Polo Report

DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO

PACIFIC C OAST

STG PREVAILS IN GOVERNORS CUP

WILLIAM T. STACEY

Ignacio Deltour does a stand-up job, along with teammate Carlos Rivas, in trying to block a penalty shot in the final of the Governors Cup.

STG Polo topped a four-team roster to win the Governors Cup at Wine Country Polo Club in Santa Rosa, California in July.

Having won their games the day before, STG Polo (Ignacio Deltour, Jack Ziegler, Carlos Rivas, Cipriano Echezarreta) and Alumine Polo (Bautista Bello, Daniel Fernandez, Robert O’Donnell, Caroline Vissers) faced each other for the Governors Cup final. Once USPA umpire Dan Healy had bowled in to begin the game, it was all on. A fast game ensued, as the Trione Field, looking almost perfect in the California sunshine, had been cut extra short, almost to the roots. STG Polo established a clear lead early in the final game, scoring three goals in quick succession in chukker one and three more early in chukker two. Despite Alumine showcasing two well-known professionals–Bello and Fernandez–only late in chukker two did teamwork pay off when they were able to add two to the scoreboard. Alumine was not to be discouraged, however, and at the start of chukker three, it was clear it had reorganized. With the help of strong manto-man coverage, it began to dominate, winning the third chukker, 2-1, and outscoring its opponent in the fourth chukker, 3-2.

By scoring six of his teams nine goals early, Deltour and his teammates basically set the tone for the rest of the match. It may have simply been too late for Alumine to turn the momen

STG Polo’s Jack Ziegler, Cipriano Echezarreta, Carlos Rivas and Ignacio Deltour won the Governors Cup at Wine Country Polo.

Tevis Ranch’s Elizabeth Mansfield, Fabian Lezcano, Richard Mansfield and Rafael Hernandez won the Constitution Cup.

tum in its favor, with the final score totaling 9-7 in favor of STG. It could have been closer or even gone the other way. While there were not many penalties in the game overall, Alumine was simply unable to capitalize sufficiently on those scoring opportunities: penalty shots in its favor never made it through the uprights, and in the last chukker, it also gave up an easy Penalty 1 to STG right in front of the goal.

The 4-goal Deltour was the player of the match. Riding fast, and with fancy moves more typical of players with higher ratings, he was able to repeatedly ward off defensive attacks by Bello and Fernandez, who were unable to prevent the scoring.

In the consolation game played earlier that day, Polo SF ( Leandro Floccari, Vladimir Rivkin, Guillermo Brian McFall, Waqaas Al-Saddiq) defeated Mother Chukker Polo (Francisco Guinazu, Collin White, John Ziegler, Suzannah “Sukey” Forbes), 5-4. Floccari demonstrated his talents perhaps more than any other player on the field. He was not only able to score on several occasions from his Number 4 position (and set up his Number 1 and 2 for the same) but was also very effective in closing down drives to goal by Mother Chukker’s No. 3 and 4 players, Collin White and Francisco Guinazu, both experienced veterans of the game. With few penalties on either side, the game was fast and flowing.

In Saturday’s playoff games, Alumine Polo edged out Polo SF, 5-4, and STG Polo handily outscored Mother Chukker, 6-3.

This year’s Governor’s Cup tournament was supported by the USPA’s COVID-19 Stimulus Relief Program. --Paul Griffin

TEVIS RANCH WINS CONSTITUTION CUP

Tevis Ranch ousted Cerro Pampa, 7- 3, in the final of the Constitution Cup held at Cerro Pampa Polo Club in Petaluma, California, on July 26.

The teams played off over two days. Tevis Ranch (Elizabeth Mansfield, Fabian Lezcano, Richard Mansfield, Rafael Hernandez) got off to a strong start with balanced team play and goals by Richard Mansfield, Elizabeth Mansfield and Lezcano. Cerro Pampa (Jascha Kaykas-Wolf, Hassan Khan, Kathryn McKegney, Toto Socas) answered with a pair of goals by Socas. Elizabeth Mansfield and Socas traded goals in the second to keep it close, 4-3. Neither team could reach the goal in the third. Cerro Pampa was shut out again in the fourth, while Lezcano and Hernandez hit the mark to ensure the win, 6-3.

The teams came back the next day but the results were the same. Again, Richard Mansfield scored first, followed by his wife, Elizabeth. Khan put Cerro Pampa on the board to stay in the game. Lezcano scored early in the second. Mansfield added another before Socas split the uprights, ending the half with Tevis Ranch doubling up Cerro Pampa, 4-2.

The second half belonged to Tevis as Lezcano scored twice and Elizabeth Mansfield once while Cerro Pampa came up empty. Cerro Pampa effectively shut Tevis down in the final period, but was unable to make up any ground and Tevis held on for a 7-3 victory.

QUITE ON Z TAKES JAMES COLT CLASSIC

Quite on Z settled at the top of a sixteam lineup to win the James Colt Classic, part of the 8-goal Rincon League at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California on July 18.

An undefeated Klentner Ranch (Dominique Mielle, Luke Klentner, Jake Klentner, Jesse Bray) met Quite on Z (Alecia Seidler/P. Rodriguez) Paquito de Narvaez, Paco de Narvaez, Kristos Magrini) in the final. Cable Magness was brought in to play for an injured Seidler, while Radhika May played for Mielle.

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

Quite on Z’s Paco de Narvaez, Kristos Magrini, MVP Paquitos de Narvaez and Cable Magness won the James Colt Classic.

Quite on Z’s Kristos Magrini, Ryan Kerley, MVP Paquitos de Narvaez and Paco de Narvaez won the Summerland Cup.

