September 4, 2018

Polo News, South America

Join the Argentina Polo Tour 2018 from December 9 to 16

4. September 2018

From December 9 to 16 the Argentina Polo Academy offers the Argentina Polo Tour. Enjoy one week of full polo immersion in Buenos Aires.

Highlights include:

Welcome Asado + Bonfire night next to the polo fields
5 days of full Argentine polo immersion at the Argentina Polo Academy – improve your polo with classes, stick & ball, chukkers and take part at the International Academy Cup tournament
Play the tournament with professional Argentine players in your team (no need to be an experienced player or to have an official handicap!)
Watch the incredible Finals of the Argentine Open Polo Championship live at the stadium in Palermo/Buenos Aires at the 15th of December!
Stay 6 nights at the beautiful 4* Polo Hotel Resort in Open-Door/Buenos Aires, right next to the polo fields and the last night in the cosmopolitan city centre of Buenos Aires
Excursion to Pilar, visit the Argentine Polo Association and some of the most famous polo mallet factories & polo gear stores
After the great final: relax on Sunday discovering the colorful tango + crafts market in San Telmo, city centre of Buenos Aires
Airport pick-up/drop-off and transfers are included!
Also included: horses, grooms, polo equipment (except boots) & the tournament fee for the Academy Cup and the ticket for the Finals of the Argentine Open Championships!

A short itinerary…
Sunday 9th:
Pick-up from the airport, check-in, relax (perhaps at the spa or the pool?) + welcome asado night
Monday 10th to Thursday 13th:
Intensive polo training & chukkers at the Academy, excursion to Pilar
Friday 14th:
International Tournament Academy Cup – play wih Argentine professionals
Saturday 15th:
Transfer to Buenos Aires city, Finals (female and male) of the Argentine Open Championships **
Sunday 16th:
Relax day in Buenos Aires, sightseeing, gifts, transfer back to the airport (or do you want to stay longer?)

** in case of heavy rain on Saturday the Finals might be postponed to Sunday or even any other day (although this option is very unlikely). If you would like to take your flight back on Sunday 16th, we recommend you to take a late night flight or a flight which is open to date changes.

“Can I take part if I am still a beginner in polo or riding?”
Yes, you can! Depending on your level for safety reasons you might not be able to take part at the practices or the Academy Cup, but you will have different classes and stick & ball sessions instead.

How much is the tour?
Price per person: EUR 3.960,- Accompanying persons: EUR 2.460,-
(Accompanying persons include everything except the active riding part)
Surcharge single room: EUR 440,-

Not included: air fare, lunch/dinner (except asado night), personal insurance, VAT

Tour + cancellation policy: due to very bad weather conditions, the polo activities might be postponed. This does not extend any of the other services included in this tour. If a participant chooses to stay longer he/she must pay for his/her extra expenses as accomodation, food etc.. The tour price is not refundable. Deposit for registration: 25%

Any more questions? If you like to take part please inform us!

We are happy to answer them!
– send an email: info@argentina-polo-academy.com
– send a whatsapp: +54 911 6684 6501
– or call Marion at: +34 611 417 533

LIMITED PLACES!

www.argentina-polo-academy.com

From December 9 to 16 the Argentina Polo Academy offers the Argentina Polo Tour. Enjoy one week of full polo immersion in Buenos Aires. Highlights include: Welcome Asado + Bonfire…

North America, Polo News

New US Polo Series offers $1,000,000 prize money

4. September 2018

The United States Polo Association (USPA), the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) and USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) have finalized an agreement for the 2019 tournament series, which will offer a first-ever prize money component with a potential payout of $1,000,000. This highly-anticipated season offers a strong 20-goal and 22-goal level schedule that concludes with the top three most prestigious USPA national tournaments, C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup® and the U.S. Open Polo Championship® under one umbrella. Team interest is very high and early indications are showing a historic number of team entries at 16-20 for the series.

The tournament series will include a “Winner Take All” prize money format for the first time in history that will guarantee $125,000 to each of the winners of the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup and $250,000 for the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship®. An additional incentive for teams competing in all three tournaments will be a $500,000 bonus for any team that wins all three tournaments in consecutive order, yielding a total of $1 million dollars in prize money.

“The decision to move from 26-goals to 22-goals for the last three major tournaments of the Florida high-goal season has been made in an effort to enhance interest and participation in American polo at its highest level,” said Robert Puetz USPA CEO. “We are pushing to increase spectator turnout in 2019, while creating more opportunities for American players. The level of team interest is inspiring and we look forward to watching the competition unfold in what promises to be the most exciting high-goal season ever.”

