Polo Report

DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO

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PAIGAHS SEAHORSE TAKES MOUNTAIN VIEW 2-GOAL

NAWABZADA SAFIYA

Paigahs Seahorse’s Hugo Pasten makes working the nearside look easy, even as he is being challenged by Los Amigos’ Akemi Tinder. He is followed up by Kevin Yungk in the final of the 2-goal Paigahs Seahorse Cup.

THE Mountain View Polo Club in Charles Town, West Virginia, held its annual 2-goal Paigahs Seahorse Cup in the club’s arena. The tournament is generously sponsored by club member Shamsiya Shervani and her company, Paigahs Equestrian Gear.

The match saw Los Amigos (Derek Wilson, Akemi Tinder, Sierra Goff) take on Paigahs Seahorse (Hugo Pasten, Kevin Yungk, Shamsiya Shervani/Willow Longerbeam). Los Amigos came out strong in the first chukker, scoring five goals with only one answered by Paigahs Seahorse. But Paigahs came back to score six goals in the second, while shutting out Los Amigos to take a narrow lead.

Paigahs continued to dominate in the second half, with Pasten striking 11 of the team’s 13 goals. He was named MVP for his efforts and his off-the-track thoroughbred, Rosie’s Nature, was Best Playing Pony.

A few weeks earlier, the club held its annual Karen Carra Memorial Women’s Arena Tournament.

Due to COVID restrictions, participation was limited to four local teams competing in two flights. Matches were two chukkers each. In A Flight, Mountain View (Akemi Tinder, Sierra Goff, Mirta Capra) showed no mercy against Rebellis Farm (Kasey Morris, Willow Longerbeam, Claudia Tobler), shutting it out, 6-0. B Flight offered a much closer match with Old Farm Vet (Kija Wilson, Liz Zeller, Christina

NAWABZADA SAFIYA KATIE ROTH

Paigahs Seahorse’s Hugo Pasten, Willow Longerbeam, Kevin Yungk and Shamsiya Shervani won the Paigahs Seahorse Cup. Pasten’s Rosie’s Nature was Best Playing Pony. Foxdale Equine’s Adam Snow, Nachi Viana, Julian Daniels and Hugh Worsham won the National Copper Cup in Aiken.

Connelly) eking out a 6-5 victory over Mountain View (Shamsiya Shervani, Samantha White, Deb Fuller).

Hugo Pasten umpired the matches. All participants received commemorative Karen Carra tournament wine glasses, shirts and bags of daffodil bulbs to plant.

The tournament is held in memory of club member Karen Carra, who passed away in 2015, and is hosted by the club and Carra’s widower Matthew Graham.

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NAIL-BITER FINAL IN NATIONAL COPPER CUP

Foxdale Equine Veterinary Services outfoxed SD Farms in the final of the 12-goal National Copper Cup at New Bridge Polo Club in Aiken, South Carolina, Oct. 18.

Four teams played off over two weeks. In the end, Goose Green/

Rebellis Farm’s Willow Longerbeam and Mountain View’s Akemi Tinder fight for the ball in the Carra Memorial. Hutchinson (Charlie Hutchinson, Will Green, Nino Obregon, Willie Hartnett) and Hit Air (Jack Whitman, Justin Pimsner, Alan Martinez, Pelon Escapite) were eliminated while SD Farms (Aiden Meeker, Sayyu Dantata, Peco Polledo, Carlitos Gracida) battled Foxdale Equine Veterinary Services (Hugh Worsham, Nachi Viana, Adam Snow, Julian Daniels) in the final.

In a foul-filled match, Foxdale Equine Veterinary Services capitalized on SD Farms’ mistakes in the first 10 minutes with Viana sinking four penalties in a row. Then SD Farms took over with Gracida converting three penalties and the team benefiting from a Penalty 1. Gracida and Daniels swapped field goals, ending the first half level, 5-5.

Viana tipped the scales in the fourth with a Penalty 2 conversion. A Penalty 1 in its favor gave Foxdale Equine Veterinary Services a two-goal lead. Dantata split the uprights with a field goal but it was matched by one from Viana, ending the chukker, 8-6. The teams traded goals in the fifth and Gracida scored to bring SD Farms within a goal, 10-9.

