October 2021 Polo Players' Edition- Polo Report

POLO REPORT

DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO

EAST

LANDHOPE PREVAILS IN POLO PONIES MEMORIAL

New Hope’s Dennys Santana keeps the ball out of the reach of Landhope’s Francisco Llosa in the final of the Polo Ponies Memorial.

©Elizabeth Headly

FOUR teams competed in the 8-goal USPA Polo Ponies Memorial at Brandywine Polo Club in Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, Aug. 27-29. In the end, it was the home team, Landhope, that took home the trophies.

The tournament is played in honor of 18 polo ponies that were lost in a 1966 fire, started by lightning striking the clubhouse and spreading to two barns. An additional seven ponies were injured while nine others were led to safety. The memorial tournament

This year’s games began with New Hope (Ann Oniskey, Pelon Escapite, Dennys Santana, Tim Cheromcka) getting the best of Dovecote (CJ Martin, Nate Berube, PJ Orthwein, Tom Huber Sr.), 11-9. Later in the day, Landhope (Michael Bucklin, Martin Eddy, Francisco Llosa, Sterling Giannico) defeated Barefield (Sam Clemens, Mark Mulligan, Jake Brown, Alan Martinez), 14-12.

Preliminary winners Landhope Farms and New Hope met in the final. Landhope Farms began with a onegoal handicap, but it was negated by Santana, who scored the first goal. Escapite sunk a Penalty 4 to put New Hope ahead, but Bucklin slipped the ball between the posts to tie the score at 2-2 after the first seven minutes. Landhope turned up the pressure in the second period with Llosa sending the ball to goal and Giannico following with two in a row, while New Hope was silenced, giving Landhope a 5-2 advantage. The difference was cut to one early in the third when Santana and Escapite each converted a Penalty 2, but Llosa and Giannico responded with field goals to take a 7-4 advantage into the half.

Landhope Farms’ Michael Bucklin, Sterling Giannico, Martin Eddy and Francisco Llosa won the USPA Polo Ponies Memorial.

©Elizabeth Headly

Unanswered goals by Eddy and Giannico in the fourth increased the difference to five at the end of the fourth period. Oniskey scored New Hope’s first second-half goal, but Eddy and Llosa shot back to increase the difference to 11-5 going into the final period.

New Hope kept fighting. Santana and Escapite found the target in the sixth, while keeping Landhope Farms off the board, but it wasn’t enough and Landhope took the 11-7 win. Aside from the trophies, the team went home with $2,500 in prize money thanks to the USPA’s tournament stimulus. The runners-up didn’t go home empty-handed, taking $1,000 in prize money from OneMagnify.

Martin Eddy was MVP Pro, while MVP Amateur was shared by Tim Cheromcka and Michael Bucklin. Sterling Giannico’s Revancha was Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation final, Barefield crushed Dovecote, 16-7. Sam Clemens and Alan Martinez lead Barefield with five goals apiece. Clemens contribution included four goals in the last period.

LITTLE FORK RANGERS TAKES PATTON TOURNEY

Army’s Mark Gillespie presents the Patton trophies to Little Fork Rangers’ Danny Coleman, Dan Coleman and Sophia Doble.

Four teams battled it out in the Eastern Circuit Gen. George S. Patton Jr. tournament at the Army Polo Club in Chetwood Park, The Plains, Virginia, Aug 24-26. Played in a pro-am format, this was a first USPA tournament for many of the Army and Navy players from the Army Polo Club as well as youth players on the Liberty Hall and Wakefield Country Day School teams.

Little Fork Rangers (Dan Coleman, Danny Coleman, Sophia Doble) advanced over Army-Gold (Mark Gillespie, Abigail Irwin, Lizzie Keys) in Game One. Goals by Dan and 11-yearold Danny Coleman in the first chukker were answered by Irwin and Keys. Dan Coleman sunk a Penalty 2 in the second period and Doble found the mark with a two-pointer, while Army was held to a goal from Gillespie. Dan Coleman and Gillespie traded goals in the third. Dan Coleman kept pressing, wrapping goals around one from Irwin to seal the 8-5 victory.

Game Two had Navy (Alex Jenkins, Mallorie Marquis, Beth Byles, Abigail Gage) advance over Army-Black (Amos Peterson, Riley Johnson, Raeann Bruton), 16-11. Jenkins and Peterson swapped goals in the first period, but Jenkins was just warming up and shot through four tallies in the second.

