October 18, 2021

North America, Polo News

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, NetJets Advance Into Sunday’s Fall Classic Season-Opener Final At Santa Rita

18. October 2021

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira for ChukkerTV

WELLINGTON, Fla., October 16, 2021—In the much-anticipated fall season-opener at Grand Champions Polo Club, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and NetJets earned hard fought victories on Friday to advance into Sunday‘s Fall Classic final.

In the morning game, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Brandon Phillips, Juan Bollini) defeated La Indiana (Matt Gonzalez, Peke Neutzet, Jeff Hall, Luis Escobar), 10-8.

In the afternoon round robin, World Polo League (Teo Calle, Juancito Bollini, Kris Kampsen, Tommy Biddle) defeated Newport (Gene Goldstein, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Nick Manifold), 7-6; Newport edged NetJets (Santos Bollini, Sugar Erskine, Pablo Spinacci, Leo Mandelbaum), 5-4; and NetJets (Marc Ganzi, Sugar Erskine, Pablo Spinacci, Leo Mandelbaum) stunned World Polo League, 6-3, in the clincher.

Jason Crowder of Seminole Coconut Creek Casino works the ball away from Luis Escobar of La Indiana.

On Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm, the final will be held at 10 a.m., followed by the subsidiary final round robin at 11:45 a.m. Both games will be live streamed worldwide by ChukkerTV.

In the exciting opening morning match, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek held off La Indiana to advance. The lead changed hands six times before Seminole Casino Coconut Creek took control in the fourth chukker with a 3-0 scoring barrage to erase La Indiana‘s 4-3 lead for a 6-4 advantage at the end of the chukker.

The race is on between Juan Bollini of Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Peke Neutzet of La Indiana.

While La Indiana came within one goal four times in the last two chukkers, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek never trailed. Jeff Hall looked to score the tying goal with 11 seconds left in the game, but was called for a turning foul by umpire Gaston Dorignac. Crowder and Phillips combined for seven goals with Crowder scoring a team-high four goals. Hall scored a game-high five goals. „It‘s great to be back,“ Crowder said.

Later in the afternoon in a competitive three-team round robin, World Polo League, led by big-hitting Tommy Biddle, looked to be the team to beat. World Polo League pulled away for a 4-1 lead early in the second chukker. Biddle connected on a 150-yard goal in the opening chukker and 80-yard goal early in the second chukker.“I‘m really excited about being back at Grand Champions,“ Biddle said. „It‘s been a couple years since I‘ve played here and I‘m really looking forward to it with all these good players.“

Juancito Bollini of World Polo League goes for the neck shot.

Newport found its game in the third chukker, outscoring World Polo League, 4-2 including a 120-yarder by Roldan, but ran out of time with Roldan scoring the final goal with 29 seconds left. Roldan led scoring with five goals.

In the second game, Newport, fully warmed up, shut out NetJets, 1-0, in the second chukker and pulled away for a 4-2 lead. Goals by Erskine and Mandelbaum tied the game at 4-all. Roldan scored the game-winner with 33 seconds left. Goldstein and Roldan each had two goals. Erskine had a game-high three goals.

Grant Ganzi scores for Newport.

In the third and deciding game, World Polo League, after sitting out three chukkers, lost its momentum in a defensive battle. After a 1-1 opening chukker, Ganzi‘s penalty conversion gave NetJets a 2-1 lead. Spinacci and Biddle took turns scoring goals before Mandelbaum blocked a hardhit Biddle goal attempt and raced downfield to score with 20 seconds left for a 4-2 lead. NetJets continued its dominance in the final chukker pulling away for a 6-2 lead after Mandelbaum stole the ball and scored his fourth goal of the game.

The Fall Classic is the first of four medium tournaments. Four high goal tournaments are also scheduled for the fall. The highlight of the fall season is the Nov. 27 doubleheader with the Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo and International Cup. Sponsorship packages are available.

Nic Roldan of Newport works the ball out of the air.