“This is the first time that the USPA, IPC and USPAGL have come together in a three-way partnership to create a pinnacle series of high-goal polo to elevate not only the spectator experience but to reveal the team owners and players as the heroes and professional athletes that they are,” said David Cummings, chairman of USPAGL. “Also, U.S. Polo Assn., the Official Brand of the U.S. Polo Association, is privileged to have the naming rights to Field # 1 – the ‘Home of U.S. Polo Assn.’ What better way to show our authentic connection to the sport of polo in America?”

“The new format is very exciting for our organization as we look towards the 2019 high-goal season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach,” said Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of the Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP). “In order to grow interest in the sport, it is essential that a platform is established for new and upcoming players to get involved. We believe that moving from a 26-goal format to a 22-goal format will increase those opportunities. Supported by the immense addition of prize money and our unprecedented partnership with the USPA and USPAGL, the 2019 season will be one of our most successful yet at IPC.”

During the 2019 season, IPC will also expand the venue’s Polo School, which began taking clients and students in 2018, increase the presence of the venue’s permanent stick-and-ball simulator for practice, and host a thrilling season-long Gladiator Polo™ Series in the newly constructed sand arena at the venue, which was finished at the end of the 2018 season.

The series will culminate with the U.S. Open Final the third weekend of April. The USPA will continue to livestream the high-goal USPA tournaments on the USPA Polo Network (uspolo.org) and the final match of the U.S. Open Polo Championship, which will take place on the third weekend of April, will be aired on CBS Sports.

www.uspolo.org

North America, Polo News

Klentner Ranch claim first Silver Air Pacific Coast Open title

4. September 2018

With memories of their devastating double overtime loss to Farmers & Merchants Bank last year, Klentner Ranch was prepared to leave everything on the field and win the 2018 Silver Air Pacific Coast Open Final. Despite being defeated by Lucchese once in bracket play and losing Justin Klentner to a hand injury, Klentner Ranch was determined to make their second chance count. Played on Sunday, September 2, at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, the final showcased fierce competition until the end, Klentner Ranch ultimately earning the win they sought 8-6.

Coming out strong from the first chukker, Klentner Ranch carried their momentum throughout the first half against the formidable and well mounted Lucchese team. Both teams struggled for possession foreshadowing another tight match, however Klentner was able to capitalize on numerous Lucchese fouls to gain the edge. Early in the second Jesse Bray* converted a Penalty 3, but was met by an answering field goal from Jeff Hall who broke through a clustered pack to score. Intensifying in the third, the pressure of the game was felt as the third yellow card fell on a dangerous riding call. Fresh off a semifinal win in the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) Championship, substitute Jake Klentner* brought his game sense from Colorado, scoring a smart field goal to keep his team up by one at halftime 4-3.

Adding a Penalty 3 conversion each to their respective tallies, both sides continued to go all out in the fourth, remaining within one. Slipping out of the pack to make a coast-to-coast breakaway on 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare Fondue, Facundo Obregon made a strong statement with an open backshot tap to goal. Ending the fifth still neck-in-neck at 7-6 in favor of Klentner Ranch, the game came down to the wire. Defending their end line well and capitalizing on a pivotal foul, Klentner Ranch’s Mariano Obregon put the final Penalty 2 goal on the board, cementing their well-deserved victory 8-6.

Although he could not be with his Western Region team for the NYTS Final earlier in the day, Jake Klentner was eager for the opportunity to step in for his dad in the Pacific Coast Open Final and help bring home the win. “The whole situation is surreal! I’m so thankful to my dad for letting me come out to California to play in this tournament,” Jake Klentner exclaimed. Made by Tara Grey Jewelers, each 2018 Pacific Coast Open winner received a striking ring to commemorate the experience. Showing off his Pacific Coast Open ring, that bore a striking resemblance to a Super Bowl championship ring, Klentner beamed, “Who doesn’t like a ring? I feel like Tom Brady right now!”

Watching his son win such an important tournament, Justin Klentner was proud to see him play in his place. “After last year, we needed to win this,” Justin Klentner remarked. “My hope is that we win it the next 10 years in a row, but after last year’s double overtime, we needed to win it this year. To have Jake win it is better than having me win it to be honest with you. We are looking for the future of American Polo, and here it is! We had three Team USPA players on our team, Remy*, Jesse and Jake. That’s the whole idea and proof that it is helping. NYTS is helping, the USPA is helping, the kids are getting better and they are contributing. I couldn’t be prouder of the whole organization and our organization.”

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Klentner Ranch’s Remy Du Celliee Muller*. “This is my second Pacific Coast Open win and it’s best to win it with friends,” Muller said. “Today I played my best horse, Phoebe, in three chukkers. I got her from Tom Gose and bought her in the spring of 2015 as a five-year-old.”

Best Playing Pony honors were presented to Jesse Bray’s 10-year-old bay mare Venice played in the first and the fifth chukkers. “I got her as a two-year-old off the training track and my dad made her,” Bray shared. “She has been playing well in this tournament and is just starting to peak now.”

www.sbpolo.com