Meanwhile, Peterson added two and Bruton one to keep it close, 5-4. Army Black took the lead in the third when each of the players scored from the field and Bruton converted a pair of penalties. Marquis and Jenkins each tallied for Navy to stay in the game, trailing 9-7. The tide changed in the fourth when Jenkins connected five times, including with a pair of twopointers, added to a goal by 11-year-old Marquis. Army benefited from a Penalty 1 and a Penalty 3 conversion, but the damage was done, and Navy took the win.

In the consolation, Army Gold edged Army Black, 14-13. Irwin put Gold ahead with give points in the first chukker. Peterson scored twice for Black to get in the game. Black rebounded in the second with Peterson adding two and 16-year-old Bruton tallying three, while holding Gold to a pair of goals by Sang Yi, who split chukkers with Gillespie. Sixteen-yearold Keys, who gave up eventing for polo, drew a Penalty 1 for her team. Gold narrowly led, 8-7, at the half.

Three goals by Irwin in the third were matched by Peterson and Bruton to keep the difference just one, 11-10. The teams matched each other goal for goal in the final seven minutes, leaving Gold on top by one, 14-13. Irwin’s Venus wore the Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds’ Best Playing Pony blanket home.

Coach Dan Coleman was especially proud of his students that competed in the tournament. His son Danny Coleman had many assists in the win, Bruton scored five penalty shots including three Penalty 3s and Marquis made a pair of penalties.

HOTELS AT SEA SAILS IN CHAIRMEN’S CUP

Hotels at Sea’s Tareq Salahi, Tolito Ocampo and Marcos Bignoli Jr. won the Arena Chairmen’s Cup at Twilight Polo in Virginia.

Twilight Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia, held the National Arena Chairmen’s Cup, Aug. 28-Sept. 4. Four teams competed in the event.

Game one saw Liberty Hall (Dan Coleman, Zak Coleman, John Gobin) overcome Parkgate Polo (Emmie Golkosky, Marissa Wells, Brennan Wells), 18-15. The game was paused for lightening in the first chukker and continued the next day at the Twilight Arena in Middleburg. The teams were knotted 3-3 after the first seven minutes. Liberty Hall gained the 8-5 advantage in the second with two goals by Zak Coleman and two from Gobin, one a two-pointer that was scored right out of the line-up. Parkgate was held to a pair of goals from Marissa Wells.

In the second half, the Wells siblings pounded in four goals, three of those two-pointers. Gobin added four goals and Zak Coleman a single tally to keep the narrow lead going into the final chukker. Brennan Wells leveled the score with a Penalty 2 conversion early in the chukker. But Liberty Hall fought back with each of the players getting on the board. Wells struck again but Gobin responded with a twopointer. In the closing minutes Marissa Wells slammed in a two-pointer but Parkgate Polo came up short and Liberty Hall advanced.

A few days later, Pineapples & Pussycats (Audrey Wilde, George Krabbe, Lucio Ocampo) faced Hotels at Sea (Tareq Salahi, Hilario Figueras, Marcos Bignoli Jr.) Pineapples & Pussycats began with a two-goal headstart and each of the players got on the board in the first. Figueras and Bignoli countered with a combined five goals, two of them two-pointers, to tie the score, 7-7, at the end of the chukker. Both teams counted six points in the second to end the first half, knotted at 13-all.

Bill Ballhaus’ Yatay Alcon, played by Tolito Ocampo, was Best Playing Pony in the Arena Chairmen’s Cup.

The teams continued to be in lockstep throughout the third, with each counting four points, entering the final chukker 17-17. Hotels at Sea kept up the pressure while Pineapples & Pussycats lost momentum. Each of the Hotels at Sea players contributed to the four points scored. Ocampo added one from Pineapples & Pussycats, giving Hotels at Sea the 21-18 win. Bignoli led the scoring with 11 points.

The final promised to be an actionpacked battle and it didn’t disappoint. Tolito Ocampo took Figueras’ spot and promptly put defending champion Hotels on the board, but Zak Coleman shot back adding to the handicap goal Liberty Hall received. Gobin got in on the action, shooting a two-pointer. Bignoli and Ocampo hit the mark in response but Gobin shot back with another two-pointer. Bignoli and Gobin traded penalty conversions and Gobin added one last goal to double up Hotels, 8-4.

Bignoli and Ocampo combined for five points in the second but Gobin added two more and Zak Coleman one. Liberty Hall held a 11-9 lead at the half.

Marcos Bignoli finds a clearing in the final of the Arena Chairmen’s Cup at Twilight Polo.

