September 8, 2021

North America, Polo News

NetJets Defeats Quite on Z in Silver Queen Invitational, Brian Boyd MVP

8. September 2021

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

CARBONDALE, CO, September 6, 2021— On Sunday, NetJets bested Quite on Z by 8-4 in the newest tournament at Aspen Valley Polo Club, The Silver Queen Invitational.

On Sunday, NetJets (Brian Boyd, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Figueras, and Juan Bollini) met Quite on Z (Alecia Siedler, Victoria Siedler, Gussie Busch, Tori Ruiz, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) in the deciding match of the Silver Queen Invitational.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Nacho Figueras.

NetJets dominated the first chukker. Brian Boyd put the first goal on the board at 4:44 after picking up a pass from Pablo Spinacci. With under three minutes remaining in the period, Nacho Figueras swooped in to snatch the ball away from Toro Ruiz on the sideboards and take it downfield to score. Quite on Z made no progress in getting onto the board and the period ended 2-0 in favor of NetJets. Around a minute and half into the second chukker, Z picked up some steam. Gussie Busch took the ball and got out in front for an easy goal. After two minutes of back and forth, Figueras plucked the ball out from under Alejandro Novillo Astrada in a quick skirmish and sent it back toward Busch. Regaining the ball, he battled his way toward the posts.

MVP Brian Boyd is closely defended by opponent Gussie Busch.

Under pressure from the defense, Novillo Astrada left the ball behind for Ruiz to finish the play, scoring another goal for NetJets. As the clock ticked down toward the first horn, Figueras picked up a pass but broke his mallet in the process. Boyd took up the slack, shaking off his pursuers to escort the ball through with 20 seconds remaining on the clock. NetJets ended the period still in the lead at 3-2. The momentum contuinued in the third chukker as Pablo Spinacci contributed a pair of goals, one from a Penalty 2 and one from the field. The half ended with NetJets leading 5-2.

MVP Brian Boyd with wife Karen.

The fourth chukker was frustrating for all involved, with both teams playing a strong defense but neither making it onto the board. Play continued to be evenly matched in the pentultimate chukker, with Ruiz scoring for Z and Boyd contributing a goal for NetJets. Victoria Siedler started the final period by getting the ball on a breakaway to score at 5:09, putting Z within two goals of NetJets and giving their confidence a boost. Another goal from Boyd extended NetJets’ lead to four, and one last Penalty 2 conversion from Pablo Spinacci ended the match in victory for NetJets with a final score of 8-4. Brian Boyd was named MVP. Channing Tatum, an 8-year-old bay gelding, took Best Playing Pony honors. He was ridden by Juan Bollini in the first and fifth chukkers and is owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Best Playing Pony Channing Tatum ridden by Juan Bollini and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm.

The Just for the Love of It subsidiary match was played round robin, with Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Tomas Pieres, and Stewart Armstrong) taking on Santa Rita (Alejandra Foster, Bauti Peluso, Horacio Heguy, and Nacho Novillo Astrada) in the first game of three chukkers. Michael Payne drew first blood for Mountain Chevrolet, with Horacio Heguy answering for Santa Rita. The second period saw Santa Rita dominate, with goals from Alejandra Foster and Bauti Peluso. Mountain Chevrolet didn’t make it onto the board. Although Mountain Chevrolet outscored Santa Rita with a goal by Tomas Pieres in the third chukker, Santa Rita won the first game 3- 2.

Nic Roldan squeezes between opponents for his shot on goal.

Mountain Chevrolet remained on the field to take on Rancho Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Nic Roldan, Vinny Sangaline, and Paco de Narvaez) in the second match. Mountain Chevrolet’s slow day continued, and they failed to score in the first chukker. However, Vinny Sangaline and Paul Foster each contributed a goal for Los Amigos. Michael Payne got Mountain Chevrolet on the board in the second chukker, taking the score to 2-1, but a goal from Nic Roldan ended the period with Los Amigos leading 3-2. Mountain Chevrolet made a strong comeback in the final chukker, with Sugar Erskine and Tomas Pieres each contributing a goal. However, another goal from Sangaline ensured that Los Amigos prevailed with a final score of 4-3.

Michael Payne, Paco de Narvaez, and Sugar Erskine all fighting for possesion of the play.

The final game of the round robin saw Santa Rita and Rancho Los Amigos battle it out. Horacio Heguy drew first blood, with an answer from Nic Roldan. Los Amigos kept Santa Rita away from the posts in the second chukker, while Roldan contributed another goal. The teams alternated scoring in the final period, with a start from Los Amigos‘ Paco de Narvaez. Heguy answered, and then the ball went back to de Narvaez. He took the ball through the posts to establish a 4-2 lead for Rancho Los Amigos. Despite a final effort from Nacho Novillo Astrada, Santa Rita was unable to squeak by Los Amigos. With a final score of 4-3, Rancho Los Amigos won both the game and the tournament.

