March 30, 2021

Europe, Polo News

30. March 2021

In this, our 50th Anniversary year, Windsor Polo Club needs your help!

We have set up a GoFundMe page for our flood relief appeal. Any support, great or small, is sincerely appreciated.

Please click here to offer your support.

The grounds, clubhouse and fields of our community based club have been severely affected by the recent floods in the Hawkesbury basin.

We‘ve lost agricultural and farming machinery, clubhouse furniture, fridges and fittings and our prized scoreboard may likely never score again.

Polo brings many benefits to the community within the Richmond Lowlands, local businesses from cafes to feed stores to the local laundry are stakeholders in our sport. We live & play amongst a very supportive community and we hope you can help us rebuild and continue our years of tradition in the Hawkesbury.

In this, our 50th Anniversary year, Windsor Polo Club needs your help! We have set up a GoFundMe page for our flood relief appeal. Any support, great or small, is…

North America, Polo News

Cessna and Coca-Cola Victorious on Day Two of CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship®

30. March 2021

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2021 – The USPA Gold Cup® concluded on Sunday with Scone’s victory over Tonkawa, but the Gauntlet of Polo® carries on as the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® kicked off in full force with two games on Monday. Showcasing the elite level of play that the tournament provides, Coca-Cola defeated Park Place 11-10 in overtime, while Cessna captured their first win of the season, defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 14-6 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Few games have been decided by smaller margins than the second game of the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® between Coca-Cola and Park Place. Shooting nearly identical percentages from the field and penalty line, the only difference proved to be the golden goal by Mackenzie Weisz one minute and 45 seconds into overtime. All eight players found the scoresheet, including four goals from Nico Pieres in his return to play for Coca-Cola, as Coca-Cola emerged as the winner in the hard-fought match.

Trading penalty conversions to start the game, the remainder of the first chukker resulted in the two teams matching each other stride-for-stride, tied at 2-2 after field goals from Gillian Johnston and Matt Coppola. Coca-Cola had their opportunities to take the lead, winning all five throw-ins in the first chukker, but could not utilize the extra possessions against a tough Park Place defense. Ulloa and Coppola played well off each other in the final two chukkers of the first half, combining for four goals, letting Britos lead them to goal with the pass to pull ahead by one, holding a narrow 6-5 lead at halftime.

Making their first run of the game, Coca-Cola came out of the tent playing a complete team game to produce a three-goal chukker, while more importantly keeping Park Place scoreless. Two field goals from Pieres along with one from Johnston highlighted Coca-Cola’s strong chukker, with de Lusarreta and Weisz both collecting assists. As was the case throughout the game, a swift response was seen from their opponent when Park Place scored three goals of their own, led by 10-goaler Ulloa. Scoring two goals, Ulloa also found Andrey Borodin for his first goal, bringing the game even once again. Britos opened the scoring in the sixth chukker as Park Place had their sights set on the victory but inside the final minute, Johnston worked the ball downfield and scored her third goal to send the game into overtime. After a foul call against Park Place gave possession back to Coca-Cola, a long pass downfield from Pieres found Weisz and he was able to hit the ball just inside the post for the game-winning goal and the 11-10 victory.

All four of Coca-Cola‘s players found the scoresheet to contribute to the win. ©Alex Pacheco

The second game saw Cessna face Aspen/Dutta Corp for the second consecutive game and they were able to avenge their loss in the USPA Gold Cup® in a dominant 14-6 win. Seven goals from Mariano Obregon Jr. highlighted a proficient Cessna attack that led from start to finish, shooting above 50% from the field and converting all but one of their six penalty attempts. Colombres was the only scorer for Aspen/Dutta Corp, responsible for all six goals, but their defense could not slow a determined Cessna offense in the defeat.

The tone was set in the opening chukker by Cessna, building a 3-0 lead on goals from Ferrario, Zenni and Obregon Jr. by completing accurate runs to goal. Despite the slow start, Aspen/Dutta Corp stormed back in the second chukker behind the play of Colombres. After adding a goal from the field and penalty line, Colombres lined up a shot from distance with time running out in the chukker and finding the goal to pull his team within one, trailing 4-3. Foul trouble to end the half for Aspen/Dutta Corp pushed the possession back to Cessna and they capitalized with a three-goal chukker, two coming from the penalty line to restore control of the game, holding a four-goal advantage at halftime.

