred throughout chukker three as only one goal was scored, by Bignoli, despite the fastmoving traffic back and forth.

TravMedia maintained a narrow lead throughout the game until Weidel scored in the fifth to put New Hope ahead for the first time.

Chukker six showed a fight to the finish on the part of both teams, as Bignoli added a goal, putting New Hope ahead by two. Wayland and Mulligan pushed through for

R E P O R T

Mountain View’s Kerry Davis, Laura Goddard and Akemi Tinder won the inaugural USPA Mountain View Challenge.

Mountain View Polo Club in Charles Town, West Virginia, held its inaugural

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

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Gardenvale’s Tommy Alberdi, Jaime Bourdieu, Alfonso Robirosa and Connor Finemore won the Constitution Cup at Mashomack.

NORTHEASTERN

GARDENVALE SNARES USPA CONSTITUTION CUP Gardenvale slipped past Smithfield 7-6 in overtime to win the USPA 4-goal Constitution Cup at Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York, played between Aug. 2-13.

Smithfield (Craig Callen, Juanse Olivera, Bauti Crotto, John Klopp) and Gardenvale (Connor Finemore, Alfonso Robirosa, Tomas Alberdi, Jaime Bourdieu), both 4-goal teams, began level, but Crotto struck first to put Smithfield ahead. Finemore, playing in his first tournament, responded but a goal by Olivera put Smithfield back on top. Bourdieu scored late in the chukker to keep the score even, 2-2. A Penalty 2 conversion

by Alberdi put Gardenvale on top and a pair of goals by Robirosa increased its lead to end the half ahead 5-2.

Robirosa added another early in the third but Olivera responded and Crotto knocked in a Penalty 2 to cut the deficit to 6-4. Gardenvale tried to hang on to the lead in the last chukker. It successfully kept Smithfield from reaching the goal, but costly mistakes gave Crotto two opportunities from the 60-yard line and he seized them both to knot the score at 6-6 at the end of regulation.

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Shekomeko’s Guy Merison, MVP Lexi Merison, Oli Merison and Oski Monzon celebrate their win with Caroline Merison, far left.

An overtime chukker was needed to determine the winner. The teams battled back and forth, but Bourdieu scored the golden goal to give Gardenvale the 7-6 win.

Juanse Olivera was named MVP and Confianza, owned by John Klopp and played by Crotto, was Best Playing Pony.

In the subsidiary handicap section of the Constitution Cup, Shekomeko came from behind to defeat Savannah 5-4. Shekomeko (Lexi Merison, Oli Merison, Oski Monzon, Guy Merison) began with a one-goal handicap, but Savannah (David Sloan, Juan Olivera, Henry Zavaleta, Nick Bienstock) soon countered it with a Penalty 4 conversion from Zavaleta.

In the low-scoring match, Olivera scored the only goal of the second,

ending the half with Savannah narrowly leading 2-1. Olivera scored another early in the third before Lexi Merison scored the first field goal for Shekomeko. Bienstock scored his first goal to put Savannah ahead 4-2 going into the final chukker.

Monzon struck early to bring Shekomeko closer and a costly mistake

by Savannah gave Shekomeko a Penalty 2, which Oli Merison easily capitalized on to level the score at 4-4.

Not to be outdone, Guy Merison scored the final goal, the game winner, to take the trophies. For Shekomeko, it was a team effort, with each player scoring once. Lexi Merison was named match MVP. Both teams were all smiles after the competitive, but friendly match, just the way it should be.

MAYER RANCH DOMINATES USPA CONSTITUTION CUP The USPA 6-goal Constitution Cup was played at Willow Bend Polo Club June 9-11.

Mayer Ranch (Brendon Stenzel, Rob Payne, Clark Mayer, Kenny Mayer) defeated both Tiburon/ Rawhide (Don Stemaly, Rob Stenzel, Collen Clark, Finley Haislip) and Blue Dog/Palo Pinto (Steve Gilchrist, Wyatt Myr, Robert Payne, Allen Custard) for the title.

P O L O

R E P O R T

Wigwam’s Charlie Caldwell, Quinn Evans, Malia Bryan and Avery Evans; Flying H’s Olivia Uechtritz, Hope Arellano, Harry Caldwell and Kayden Winterholler; and Teepee’s Ben Lynch, Liam Lott, Morgan Bowman and Trent Passini played in the Archie McCarty Cup.

WIGWAM CONTROLS ARCHIE MCCARTY CUP

Wigwam downed two other youth teams in round-robin play to take the title in the Archie McCarty Cup at Flying H Polo Club in Sheridan, Wyoming, Aug. 6.

Wigwam (Avery Evans, Malia Bryan, Quinn Evans, Charlie Caldwell) proved unstoppable in the first chukker of the first round against Flying H (Kayden Winterholler, Olivia Uechtritz, Hope Arellano, Henry Caldwell). Avery Evans slammed in the first goal to get things started. Bryan followed with two in a row and Charlie Caldwell split the uprights, giving Wigwam a 4-0 lead at the end of the first chukker. Arellano scored the only goal for Flying H, but it was answered by a goal from Quinn Evans for a 6-1 finish in favor of Wigwam.

Flying H sat down and Teepee (Liam Lott, Morgan Bowman, Trent Passini, Ben Lynch) tried to stop Wigwam’s momentum. This time, Quinn Evans started the scoring.

Teepee held off any more Wigwam goals, but was unable to reach the goal itself. Caldwell tallied the only goal of the second to give Wigwam the 2-0 win and the title.

The third round was for runner-up honors as Flying H took on Teepee.

Arellano shot through two goals in the

first period, but they went unanswered.

Lott shot back with two of his own in the second to tie the score at 2-2. The teams tried to break the tie, but time ran out with the teams even, and that is how it was left.