Both teams came out strong, trading goals back and forth from the penalty line. Paquito de Narvaez scored all of his team’s open-goal penalties while Jake Klentner and Bray kept up a volley of answering goals. The first half ended with Klentner Ranch leading, 6-4.

Magrini came out strong in the fourth, scoring two of his team’s three goals that chukker. Klentner had one of its own, knotting the score at 7-7. Bray scored back-to-back goals in the fifth only to be answered with a pair of opengoal penalties from Paquito Narvaez to keep the score level, 9-9. A quick goal by Paco de Narvaez put Quite on Z in the lead early in the sixth. Magrini jumped on Best Playing Pony Terca and scored two in a row while Klentner was held scoreless for the 12-9 win. Paquito de Narvaez was MVP.

In the consolation rounds, BFBST Law (Leigh Brecheen, Cory Williams, Lucitas Monteverde, Juan Monteverde) took on Whitehall Ranch (Igor Seyrenov, Juan Curbelo, Ale Gonzalez, Bill Lane), while Barrossa/DP (Jef Graham, Jim Wright, Maco Llambias, Matt Yonally) faced Mayer Ranch (Kenny Mayer, Clark Mayer, Brendon Stenzel, Agustin Molinas).

Quite on Z kept up the momentum into the Summerland Cup. The same teams competed in the tournament, but this time, Quite on Z met Barrossa/Del Padre in the final. Father and son, Paco and Paquito de Narvaez scored unanswered goals in the first chukker. Wright kept Barrossa in the game, scoring three penalties for his team in the first half but his efforts were met goal for goal by Quite on Z, to end the first half, 6-3.

Quite on Z increased its lead to 8-3 early in the fourth. Wright and Llambias scored two unanswered goals in the fifth to cut the difference to three, 8-5, heading into the last seven minutes. Paquito de Narvaez scored his third open-goal penalty. Llambias scored for Barrossa but Magrini responded with one more to end the match with Quite on Z taking its second victory, 10-6. Paquito de Narvaez was named MVP for the second time this season and Jim Wright’s Chava was Best Playing Pony.

In the historic Robert Skene Memorial Trophy, eight teams filled the lineup but in the end, defending champion FMB Too! and Klentner Ranch earned spots in the final.

The match boasted clean polo with minimal fouls. Both teams played classic polo by running to goal and making use of their teammates with big passes up field. FMB Too! (Joaquin Avendano, Felipe Marquez, Santi Wulff, Henry Walker) capitalized on this style of play, first with a quick goal by Marquez straight out of the line up. Wulff followed up in a similar manner with another goal. Klentner (Marcitos Alberdi, Geronimo Obregon, Jesse Bray, Justin Klentner) got on the board with a goal by Bray late in the chukker. FMB Too! widened the gap, outscoring Klentner, 3-1. Klentner shifted to defense, turning back all of FMB Too!’s drives but was unable to put any goals on the board, ending the first half trailing, 5-2.

Marquez began the second half with a coast-to-coast run, playing both sides of his horse and even tapping it out of the air at times. Obregon shot in a penalty conversion to keep Klentner in the game. The teams kept battling with FMB Too! ending the chukker ahead, 9- 4. Klentner rallied in the fifth chukker, closing the gap to just one after four unanswered goals, 9-8, but FMB Too! retaliated in the sixth with four of its own, while holding Klentner to a single tally from Alberdi, for the 13-9 win.

Felipe Marquez was named MVP and his fifth chukker mare, Gala, was Best Playing Pony. “She is an Argentine thoroughbred that ran nine races. She is something different; one of the most comfortable horses I have ever had. She is always handy and runs really hard for me,” he said.

Henry Walker was thrilled with the victory. “Klentner Ranch is always a tough team to compete against. This final was no exception,” he said. “Both teams played with a lot of heart and it was an honor to win the Robert Skene Memorial Trophy. Furthermore, having

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

FMB Too!’s Henry Walker, Santi Wulff, Felipe Marquez and Joaquin Avendano won the Robert Skene Memorial. Midlantic’s MVP Nachi Viana, Parker Pearce, Maddie Grant and Demitra Hajimihalis won the Patton Cup.

the trophy presentation done by [Robert Skene’s son] Curtis Skene made it additionally meaningful.”

E ASTERN

MIDLANTIC SUCCEEDS IN PATTON CUP IN MD

Midlantic took home the title in the 4-goal Gen. George Patton Cup at Maryland Polo Club in Jarrettsville, Maryland on June 28.

Four teams began the tournament with Midlantic (Demitra Hajimihalis, Maddie Grant, Parker Pearce, Nachi Viana) taking on Red Maple (Madison Jordan, Liv Berube, Nate Berube, PJ Orthwein/Jake Brown) in the final. Midlantic began with a half-goal handicap and Viana quickly added to it, shooting out front with a pair of goals to keep Midlantic in the lead. Nate Berube responded with a tally for Red Maple. Viana kept up the pressure in the second with two more goals but Liv Berube and Brown matched them to keep the difference, 4½-3, at the half.

Viana and Grant scored in the third, while Nate Berube tallied again for Red Maple. Trailing, 6½-4, going into the final chukker, Brown struck for Red Maple but Pearce and Viana shot back with goals of their own for the 7½-5 win.

Viana was MVP and Jake Brown’s Flurry was Best Playing Pony.

“I offered to sponsor a polo team for [my son] Parker by my company Midlantic LTD. We have never had a polo team, but Midlantic LTD does have six equestrian youth brand ambassadors so a polo team fits our company make-up,” Holly Pearce explained. “All on their own, Parker and Maddie put together a team of all intercollegiate UVa varsity polo players. They came into the 4-goal tournament at Maryland Polo Club as the youngest team, rated only 3½ goals. They won by 3½ goals in the final! They entered the final on Sunday totally unaware there was a USPA purse of $1,500 to the winners.”