The second half saw Liberty Hall increase its lead in the third thanks to goals by Zak Coleman and Gobin, while Hotels was held to three tallies. Hotels shut down Liberty Hall in the final period, allowing just a single goal by Zak Coleman. Ocampo and Bignoli capitalized on Liberty Hall’s mistakes, converting three penalties, while Ocampo scored one from the field to knot the score at 16-all. With just 45 seconds left, Bignoli connected with a Hail Mary shot giving Hotels at Sea the 18-16 victory.

John Gobin was named MVP after scoring 21 goals throughout the tournament. Bill Ballhaus’ Yatay Alcon (Martineta x Ellerstina Picaro), played by Tolito Ocampo, was Best Playing Pony.

In the consolation, Pineapples & Pussycats led the entire game over Parkgate Polo. Brennan Wells led Parkgate with 11 points in a valiant effort, but Ocampo was high-scorer with 13, ably assisted by six points from George Krabbe. Marissa Wells tallied one for Parkgate.

After leading 4-3 in the first chukker, Pineapple increased the lead to 11-6 at the half after pounding in seven goals to Parkgate’s three.

Krabbe and Ocampo combined for four goals in the third, while holding Parkgate to two from Brennan Wells to lead 15-8 going into the final chukker. The Wells siblings combined for four goals in the last period, but Ocampo responded with five individual tallies to ensure the victory, 20-12.

TAYLOR HILL ACES WOMEN’S CHALLENGE

Taylor Hill’s Brooke Burke, Sarah Martin, Katie Mitcham and Cindy Halle won the A Flight of the Women’s Challenge at Tinicum.

©D. Jean Vergara

Taylor Hill Farm topped five teams to win the Women’s Challenge Cup at Tinicum Park Polo Club in Erwinna, Pennsylvania, Aug. 20-21. The theme for the event was “Kick It for Cancer.”

Preliminary matches began with Taylor Hill Farm (Brook Burke, Sarah Martin, Katie Mitcham, Cindy Halle) crushing Arby Dobb (Sue Spencer, Sue Guggenheim, Ashley Mackenzie, Kathy Fowser), 12-3.

Arby Dobb B’s MVP Livia Iocona, Gwen Rizzo and Rebecca Linke won B Flight of the Women’s Challenge. Sierra Walt is not pictured.

©Peter Rizzo

The next match was played in a round robin format. In the first round, Stars Aligned (Sami Iahn, Val Washington, Laura Willson, Cheryl Arnold) shut out Weidel (Erica Ames, Sarah Weidel, Shariah Harris, Anna Palacios), 3-0. Willson was injured in the match and was replaced by Ashley Mackenzie.

Stars Aligned stayed up to face Duende (Ann Oniskey, Josephine Dorsey, Lindsey Morris, Liv Stringer Berube). Duende shut out Stars Aligned, 2-0. Duende faced Weidel in the final round and Weidel prevailed, 4-2. The teams each finished with 1-1 records, but Stars Aligned advanced with the most net goals.

Taylor Hill’s Brook Burke gets pushed off the ball by Stars Aligned’s Cheryl Arnold, riding Best Playing Pony Leandro, owned by Tim Cheromcka. Sami Iahn, left, follows.

Weidel defeated Arby Dobb, 6-1, and Duende, 4-2, in a round-robin consolation match. Duende beat Arby Dobb, 7-0, for second place.

The final between Stars Aligned and Taylor Hill Farm followed. With Willson back in the saddle, Stars Aligned began with a handicap goal, but Halle neutralized it early in the first. She followed with a Penalty 2 conversion and Mitcham scored from the field, giving Taylor Hill a 3-1 lead at the end of the first. Willson scored a lone goal in the second, while Taylor Hill was shut down, ending the half 3- 2 in favor of Taylor Hill.

Arnold split the uprights early in the third to level the score, but Burke broke the tie and Mitcham gave Taylor Hill a two-goal advantage, 5-3. Halle found the mark but Iahn countered with a Penalty 3 conversion. Burke got in another goal before time ran out with Taylor Hill Farm comfortably ahead, 7-4.

Katie Mitcham was MVP and Tim Cheromcka’s Leandro, played by Cheryl Arnold, was Best Playing Pony.