Malia Bryan was named MVP and Charlie Caldwell’s Apache was Best Playing Pony.

The Moncrieff Cup, scheduled for the previous day, was postponed indefinitely after rain. In the preliminary matches played Aug. 3, Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz/Poroto Cambiaso, Tom Gose, Gillian Johnston, Adolfo Cambiaso) defeated Sonny Hill (Curtis Pilot, Francisco Lanusse, Julio Arellano, Chip Campbell) 9-3, earning a spot in the final. Valiente began with a handicap goal and Johnston went on to score a game-high six goals. Jornayvaz and Cambiaso scored one each.

No Trees (Santi Torres, Steve Dalton, Jeff Blake, Craig Duke) earned the other final spot after edging Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Gonzalo Teves, Carlucho Arellano, Hector Galindo) 10-9. The teams were tied in the fifth, but a Penalty 2 conversion elevated No Trees in the final period.

In the other preliminary, Titos (James P. Uihlein, Gonzalo de la Fuente, Sugar Erskine, Joe Wayne Barry) fell to BTA (Harry/Charlie Caldwell, Steve Krueger, Miguel

Astrada, Kelly Beal) 8-7 in a tough overtime match. Uihlein knotted the score in the final period with a Penalty 2 conversion, forcing overtime.

Krueger scored the winning goal in the seventh to earn a spot in the Budweiser Classic against Jan Pamela.

The following week, No Trees (Santi Torres, Jeff Blake, Craig Duke, Cacho Galindo) shook Parrot Heads (KC Krueger, Roni Duke, Miguel Astrada, Steve Krueger) 10-8 in the Bozeman Trail Cup. Parrot Heads began with a handicap goal and Astrada and KC Krueger added to it for a 3-0 lead in the first. Blake converted a Penalty 4 in the second, the only goal that chukker, to get in the game. Torres and Blake combined for three goals in the third while holding Parrot Heads to a tally from Krueger, to knot the score at 4-4 at the half.

The Blake-Torres duo hammered in four more in the fourth, while Parrot Heads was held to two for an 8-6 advantage. Blake traded goals with Astrada in the fifth and with KC Krueger in the sixth for the win. For his efforts, Blake was named MVP. His fourth chukker horse, Casey, was named Best Playing Pony.

In the subsidiary Bozeman Trail Challenge, San Saba (Dawn Jones, Gonzalo de la Fuente, Steve Dalton, Julio Arellano) sunk Clearwater (Carlucho Arellano, Will Johnston,

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

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No Trees’ Cacho Galindo, Craig Duke, Jeff Blake and Santi Torres celebrate with presenters Nolan, Ryan, Bill and Mary King.

Gonzalo Teves, Chip Campbell) 13-8. Dawn Jones was MVP and Teves’ Marote was Best Playing Pony.

In the subsidiary Fetterman’s Challenge, Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Hector Galindo, Sugar Erskine, Wayne Garrison) narrowly edged Tito’s (Curtis Pilot, James P. Uihlein, Francisco Lanusse, Joe Wayne Barry) 8-7.

The action continued the following week when Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Cacho Galindo, Julio Arellano, Tom Gose) downed Clearwater (Chip Campbell, Roni Duke, Miguel Astrada, Gonzalo Teves) 15-11 in the Skeeter Johnston Memorial.

Bendabout began with a two-goal handicap lead. Campbell and Teves overcame the deficit, but a goal by Arellano kept Bendabout on top 3-2.

The teams traded goals in the second and Arellano tallied three to Astrada’s two in the third to put Bendabout ahead 9-7 at the half.

Goals by Astrada and Duke briefly knotted the score at 9-9 in the fourth, but a penalty conversion by Arellano put Bendabout back on top 10-9.

Bendabout opened the floodgates in the fifth with five goals, including one from Galindo and two each from Johnston and Arellano while

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

Leslie and Louisa Johnston present trophies to Bendabout’s Tom Gose, Julio Arellano, Gillian Johnston and Cacho Galindo.

Parrot Heads’ Roni Duke, Annie Ahern, Jeff Blake and Santi Torres finished off the season on a good note, after flying away with the Flying H Cup.

Clearwater was held to a penalty conversion from Astrada for a 15-10 score going into the last seven minutes.

While Clearwater was able to stop all of Bendabout’s scoring drives, it was only able to score once, leaving Bendabout the winner.

Leslie and Louisa Johnston presented the trophies to the winners.

Julio Arellano was MVP and his horse Trailmix was named Best Playing Pony.

In the subsidiary Everglades Challenge, San Saba (Carlucho Arellano, Will Johnston, Sugar Erskine, Dawn Jones) beat Tito’s (James P. Uihlein, Jeff Blake, Craig Duke, Joe Wayne Barry) 10-7. Dawn Jones was MVP and her Soledad was Best Playing Pony. In the subsidiary Everglades Classic, Jan Pamela (Wayne

Garrison, Hector Galindo, Gonzalo de la Fuente, Steve Krueger) got the best of Sonny Hill (Curtis Pilot, Francisco Lanusse, Kelly Beal, Santi Torres) 12-9.

The season wrapped up with the Flying H Cup Aug. 26. Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, Annie Ahern, Santi Torres, Jeff Blake) trailed for the first four periods, finally leveling the score in the fifth.

Bendabout (Sugar Erskine, Steve Krueger, KC Krueger, Gillian Johnston) jumped out front in the first period with goals by Steve Krueger and Johnston.

Blake put Parrot Heads on the board, ending the first 3-1, Bendabout.

Duke knocked in a Penalty 2 in the second, but Johnston responded.

Husband and wife, Steve and KC Krueger wrapped goals around a penalty conversion from Blake for Bendabout to double Parrot Heads’ score 6-3 at halftime. Duke and Torres scored to bring Parrot Heads within a goal but Steve Krueger added another for Bendabout to end the fourth 7-5.