During the fall season, roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams to help improve players skills and performance. The games also give players an opportunity to work young horses.

„The fall season is important to us because it is a continuation of the sport and shows the world you can play polo twelve months a year,“ said Polo School Director Juan Bollini. „It‘s good, competitive polo and the best time of the year with great weather and great fields in October and November after five months of rest.“

Tommy Biddle of World Polo League moves in to defend.

„The fall season gives American players who don‘t have a chance to go to Argentina an opportunity to improve their polo and keep them playing year-round,“ Bollini said. „It‘s a chance for players to see how good their green horses are and which ones make the cut.“

During fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation‘s largest club with 13 well-manicured, world-class fields at GCPS and Santa Rita Polo Farm, hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal including the 26-goal World Polo League in addition to special events.

A good crowd attends Opening Day at Grand Champions Polo Club.

The entire fall season will be live-streamed on Wellington-based ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting with cutting-edge technology including 4K TV now making its debut. ChukkerTV also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its‘ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its‘ Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.

2021 Fall Classic Schedule

Sunday 10/17
10am Fall Classic Final
NetJets vs Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

11:45am Fall Classic Subsidiary Final (Round Robin)
Newport vs WPL vs La Indiana

Games live streamed in Eastern Standard Time on https://www.chukkertv.com

By Sharon Robb Photos by Candace Ferreira for ChukkerTV WELLINGTON, Fla., October 16, 2021—In the much-anticipated fall season-opener at Grand Champions Polo Club, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and NetJets earned…

North America, Polo News

RED, WHITE AND BLUE RETAIN TOWNSEND CUP GLORY

18. October 2021

Sweeping the International Arena Showcase, USA defended two international titles over two consecutive days at New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina. Taking the USPA Armed Forces’ Churchill-Roosevelt winning momentum into the John R. Townsend Challenge Cup, after a one-day rain postponement, on Sunday, October 10, USA (Pelon Escapite, Geronimo Obregon,* Winston Painter*) once again topped England (Julian Daniels, Eden Ormond, Robin Ormond) to add an eighth American engraving on the prestigious Townsend Cup and another title to their 8-1 distinguished international record. As the official apparel sponsor of Team USA, U.S. Polo Assn. proudly outfitted both American teams with jerseys and saddle pads.

“Man, they’re rough! England is always rough. My experience playing against them is always intense. It’s tough to go around them and you’ve got to go through them, it’s hard. They’re competitive.” – Geronimo Obregon

To open the first chukker, defending Townsend Cup Champion and team captain Pelon Escapite quickly put USA on the board with a two-pointer in the first few seconds of play. Sensing the intensity from the beginning of the match, Escapite was aware of USA’s giant expectations. “It’s big pressure,” said Escapite. “We can’t lose in-house. It’s always more pressure to play [here] than away.” Brothers Robin and Eden Ormerod responded in kind for England, each contributing two goals in the first, including a two-pointer from Eden Ormerod. The offensive talents of Geronimo Obregon, who proclaimed himself as not having as much experience in the arena as his teammates made the difference in the first chukker scoring a total three goals.

Obregon attributed his solid start to Mamba a small 11-year-old thoroughbred chestnut mare who, “helped me a bunch, she passed, she stopped, she did everything.” English captain Eden Ormerod scored first in the second, Robin Ormerod adding a goal as well—the brothers working in tandem once again. However, a united American front in Escapite and Obregon found the goal three times, and a Penalty 1 gave USA the edge heading into halftime with a 10-8 lead.

Feeling the rising intensity of the game and not willing to rely on a marginal advantage, USA with coach Tiger Kneece implemented a new tactical strategy for the second half where Obregon would, “switch a lot with Pelon, and Winston [Painter] pushed forward. We rotated a lot and we rotated well. When [Pelon] would push forward, I would stay back. When I would push, he would stay back. We changed the momentum a few times.” This ability to affect the pace of play would allow Escapite to score two more two-pointers in the third.