In B Flight action, Arby Dobb B (Gwen Rizzo, Sierra Walt, Rebecca Linke, Livia Iocona) faced Tinicum (Victoria Halliday, Carol Hails, Nadinia Delirippa, Lisa Singer/Robyn Belluardo). Tinicum led 2-0 in the first half before Arby Dobb B rallied, tying the score, 2-2, in the third and doubling up Tinicum, 4-2, in the last period for the win. Livia Iocona was MVP and Dream Catcher, owned by Dave Russek and played by Carol Hails, was Best Playing Pony.

The previous week, Weidel (Mark Mulligan, Joaquin Arguello, Rich Weidel, Trevor Reeves) held on to its onegoal handicap it started with to take the President’s Cup final over New Hope (Ann Oniskey, Rhea Lowenthal, Luis Echezarreta, Marcos Bignoli Jr., Tim Cheromcka).

Weidel’s Mark Mulligan, MVP Joaquin Arguello, Rich Weidel and Trevor Reeves won the regional President’s Cup.

©D. Jean Vergara

The final began with Arguello finding the goal first, adding to the handicap goal. Bignoli responded, wrapping goals around another from Arguello to end the first, 3-2, in favor of Weidel. New Hope was kept off the board in the second while Rich Weidel added a goal and Reeves added two, increasing the lead to 6-2. Bignoli converted a Penalty 2, then shot in one from the field, while Weidel was silenced in the third. The half ended with Weidel holding the 6-4 lead.

Early in the fourth, Arguello increased the difference to three, but Bignoli added back-to-back goals to bring his team to within one, 7-6. Arguello sandwiched goals around one from Bignoli in the fifth and Mulligan found the mark to give Weidel a comfortable three-goal lead, 10-7, going into the final chukker. With just seven minutes left, Weidel worked hard to hang on to the lead but it began to catch the umpires’ attention. New Hope converted two of three open-goal penalties, leaving the difference just a single goal. Bignoli kept nipping at Weidel’s heels, eventually tying the match at 10-all.

Arguello prevailed in a penalty shootout, giving Weidel the win. Bignoli was high scorer of the afternoon, scoring all his team’s goals. Arguello, who scored five goals in the match, was MVP, while one of Bignoli’s pretty bay mares was Best Playing Pony.

Action continued with four teams vying for the USPA Sportsmanship Cup title, beginning on Aug. 31. In the first semifinal, Tinicum (Carol Hails, Gwen Rizzo, Allen Medina, Gabriel Maldonado) fell to Wackers Brewery (Kyra Kepner, Bryan Kepner, Katie Mitcham, Juan Martinez Baez), 4-3.

Hawkwood’s Barclay Knapp, Meg Mullin, Leandro Berrios and Talha Chaundry won the Sportsmanship Cup at Tinicum Park Polo.

©D. Jean Vergara

In the second semifinal, Hawkwood (Barclay Knapp, Jim Koslovski/Meg Mullin, Leandro Berrios, Talha Chaudhry) narrowly edged Stars Aligned (Stavros Lampeas, Abdullah Chaudhry, Val Washington, Dennis Santana), 5-4½.

In the consolation, Tinicum came from behind to defeat Stars Aligned, 4- 3, in the last 34 seconds.

In the final, Hawkwood began with a half-goal handicap and Knapp added to it with a field goal. Baez put Wackers on the board to end the first chukker, 1½-1. Hawkwood owned the second, with Berrios and Knapp adding one each and Chaudhry contributing two. Meanwhile, Wackers was held to a Penalty 2 conversion from Mitcham, ending the half with Wackers trailing, 5½-2.

In the third, Baez handled a Penalty 4 with expert precision and Mitcham did the same with a Penalty 3. Kyra Kepner scored from the field to bring the team within a half goal, 5½-5. Later in the chukker, Berrios shot in a field goal to increase the different to one and a half, heading into the final seven minutes. Baez found the mark early in the fourth and Mitcham followed with a goal to take the lead, 7-6½. It looked like Wackers Brewery would be celebrating soon, but with time winding down, Berrios sent the ball through the posts for the narrow victory, 7½-7.

Juan Martinez Baez was named MVP and Leadro Berrios’ Burrita was named Best Playing Pony.

Arby Dobb’s MVP Daniel Arnold, Cheryl Arnold, Gwen Rizzo and Kevin McCarthy took home the Founders Cup trophies.

Another four teams lined up for the Founders Cup. The first semifinal match saw Arby Dobb (Cheryl Arnold, Daniel Arnold, Gwen Rizzo, Jim Koslovski) advanced over Tinicum (Talha Chaudhry, Abdullah Chaudhry, Sue Spencer, Victoria Halliday), 5-2.

