The 9thAnnual Giuliana Cup for women was a winning family affair team. The Falks of Fresno/California, mothers Katie and Chrissy with daughters Sydney and Kacy, came ready to play the USA/UK team of Suzy Dix, president of the Spokane Polo Club, Sheryl Sick, USPA Pacific Northwest Circuit Governor, Lori Summers from New Orleans and Pro-fit entrepreneur, Nicola Hodges of the UK.
The two teams played each other twice over the weekend of January 25 and 26th. They had decided to play 2 separate games and the team with the most wins would be the champions. If there was a win for both teams – a shootout would determine the winner. The Family Falk team took both days with wins of 4 to 1 and 4 to 2. Katie Falk led the scoring both days with 2 goals while Nicola Hodges for USA/US. The traditional tequila toast was hosted by Giorgio Brignone, owner and creator of the Careyes Polo Club. At Playa Rosa a Beachside farewell dinner was a special ending to the tournament.
The next weekend was the Annual Chinese New Year celebration and Polo Tournament – this year – the Year of the Pig – which brought 4 teams to the fields of Careyes. New Patron to Careyes was David Sttaton with his polo manager, Luis Perez, Antonio Magraza and Gerald Munoz, the family affair team – Cabinet Connection – of Chris and Will Falk with cousin David Buller and Brian Boyd, Mangorace team of Gary Magness, Nico Millan, Domingo Aldaco and Ernesto Ramirez and the young guns of Team Guadalajara of Diego Gonzalez, Memo Jimenez, Manuel Matos playing with Tomas Elliot. As many of the players were riding new horses – practice games were set for all the visitors. A fieldside draw decided who would play who.
The Sttaton Polo team played the Guadalajara team with Guadalajara coming up on top 3 to 1 and the Cabinet Connection team of the Falk family playing Mangorace team with Mangorace winning the very fast paced game 4 to 3. Nico Millan lead the scoring for the winners with 4 goals and Will Falk with 2 goals.
Finals and Consolation were played on Sunday – February 3 – Sttaton Polo team played Cabinet Connection – the family team – were unstoppable with the win of 6-3 – Will Falk again the leading scoring with 4 goals. Luis Perez had 2 for the Sttaton foursome. Guadalajara was the first on the scoreboard with a goal by Matos and then Millan took charge and lead the scoring for the Mangorace team with 5 goals – setting up a definite win for Magness foursome. That night a spectacular celebration for the Chinese New Year held in the Plaza for all.