Painter, a representative for USA in the 2018 Junior Olympics and star in youth polo including the National Youth Tournament Series and Interscholastic/Intercollegiate program normally does not play in the number one position but relished the opportunity, “in interscholastic, I always play back. It was refreshing to have a change of roles. I know both Geronimo and Pelon and I was really happy to share the field with so much wisdom and experience today.”

Unwilling to back down, England continued to battle in the third scoring six goals, including a two-pointer from Robin Ormerod. Hailing from Druid Lodge Polo Club in Salisbury, Wiltshire, both Ormerod brothers spent their formative years playing arena polo, “we have a really nice arena surface at home [Druids Lodge]. In England we play in the winter when the grounds are too soft.” For Eden Ormerod reconnecting in the arena with his brother was a welcome change, “we play together on the grass quite a bit, but it’s been a while since we’ve played in the arena.”

USA entered the final chukker with a slim one-goal advantage and relied on success from Obregon once again scoring back-to-back goals at the onset of the chukker to provide USA some much needed breathing room. Eden Ormerod was aware of the challenge required to take down USA. A member of the 2018 English team and last to defeat USA in the Bryan Morrison (a complimentary tournament held by English invitation) commented on the intense competitive nature between the two nations, “they pushed us, and I hope they feel we pushed them as much.”

The English captain came through for his team once again and scored the only goal for England in the fourth. Painter also knocked in his first of the game and as the final seconds expired the crowd went wild with chants of “U-S-A,” and the Americans could finally look to the scoreboard knowing they would emerge from the battle the victors and eight-time Townsend Cup champions with a final score 18-15.

Scoring a total of eight goals for USA, Pelon Escapite was named Most Valuable Player. In addition to his offensive abilities, Escapite’s toughness was also on display. Escapite was temporarily dismounted in the fourth. “My mare went left, and the ball was on the right. I really wanted to score but I stretched a little too much,” he recounted. Despite feeling a “little sore,” Escapite’s resilience and humility were evident as he commented on his performance, “we got lucky today! I scored a few two-pointers, and two is better than one.”

Best Playing Pony honors were presented to Samurai, a thirteen-year-old Mexican thoroughbred played by Eden Ormerod in the first half of the first chukker and the second half of the third. Ormerod was extremely impressed with his abilities, “he’s super tough, keeps trying for you [and is] super steady and you can always depend on him.” Owner Liv Berube purchased the grey gelding from Lord Lyle in Florida two years ago. Berube could not have been happier for Samurai, “he plays for me, he plays for my polo school, he’s such a good boy. He really shines in the arena.”

With the second consecutive sweep of the International Arena Showcase complete, Obregon is no stranger to winning international titles. As one of the rare players to win both the Townsend Cup and the Westchester Cup (the outdoor version of the competition), Obregon reflected on the honor of winning another prestigious tournament, “it means a lot. This is the first time I’ve represented [USA] in the arena. We wanted to win and wanted to represent the U.S.”

Similarly, Painter commented on the pride behind the celebration, “arena polo has been a huge part of my youth polo career, my first time playing polo was in the arena. [Learning] how important and amazing this opportunity was, I was humbled and grateful to be selected.” Eden Ormerod who has represented England on numerous occasions shared his gratitude, “it was a good game, they scored some good two-pointers, we missed a few penalties. They had some good horses, but we had some good ones too. It was a great exhibition of polo.”

Photos: ©Larry Johnson

North America, Polo News

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION AND INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH ANNOUNCE 2022 HIGH-GOAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AND ONE-YEAR GAUNTLET OF POLO® EXTENSION

18. October 2021

The United States Polo Association and International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida, are pleased to announce the 2022 high-goal polo tournament schedule and GAUNTLET OF POLO® one-year extension of the original three-year tournament agreement established in 2019. The season will begin on Sunday, January 2, 2022 with the Iglehart Cup and conclude on Sunday, April 24, 2022 with the U.S. Open Polo Championship® Final.