Duke scored early in the fifth on a penalty opportunity. Blake followed with a field goal to tie the score. Steve Krueger put Bendabout on top, but Torres answered to level the score 8-8 going into the final period. Blake controlled the sixth, slamming in two in a row, while shutting out Bendabout

P O L O

R E P O R T

Top left: Octavio Rodriguez, Sidro Olivas, Vaughn Miller Jr., Ronnie Puente; Top right: Pelon Escapite, Devin Gallemore, Ronnie Puente; Bottom left: Vaughn Miller Sr., Vaughn Miller Jr., Vance Miller III, David Werntz Jr.; Bottom right: David Werntz Jr., Vance Miller III, Vaughn Miller Jr., Oscar Blanco

for the 10-8 win.

Santi Torres was MVP and Poppy, owned by G-string Polo and played by Steve Krueger, was Best Playing Pony. In the subsidiary Wagon Box Challenge, Titos (Wayne Garrison, Hector Galindo, James P. Uihlein, Joe Wayne Barry) edged No Trees (Craig Duke, Will Johnston, Cacho Galindo, Julio Arellano) 9-8. In the subsidiary Last Chance Cup, Retama (Francisco Lanusse, Curtis Pilot, Carlucho Arellano, Tom Gose) seized its last chance at a victory, edging San Saba (J. Nicholson/Joe Fitzsimons, Steve Dalton, Miguel Astrada, Luis Echazaretta) 8-7 in regulation time.

SOUTHWESTERN

BUSY SEASON FOR PRESTONWOOD POLO Prestonwood Polo Club in Oak Point, Texas, wrapped up one of its busiest seasons to date. Spring season opened

Sunday, April 16, with an Easter on the Lawn worship service by Crossway United Methodist Church followed by a 6-goal polo match with Team Bentley (Vaughn Miller Jr, Ronnie Puente, Sidro Olivas, Octavio Rodriguez) defeating Team Morgan Stanley (Pelon Escapite, Vance Miller III, Devin Gallemore, David Werntz Jr.) by a score of 8-7.

The following weekend, April 22, Prestonwood moved the Earth Day Polo Cup into the arena after heavy rains.

Morgan Stanley (Pelon Escapite, Ronnie Puente, Devin Gallemore) defeated Bentley (Vaughn Miller Jr., Vance Miller III, David Werntz Jr.) by a score of 15-12.

On May 6, Prestonwood held its biggest event of the year, the 16th annual Polo on the Lawn Kentucky Derby Day charity event benefiting the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County. Morgan Stanley (Vaughn Miller Jr., Vance Miller III, David Werntz Jr., Vaughn Miller Sr.) defeated Tiburon (Collen Clark, Ronnie Puente, Javier Cortez, Devin Gallemore) 7-6.

Saturday, May 13, Prestonwood hosted the inaugural Ability Connection Charity Cup benefiting the disabled.

Morgan Stanley (Vaughn Miller Jr., Vance Miller III, David Werntz Jr., Oscar Blanco) defeated Emerald Sound (Ronnie Puente, Umair Kaimkhani, Vaughn Miller Sr., Chris Jones) 6-5.

The Frisco Life Preakness Stakes Cup was held May 20, Emerald Sound (Ken Williams, Javier Cortez, Vaughn Miller Jr., Greg Summers) defeated Cross Oaks Ranch (Ronnie Puente, David Werntz Jr., Umair Kaimkhani, Vaughn Miller Sr.) 7-5.

The follow week, May 27, was the Polo Rocks Cup. Morgan Stanley (Vaughn Miller Jr., Umair Kaimkhani, Vaughn Miller Sr., David Werntz Jr.) regained its winning ways defeating Oklahoma (Greg Summers, Ken Williams, Chris Jones, Cinderella Von Falkenhausen) 9-5.

The action continued with a June Polo League kicking off with the inaugural Prestonwood Scholarship Arena Cup with the USPA White team

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53

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Top left: Ken Williams, Javier Cortez, Vaughn Miller Jr. Greg Summers; Top right: Umair Kaimkhani, David Werntz Jr., Vaughn Miller Jr., Vaughn Miller Sr.; Middle left: Umair Kaimkhani, David Werntz Jr., Niklaus Felhaber, Pelon Escapite; Middle right: Stuart Irby, Ronnie Puente, Fritz Felhaber, Vaughn Miller Jr.; Bottom left: Vaughn Miller Sr. Pelon Escapite, Vance Miller III, David Werntz Jr.; Bottom right: Pelon Escapite, JB Long, Trenton Werntz, David Werntz Sr.

(Pelon Escapite, Franz Felhaber, David Werntz) winning the round-robin match 4-3 and 3-2 over teams USPA Red (Vance Miller III, Niklaus Felhaber, Johann Felhaber) and USPA Green (Ronnie Puente, Vaughn Miller Jr., Fritz Felhaber) respectively.

June 6, Prestonwood hosted the Polo for the Planet Cup, with the Belmont Stakes live streamed. Morgan Stanley (Pelon Escapite, Umair Kaimkhani, David Werntz Jr., Niklaus Felhaber) defeated Emerald Sound (Ronnie Puente, Fritz Felhaber, Franz Felhaber, Johann Felhaber) 9-7.

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

June 17, the second annual Dallas Symphony Debutantes Honor Guard Cup was held in front of a huge crowd.

The round-robin match was won by Wind-Rush Farms (Stuart Irby, Vaughn Miller Jr., Ronnie Puente, Fritz Felhaber) defeating Morgan Stanley (Pelon Escapite, Umair Kaimkhani, David Werntz Jr., Niklaus Felhaber) 32 and Cross Oaks Ranch (Vaughn Miller Sr, Vance Miller III, Johann Felhaber, Franz Felhaber) 5-2.