The last seven minutes was a battle. In an effort to keep SD from scoring, Foxdale Equine Veterinary Services caught the umpires’ whistles and SD was awarded two Penalty 1s. But a Penalty 6 conversion from Viana and a field goal from Daniels allowed Foxdale Veterinary Services to hold on to the

ROTH KATIE ROTH KATIE

Out East’s Hope Arellano, John Humphreys, Lucas Arellano and Tommy Biddle won the 8-goal Association Cup. Tommy Biddle was the Association Cup MVP and his Maleficent was Best Playing Pony.

lead, 12-11, for the win.

Nachi Viana, who scored a gamehigh eight goals, including six penalty conversions, was MVP and Peco Polledo’s Paragua was Best Playing Pony for the second time this season.

A week later, Out East (John Humphreys, Hope Arellano, Tommy Biddle, Lucas Arellano) defeated SIG

ROTH KATIE

Foxdale Equine’s Nachi Viana challenges SD’s Carlitos Gracida in the Copper Cup. (Deep Singh, Malia Bryan, Alan Martinez, Willie Hartnett) in the final of the 8-goal Association Cup final. Seven teams, divided into three brackets, played. Bracket 1 included Out East and Brookland Plantation (Thomas Ravenal, Justin Pimsner, Del Walton, Carlitos Gracida); Bracket II had Upatoi Green (Josh Escapite, Jake Flournoy, Eddy Martinez, Jason Wates) and Cooper H&S/Peachtree (JD Cooper, Randy Rizor, Ruben Coscia, Marcos Onetto); and Bracket III included SIG, Triple Crown/La Bourgone (David Munier, Jack Whitman, Pelon Escapite, Luis Galvan) and Skaneateles (Marty Cregg, Cesar Jimenez, Whistle Uys, Dennys Santana). Bracket I and II played across bracket, while Bracket III played within the bracket.

In the final, Hope Arellano struck first for Out East, but Singh answered. Biddle found the mark in the second but a Penalty 2 conversion by Martinez kept it level. Minutes later, Lucas Arellano tallied two in a row to give Out East a 4-2 lead. Hartnett traded goals with Biddle in the third to keep the difference two, 6-4, at the half.

Biddle sunk a penalty early in the fourth, but Martinez answered. Biddle converted a pair of open-goal penalties in the fifth to increase the lead to four. Martinez sunk a Penalty 2 to cut the deficit to three going into the last period. The game was not out of reach by any means and SIG worked hard to catch up. Hartnett split the uprights with first a Penalty 3, then a Penalty 4, to come within one, 9-8, but a Penalty 4 by Biddle and a field goal by Hope Arellano sealed the deal for Out East, 11-8.

Tommy Biddle was MVP and his Maleficent, a beautiful black mare, was Best Playing Pony.

ROTH KATIE ROTH KATIE

Cooper Home and Stable’s Ruben Coscia, Trevor Reeves, Tommy Huber and JD Cooper won the USPA Masters Cup in Aiken. Hit-Air’s Jack Whitman, Justin Pimsner, Alan Martinez and Pelon Escapite won the 12-goal Bronze Trophy. With them is Marty Cregg.

In the consolation, Upatoi Green defeated Cooper H&S/Peachtree, 12-8. Josh Escapite was MVP and Marcos Onetto’s Victoria was Best Playing Pony. Out East wasn’t as lucky in the Masters Cup final, Oct. 31. Up against Cooper Home and Stable (JD Cooper, Tommy Huber, Ruben Coscia, Trevor Reeves), Out East led in the first half, but Cooper evened the score in the second half, eventually taking the win. Biddle had complications from a fall he took in the Association Cup semi-final and was replaced by Julian Daniels, who scored for Out East after

ROTH KATIE Masters Cup MVP Tommy Huber Coscia sunk a Penalty 3 for Cooper early in the first to get the scoring started. Lucas Arellano followed with a Penalty 2 conversion. Coscia struck again to keep it level, 2-2. Daniels and Lucas Arellano repeated their efforts in the second, while Cooper came up empty. Lucas Arellano converted his third Penalty 2, but Coscia responded with two tallies to come within one, 54, at the half.

Daniels increased the lead early in the fourth, but Coscia tied the match by chukker’s end. Coscia and Tommy Huber gave Cooper a brief two-goal lead before a pair of penalty conversions by Lucas Arellano leveled the score once again, 8-8. Huber traded goals with Daniels but a Penalty 1 gave Cooper the narrow edge. Huber added another to lead, 11-9. With time winding down, Lucas Arellano split the uprights but Out East ran out of time and Cooper had the win.