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV CARBONDALE, CO, September 6, 2021— On Sunday, NetJets bested Quite on Z by 8-4 in the newest tournament at Aspen Valley…

North America, Polo News

Chaps vs. Yanks: Newport Polo Reliving a Historical Rivalry

8. September 2021

Newport, RI (September 2, 2021) …. Yet another spirited battle looms on the horizon as England make their way to Newport to take on the patriot, Team USA, in a major highlight of the Newport International Polo Series’ 30^th Anniversary Season.

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 4PM at Glen Farm, minutes from the Newport waterfront where the British landed, the Labor Day weekend rivalry between the two nations has, since the Polo Series’ inaugural season, reconstructed the overseas power’s 1778 assault on the locals on this very week.

“The English have long held the upper hand over its colonies by going to battle well prepared, and likewise are bringing a crack team to challenge us this year,” evaluates Dan Keating, USA Captain and Polo Series Founder, “but defending our turf has its advantages, as we are nearly tied at 10 wins to 8.”

The history of the Anglo-American sporting matchup dates back over one hundred years ago, when a newspaper publisher, James Gordon Bennett Jr., viewed a Polo match in London and gathered his fellow American sports enthusiasts to try out the game at home. His ardor for Polo was indeed shared by his peers and thus was founded the first Polo Club in America, in Newport, RI. An international challenge was made in 1886, inviting the English to compete in Newport in the Westchester Cup, predating the modern Olympic games. The Westchester Cup continues to this day, as does its sailing counterpart, the America’s Cup, tennis’s Davis Cup, and golf counterpart, the Rider Cup.

Polo Match Lawn tickets are available online at www.nptpolo.com and at the gates. Pavilion seating upgrades will be available after the first chukker, with an admission purchase for Lawn seating. Standby seating options including Tailgates & Chalets at Gametime, 4PM at the Main Gate, first come first serve.

America’s oldest polo club hosts the 30^th season of the Newport International Polo, with matches every Saturday, in June through September. As one of the most unique and popular attractions in New England, the matches feature the home team competing against different international and US rivals each week, and a host of associated events.

This Saturday’s match will include a special holiday seafood celebration menu, by advanced reservation, as well as a Silent Auction at the Pro Shop, located in the polo grounds’ Vendor Village, which will feature vintage New England sports and British music memorabilia, and a stunning equine photographic work of fine art by internationally acclaimed international artist. Auction proceeds will bolster the record-breaking results of Newport Polo’s annual charity gala, benefitting the Jeffrey Osborne Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports music and arts in Rhode Island schools as well as partners like the Amos House, St. Mary’s Home for Children & Family Services, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, and Button Hole. Items can be previewed here.

The International Polo Grounds are located on the acreage of Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane (off Route 138) in Portsmouth, RI, minutes from Newport’s bustling harbor. This bucolic setting along the East passage of Aquidneck Island, enjoys a moderating coastal effect in summer for pleasurable afternoon polo spectating throughout the summer. The property is the last 100 acres of a pre-colonial settlement from the 1600’s that became the Town of Portsmouth’s original gentlemen’s farm, an 800-acre manorial estate established during a Gilded Age movement of retreat from the high life into pastoral country acres.

Its classical 19th century stone barns and its park-like grounds were rehabilitated by Polo Series founder, Dan Keating in the early ‘90’s and continue to thrive as an equestrian and community recreational property, and home of the Polo Series. Read about its restoration.

The Newport International Polo Series is proud to roll out its 2021 sponsors including Brenton Hotel, Davitt Inc., TD Bank, Turkish Airlines, Modern Luxury Boston, Herb Chambers Exotics, Vanderbilt International Properties, Hotel Viking, Veuve Clicquot, Polo House Privé, Clarke Cooke House, Stella Artois, US Polo Association, Goslings, ROCKSTAR Limo, McGrath Clambakes and Catering, Classical 95.9 WCRI, and promotional partners including Newport Helicopter Tours, The Cocktail Guru, Hannoush Jewelers, Newport Jaguar Tours, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport Mansions, Newport Music Festival, Island Surf and Sport, Northeast Equestrian Life and Audrain Automobile Museum.

“Our sponsors have been with us since the beginning. Without their support, the Series would not be as extensive as it is,” explains Keating.

About Newport Polo: Newport Polo, home of America’s First Polo Club, celebrates the 30th Anniversary season of the Newport International Polo Series, featuring public exhibition polo matches every Saturday, June – September. Founded in 1876, charter member of the United States Polo Association, Newport Polo offers year-round polo club membership and polo instruction.

Newport, RI (September 2, 2021) …. Yet another spirited battle looms on the horizon as England make their way to Newport to take on the patriot, Team USA, in a major…