After some heavy rains, Prestonwood concluded its summer season with the Patriot Cup June 28.

Morgan Stanley (Pelon Escapite, Vaughn Miller Sr., Vance Miller III, David Werntz Jr.) defeated Bentley (Vaughn Miller Jr, Ronnie Puente, Nacho Estrada, Chris Jones) 6-5.

Prestonwood introduced its first ever 0- to 2-goal Coaching League on Wednesdays in June. Consisting of the many new beginner members, four teams entered the league. The winners were the Red Knights (Pelon Escapite, Trenton Werntz, David Werntz, JB Long) defeating the White Comrades (Vaughn Miller Sr., Umair Kaimkhani, Jade Crabtree, Summer Kashua).

R E P O R T

CHUKKER TV

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La Karina’s Grant Ganzi, Brian Boyd, Juancito Bollini and MVP Mike Azzaro won the Emma Challenge.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

GANZIS, BOLLINIS WIN FAMILY TRADITIONS CUP St. Regis White captured the second annual St. Regis Family Traditions Cup July 29 at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado.

The foursome of Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Juan Bollini led St. Regis Black (TJ Barrack, Hilario Figueras, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) from start to finish to win the second annual game, 7-4.

The four-chukker game featured fathers and sons who share a love for the sport and horses.

Juancito Bollini was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a gamehigh four goals, playing well defensively and dominating the throw-ins.

Javi, an 8-year-old dark bay stallion, ridden by Nacho Figueras was selected Best Playing Pony. The stallion was bred on Nacho Novillo Astrada’s breeding farm in Argentina and is owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Goals from Juan Bollini, Marc Ganzi and Juancito Bollini gave St. Regis White a 3-0 lead after the first chukker.

While St. Regis Black shut them out, 10, in the second chukker, St. Regis White bounced back for a 5-2 lead in the third chukker and 7-2 early in the

Aspen Valley’s Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor, Grant Ganzi and Alejandro Poma won the High Alpine Cup.

fourth. St. Regis Black found its offensive attack late in the fourth and final chukker when Nacho Figueras got hot and scored two goals.

The next day, La Karina knocked off defending champion Tonkawa to win the Emma Challenge.

The foursome of Brian Boyd, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Mike Azzaro defeated Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Sapo Caset, Alex Gooding) in a thrilling 12-8 game they led from start to finish.

Hall of Famer Mike Azzaro, a former 10-goaler for 13 years and winner of eight U.S. Open titles, was a unanimous choice for Most Valuable Player.

Julia, a 12-year-old chestnut mare owned and played by Jeff Hildebrand in the sixth chukker, was selected Best Playing Pony.

In a wide-open, fast-paced game, La Karina jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the opening chukker with goals from Ganzi, despite being marked closely by 10-goaler Caset, and Azzaro.

The confidence continued to build with La Karina leading 2-1, 4-2 and 73 at the half. Tonkawa rallied in the second half behind Caset but still trailed 9-5 and 10-7 in the fourth and fifth chukkers.

La Karina seemed to have an answer for everything Tonkawa threw at it including Caset’s 120-yard goal and an incredible goal by Hildebrand

despite Boyd’s smothering defense.

Tonkawa came within two goals, 108, early in the sixth chukker but could get no closer with Bollini’s hook catching Caset on a breakaway; Azzaro finding Boyd open for a goal; and Bollini setting up Azzaro for the final goal of the game with a minute left.

In the subsidiary round robin tournament, Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Pablo Dorignac, Lucas Lalor, Stewart Armstrong) defeated Los Amigos Blue (Gabriel Gracida, Santos Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster), 6-4, in the final three-chukker game to clinch the title.

The following week, Aspen Valley Polo Club ran away with the High Alpine Cup title with a stunning 14-9 victory over defending champion Travieso.

The foursome of Alejandro Poma, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor and Juancito Bollini led Travieso (Teo Calle, Marc Ganzi, Tony Calle, Mike Azzaro) by as many as nine goals (14-5) in the fourth chukker.

Lujan, a 7-year-old mare, played by Lalor and owned and bred (Juana and Twist of Lemon) by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was named Best Playing Pony.

The opening chukker was tied, 3-3, with each team winning three throwins. Azzaro scored on an incredible belly shot to end the chukker. That was

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

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CHUKKER TV

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Casablanca’s Stewart Armstrong, Tony Calle, Grant Ganzi and Juancito Bollini won the Rocky Mountain Open.

the closest Travieso would get.

Bollini opened the second chukker by stealing the ball from Azzaro and scoring after Ganzi took the man out to clear the way for Bollini.

With two goals each from Bollini and Lalor, Aspen Valley Polo Club outscored Travieso, 4-1, in the second chukker for a 7-4 lead. Bollini had the shot of the day scoring from 100 yards out on a one-shot Penalty 5 with a minute left in the chukker.

Lalor opened the third chukker with a goal after a great scoring run.

Bollini then followed up Lalor’s missed shot for his fifth goal of the game and 9-4 lead. Poma followed with a back shot for his team’s 10th goal.

Tony Calle lofted a 60-yarder to convert a Penalty 4 just before the half to cut the lead to 10-5.

Bollini, riding Campeon, and his teammates came out in the fourth chukker firing four unanswered points for a 14-5 advantage, the team’s biggest lead of the game.

Both teams played to a scoreless tie in the fifth chukker. Travieso outscored Aspen Valley Polo Club, 4-0, in the final chukker.

In the subsidiary final, Juan Bollini scored the winning goal with 32 seconds remaining to give Flexjet (Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) a 10-9 victory over Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Pablo Dorignac,

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

Travieso’s Mike Azzaro, Teo Calle, Tony Calle and Carlitos Gracida won the season-ending Carbondale Classic at Aspen Valley.

Stewart Armstrong) to win the title.