In the consolation, Dovecote (Louisa Huber, Sophie Grant, Tommy Huber, Tom Huber) crushed West Shore (Cindy Halle, Roberto Corrigan, George Hempt, Max Hempt), 8-2. Brother and sister Tommy and Louisa Huber jumped out front in the first with goals. Tommy and Sophie Grant added goals in the second before George Hempt converted a penalty shot to put West Shore on the board, 4-1. Grant added back-to-back goals in the third and another in the fourth. Tommy Huber had one more, giving Dovecote the 8-1 lead. Halle got one in for West Shore to end the match with Dovecote comfortably ahead.

In the semifinals, Midlantic defeated West Shore, 10-2, while Red Maple edged Dovecote.

The club also hosted the WCT Eastern Women’s Challenge, July 8-12. In the A-Flight, Quite Creek Farm overcame Bad Ass Polo and Colonial Downs in a round-robin final for the win, and a check for $1,500.

Quite Creek Farm (Sophie Grant, Liv Stringer Berube, Hannah Reynolds, Olivia Reynolds) faced Colonial Downs (Sarah Martin, Ashley McKenzie, Malicia Von Falkenhausen, Mary Collins) in the first round of the final. Quiet Creek was anything but quiet as Olivia Reynolds struck first, followed by Hannah Reynolds. Olivia added another while Colonial Downs was unable to respond. It only got worse in the second as Grant went on a shooting spree, hammering in four goals before Collins put Colonial Downs on the board. Grant added another and Hannah Reynolds tallied her second to put Quite Creek ahead, 9-1.

Colonial Downs sat down while Quite Creek faced Bad Ass Polo (Lindsey Morris, Kathy Fowser, Bridget Gibson, Posey Obrecht). Morris got on the board first, but Grant let loose with three in a row. Morris began the scoring in the second chukker, but Olivia Reynolds and Grant answered, ending the round with Quiet Creek ahead, 5-2.

Bad Ass Polo took on Colonial Downs in the last round. Obrecht put

Quite Creek Farm’s MVP Sophie Grant, Liv Stringer Berube, Hannah Reynolds and Olivia Reynolds won the Women’s Challenge.

Marlan Farm’s Kylie Beard, Hanna Noyes, Josie Dorsey and Madelyn Blum won B Flight in the WCT Arena in Maryland.

Bad Ass on the board and Fowser and Morris followed with goals of their own while Colonial Downs was silenced. The teams battled in the second with Collins scoring for Colonial Downs. Gibson answered for Bad Ass, ensuring the win.

Quiet Creek Farm was named the winner while Bad Ass was runner-up. Grant was named MVP and Reynolds’ Onyx was Best Playing Pony.

In preliminary matches, Quiet Creek Farm narrowly edged Melinda’s Prospect Farm (Cindy Halle, Louisa Huber, Anna Palacios, Shariah Harris), 7-6, to advance to the final. Two days later, a round-robin saw Melinda’s Prospect Farm top Bad Ass, 5-3½, and Colonial Downs, 8-1½. Bad Ass topped Colonial Downs, 1½-1.

In the WCT Arena, held on June 20, Dovecote (Maddie Grant, Grace Burgert, Louisa Huber) edged USPA (Madison Jordan, Anna Palacios and Live Berube) in Flight A. Louisa Huber’s Roo was Best Playing Pony and Maddie Grant was MVP. In B Flight, Marlan Farm Dark (Kylie Beard, Hannah Noyes, Josie Dorsey, Madelyn Blum) defeated GFS (Gabbie Chiasera, Sarah Lynch, Josie Smith). Sarah Lynch was MVP and Catie Stueck’s Infinity, played by Kylie Beard, was Best Playing Pony.

Jake Brown’s Flurry was Best Playing Pony in Maryland’s 4-goal Patton Cup.

NORTHEASTERN

WHITE BIRCH TOPS THREE PRO-AM CUPS

While COVID-19 cancelled much of the Greenwich Polo Club’s high-goal season, the club held a series of five Pro-Am Cups in July. The club is located in Greenwich, Connecticut.

In the first Pro-Am of the month, White Birch/IGEA (Chris Brant, Antonio Aguerre, Joaquin Panelo, Mariano Aguerre) took on Altaris/Reelay (Jamal Nusseibeh, Will Tomita, Valerio Zubiaurre and Santino Magrini). The teams played off over two games. In the first match, the teams ended knotted, 6-6. In the second match Altaris got the best of White Birch, narrowly taking the 6-5 win.

The second Pro-Am for July included four teams. Altaris (Jamal Nusseibeh, Antonio Aguerre, Valerio Zubiaurre, Joaquin Panelo) took on Ollie (Will Tomita, Brian Fairclough, Nick Manifold, Pedro Gutierrez) in the first game with Altaris coming out on top, 10-8, to advance to the final. In the second match, Van Lith/White Birch (Mark Van Lith, Tomas Franco, Mariano Aguerre, Chris Brant) edged Santa Cruz/Cooperline Farms (Ben Ketchum, Gaston Lisioli, Michael Klein, Kris

PETER MICHAELIS FOR GREENWICH POLO CLUB PETER MICHAELIS FOR GREENWICH POLO CLUB

Altaris’ Will Tomita, Jamal Nusseibeh, Santino Magrini and Valerio Zubiaurre won the Pro-Am in Greenwich.

PETER MICHAELIS FOR GREENWICH POLO CLUB

Van Lith/White Birch’s Mark Van Lith, Chris Brant, Tomas Franco and Mariano Aguerre won the second Pro-Am.