Tommy Huber was MVP and Ruben Coscia’s Baby India was Best Playing Pony.

Play continued in the 12-goal Bronze Trophy on Nov. 1. Hit-Air (Jack Whitman, Justin Pimsner, Alan Martinez, Pelon Escapite) faced Brookland Plantation (Thomas Ravenel, Del Walton, Whistle Uys, Cody Ellis) in the final. Ellis was filling in for a stillinjured Tommy Biddle.

Hit-Air hit the ground running in the first chukker with goals by Whitman, Martinez and Escapite. Walton added to Brookland’s handicap goal with a Penalty 3 conversion. The teams traded goals in the second and Hit-Air outscored Brookland, 2-1, in the third, ending the half ahead, 7-5.

The teams matched goals in the fourth, but Escapite put in a pair of unanswered goals in the fifth, added to a Penalty 1. Ellis’ Penalty 2 was the only tally of the sixth, leaving Hit-Air on top, 12-5. Escapite was MVP and his Ruby was Best Playing Pony.

MURRELL DAVID MURRELL DAVID

Women’s Challenge winner Elite Motion’s Samantha Rostek, Karson Bizzell, Amanda Massey and Stephanie Massey Colburn. Karl Hilberg congratulates consolation winners Dani Gibson, Tess Sabatini, Samatha Leach and Kerstie Allen.

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ELITE MOTION ACES WOMEN’S CHALLENGE

Central Texas Polo Association recently hosted the USPA Women’s Challenge at its Two Wishes Ranch in Lockhart, Texas. The event attracted 24 women, representing 12 clubs from as far away as California. Six teams played off over two days.

In the first round robin, Elite Motion & Performance (Samantha Rostek, Karson Bizzell, Amanda Massey, Stephanie Colburn) overcame Star Ridge Honey (Dani Gibson, Samantha Leach, Tess Sabatini, Kerstie Allen) and Notorious P.O.N.Y. (Lexi Elder, Lauren Sterr, Georgia Stone, Jessica Mignone), to advance to the final. Star Ridge Honey beat Notorious P.O.N.Y. to advance to the consolation match.

The second round robin saw Forty Flowers (Zoe Lehmer, Lara Semmelmann, Courtney Suess, Wendy Stover) advance over Ranch Hand (Clair Darnak, Calyste Hanks, Whitney Walker, Ally Vaughn) and Legends (Kitana StCyr, Katerina Kotova, Kaylin Bender, Megan Rohfls). The team defeated Ranch Hand but needed a single-player, six-round shootout to top Legends. Stover went head-to-head with Rohfls, eventually prevailing. Legends went to the consolation.

That evening the participants enjoyed delicious Wagyu brisket cooked in the smoker, courtesy of Tres de la Paz. Zoe Lehmer cohosted the gathering and Katerina Kotova, Kitana St-Cyr and Karl Hilberg helped cook.

The final saw Elite Motion & Performance face Forty Flowers. Stover and Colburn led their teams through all four chukkers, but it was Elite Motion and Performance that got the edge. Colburn attributed the team’s success to its rotational strategy.

MURRELL DAVID

Forty Flowers’ Wendy Stover rides Best Playing Pony Steely Dame.

Stephanie Colburn was named MVP, Wendy Stover’s 13-year-old bay mare, Steely Dame was Best Playing Pony and Tess Sabatini received the Sportsmanship Award.

The first consolation match had Star Ridge Honey, led by Kerstie Allen, dominate Legends, while in the consolation for fifth place, Ranch Hand topped Notorious P.O.N.Y.

Action continued with the Sportsmanship Cup, Oct. 24-25. Four teams competed in the event. Two matches were played simultaneously, so Game 1 played chukkers 1, 3, 5 and 7 while

MURRELL DAVID MURRELL DAVID

Quiet Creek Farm’s Ian Kosky, Olivia Reynolds, Hannah Reynolds and Joaquin Arguello won the Sportsmanship Cup. Battle Apps: JD Polo’s Jess Mignone keeps the pressure on Quiet Creek’s Hannah Reynolds. Olivia Reynolds provides back up.

Game 2 played chukkers 2, 4, 6 and 8.