In the other subsidiary game at High Mesa, Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Brian Boyd, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Jimmy Seward) and Sopris Mountain Ranch (Carlitos Gracida, Ailsa “Ace” Currier/Santos Bollini, Alex Gooding, Ramiro Cordero) played to a 5-5 tie.

Gooding had a game-high three goals including the tying goal in the sixth chukker.

Travieso returned to its winning ways in the championship final of the Mount Sopris Cup Aug. 14.

The foursome of Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Nacho Novillo Astrada and Marc Ganzi defeated Mexico (Billy Steta, Grant Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Juancito Bollini), 10-6, to win the fiveteam, three-day tournament.

Travieso dominated the game from the opening chukker, taking Mexico out of its game plan and dominating the throw-ins, 13-6.

Argentine 8-goaler Nacho Novillo Astrada, leading his team as a field general and scoring four goals, was named Most Valuable Player.

Delicioso, a 14-year-old bay mare ridden by Guillermo (Billy) Steta and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was selected Best Playing Pony. Delicioso was bred by Ellerstina (Picaro/Mazanita).

Travieso took a quick lead with Astrada scoring back-to-back goals in the opening chukker for a 2-0

advantage. Travieso kept attacking on offense not allowing Mexico to get back into the game.

After Grant Ganzi converted the first of three penalty shots (2, 6 and 3), Travieso kept pounding away for a 3-1 advantage after two chukkers and 5-2 halftime lead after Tony Calle won the throw-in and raced to goal for a perfect cut shot.

Mexico had its opportunities but couldn’t finish because of Travieso’s aggressive defense that took it out of its fast, open running game. Teo Calle and Astrada turned back five Mexico scoring attempts near the goal. In the fourth and fifth chukkers, Travieso scored four unanswered goals for a 9-3 lead before Grant Ganzi converted his second penalty shot.

Travieso opened the sixth chukker winning another throw-in with Tony Calle scoring on a coast-to-coast goal for a 10-4 lead.

La Karina (Brian Boyd, Alex Gooding, Mike Azzaro, Stewart Armstrong) won the three-team roundrobin subsidiary. La Karina defeated Flexjet, 4-2, (Lauren Sherry, Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) and Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Pablo Dorignac, Lucas Lalor), 7-4. In the other game, Flexjet and Los Amigos Red tied, 5-5, and Flexjet advanced on goals scored.

Casablanca won its third tournament of the summer Aug. 20.

P O L O The foursome of Grant Ganzi, Tony Calle, Juancito Bollini and Stewart Armstrong won the Rocky Mountain Open with a 12-9 victory over La Karina (Melissa Ganzi, Brian Boyd, Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada).

Hometown favorite Stewart Armstrong was named MVP. Reina, an 8-year-old bay thoroughbred mare, owned and played by Armstrong in the sixth chukker, was named Best Playing Pony for the second time this season.

Casablanca took control of the game early, dominating the throw-ins. Calle opened scoring with back-to-back goals and Ganzi added one for a 3-1 lead after the first chukker.

Melissa Ganzi’s early goal in the second chukker cut the lead to 3-2, but Casablanca kept its composure playing hit-and-run polo and pulling away for a 5-2 lead.

Casablanca also took advantage of La Karina’s cold shooting, extending its lead to 7-3 in the third chukker. La Karina missed five scoring opportunities in the first half.

La Karina, still plagued by missed goals, tried to stay with Casablanca in the second half. Astrada converted a safety to cut the lead to 8-5 in the fifth.

Grant Ganzi came back with a big goal and Armstrong scored on a coastto-coast goal to pull away for a 10-5 lead.

In a wild sixth chukker and despite missing 12 scoring attempts, La Karina mounted a late comeback, winning three consecutive throw-ins and closing the gap to 11-9 on Melissa Ganzi’s Penalty 2 conversion with less than three minutes remaining.

Calle won the next throw-in and quickly raced downfield to score to give Casablanca a 12-9 cushion.

In the Rocky Mountain Open Handicap final, Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) defeated Travieso (Carlitos Gracida, Teo Calle, Alex Gooding, Marc Ganzi), 8-7.

Paul Foster was named Most Valuable Player. Onyx, owned by

Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm and played by Gracida, was selected Best Playing Pony.

The previous day, Los Amigos Red won the Eclipse Challenge Cup. Alejandra Foster was named MVP. Trailing at halftime, Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster/Alejandra Foster, Oscar Bermudez, Carlitos Gracida, Jonathan Gracida/David Almeida) rallied for a 5-4 victory over Travieso (Ailsa “Ace” Currier, Will Jacobs, Michael Calle, Juan Bollini).

Travieso captured the season-finale Carbondale Classic Aug. 27 with an 118 victory over Casablanca.

Travieso (Mike Azzaro, Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Carlitos Gracida) took control of the game early and never trailed against Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong, Juancito Bollini) to win the five-team, two-day tournament.

Gracida was named MVP and Lucas Lalor, a member of three winning teams this season and one of the most consistent players, was season MVP. Adventura, purchased from Pablo Spinacci and ridden by Marc Ganzi, was Best Playing Pony.

Casablanca was forced to play catchup for the entire game. Travieso jumped out to a 3-0 lead with penalty conversions from Teo Calle and Gracida, and a goal from the field by Tony Calle.

Travieso led 4-2 after two chukkers and 7-4 at halftime.

After a 2-2 fourth chukker, Travieso shut out Casablanca, 2-0, in the fifth.

Casablanca held Travieso scoreless, 2-0, in the final chukker but could not rally.

Defending champion Flexjet won the subsidiary with wins over Los Amigos (Alejandra Foster, Lucas Lalor, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster), 7-6 and Tonkawa/La Karina (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Ignacio Novillo Astrada, Brian Boyd), 4-3.