PETER MICHAELIS FOR GREENWICH POLO CLUB

White Birch/Cooperline Farms’ Mariano Aguerre, Gaston Lisioli, Ben Ketchum and Chris Brant won the third Pro-Am. The fourth Pro-Am went to Altaris/Ollie’s Pedro Gutierrez, Lerin Zubiaurre, MVP Will Tomita and Jamal Nusseibeh.

Kampsen), 11-8, to advance to the final.

The final pitted Altaris against Van Lith/White Birch. It was a tight match, but this time Van Lith/White Birch took the win, 8-7. Antonio Aguerre was named MVP.

Four teams competed in the third Pro-Am. After a rain delay, the final saw White Birch/Cooperline Farms (Ben Ketchum, Chris Brant, Mariano Aguerre, Gaston Lisioli) edge Ollie (Will Tomita, Antonio Aguerre, Joaquin Panelo, Pedro Gutierrez), 10-9. Ben Ketchum was MVP. In the consolation Lion Share final, Altaris/IGEA (Jamal Nusseibeh, Adam Lipson, Valerio Zubiaurre, Juan Redlich) defeated Santa Cruz (Michael Klein, Nick Manifold, Andy Fairclough, Kris Kampsen), 9-7.

The fourth Pro-Am saw White Birch (Antonio Aguerre, Chris Brant, Mari

PETER MICHAELIS FOR GREENWICH POLO CLUB

White Birch/Cooperline Farms’ Gaston Lisioli slaps a hook on Ollie’s Joaquin Panelo in the third Pro-Am final.

ano Aguerre, Nick Manifold) fall to Santa Cruz/Cooperline Farm (Michael Klein, Ben Ketchum, Gaston Lisioli, Kris Kampsen), 11-10, in the first semi

PETER MICHAELIS FOR GREENWICH POLO CLUB

White Birch/Santa Cruz’s Mariano Aguerre, Kris Kampsen, Chris Brant and Michael Klein won the last Pro-Am.

G-Squared’s Matias Obregon, Juan Martin Obregon, Juan Martin Gutierrez and Larry Aschebrook won the McCormick Cup.

final while Altaris/Ollie (Will Tomita, Jamal Nusseibeh, Lerin Zubiaurre, Pedro Gutierrez) edged IGEA (Brian Fairclough, Adam Lipson, Joaquin Panelo, Juan Redlich), 9-8, in the second semifinal. Moving on to the final, Altaris/Ollie edged Santa Cruz/Cooperline Farm, 10-9. Will Tomita was MVP.

The last Pro-Am of the season had three teams playing off in a round-robin with a fourth team coming in just for the consolation round. Rain delayed the start a day, but the field was ready the following evening. In the first round, Ollie/Cooperline Farms (Ben Ketchum, Will Tomita, Gaston Lisioli, Pedro Gutierrez) beat IGEA/Altaris (Adam Lipson, Jamal Nusseibeh, Lerin Zubiaurre, Juan Redlich), 6-4, but fell to White Birch/Santa Cruz (Michael Klein, Chris Brant, Mariano Aguerre, Kris Kampsen), 6-5, in the second round. White Birch/Santa Cruz also got the best of IGEA/Altaris, 6-5.

White Birch/Santa Cruz would move on to the final against Ollie/Cooperline Farms, while IGEA/Altaris would take on Los Machitos (Andy Fairclough, Brian Fairclough, Joaquin Panelo, Antonio Aguerre) in the consolation. White Birch/Santa Cruz prevailed 12- 10 over Ollie/Cooperline Farms in the final, while IGEA/Altaris defeated Los Machitos, 10-8, in the consolation. Chris Brant was MVP in the final.

C ENTRAL

G-SQUARED EARNS MCCORMICK CUP

G-Squared slipped past PFP, 8-7, in the final of the McCormick Cup held at Oak Brook Polo Club in Oak Brook, Illinois on July 7.

After getting the best of Oak Brook (Jim Drury, Tomas ‘Toto’ Obregon, Horacio Onetto, Mariano Gutierrez), 10-9, in a close match, G-Squared (Larry Aschebrook, Juan Martin Gutierrez, Matias Obregon, Juan Martin Obregon)

Action at Oak Brook Polo Club in Chicago. advanced to the final against PFP (Frauke Leuders, Jan-Dirk Leuders, Anthony Garcia, Mariano Obregon.

G-Squared got on the board first with a goal by Matias Obregon. Nino Obregon responded but Juan Martin Obregon got the last word, to end the first, 2-1, in favor of G-Squared. Anthony Garcia tied the score in the second but Juan Martin Obregon put GSquared back on top. Garcia leveled the score early in the third but back-to-back goals by Matias Obregon gave GSquared a 5-3 advantage to end the first half.

Juan Martin Obregon traded goals

CHUKKERTV

Oak Brook’s Jim Drury, Horacio Onetto, Toto Obregon and Mariano Gutierrez won the Butler Challenge. Casablanca’s Juancito Bollini jumps on a pass in the Craig Sakin Memorial final over La Indiana.

with Nino Obregon in the fourth to maintain the difference. Nino Obregon sunk a Penalty 3 in the fifth, but Juan Martin Gutierrez responded with a field goal. Nino kept fighting and sandwiched penalty conversions around a goal from Gutierrez but it wasn’t enough and G-Squared took the win.

Two weeks later with the same lineups, Oak Brook retaliated, edging GSquared in the 12-goal Butler Challenge. Toto Obregon put Oak Brook on the board in the opening minutes of the first chukker. Onetto followed with a Penalty 2 conversion before Juan Martin Obregon put G-Squared on the board. Juan Martin Obregon’s lone field goal in the second tied the score, 2-2. Toto Obregon and Matias Obregon traded goals in the third to end the half knotted, 3-3.