The first match had InterActive Polo (Jose Velez, Tres De La Paz, Ariel Rodriguez, Mike Lancaster) up against San Antonio (Patrick MacLeod, Gal Shweiki, Trey Crea, Jack Crea). De La Paz and Rodriguez struck early for InterActive. Trey Crea put San Antonio on the board midway through the second. Trey Crea and Rodriguez traded goals in the third and fourth but San Antonio wasn’t able to overcome InterActive’s early lead and InterActive took the 5½-4 win.

In Game 2, Quiet Creek Farm (Ian

MURRELL DAVID Kosky, Olivia Reynolds, Hannah Reynolds, Joaquin Arguello) took on JD Polo (Chris Ballard, Jessica Mignone, Javier Insua, John Greening, Taimur Zeb). Insua got the scoring going with a worm-burner Penalty 4 through five horses. Hannah Reynolds converted a Penalty 3 to put Quiet Creek on the board. Insua sunk another Penalty 4 and Greening scored the first field goal to put JD up, 3-1.

Quiet Creek, coached by Mike McCleary, rallied in the second half with Arguello tallying three in a row to take a narrow lead in the third chukker,

Tres de la Paz comes in to hook Joaquin Arguello in the Sportsmanship Cup. 4-3. Early in the fourth, Ballard hopped on a pass from Insua to tie the match but Kosky and Arguello responded to take back the lead to win, 6-4.

The consolation had JD Polo facing San Antonio. Greening and Insua put JD Polo on the board early in the first, but Shweiki scored the next three goals to give San Antonio the lead, 3-2. Insua responded, leveling the score at the end of two. Insua traded goals with Jack Crea in the third to keep it even. The teams traded goals again in the last chukker. When time expired the teams shook hands and left it tied, 5-5.

Quiet Creek Farm dominated the final against InterActive Polo. Hannah Reynolds scored a hat trick in the first, including a Penalty 2, while InterActive was held to a Penalty 2 from Lancaster. Hannah Reynolds was on a roll and struck four more times while Kosky and Arguello added one each. Quiet Creek was anything but quiet, leading 9-1½ going into the final seven minutes. Olivia Reynolds and Arguello increased the lead in the final chukker. Rodriguez scored the last goal, but Quiet Creek had the 11-2½ win.

Hannah Reynolds, who scored a game-high seven goals, was MVP and Ariel Rodriguez’s Vegas was Best Playing Pony. Jessica Mignone was named Sportsmanship winner and took home a new bridle.

Loryn Butterworth holds onto the ball while under pressure from Frankie Bilbao at The Villages Polo Club. Paul Wadsworth comes in on the nearside, but Sergio Arias has his mallet ready for the hook at The Villages.

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UNITEDHEALTHCARE TOPS PRO POOL TOURNAMENT

With the most goals, UnitedHealthcare topped the 6- to 8-goal Pro Pool Tournament at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, Oct. 11.

Three teams competed in a round robin over two days, with scores carrying over from the first day. Citizen’s First (Ava Hinkson/Mateo Bilboa, Paige Boone, Nick Johnson, Charly Quincoces) carried a 5-3 lead over United Healthcare (Wadi Gomero-Cure, Lord Lyall, Tony Vita, Stuart Armstrong) into Day 2. Vita struck first but Boone responded to maintain the difference. Vita struck again and Campbell followed with one of his own. Hinkson got on the board but Lyall answered. Quincoces got in the last word, with Citizen’s holding on to a slight edge, 8-7. Hinkson and Boone traded goals with Vita and Campbell to keep the difference one, giving Citizen’s the win, 10-9.

In the second round, The Villages Insurance (Loryn Butterworth, Miguel Lis Planells, Sergio Arias, Francisco Bilbao, Hunter Jelsch) led United Healthcare, 5-4, but United Healthcare turned the tables, with Vita and Campbell combining for three goals while The Villages Insurance came up empty. United Healthcare kept the momentum into the second chukker with Gomero-Cure, Lyall and Campbell tallying while The Villages Insurance was held to one from Lis Planells. Bilboa cut the deficit with a pair of goals early in the sixth but Vita put the final nail in the coffin with a goal at the 1:33 mark. United Healthcare won, 11-8.