In the second semi, Bombardier (Jose Cervantes, Brook Burke, Ann Oniskey, George Daniello) narrowly edged New Hope (Tim Cheromcka, Val Washington, Rhea Lowenthal, Meg Mullin), 5-4.

Arby Dobb and Bombardier faced each other in a low-scoring final. Bombardier began with a half-goal handicap before Rizzo got the scoring started with a Penalty 2 conversion for Arby Dobb. Daniel Arnold followed with a field goal, carrying the ball through heavy traffic, while Bombardier was kept off the board. The first chukker ended 2-½.

Founders Cup MVP Daniel Arnold at Tinicum Park Polo Club in Erwinna, Pennsylvania.

A defensive battle ensued with neither team able to break through their opponent’s defense. Cervantes, supported by his team, ended the drought in the third with a nice shot through the posts to bring Bombardier within a half-goal, 2-1½, with seven minutes left. It was anyone’s game and the closely matched teams continued to battle, neither able to reach the goal. Time ran out and Arby Dobb hung on for the win.

Daniel Arnold was named MVP and Jose Cervantes’ horse was Best Playing Pony.

CENTRAL

BLACKBERRY CAPTURES WIGDAHL MEMORIAL

Blackberry’s Tod Rackley, Mark Weidman, Joe Messer and Jeff Boeh receive the Wigdahl trophy from David and Everett Wigdahl.

Blackberry Polo Club in Batavia, Illinois, held its annual PTF/USPA seniors tournament, with teams playing off for the coveted Thomas J. Wigdahl Memorial Trophy in early August.

Rain delays trimmed four teams to three, leaving the teams to battle it out in a round robin.

The first round saw Blackberry (Joe Messer, Tod Rackley, Mark Weidman, Jeff Boeh) take on Due West (John Kuhn, Clifton Yandell, Bill O’Leary, Bill Patterson, Shannon Eldridge). Rackley’s lone goal was enough to give Blackberry the win.

Due West prevailed in the second round, this time against Morgan Creek (Keith Gray, Douglas Giebel, Len Monson, Dean Kleronomos). O’Leary scored twice and Eldredge once to give Due West the edge. Blackberry defeated Morgan Creek, 4-2, in the final round to claim the trophy, presented by Tom’s son David Wigdahl and grandson Everett.

In addition to the PTF contribution made by all participants, the winners’ $2,500 prize money was donated to the PTF.

BEAVER CREEK WINS CHICAGO POLO OPEN

Beaver Creek’s Gonzalo Novillo Corvalan, Alfredo Guerreno, Chris Vangel and Lindor Novillo Corvalan won the Chicago Polo Open.

©Andrew Meier

Beaver Creek secured the Chicago Polo Open, beating rival Oak Brook in the final at Oak Brook Polo Club in Oak Brook, Illinois, Aug. 15. It was the third time these teams faced each other this season.

Prior to the match, a special ceremony was held to remember player and umpire Chadwick “Chad” Kraml, who passed away in early June at the age of 54. Members of the Chicagoland polo community, friends and family attended a memorial service complete with the traditional riderless horse. Speeches were given by friends and players Douglas Giebel and George Alexander, who presented Chad’s mom Diane Kraml and his fiancée Kerry Alexander with a bronze horse statue.

After, the players were led onto the field with a pair of Bentley convertibles, carrying CBS Chicago anchor Ryan Baker and National Anthem singer Lisa Thomen of The PriSSillas.

Beaver Creek (Chris Vangel, Alfredo Guerreno, Lindor Novillo Corvalan, Gonzalo Novillo Corvalan) began with a one-goal handicap, which Vangel added to in the first. Oak Brook (Jim Drury, Tomas Obregon, Horacio Onetto, Mariano Gutierrez), got on the board late in the chukker when Onetto connected with the goal. Lindor Corvalan traded goals with Onetto before Vangel and Guerreno split the uprights. Obregon tallied late in the chukker, leaving Beaver Creek ahead, 5-3. Oak Brook rallied in the third with Obregon and Onetto scoring two each, while holding Beaver Creek to one by Guerreno. Oak Brook led 7-6 going into the half.

Beaver Creek’s Lindor Novillo Corvalan and Tomas Obregon mark each other closely in the Chicago Polo Open.