Matias Obregon broke the tie early in the fourth, but Toto Obregon quickly tied it back up and Onetto gave Oak Brook the lead. Juan Martin Obregon level the score in the fifth until Toto Obregon struck again. Toto gave Oak Brook a two-goal lead early in the sixth but Juan Martin Gutierrez scored to bring G-Squared within one. However, the team could get no closer before time ran out and Oak Brook had the win.

ROCKY M OUNTAIN

CASABLANCA TRIUMPHS IN CRAIG SAKIN MEM.

For the second time in three tournaments, Casablanca and La Indiana met in a final at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, both eager to take the title. In the ChukkerTV Challenge, Casablanca prevailed. This time it was the Craig Sakin Memorial, but the results were the same.

Casablanca (Lauren Sherry, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Juan Martin Nero) bested La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Nacho Badiola), 9-7.

After scoring all of his team’s nine goals against Spindrift in the semis, Roldan was hot off the mark starting the final. Within the first minute of play, he hooked Ganzi and put the ball through the posts. Casablanca went on offense and Nero took his team into an early lead with two goals, including one at the horn.

In the second chukker, Roldan roared back with two goals of his won, while Bickford scored a third to put La Indiana into the lead for the only time in the game.

Casablanca played a strong defense in the third, and kept its opponent off the goal, while Ganzi scored on a penal

CHUKKERTV

Casablanca’s Juan Martin Nero, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Lauren Sherry won the Sakin Memorial.

CHUKKERTV

CHUKKERTV

Seminole Casino’s Melissa Ganzi, MVP Lauren Sherry, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Juan Bollini won the Basalt Handicap.

ty to end the half knotted, 4-4.

Casablanca took the lead in the fourth after a goal by Juancito Bollini, and after a right-of-way violation by Roldan, Ganzi scored on the penalty shot to put Casablanca ahead by two. The fifth chukker saw Casablanca take a decisive lead, with its powerful defense again keeping La Indiana from scoring. At the 3:22 mark, Roldan’s stirrup leather broke, nearly unseating him, but after a brief time out he was back in action. Nero and Ganzi scored, and nearing the end of the chukker, Bollini had a breakaway to goal, ending the period, 9-5, in Casablanca’s favor.

La Indiana played an intense last chukker, effectively defending against Casablanca and scoring three goals, including an impressive 150-yard center field penalty shot by Roldan, but couldn’t make up the margin, falling 9-7.

Nero was named MVP, while Bickford’s 8-year-old mare Pontiac was Best Playing Pony.

The tournament is played in memory of Craig Sakin who passed away Feb. 11, 2014, at 52. The former president of the Sopris Mountain Ranch homeowner’s association, he was instrumental in helping Marc and Melissa Ganzi secure their first polo field. In 2015, some of Sakin’s ashes were release over the polo field.

In the Just for the Fun of It Cup, Spindrift (Marc Ganzi, John Bickford, Polito Pieres, Stewart Armstrong) slipped past Island House (Alex Gooding, Peter Holowesko, Toro Ruiz, Jared Zenni), 10-9.

After a slow start, Island House finally got on the board in the third chukker and caught up to tie the match at 5-5 in the second half. Spindrift got out front again, but Island House managed to level the score at 9-9 in the final minutes. Alas, a penalty conversion by Ganzi put it in the bag for Spindrift.

In the Just for the Love of It Cup, La Elina (Melissa Ganzi, Bobby Gerry, Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Bollini) took down Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Larry Austin, Horacio Heguy, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 9-7.

In the Just for the Joy of It Cup, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Tincho Merlos, Jimmy Seward) topped Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Gussie Busch, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Pablo Spinacci), 9-8.

On July 27, Seminole Casino won the Basalt Handicap after downing La Elina, 6-4, and White Claw, 6-3, in a round robin.

White Claw (Vinny Sangaline, Larry Austin, Pablo Spinacci, Nic Roldan) got off to a quick start in the first round with Sangaline scoring a breakaway goal and Austin following up with another. La Elina (Collen Clark, Bobby

The Island House’s Pablo Mac Donough was MVP in the Aspen Cup.

Gerry, Pablo Mac Donough, Horacio Heguy) saw Gerry score twice and tie the game at the end of the chukker. In a decisive second chukker, Spinacci was on fire, scoring three goals to give White Claw the lead. La Elina couldn’t manage to get on the board and despite two more goals by Clark, La Elina went down, 6-4.

La Elina didn’t fare any better in the second round, falling to Seminole Casino (Melissa Ganzi, Lauren Sherry, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini), 6-4. Seminole Casino turned back all of La Elina’s drives in the first chukker before Gerry tied the match in the second with three goals. Sherry broke away from the pack to put her team in the lead. Mac Donough scored La Elina’s final goal but Seminole Casino wasn’t finished. Novillo Astrada and Ganzi tallied to give Seminole Casino the win.

In the final round, White Claw kept pace with Seminole Casino in the first seven minutes, ending the chukker tied, 3-3. The teams battled to take control, but Seminole Casino’s defense kept White Claw off the board, while Seminole’s offense hammered in three more goals to take the 6-3 win. Seminole Casino took first place, while White Claw took second and La Elina was third.

Sherry was MVP amateur while Roldan was MVP pro. Irenita Creyenete,

CHUKKERTV

CHUKKERTV

The Island House’s Peter Holowesko, Michael Payne, Toro Ruiz and Pablo Spinnaci won the Emma Challenge Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado.

owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm and played by Mac Donough, was Best Playing Pony.

In the Just for the Love of It Cup round robin, McClure River Ranch (Alejandra Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Gussie Busch, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Alejandro Poma, Stewart Armstrong, Polito Pieres), 5-3, and Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Nacho Badiola, Tincho Merlos, Brian Boyd), 6-5.