In the opening three-chukker game, Tonkawa/La Karina defeated Los Amigos, 4-3.

—Sharon Robb

R E P O R T OBITUARY

CARA CASHIN TADSEN

Cara Cashin Tadsen, 58, lost her long battle with cancer June 14. She was a mainstay at Chukkar Farm Polo Club, founded by her father Jack, in Alpharetta, Georgia.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee in the late 1970s, she and her husband, Kellum Tadsen moved to property adjoining the club. There they raised six children while helping create the polo field and facilities at Chukkar Farm. Later, with her guidance, the club morphed into an event facility, hosting corporate events, concerts, polo benefits and her specialty—weddings.

One of her greatest joys was playing polo especially when three of her six children (Hope, Joy and Tate) were on the field. Often joined by brother Jason and father Jack, with Kellum announcing and her other three children (Helen, Brekken and Dane) cheering from the sidelines, many wonderful family memories were created.

Predeceased by her mother, Helen Heath Cashin, Cara is survived by her father, Jack; siblings Heath Cashin, Bridget Meyers, Jason Cashin, Adam Cashin and Erin Cashin Nugent; as well as her husband, children and grandchildren, and many friends.

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OCTOBER

S E P T E M B E R 15 - O C T O B E R 1 USPA Copper Cup (8-12) New Bridge, Aiken, S.C. S E P T E M B E R 19 - O C T O B E R 1 USPA Sportsmanship Cup (0-4) Aiken, Aiken, S.C. S E P T E M B E R 19 - O C T O B E R 7 USPA Masters Cup (0-6) Wagener, Aiken, S.C. SEPTEMBER 20-OCTOBER 1 Kaleen and Carlton Beal Cup (10-12) Houston, Houston, TX S E P T E M B E R 21 - O C T O B E R 7 USPA Presidents Cup (4-8) Houston, Houston, TX SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 1 Fall League (0-2) Seneca, Poolesville, MD SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1 Richie Jones Memorial Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA USPA Presidents Cup Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1 Congressional Arena Cup (4-6) Congressional, Rockville, MD Les Baddeley Arena Memorial Barrington Hills, Barrington, IL Middle School League NWA, Gravette, AR

Ten polo prospects are entered to compete in this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover in Lexington, Kentucky Oct. 5-8, including two with last year’s winner Buck Schott.

OCTOBER 5-7 Challenge Cup (5-8) Commonwealth, Paris, KY OCTOBER 5-8 Thoroughbred Makeover Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY OCTOBER 5-22 USPA Players Cup (0-4) Aiken, Aiken, S.C. OCTOBER 6-8 U.S. Trust Cup (12-14) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL USPA Nimitz’s Cup UVA, Charlottesville, VA O C T O B E R 6 - 15 Willow Bend Tournament (8-10) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 2 Tackeria Cup (12-14) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL

OCTOBER 6-29 USPA Officers Cup (4-8) Aiken, Aiken, S.C.

OCTOBER 1-2 USPA Women’s Challenge NWA, Gravette, AR

OCTOBER 7 End of Season Tournament South Bay, Gilroy, CA

OCTOBER 1-4 4th Annual Wes Linfoot Memorial South Bay, Gilroy, CA OCTOBER 1-22 Polo League Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI O C T O B E R 4 - 15 H. Ben Taub Memorial (10-12) Houston, Houston, TX

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

USPA Players Cup Skull Valley, Skull Valley, AZ OCTOBER 7-8 USPA Amateur Cup (0-3) Seneca, Poolesville, MD 50th Will Rogers Memorial Will Rogers, Pacific Palisades, CA USPA Centennial Cup Two Wishes Ranch, Lockhart, TX

USPA Arena Delegates Cup Barrington Hills, Barrington, IL OCTOBER 8 USPA Masters Cup Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI USPA Congressional Cup Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI O C T O B E R 1 0 - 21 National Eight Goal (8) Houston, Houston, TX O C T O B E R 10 - 2 8 USPA Constitution Cup (4-8) Wagener, Wagener, S.C. O C T O B E R 11 - 1 5 USPA Masters Cup (0-4) Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI Umpire Clinic UVA, Charlottesville, VA O C T O B E R 11 - 2 9 USPA Presidents Cup New Bridge, Aiken, S.C. O C T O B E R 13 - 15 USPA Fall Classic (12-14) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL Arena Sportsmanship Cup Denver, Littleton, CO O C T O B E R 14 Diplomat Polo Cup Summerhill, Poolesville, MD Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA

O C T O B E R 14 - 1 5 National Sherman Memorial Westchester, Portsmouth, RI

MARKETPLACE

National Arena Amateur Cup (0-3) Orange County, Coto de Caza, CA O C T O B E R 15 National Sherman Memorial (3-6) Westchester, Portsmouth, RI O C T O B E R 18 - 2 2 USPA National Women’s Arena Open UVA, Charlottesville, VA O C T O B E R 18 - N OV E M B E R 5 USPA Bronze Trophy (8-12) New Bridge, Aiken, S.C. OCTOBER 20-22 USPA Fall Plates (12-14) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL OCTOBER 20-29 USPA Oktoberfest (8-10) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX O C T O B E R 21 Polo Clinic Poway, Poway, CA O C T O B E R 21 - 2 2 Arena Congressional Cup Club Polo Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, MX

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OCTOBER 25-29 USPA Governors Cup Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI OCTOBER 27-29 USPA Chairmans Cup California, Los Angeles, CA Pedro Morrison Memorial Grand Champions, Wellington, FL OCTOBER 28 Polo College Fair Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA O C T O B E R 2 8 - NOV E M B E R 5 USPA North America Cup (20) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL OCTOBER 29 Alqimi Halloween Cup Congressional, Rockville, MD Note: All dates are subject to change. “USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.