©Andrew Meier

A lone goal by Gutierrez in the fourth increased the Oak Brook lead to two, 8-6. Corvalan responded in kind in the next chukker, bringing Beaver Creek within one, 8-7, going into the final period. Guerreno struck early in the chukker to level the score and Lindor Corvalan followed with a goal to take the lead for the first time since the second chukker. With time winding down, Gutierrez split the uprights to knot the score but Gonzalo Corvalan got in the last word to give Beaver Creek the 10-9 win.

Tomas Obregon was name MVP, while Lindor Corvalan’s Palmera was Best Playing Pony.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

NETJETS CRUISES IN THREE ASPEN TOURNEYS

La Karina’s Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi, Brian Boyd and Sugar Erskine won the season-opening Independence Cup at Aspen Valley Polo.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

The picturesque Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, celebrated a competitive season with over a dozen tournaments played from the beginning of July through early September.

Played on the club’s beautiful fields with the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, fans enjoyed watching the action with the largest number of high-goal players gathered for summer play in the U.S.

The season began with five teams vying for the Independence Cup in early July. La Karina (Sugar Erskine, Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan) defeated Casablanca (Govinda Quish, Grant Ganzi, Toro Ruiz, Pablo Spinacci) and McClure River Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Alex Gooding, Nacho Figueras, Nacho Novillo Astrada) in a round-robin final for the title. La Karina doubled up McClure River Ranch, 8-4, in the first round. Casablanca defeated McClure River Ranch, 5-2, in the second round, meaning the winner of the third round between La Karina and Casablanca would take the trophies. The closely matched teams ended in a 3-3 tie. La Karina was declared the winner on net goals. Nic Roldan was named MVP.

NetJets’ Michael Payne, Alex Gooding, Nacho Figueras and Sugar Erskine won the ChukkerTV Challenge.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Six teams lined up the following week for the ChukkerTV Challenge. Net Jets (Michael Payne, Alex Gooding, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Figueras) edged Victory Polo (Alejandra Foster, Kevin Schmeits, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan), 7-5. Michael Payne was MVP and Nacho Figueras’ Man Ray was Best Playing Pony.

Becky Schmeits presents Casablanca’s Lauren Sherry, Alex Gooding, MVP Torito Ruiz and Grant Ganzi with the Craig Sakin trophy.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Seven teams competed in the next tournament. Casablanca (Lauren Sherry, Alex Gooding, Torito Ruiz, Grant Ganzi) came out on top in a 9-8 overtime match against Victory Polo (Kevin Schmeits, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong) in the final of the Craig Sakin Memorial. Torito Ruiz was MVP and his Pili was Best Playing Pony.

Tonkawa’s Jeff Hildebrand, Grant Ganzi, MVP Torito Ruiz and Jimmy Seward captured the Basalt Handicap at Aspen Valley Polo.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Tonkawa earned a victory in the Basalt Handicap on July 26. Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Toro Ruiz, Grant Ganzi) beat La Karina (Brian Boyd, Gussie Busch, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi), 13-10. Toro Ruiz was MVP, while Jeff Hildebrand’s 16- year-old Debutante was Best Playing Pony.

Rancho Los Amigos’ Paul Foster, Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and MVP Gussie Busch celebrate the Emma Challenge win.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

The action continued into August with Rancho Los Amigos (Gussie Busch, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini, Paul Foster) slipping Net- Jets (Alejandra Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Nacho Figueras, Pablo Spinnachi), 8-7, to capture the Emma Challenge. Gussie Busch was MVP.

Santa Rita’s MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Alejandra Foster, Lauren Sherry and Tomas Pieres with NetJets’ Lindsay Fausnaugh.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Santa Rita (Alejandra Foster, Lauren Sherry, Tomas Pieres, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) enjoyed its first tournament title, beating Victory Polo (Kevin Schmeitz, Vinny Sangaline, Nic Roldan, Horacio Heguy), 8-5, in the High Alpine Cup. Alejandro Novillo Astrada was MVP.

Play continued in the Mount Sopris Cup. NetJets (Govinda Quish, Gussie Busch, Pablo Spinacci, Juan Bollini) doubled up Sopris Mountain Ranch (Lauren Sherry/Jack Whitman, Alex Gooding, Nacho Badiola, Tomas Pieres), 8-4, to earn the trophies. Gussie Busch was MVP and Santa Rita’s Silver Peak, played by Pablo Spinacci, was Best Playing Pony.

In the Rocky Mountain Open, Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Toro Ruiz) picked up its second title of the season, downing Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Nic Roldan, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 10-6. Gonzalito Pieres was MVP and Jimmy Seward’s 7-year-old Ladybug was Best Playing Pony.