In the Aspen Cup round robin played over two days, La Indiana (Michael Bickford, John Bickford, Jared Zenni, Polito Pieres) met The Island House (Peter Holowesko, Pablo Mac Donough, Toro Ruiz, Marc Ganzi) in Round One. Scores carried over from Friday with La Indiana ahead, 4-3. Ruiz quickly tied the score but Pieres put La Indiana back in the lead. The teams swapped goals in the second chukker before The Island House got ahead, 8-7.

La Indiana stayed up for Round 2 to face Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Juan Martin Nero). La Indiana shut Tonkawa down in the first chukker. Tonkawa made a comeback in the second, but La Indiana hung on for the 7-5 win.

The final round had The Island House up against Tonkawa. The Island House carried over its 7-4 lead. Tonkawa poured it on in the first, stopping all of The Island House’s drives. The tables turned in the second with Mac Donough and Ruiz putting The Island House ahead by three. Tonkawa held The Island House scoreless in the final chukker but it wasn’t enough and The Island House hung on to the 9-8 win for the title. Tonkawa settled for runner-up and La Indiana came in third.

Mac Donough was MVP and Karma, owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm and played by Nero, was Best Playing Pony.

The Island House (Michael Payne, Peter Holowesko, Toro Ruiz, Pablo Spinacci) kept the momentum into the Emma Challenge Cup, making it to the final against Spindrift (Francisco Spinacci/Santos Novillo Astrada, Alejandro Poma, Stewart Armstrong, Alejandro Novillo Astrada).

Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored the first goal, but it was quickly matched by Ruiz. A young Francisco Spinacci, filling in for an injured John Bickford, ran to goal, scoring with a neck shot. His father, Pablo Spinnaci retaliated with a goal of his own, then sent an 80-yard back shot to Ruiz who passed to Armstrong before Poma finished it with a nearside slice to goal to end the chukker with Spindrift ahead, 3-2. Holowesko tied it up in the third and Ruiz’s Penalty 3 conversion put The Island House in the lead, 4-3, at the half.

Tonkawa’s Jeff Hildebrand takes off in the Just for the Love of It Cup.

Francisco Spinacci was replaced in the second half by Santos Novillo Astrada, Alejandro Novillo Astrada’s nephew. Santos went right to work, tying the match. Payne responded with a deep neck shot to take back the lead, but Poma answered to tie the game at 5-all. Poma added another early in the fifth, but Ruiz shot back with a Penalty 4 then back-to-back goals. Armstrong closed the gap with a lone goal in the final seven minutes but it wasn’t enough and The Island House had the win, 8-7.

Ruiz, who led with five goals, was MVP, and Armstrong’s Van Tempura was Best Playing Pony.

In the Just for the Love of It final, White Claw (Vinny Sangaline, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Juan Martin Nero) downed Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Nacho Badiola, Polito Pieres), 9-6. White Claw’s Nero was MVP.

In the Just for the Joy of It final, La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Lauren Sherry, Tincho Merlos, Alex Gooding) tied Tiburon (Collen Clark, Gussie Busch, Jared Zenni, Horacio Heguy), 9- 9. Bickford was high-scorer.

In the Just for the Fun of It final, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Nic Roldan, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Brian Boyd) edged Seminole Casino (Melissa Ganzi, Antonio Bermudez, Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Bollini), 8-7.

Jan Pamelas’s Hector Galindo, Wayne Garrison, Paige Boone and Frankie Bilbao with Leslie and Louisa Johnston

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

JAN PAMELA ACES JOHNSTON MEMORIAL

Jan Pamela edged Bendabout, 15-14, in a high-scoring Skeeter Johnston Memorial Cup at Flying H Polo Club in Sheridan, Wyoming, on July 18.

Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Paige Boone, Frankie Bilbao, Hector Galindo) took an early lead, only to have Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Alex Caro, Will Johnston, Julian de Lusarreta) rally to tie the match at the half.

Jan Pamela started with a two-goal handicap and Boone added to it early in the first chukker with a Penalty 3, then one from the field. Galindo sunk a Penalty 4 to put the team up by five. De Lusarreta got Bendabout on the board at the end of the chukker. Bendabout rallied with De Lusarreta and Johnston combining for four in a row. Bilbao found the mark to put Jan Pamela ahead, 6-5, to end the second. De Lusarreta traded goals with Garrison and back-to-back goals by Johnston gave Bendabout the narrow lead. It was short-lived, however, as Boone’s Penalty 3 tied the match at 8-8 to end the half.

Another penalty conversion by

Boone and a shot through the uprights by Galindo put Jan Pamela back in the lead but Johnston tallied again to keep it close. Johnston was on fire and traded goals with Bilbao and Boone to stay within one. De Lusarreta tied it up and Will Johnston gave Bendabout the lead, 13-12. Bilbao scored early in the sixth to tie it up, but De Lusarreta found the mark to take back the lead. In the waning minutes of the chukker, Bendabout was whistled and Jan Pamela was awarded a 60-yard free hit. That was all it need for Bilbao to level the score and force overtime. In sudden death, Boone slipped the ball between the posts for the 15-14 win.

Gillian Johnston was high-scorer with seven goals and took MVP honors. Bilbao’s Noche was Best Playing Pony.

In the subsidiary Everglades Classic, No Trees (Lance Stefanakis, Camp Campbell, Nico Saenz, Jeff Blake) defeated Upatoi Green (KC Krueger, Lucio Benedit, Sugar Erskine, Jake Flournoy), 14-10. In the subsidiary Everglades Challenge, Cessna (Phillip Higgins, Chip Campbell, Steve Krueger, Gonzalo Teves) ousted Parrot Heads (Tom Sprung, Roni Duke, Carlitos Galindo, Pite Merlos), 9-7.