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

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

(continued from page 37)

Farmers & Merchants Bank’s Lucas Criado stops Klentner Ranch’s Geronimo Obregon mid-swing in the final of the Pacific Coast Open. Criado, who was named MVP, scored the winning goal in the eighth chukker of a hard-fought match.

in now one of my lifetime memories.”

“I’m so happy, because we have never made it to the final in this tournament,” said Criado. “Finally, we made it to the final and to win in second overtime is crazy! I think both teams deserved it, we made a difference in the beginning, but the game was really tied from the fifth until the very last goal.

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS

contributors/good horses for our future.

They were truly winners as they competed in the PCO,” wrote Walker.

The team’s years of preparations and hard work paid off. “This win was a lifetime dream, a moment that is now a memory. I say to my friends, you need to take moments in life and turn them into memories,” said Walker. “This PCO win

Klentner Ranch’s Geronimo Obregon, Jesse Bray, Facundo Obregon and Justin Klentner won the Mayors and Skene Cups and were runners-up in the Pacific Coast Open.

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

“The other team, I’ll tell you, they played tough and they are big fighters, but finally we were lucky today. I’m really happy for Danny too, this is my sixth season with him. So to make it to the final with him and win in second overtime, it was great. I hope it was a good game for everyone to watch.”

Walker reminded me that a few years ago, I asked him for the best team he ever played on. His response was the team that won the PCO with him. We now know his best team!

Having won every high-goal trophy in Santa Barbara, Walker now has his sights set on another Pacific Coast Open victory. “The strategic changes we made this year allowed us the chance to win the PCO ... therefore you should expect the FMB team will again make a run at the PCO. ... we will concentrate on winning each and every tournament played in California, remembering that SBP&RC is Polo in Paradise,” wrote Walker.

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

(continued from page 19) lots, and residents were reminded that if they were not in an evacuation zone, they should stay put.

There was not enough gas for those in evacuation zones to evacuate.

Many horse owners reached out on social media to find more secure stalls, higher ground or even help once the disaster struck and in most cases, got huge responses.

Determining whether you should stay put depends on several things.

Hurricanes can bring high winds, flooding, tornadoes or a combination of those conditions.

Some horse owners feel more comfortable leaving their horses outside to eliminate the chance of the barn falling down on them. Leaving them outside can expose them to dangerous flying debris, falling trees and branches and downed power lines. Fences can also come down. If you don’t feel your barn is secure enough, find another one that is. Hurricane season is the off-season for horse activities in Florida so there are many empty barns. Many equestrian centers, racetracks and even private barns opened their doors for those seeking shelter for their horses.

Many newer buildings in areas that are prone to hurricanes have been built to withstand hurricane conditions. These buildings can be completely closed off to protect the animals.

Some barns have been built with a large gap between the top of the barn wall and the roof, which allows for more airflow in the hot, summer months. This also allows strong winds to blow through without taking anything with it, however it will still allow blowing debris to get in the barn and can injure your horses.

Some prefer heavy duty wooden barns since wood can give a bit in heavy winds.

Others feel safer when their horses are in concrete block stalls.

No matter where you let your horses ride out a storm, be prepared ahead of the storm’s arrival. Make sure you have a least 62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Horses are loaded up with hay and water, and given a collar containing owner information in the event of an emergency.

10 day’s worth of horse food and hay (stored off the ground in case of flooding), along with plenty of water. Depending on the condition of roads and fuel availability, your feed store may not be open or able to deliver for an extended time even after the storm passes. Fill water troughs, water tanks in the trailer, buckets or even sanitized garbage cans in case water goes out.

Stock first aid kits and have a supply of bandages and towels in case of an emergency until the vet can get there. Charge phones and back-up batteries ahead of the storm in case you need to call for help.

Secure stall doors and gates.

Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, Florida sent out a reminder for horse owners waiting on Irma’s arrival.

With the storm expected to arrive in

Leaving horses outside during a hurricane exposes them to all sorts of dangers including falling trees, fences and flying debris.

less than 24 hours, the clinic wrote that it was safer to be home then stuck on the roads.

It also reminded owners to: •Clean up •Provide fresh water, feed less grain and more hay •Keep a halter on all horses, create tags with horses name and owner information and write information on pastern Dawn Weber rode out the storm with her 20-plus polo horses. She said, “It was crucial to have a plan. As menial as it might seem, having a reminder of everything I had to do kept me focused and less stressed. Since I was less stressed, the horses were too.”

It is important to remember to clean up the property to eliminate the chance of blowing debris. Even something small can become a dangerous projectile. Weber said, “I used a bundle of zip ties to secure so many things.” Store hoses inside to eliminate them blowing around and possibly breaking a water pipe.

Ensure generators are working properly before the storm and have extra gas on hand to keep the generators going. “I use non-ethanol gas for all our generators and motor equipment,” explained Weber.

“Regular gas can really gunk them up.”

Drain fuel lines, fuel filters and carburetors before storing generators.

When a curfew was put in place prior to the storm’s arrival, Joey Casey of Palm City Polo Club stocked each stall with two water buckets and a muck bucket filled with water, along with half a bale of hay.

“We weren’t sure when we would be able to get back to the horses,” he explained.

The horses also wore collars containing contact information in case they got loose.

After the storm, clean up any debris before letting your horses outside. Use a magnet to find any nails that may have blown off buildings.

Fortunately, it seems most polo players and clubs dodged some bullets. It is thanks to preparation and everyone chipu ping in to help each other out.

(continued from page 29) positioning on the field.