Cessna captured their first win of the season, defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 14-6. ©Alex Pacheco

Continuing to dominate possession, Cessna quickly added to their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, receiving a field goal and penalty conversion from Obregon Jr. Completing a run of six unanswered goals, Ferrario extended Cessna’s lead to seven as Aspen/Dutta Corp struggled to generate offense from the field, producing just one field goal over the final four chukkers. Colombres continued to battle hard, bringing his goal total to six, but the well-rounded attack of Cessna proved to be too much in the game. Camp Campbell, Zenni, and Obregon Jr. added one more goal each in the sixth chukker to complete the impressive 14-6 victory.

Camp Campbell and Jared Zenni celebrating Cessna‘s victory. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2021 – The USPA Gold Cup® concluded on Sunday with Scone’s victory over Tonkawa, but the Gauntlet of Polo® carries on as the CaptiveOne U.S.…

North America, Polo News

Casablanca Wins World Polo League Palm Beach Open; Barto Castagnola Named MVP

30. March 2021

By Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by ChukkerTV

WELLINGTON, FL, March 28, 2021— Casablanca defeated Richard Mille 12-9 to capture the title in the Palm Beach Open.

Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Jeta Castagnola, Pablo Mac Donough, and Paco de Narvaez) met Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Barto Castagnola and Juan Martin Nero) hoping to continue their 2021 WPL season winning streak.

Richard Mille took command of the field in the first chukker, with Paco de Narvaez scoring the first goal of the day just under a minute into play. Barto Castagnola converted a Penalty 2 to even things up, but Pablo Mac Donough put Richard Mille back in the lead. With just over two minutes on the clock, Jeta Castagnola took the ball out in front and ran to the posts, tacking on another goal.

The second chukker began with Richard Mille in the lead by 3-1, but Casablanca came on strong. Juan Martin Nero scored the first goal not even 30 seconds into play, while Barto Castagnola added two goals from the field and a Penalty 4. They worked hard to keep Richard Mille away from the uprights and took a 5-3 lead.

In the third chukker, both teams battled hard to no avail until Juan Martin Nero knocked the ball in at just under the four-minute mark. A nearly immediate foul sent Jeta Castagnola to the penalty line for a successful conversion, keeping Casablanca’s lead down to two goals at 6-4. A goal from Juancito Bollini and a Penalty 2 conversion from Richard Mille’s Mac Donough ended the half with Casablanca leading 7-5.

In the fourth chukker, a Penalty 5 and a goal from the field by Barto Castagnola put Casablance in the lead 9-5, but Marc Ganzi answered with a goal for Richard Mille. The fifth chukker began with a goal from Jeta, followed by a Penalty 4 conversion from Pablo Mac Donough that put the team in black within striking distance at 9-8.

Leave it to a ten-goaler though, to spoil dreams of glory – at the 30-second horn, Juan Martin Nero put Casablanca back up by two goals. As the last chukker began, Paco de Narvaez passed the ball to Jeta Castagnola to finish, putting Richard Mille in striking distance once again as Casablanca’s lead was cut to one goal. Barto Castagnola took control of the ball and ran it downfield, passing it to Grant Ganzi to finish. A final shot by Barto Castagnola ended the match 12-9 for Casablanca to claim victory. Said Juan Martin Nero after the match, “The final was tough, and Richard Mille is a very good team. We got lucky that they missed a couple of goals, and then we played a bit better in the end. We’re so happy to win, we worked really hard for this.”

Barto Castagnola was named the MVP for the tournament, and his pony Rodesia won the World Polo League Best Playing Pony award. Jeta Castagnola was recognized for the Play of the Day. Juan Martin Nero’s Matsu was named the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. The AAP Best Playing Pony was Pablo MacDonough’s Irenita Suspicasia, while Grant Ganzi’s Girl Power was chosen as the Best Playing Pony for the entire Palm Beach Open tournament.

Founded by Grand Champions owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, and Valiente owner Bob Jornayvaz the World Polo League is the only 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina. The WPL was created to preserve the highest level of polo and its rich, hallowed tradition in the United States. The WPL, boasting 13 tournament quality fields to play on, will continue to the season with the Palm Beach Open that began on Monday March 15, 2021, and The Triple Crown of Polo, and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach April 22-25.

The World Polo League attracts the sport’s top players from every corner of the world, including: Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, an exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, a vet room, staff quarters, a guest house and three polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball and plans to build more in the future.

World Polo League matches will continue to be closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We closely adhere to Florida state and CDC guidelines, and take all measures possible to maintain a safe environment that will allow us to continue playing. We look very forward to the day we can welcome our fans back. In the interim, please visit www.worldpolo.orgf or more information. Matches can be viewed on www.chukkertv.com