Casablanca’s Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, MVP Gonzalito Pieres and Torito Ruiz won the Rocky Mountain Open over Tonkawa.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Juan Bollini) edged NetJets (Alejandra Foster, Gussie Busch, Nic Roldan, Nacho Figueras), 9-8, to win the WPL Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen. Gonzalito Pieres was MVP and Santa Rita’s Cruella de Vil, played by Pieres, was Best Playing Pony. It was the second time the pair took home the honors.

Tonkawa’s Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hildebrand, Gonzalito Pieres and Juan Bollini won the Aspen leg of the WPL Triple Crown of Polo.

©Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

NetJets (Brian Boyd, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Figueras, Juan Bollini) flew away with its third title of the season, besting Quite on Z (Alecia Seidler, Victoria Seidler, Gussie Busch, Toro Ruiz, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), 8-4, in the Silver Queen Invitational. Brian Boyd was MVP and Santa Rita’s 8-year-old Channing Tatum, played by Juan Bollini, was Best Playing Pony.

PACIFIC COAST

POLO PONY RESCUE WINS IN CONGRESSIONAL CUP

Heather Perkins, Derek Wall and Mila Slutzky won $1,000 for Polo Pony Rescue.

The OC Polo Club (Silverado, California) was proud to host the USPA Pacific Coast Circuit Congressional Cup over two consecutive weekends in August.

At OC Polo Club, we believe in the spirit of playing hard and giving back, in doing what you love and helping others in the process. With four teams playing for charity and competing for top honors, each team was able to walk away with prize money for their chosen charity. Teams represented the non-profit 501(c)3 charities Polo Pony Rescue, Red Bucket Equine Rescue, Surf and Turf Therapy and Hitching Post Ministries, all equine focused in nature and located in California.

The final saw Polo Pony Rescue (Heather Perkins, Mila Slutzky, Derek Wall) face Red Bucket Equine Rescue (Spencer Hurtt, Fawn Rinalduzzi, Colleen Newton, Tom Rath, Danielle Slutzky). It was a very close and exciting match for players and spectators alike, but in the end, Polo Pony Rescue prevailed, 12-10. The winning charity received $1,000, while runnerup received $750.

Colleen Newton was MVP and Denny Geiler’s handsome Atticus, played by Heather Perkins, took Best Playing Pony honors.

In the consolation, Surf and Turf Therapy (Lauren Helpern, Blake Bertea, Dave Myrick) edged Hitching Post Ministries (Bekah Segien, Mila Herrera, Robert Hasman, Matt Corodimas). The winner took $500 while runner-up earned $250. Lauren Helpern was MVP and Matt Corodimas’ Diego was Best Playing Pony.

OC Polo Club and its members are looking forward to a great year of tournament play.

POLO SF TOPS GOVERNORS CUP

Polo SF’s Tomas Ussher, Leandro Floccari, Vladimir Rivkin and Jennifer Putnam won the Pacific Coast Governors Cup at Wine Country.

Throughout the season, 5-goaler Martin Tassara and his string of turbocharged imports from Argentina proved nearly unbeatable. The Pacific Coast Governor’s Cup, held at the Wine Country Polo Club in Santa Rosa, California, Aug. 14-15, was another test of Tassara’s remarkable run of success.

Four teams lined up for the two-day event. La Fortuna (Hugo Alesina, Luis Saracco, Micaela Saracco, Vineet Sharma) faced Trione (Hank Bailey, Carlos Rivas, Martin Tassara, Henry Trione) in the first game. Trione took the early lead, scoring three goals in quick succession in the first chukker. Saracco led La Fortuna’s rally, tying the score at the beginning of the fourth chukker. Late in the chukker, Tassara sent a 100-plus-yard shot to Bailey, who scored to win the game, 5-4.

In the second game, PoloSF (Leandro Floccari, Jennifer Putnam, Vladimir Rivkin, Tomas Ussher) took on Wine Country (Paul Griffin, Paddy O’Brien, Tommy Reinsos, Ignacio Saracco). While the score was even, 2- 2, at the end of chukker two, Polo SF ended on top, 5-4 to advance.

In the final, Trione went ahead, 2- 0, early with near-perfect passes from Tassara to Bailey. Just when it seemed Trione would continue its unbroken record, PoloSF evened the score in the third. In the final chukker, Putnam waited downfield, unmarked for a passing shot. It came and within seconds he hurtled the ball straight between the posts for the 3-2 win.