The upper-flight zone teams’ tournament began that afternoon with Zone 2 facing off against Zone 4. In an extremely exciting match, the teams went back and forth until the final minutes of the game, when Zone 4’s impressive teamwork and ball handling helped them come away with a victory. With several returning faces from last year’s NYTS Championship, the second game proved very competitive between Zone 1 and Zone 3. As the game went on, Zone 3 was able to pull ahead to earn it a spot in the final.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, players gathered for the second annual Crocodile Open hosted at Klentner Ranch. It made for a fun afternoon of field games such as tug-owar, soccer and even some polo trivia with parents, spectators and players alike participating. Everyone enjoyed exhibiting their competitive spirit off the polo field and Zone 4 came away as this year’s Crocodile Open Champion.

The final of the East vs. West Invitational took place on Sunday. The West Coast came away with a decisive victory despite a strong effort from the East Coast team. East Coast teammates Maddie Grant and Malia Bryan raved about the tournament. Grant said, “It was amazing getting to play such fun polo with

other people our age. But most importantly we got to play with people we wouldn’t have had the chance to meet otherwise.” Grant and Bryan added that they are certainly planning a reunion.

Bryan said, “We had so much fun playing together, we’re going to win a tournament together one day for sure!”

The consolation final of the Cecil Smith Cup between Zone 1 and Zone 2 preceded this game. In an open game that exhibited a lot of great team play, Zone 1 came away with a decisive 7-3½ victory.

In the much-anticipated final of the Cecil Smith Cup, Zone 3 came out confidently and controlled the first half with a commanding 6-2½ lead. Zone 4, however, maintained its composure and began chipping away at its deficit, bringing it within a half goal at one point in the third chukker. Zone 3 regrouped in the fourth and final chukker, ending the game 11-6½ and earning the 2017 NYTS Cecil Smith Cup Championship.

Zone 3’s Lucas Escobar said, “Playing in the NYTS Championships was special for me. Getting to win with my brother and two of my friends was amazing. I’ll never forget it.” Lucas was especially honored to receive the Matthew Cohen Most Valuable Player Award. “Matt was amazing as a player and a person and I wish he could have been on our team. Even though he couldn’t play with us today I feel so

honored to be able to carry on his legacy,” he said.

Zone 4’s Liam Lott received the Horsemanship Award and Napa, played by Zone 3’s Mackenzie Weisz and owned by Leigh Breechen, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

The Sportsmanship Award was presented to Zone 1’s Sloan Stefanakis.

“This tournament highlights the most important parts of the sport—the horsemanship, the sportsmanship, the comradery, the community,” said Stefanakis. “Every kid here is so talented and has worked so hard. It’s so amazing to be around people like this. I think it’s really changing the sport for players my age.”

Many thanks to the Polo Development, LLC. that brought this special event into existence with the help of many volunteers. It would not have been possible without the generosity of so many families, players and organizations, including the Santa Barbara Polo Club; Melanja Jones; the Klentner family; the NYTS Committee and leader Chrys Beal; Charles and Marcia Smith; sponsors U.S. Polo Assn. and Vinnie Meyer of Texas Polo; coaches Nick Snow, Jesse Bray, Tom Goodspeed and Tiger Kneece; the horse providers; USPA Umpires, LLC.; USPA Services, LLC.; ChukkerTV; USPA Polo Network; and especially all of the parents and supporters of the NYTS championships.

Participants in the NYTS Championships at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California.

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

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HURRICANE BOB Robert Skene made a name for himself around the world

B

orn in India in 1914, Charles Robertson Skene was the son of an Australian tea planter and polo player. After attending school in England, he eventually moved to Australia and took up the sport at the age of 18.

He quickly climbed the ranks, reaching a 7-goal handicap within five years. In 1937, he traveled to England with the Ashton Brothers. He played so well, two years later he was invited to play with the British team for the Westchester Cup against the United States. His fearless playing style earned him the nickname Hurricane Bob and a 9-goal rating. While in the U.S, his team won the National 20goal and the Monty Waterbury Cup. As World War II broke out, he hung up his mallets and instead raised money for the war effort through the Bundles for Britain campaign before joining the Indian Army. He was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore in Malaya and was incarcerated at the infamous Changi Prison for three and a half years.

When the war ended, he returned to regimental headquarters in Dehradun, India.

After being discharged from the Army, he became a steward with the Straits Racing Association in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, calling and judging the races.

It wasn’t until 1949, when he was 35, that he started playing polo again. Lord Cowdray asked 64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

him to play on an English team in Argentina. The Argentines gave him a 6-goal handicap but he seemed to pick up just where he left off and was raised to 9 within 30 days.

In 1950, Bob came to the United States where he managed the Beverly Hills Polo Club in Los Angeles, California. Later that year, he was raised to 10 goals, a rating he held until 1967. While in California, he won the Pacific Coast Open three times.

In 1952, Skene starred in the movie, “Stormy” at the urging of his friend, Walt Disney. That same year, he won the first of three U.S. Open Championships. A few years later, he was invited to play with the El Trebol team in the Argentine Open

Bob Skene

Championship. It was the first time a foreigner was invited to play on an Argentine team. The team came away the winner in 1954 and again in 1956.

He moved to Santa Barbara in 1960 when he was hired as manager of the Santa Barbara Polo Club. Ten years later, the club was struggling to survive as developers where eyeing the expansive property.

He took it upon himself to keep the club going, maintaining the club’s aging equipment and facilities and even using his own money to pay lease payments until the club could stand on its own.

By 1972, thanks to his efforts, the club was flourishing. Skene went out on the road to promote the sport, traveling to schools and clubs to teach polo for the United States Polo Association.

After retiring, he enjoyed watching polo in Santa Barbara with his wife, Elizabeth, whom he had met at age 16. Together they had a son, Curtis.

Skene was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985, and five years later was an inaugural inductee into the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in the United States. He died in 1997.

The Santa Barbara Polo Club began commemorating the career of this polo legend annually in 1994 with the Robert Skene Trophy, part of its high-goal line-up. Today, the club also annually recognizes the best player of the Santa Barbara season with the Robert Skene award.

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