Play continued the following week with The Moncreiff Cup. Upatoi Green

Upatoi Green’s Jake Flournoy (and family), Julian De Lusarreta, Tom Sprung and Carlitos Galindo with Vicki and Levi Jorgenson

(Tom Sprung, Julian De Lusarreta, Carlitos Galindo, Jake Flournoy) edged Cessna (Paige Boone, Frankie Bilbao, Chip Campbell, Gonzalo Teves), 10-9, in overtime.

Cessna started with a handicap goal and Bilbao added to it. De Lusarreta responded to keep it close. Flournoy scored early in the second, but Bilbao countered. Galindo found the uprights but Campbell had the answer. Bilbao added another to increase the lead. Cessna doubled up Upatoi but Flournoy and De Lusarreta fought back to bring the team within one, 6-5, at the half. Cessna increased the lead in the fourth but Upatoi chipped away at the deficit in the fifth and sixth while holding Cessna scoreless, to knot the score, 9-9, forcing overtime. In sudden death, Galindo scored the golden goal to win the match for Upatoi Green.

Jake Flournoy was MVP, and Vogue, owned by G String Polo and played by De Lusarreta, was Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation Budweiser Cup, Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Lance Stefanakis, Sugar Erskine, Lucio Benedit) fell to BTA (KC Krueger, Steve Krueger, Jeff Blake, Craig Duke), 12-10. In the consolation Michelob Cup, Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, Alex Caro, Will Johnston, Pite Merlos) beat Clearwater

No Trees’ Craig Duke, Jeff Blake, Frankie Bilbao and Paige Boone with Jesse Morton and Nick, Hadley and Laken Zuhlsdorf

Bendabout’s Gillian Johnston, Julian De Lusarreta, Steve Krueger and KC Krueger won the Bozeman Trail Cup.

(Wayne Garrison, Camp Campbell, Nico Saenz, Hector Galindo), 10-7.

Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, KC Krueger, Steve Krueger, Julian de Lusarreta) came out on top the following week in the Bozeman Trail Cup, downing Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Will Johnston, Carlitos Galindo, Sugar Erskine), 11-6. Evergreen began with a three-goal handicap and added to it with goals from Sprung and Erskine. Johnston put Bendabout on the board and KC Krueger followed with a goal to end the first, 5-2. Bendabout stopped all of Evergreen’s drives in the next two chukkers, while Johnston added one, KC Krueger added two penalty conversions and De Lusarreta added another to take a 6-5 lead at the half.

Neither team could find the goal in the fourth but De Lusarreta scored back-to-back goals in the fifth and KC Krueger split the uprights to take a convincing 9-5 lead. De Lusarreta kept up the pressure, sinking a Penalty 5b and following with a field goal to increase the lead to six, 11-5, in the final seven minutes. Erskine found the mark but it wasn’t enough and Bendabout won.

Gillian Johnston was MVP and KC Krueger’s Shadow was Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation Bozeman Trail Classic, No Trees (Paige Boone, Frankie Bilbao, Jeff Blake, B. Craig Duke) edged Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Roni Duke, Pite Merlos, Hector Galindo), 10- 8. In the consolation Fetterman’s Challenge, Cessna (Camp Campbell, Chip Campbell, Nico Saenz, Gonzalo Teves) soared above Upatoi Green (Lance Stefanakis, Jake Flournoy, Miguel Astrada, Lucio Benedit), 10-7.

The following day, the club held the Archie MacCarty Cup, a tournament for junior players. Four teams battled it out, each playing four periods total.

In the first semifinal round, Tee Pee (Avery Evans, Abby Benton, Lance Stefanakis, Malia Bryan) narrowly edged Flying H (Mateo Bilbao, Rufino Merlos, Miki Astrada, Harry Caldwell), 5-4.

Stefanakis struck first but Astrada answered. Stefanakis added a Penalty 3, but this time Caldwell had the answer, ending the first chukker, 2-2. Stefanakis traded penalty conversions with Merlos in the second to keep it level, 3-3. A shootout was needed to determine which team would advance. Merlos did the shooting for Flying H, finding the goal once. Stefanakis represented Tee Pee and shot through two goals to advance his team.

In the second semifinal round, Walker Prairie (Carter Nix, Dig Singh, Maddie Grant, Quinn Evans) came from behind to defeat Moncrieff Ridge (Mili Galindo, Brianna Galindo, Fernando Torres, Mia Astrada), 5-3. Astrada got on the board first and a Penalty 1 put Moncrieff Ridge ahead by two, while Walker Prairie was silenced. A Penalty 3 by Grant put Walker Prairie on the board but it was answered by Astrada. Singh closed the gap and another goal by Grant tied the score at 3-3. Another shootout would determine the winner. Grant was the only player to score, moving Walker Prairie into the final.

Moncrieff Ridge doubled up Flying H, 4-2, in the consolation. Torres scored three penalty conversions added to a goal from Astrada, while Caldwell scored all of his team’s goals.

In the final, Walker Prairie stopped Tee Pee, 6-2. Quinn Evans started the scoring and Grant followed with a Penalty 2. Bryan sunk a Penalty 4 to put Tee Pee on the board, ending the first, 2-1. Quinn Evans started the second with a goal but Stefanakis converted a Penalty 3 in response. Grant converted a Penalty 3 and Quinn Evans found the mark with a Penalty 4 conversion. Nix added one for good measure, ensuring Walker Prairie the win. Quinn Evans was MVP and Grant’s Quenna was Best Playing Pony.