Citizen’s First was leading The Villages Insurance, 6-5, to start the final round. Quincoces traded goals with Bilboa, then Boone traded goals with Arias in the first chukker to keep the difference just one. Bilboa and Boone swapped goals in the second but The Villages took control in the third. Arias scored just a minute into play to knot the score, 9-9. The Villages Insurance did not want to lose any ground, so it successfully turned back all of Citizen’s drives, and with just under three minutes left, Lis Planells scored the golden goal to give The Villages Insurance the 10-9 edge.

Though The Villages had won the battle, it hadn’t won the war. The teams each had 1-1 records, so in round robin play, you go to gross goals. United Healthcare led with 20, while Citizen’s was first with 19 and The Villages Insurance had 18.

The next week, another three teams played off in a round robin. Galaxy Home Solutions (Paul Wadsworth/Ava Hinkson, Paige Boone, Horacio Lizaso, Frankie Bilbao) topped Arden’s (Sergio Arias, Roberto Narvaja, Nick Johnson, Hunter Jelsch), 9-7. After trailing Arden’s 4-1 going into the third chukker, Galaxy began chipping away at the deficit, taking a 6-4 lead in the fifth and holding on to the difference to the end. Hinkson led Galaxy with a gamehigh five goals.

Galaxy faced Fross & Fross (Miguel Lis Planells, Lord Lyall, Santiago Bermudez, Charly Quincoces) in the second round. It was a tight game throughout, with Galaxy narrowly leading 7-6 at the half. Fross & Fross began with a two-goal handicap and Lis Planells added to it a minute into the match. But Wadsworth and Lizaso knotted the score by the end of the chukker. Hinkson traded goals with Lyall and Bermudez in the second, giving Fross & Fross a slight edge, 6-5. Galaxy added a pair of goals in the third that went unanswered.

Lyall and Quincoces wrapped goals around one from Wadsworth in the fourth, leveling the score, 8-8. The teams traded goals in the fifth and again in the sixth, ending the match tied, 11-all.

The last round pitted Fross & Fross against Ardens. Fross & Fross again started with a two-goal handicap and

The Villages Insurance’s Liv Berube and Texas SBA’s Courtney Asdourian tangle in the Women’s Tournament at The Villages Polo Club. Pumpkin Spice lines up against eventual winners Hocus Pocus’ Kelli Newton, David Myrick and Fawn Rinalduzzi at OC Polo.

Lyall and Bermudez added to it with three quick goals. Narvaja put Arden’s on the board at the one-minute mark. Lyall and Bermudez traded goals with Arias and Johnson in the second to maintain a four-goal difference. Arias and Johnson chipped away at the deficit with two unanswered goals, ending the half with Fross & Fross ahead, 7-5.

Lyall scored in the fourth, but Arias and Narvaja leveled the score at 8. The teams battled for control in the last seven minutes with neither team reaching the goal until the last two minutes when Bermudez and Quincoces struck to give Fross & Fross the 10-8 win.

Fross & Fross and Galaxy both had a win and a tie, but Fross & Fross had 21 gross goals to Galaxy’s 20, putting Fross & Fross in first place.

Santiago Bermudez was named MVP and Lord Lyall’s Gloria was Best Playing Pony.

The following week, three teams played off in the club’s women’s tournament, played in a round-robin format. Fross & Fross went 2-0 to take the title.

In the first round, Fross & Fross (Ava Hinkson, Loryn Butterwoth, Maddie Grant, Paige Boone) took on Texas SBA (Mary Phipps, Kelly Beck, Kylie Sheehan, Courtney Asdourian). Texas began with a half-goal handicap but struggled to reach the goal. Meanwhile, Butterworth struck twice for Fross & Fross in the first chukker. Texas SBA stopped the bleeding in the second and Asdourian found the uprights, but Grant matched the goal. Boone scored in the final chukker and a pair of goals by Grant insured the win for Fross & Fross by a wide 6-1½.

Texas SBA faced The Villages Insurance (Jewel Gregoncza, Louisa Huber, Sophie Grant, Liv Berube) in round two. Huber and Grant quickly overcame the half-goal handicap given to Texas SBA in the first. Asdourian shot back with a trio of goals to take the lead. Grant answered with just under a minute remaining and Gregoncza gave The Villages Insurance a 4-3½ lead in the third. Huber traded goals with Asdourian in the last period to keep it close until Grant scored and Huber tallied for the third time to give Villages Insurance the win, 7-4.