Players gathered under the tent for trophies and awards presented by club president Paul Griffin. Tassara’s Lucifer was Best Playing Pony.

Earlier, La Fortuna edged Wine Country, 4-3, in the consolation.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

FLYING H WRAPS UP BUSY SUMMER SEASON

Parrot Head’s Roni Duke, MVP KC Krueger, Alfonso Pieres and Pite Merlos won the Bradford Brinton Memorial.

©Kaile Roos Photography

Polo continued through August at Flying H Polo Club in Big Horn, Wyoming.

Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, KC Krueger, Alfonso Pieres, Pite Merlos) defeated The Villages (Frankie Bilbao, Paige Boone, Wayne Garrison, Carlitos Galindo), 12-9, in the Bradford Brinton Memorial final on Aug. 14. KC Krueger was MVP and Wayne Garrison’s Chiquita was Best Playing Pony.

The following week, Clearwater (Camp Campbell, Steve Krueger, Felipe Marquez, Kelly Beal) topped the Bozeman Trail Cup. It overcame Evergreen (Phillip Higgins, Miguel Astrada, Tom Sprung, Alfonso Pieres), 8-6. Miguel Astrada was MVP and Marquez’s W was Best Playing Pony.

Clearwater’s Camp Campbell, Steve Krueger, Felipe Marquez and Kelly Beal won the Bozeman Trail Cup.

©Kaile Roos Photography

The Villages’ Adam Snow, Gonzalo Teves, Will Johnston and Paige Boone won the Flying H Cup.

©Kaile Roos Photography

OBITUARY

LYNN THOMPSON

Polo lost a dear friend in Lynn Thompson, July 27. She spent her final days in an assisted living center in Chico, California. Danny Scheraga shared the following:

I first met Lynn at the 1989 Western Intercollegiate Regional Tournament held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Lynn had recently retired as a proof reader at Stanford, and had also become an avid polo player. She got her start attending a Rege Ludwig clinic at UVA and joined the Menlo Club and the Horsepark arena club where she quickly became a huge supporter of the Stanford Polo Club.

She traveled to the Western Regionals mainly to support the Stanford Polo Team. Dan Colhoun, who was chairman of the USPA Intercollegiate Committee, and I, then director of Intercollegiate-Interscholastic Polo, met her that weekend, and it wasn’t long before Lynn extended her support of college and high school players nationally.

Lynn was soon attending nearly all regional and national tournaments, and was the official score keeper at these events for over 20 years. She also

kept score at her home clubs and often could be seen with her score sheets on the sidelines of the South Bay Club in Gilroy, California, and many others.

She soon became involved in polo from the club to the national level. For the USPA, she served on the Intercollegiate / Interscholastic (1990-2014, co-chair 2001-2003), Equine Welfare (2005-2012) and Women’s Committees (2013-2021). Additionally, she was the delegate of the Horse Park Polo Club (1992-2019). She also served on the PTF board of directors (1994-2020) and chaired the Intercollegiate-Interscholastic PTF Award Selection Committee. In 2001, she received the PTF Volunteer of the Year award.

It was impossible not to love Lynn. You always felt like she was your biggest fan. She loved to stay with friends and was easy to have as a guest. She traveled light, usually with a back pack and, in the early years, a camera bag. While visiting, she never passed a thrift store and would usually buy the clothes she needed for that trip. If she liked what she bought she simply mailed it back home so she wouldn’t need a suitcase. Traveling to the snowy Northeast, she would leave winter clothing where she stayed and was able to skip the thrift store on her next trip.

Over the years, I watched her go from a rented house in Portola Valley to building a gorgeous modern house along a creek in Menlo Park. I last visited her at her assisted living center in the fall of 2019. Everyone loved Lynn and she loved everyone. I hesitate to single out any particular individuals, but there are three that held a very special place in her heart as confidants, friends and advisers.

Dr. Bruce Wells was I/I co-chair with her for three years and had a great working relationship and friendship with her as they navigated the nooks and crannies of the I/I program. Lynn was really impressed with the Work to Ride Program, and she and [its founder] Lezlie Hiner became lifelong friends. When Cissie Jones took over Brushy Creek, she and Lynn became fast friends and would share their ups and downs regularly.

The PTF board of directors recently renamed the PTF Interscholastic Female Player of the Year award after Lynn. A zoom call is planned for friends to share favorite memories of her. Look for more information about the call on PTF and USPA sites or email me: dannypolo@aol.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to The Polo Training Foundation, 852 E Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470.