I NTERNATIONAL

PALMARE VICTOR IN POLO PLAYER TROPHY

Palmarium continued its loyal support of family polo in Jamaica with its “Palmare Private Brokerage—your Personal Real Estate Advisor” division at the St. Ann Polo Club.

The Palmare 2020 Family Tournament started out with Palmare Toby’s Resort playing against Chukka Adventure for the Polo Players Trophy. Palmare consisted of Paul Chin and his son Conrad along with Lesley Fong-Yee and Michele Subaran. Chukka Adventure consisted of John Byles and his son Zachary and young guns Freddie Farquharson and Adam Laing.

Palmare came out firing as Paul Chin put the first goal on the board followed by one from Fong-Yee in the first chukker but Zack Byles replied with a brilliant cut shot from the boards to put Chukka on the score board. The game showcased fast back-and-forth polo as both teams attacked. Strong defense by Palmare held Chukka scoreless in the second and third chukkers while Palmare added to its score with goals put in by Conrad Chin and Subaran, giving them a 4-1 lead going into

Palmare’s Leslie Fong-Yee, Michele Subaran, Conrad Chin and Paul Chin

the last chukker. However, Chukka came out with the young guns blazing in the fourth chukker. Farquharson converted two penalties to bring them to within a goal and they were still attacking when the final bell went, allowing Palmare to hold on to the 4-3 victory and win the Polo Player Trophy. Paul Chin was nominated MVP of the match.

The second game featured Palmarium with Shane Chin, his brother Kurt Chin, Brandon Richards and young Cameron Wates versus Rousseau with Mitta Rousseau, his son Jacob, Jonathon Dougall and young professional Luke Clarke playing for the coveted Mare and Foal Trophy. Palmari

Team Rousseau um was a bit disorganized in the first chukker and Rousseaus presented as a well-oiled machine with Luke scoring twice to take the early lead.

Shane Chin found his form in the second chukker but was only able to score once as the teams traded goals. Mitta Rousseau scored his first for the day, but Kurt cut the lead back to one towards the end of the chukker. Palmarium went quiet again in the third and Mitta Rousseau found his way through the defense to score twice. Dougall and Jacob Rousseau worked hard in the mid-field creating opportunities throughout the match and Clarke backed them up with another goal to increase the lead to 6-2 going into the final chukker.

Wates was replaced by Zack Byles for the last chukker after taking a blow to the ribs and the team came out firing again. Shane scored early, but Palmarium was unable to capitalize on its opportunities, while Rousseaus continued with solid teamwork as Clarke increased the lead. Towards the end of the game Byles put in a lovely goal for Palmarium but it was too little, too late. Rousseaus took home the lovely Mare & Foal Bronze Trophy, 7-4.

Mitta’s Annabell, who he scored two goals on in the third chukker, was Best Playing Pony and Jacob Rousseau was adjudged Most Valuable Player. •

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participating in USPA arena tournaments with the aim of increasing participation in these tournaments both locally and regionally. NAAC uses a win-loss point system to populate a leaderboard of the participants on the USPA website and determine the individuals that qualify for the national tournament scheduled this year at the Orange County Polo Club in Silverado, California. Additionally, the USPA offers a circuit-level I/I alumni tournament that can be played at any member club, and the I/I sponsors the Feldman Cup—the National I/I Alumni Tournament—that rotates locations every year.

Molly stepped back into the irons and signed back up as a USPA member right before the Feldman Cup was hosted by the Maryland Polo Club in 2017. Drawn in by the option of two flights of play, she experienced an alumni’s dream: to play and win with some of her best friends from college. Molly, along with fellow UVA alum Lauren Connors and CSU alum Liv Stringer Berube, took home the B-flight championship.

“Coming back and being able to play with so many familiar faces in my own backyard was a nostalgic trip down memory lane,” she reminisced. “Not much had changed besides my memory of the rules and ability to hang on for four chukkers.”

So, how do we help graduating intercollegiate players stay involved in polo? All graduating seniors receive a letter, welcoming them to the alumni “club”, and a USPA club guide with contact information for every active USPA club in hopes that they will continue to participate as players or club members. New alumni are also encouraged to reach out to staff in the event they are interested in tournament manager or umpire training, as well as specific areas or committees they would like to volunteer for. In the past few seasons, 100% of I/I tournament managers and 50% of I/I tournament umpires have been I/I alumni.

Molly has involved herself in I/I polo in a few different ways over the past few years. Traveling for work through Baltimore County’s Greenspring Valley puts her close to Garrison Forest School with many hats to wear; both as a professional and a volunteer. Molly and fellow GFS alum Beth Supik were instrumental additions to the 2020 I/I “Ask the Expert” series of Zoom calls. The duo shared their wealth of knowledge over two calls that covered topics from basic horse care to nutrition for the polo string.

“Garrison is my favorite ‘appointment’ of the day

because it’s a touchstone that reminds me of what motivated me to become a veterinarian,” explained Muedeking. “Watching the kids learn to give shots, question what is best for their horses and grow as individuals makes the tough moments of this job worthwhile. Knowing that they will forever use those skills to care for the horses that allow them to play the sport they love so much is the most rewarding part of my job.”

Muedeking added coaching to her resume with the West Shore interscholastic team when she began helping Posey Obrecht with her young team in an effort to give back to the program that started her polo journey.

“I felt incredibly lucky to be able to coach West Shore this past year and continue to be a part of I/I polo in a small way. Somehow, magically, emergency calls and work seemed to wait until after practice and for an hour just polo took precedence again. Watching the team grow together and individually to reach different mile markers made me thankful for all the mentors, programs and ponies that opened the polo world to me.”

If your club is interested in pulling I/I alumni back into the sport and would like assistance, please contact the I/I staff. •

Cailin Phebus, Gabriella Chiasera and Molly Muedeking