The last round was a virtual final, with each team sporting a win. Hinkson struck first to put Fross & Fross on the board, but Gregoncza and Berube had the answer for The Villages Insurance. Hinkson and Maddie Grant kept up the pressure with each scoring two over the next 14 minutes while The Villages Insurance was silenced, giving Fross & Fross the 5-2 lead. The Villages Insurance fought back in the last chukker stopping all of Fross & Fross’ drives. Meanwhile, Berube hit the mark to bring the team within two with 2:36 left. Time was quickly slipping away but the team wouldn’t give up. Sophie Grant split the uprights to come within one, 5-4, but with just 23 seconds remaining, that would be as close as the team would get and Fross & Fross took the trophies.

PACIFIC C OAST

HOCUS POCUS SECURES USPA ARENA CHALLENGE

Wrapping up the end of an exciting series of tournaments, the USPA Arena Challenge Cup recently took place at OC Polo in Silverada, California, Oct. 18-25.

Four strong, determined teams came together to demonstrate incredible teamwork, creative costuming, and athletic polo ponies as they fought to claim the tournament championship for their respective charity.

In the final, the two teams represented charitable organizations Surf & Turf Therapy and Polo Pony Rescue. SoCal Self Storage added $500 and $250 to donations so the charity of the winning team received $2,000 in prize money donation and the second place team received $1250.

Now let’s meet those teams. In the

Turkey Trotters’ Denny Geiler finishes off a goal in the USPA Arena Challenge consolation match against Guzzlin’ Gobblins. Hocus Focus’ Fawn Rinalduzzi races to the ball against Turkey Trotters in the USPA Arena Challenge Cup at OC Polo Club.

green, we had the formidable Guzzlin’ Goblins (2 goals) comprised of Shelley Geiler, Blake Bertea and Mila Slutzky. Team Pumpkin Spice (0 goals) sported a strong statement in orange with Spencer Hurtt, Colleen Newton/Joanna Faulkner and Faris Hanna. Not to be outdone in blue were the determined Turkey Trotters (2 goals) with Denny Geiler, Bekah Segien and Serdar Celik. Last, but by no means least, were the

Cake, owned by Shelley Geiler and played by Bekah Segien, was Best Playing Pony. daunting gray team of Hocus Pocus (1 goal) with Kelli Newton, Fawn Rinalduzzi, and Dave Myrick.

The first Sunday game promised to be filled with lots of goals and happy close family and friends who came out to support the players and ponies. The tournament got off to a great start with professional umpire Ronnie Hayes getting the first match off to an exciting start. First up was Guzzlin’ Goblins versus Pumpkin Spice, resulting in a very close game that came down to a few goals. The orange team was able to edge out the green team for a win of 13-11. Spencer and Shelley were the high scorers for their respective teams with big defensive plays between Faris and Mila while Blake, Colleen, and Joanna went head to head on the offense.

Next up came the chukkers between Turkey Trotters and Hocus Pocus which proved to be an excellent match up. The gray team found their stride in the second half of the game and put some distance between the teams, taking the win at 16-8. Bekah and Kelli led their teams in terms of goals while Denny and Dave took top marks for hooking and Serdar and Fawn had some epic ride-offs.

The following Sunday brought the excitement of the consolation game between Guzzlin’ Goblins and Turkey Trotters, which ended in a 14-14 tie. Mila walked away as the MVP of that match while Cake, owned by Shelley and played by Bekah, took Best Playing Pony.

Finally, it was time for the final match between Pumpkin Spice and Hocus Pocus which turned out to be a real nail-biter as the teams battled for the top score. The crowd went wild for each team as the score bounced back and forth from chukker to chukker. It was anyone’s game until the buzzer rang at the end of the fourth chukker and Hocus Pocus was able to grab the championship title with a close score of 14-13! It was a truly memorable game for both the spectator and player. As the prizes were handed out, Fawn took the MVP title for her excellent playing, and Joanna Faulkner’s Princesa was Best Playing Pony.

The tournament concluded with a lot of celebration, many pictures and congratulations among all the players. While we all play together each week, the collective excitement and increased competitive spirit felt during each tournament really makes it a special experience. Many thanks to all the family, friends, staff and members who make these events so special. We would also like to thank the USPA, as this tournament was part of their COVID-19 relief program and added some fun competitive polo to our season. —Joanna Faulkner

LOMINSKA / POLOGRAPHICS .COM DAVID LOMINSKA / POLOGRAPHICS .COM DAVID

JC Polo’s Dayelle Fargey was MVP and her mare Ebony was Best Playing Pony in the USPA Women’s Invitational in Santa Barbara. No one could catch Tom Schuerman on Best Playing Pony Catch 22 as he scored the game-winner in the Last Chance Cup final.

BFBST LAW CAPTURES JHHE WICKENDEN CUP

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, finished off its regular season with three tournaments.

Six teams competed in the Jackson Hole Horse Emporium Wickenden Cup and after the first two rounds, five out of the six teams remained eligible for the final. But as play continued, Rancho Polo (Jason Crowder, Piers Bossom, Bain Bossom, Torrey Ripinsky) and BFBST Law (Juan Curbelo, Cory Williams, Alejandro Gonzalez, Leigh Brecheen) were the only two standing, facing each other in the final.

Crowder began the match, firing on all cylinders and scoring three goals in a row. Not to be outdone, Curbelo and Gonzalez shot back in the second, combining for six goals. Brothers Bain and Piers Bossom combined for three goals in the fouth, bringing Rancho Polo within one. However, BFBST Law kept the momentum going to take the win, 17-12. It was the fourth 8-goal win in a row for BFBST Law sponsors Cory Williams and Leigh Brecheen.

Juan Curbelo was MVP and Alejandro Gonzalez’s mare, Dobel was named Best Playing Pony.

The same day, the final of the USPA Women’s Invitational was held. The tournament saw four 12-goal teams divided into two brackets battle over two days.

JC Polo (Jemma Contreras, Maggie Papka, Taylor Olcott, Dayelle Fargey) and Luna Polo (Kaile Roos, Jenny Alexy, Sierra Dunbar, Jenny Alter) dominated their semifinal matches against SBPRC (Judith Baker, Cory Williams, Mia Bray, Melanja Jones) and Central Coast Polo Club (Megan Judge, Danielle Travis, Claudia Uretz, Elise Pardue).

MVP Dayelle Fargey gave JC Polo a strong 7-1 lead at the half after coast-tocoast runs on Best Playing Pony Ebony. Alexy and Roos tried to close the gap but JC Polo took the 8-2 victory.

The last week saw 12 teams in a 1goal played over two days. Eight teams played off in the Last Chance Cup, while four were in the Big Chance Cup.

After four games on Saturday, World Gym, FMB/Folded Hills, Klentner Ranch and Seattle Polo moved on to the semi-final round of the Last Chance Cup. The semis were played as twochukker matches, with the winners moving on to a two-chukker final.

World Gym (Tony Uretz, Tom Schuerman, Claudia Uretz, Melanja Jones) faced FMB/Folded Hills (Pat Ringer, Nico Peix, Will Busch, Henry Walker) in the first semi. The match ended tied, 2-2, requiring a shoot-out. Tony Uretz and Will Busch took the shots, with Uretz putting World Gym in the final.

In the other semi between Klentner Ranch (Elise Pardue, Mia Bray, Justin Klentner, Cearne Young) and Seattle Polo (Jess Dubin, Sheryl Sick, Cam Smith, Colby Smith), it wasn’t as close. Klentner showed its dominance with each player on the team finding the goal. The team advanced with a 5-1 win.

World Gym and Klentner Ranch met in the final. A penalty conversion by Uretz put World Gym on the board first, but Klentner shot back with three goals to take a convincing lead. With just four minutes remaining, World Gym started its comeback. Tony Uretz perfectly executed a Penalty 4 to knot the match. Moments later, Tom Schuerman found a hole and made a run to goal on Best Playing Pony Catch 22. With just 20 seconds left on the clock, Klentner Ranch was unable to respond and World Gym took the title, 4-3.

Klentner’s 15-year-old Elise Pardue, who was high-scorer of the match, was named MVP.

In the Big Chance Cup, California Polo Club (Grace Mellis, Troy Crumley, Alejandro Nordheimer, Matt Schwartz) edged Casa Socas (Toto Socas, Simone Harper, Waqqas al-Sidiq, Timur Kotelnikov). Matt Schwartz was MVP and Toto Socas’ Patriota was Best Playing Pony. •