“Our partnership with IPC over the last three years in bringing the GAUNTLET OF POLO® to players, fans and enthusiasts around the globe has been a significant success for the sport,” said Stewart Armstrong, USPA Chairman. “We look forward to building on that success.”

The three-part high-goal GAUNTLET OF POLO® debuted in February 2019 at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Challenging the status quo and reshaping the trajectory of high-goal polo in the United States, the innovative pinnacle event increased team participation and attraction through prize money. History was made during the inaugural GAUNTLET OF POLO®, when Pilot captured all three events and were crowned GAUNTLET Champions.

The 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO® will return for the fourth year on February 6-27, with the C.V. Whitney Cup®, continue with the USPA Gold Cup®, March 1-27, and conclude with the illustrious U.S. Open Polo Championship® March 29 — April 24 on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field. Revising the prize money distribution for the 2022 season, the new format guarantees a total of $200,000 in prize money. $50,000 will be awarded to each of the winning teams of the C.V. Whitney Cup® and USPA Gold Cup®. Similarly, $100,000 in prize money will be presented to the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship®. Any team that wins all three tournaments will be crowned the GAUNTLET Champion. IPC will be joining Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) in welcoming back the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® beginning on Monday, March 7 and concluding with the final on Saturday, March 19 on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field. The closing date for teams for both the 16- to 18-goal series and GAUNTLET OF POLO® is Monday, November 15, while the closing date for the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® is Wednesday, December 1.

“We are all on pins and needles to see the best that American polo can offer in 2022—passionate high-goal team owners, star athletes, incredible horsepower, and grueling competition,” said Chris Green, USPA Chief Operating Officer. “The USPA is committed to providing a level playing field for all the competitors and eager to see if another GAUNTLET Champion emerges!” he continued.

IPC tentatively plans to welcome spectators so they can enjoy the sport of polo from stadium seating or the fieldside covered patio during brunch in the Pavilion. Details, including possible COVID protocols, are still being finalized and will be released soon at InternationalPoloClub.com.

All tournaments except the Iglehart Cup will be livestreamed on Global Polo TV’s (GPTV) OTT platform, accessible on GlobalPolo.com and on major apps including iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon FireTV. The Global Polo Pass annual subscription will be made available starting November 2021 and will include polo events from around the world. The subscription will include access to all livestreamed USPA Official Events, select international events and much more. All USPA Members who have paid their membership dues will receive the Global Polo Pass complimentary once dues are paid in full. Special offers will be available at www.globalpolo.com.

Lake Worth, FL | Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame | March, 31, 2016 | A still photo of the C.V. Whitney, U.S. Open Polo Championship and Gold Cup trophies against a dark blue backdrop.

2022 IPC POLO SCHEDULE*

16- to 18-Goal

Iglehart Cup
Tournament Date: January 2, 2022

Joe Barry Memorial
Tournament Dates: January 2-16, 2022
Closing Date: November 15, 2021
Limited to six teams

Ylvisaker Cup
Tournament Dates: January 15 – February 6, 2022
Closing Date: November 15, 2021

Limited to eight teams

Women’s Polo

U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®

Co-hosted with Port Mayaca Polo Club
Tournament Dates: March 7-19, 2022
Closing Date: December 1, 2021
Limited to eight teams

18- to 22-Goal GAUNTLET OF POLO®

C.V. Whitney Cup®
Tournament Dates: February 6-27, 2022
Closing Date: November 15, 2021

**Limited to 12 teams

USPA Gold Cup®
Tournament Dates: March 1-27, 2022
Closing Date: November 15, 2021

**Limited to 12 teams

U.S. Open Polo Championship®
Tournament Dates: March 29 – April 24, 2022
Closing Date: November 15, 2021

**Limited to 12 teams

Contact Polo Manager Haley Bryan at (803) 215-3577 or hbryan2485@aol.com to discuss season plans.

*Please note dates are subject to adjustment.

**The team limit for the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO® is 12 teams. IPC will accept additional entries beyond 12 only if their entry is advantageous to the tournament format and scheduling allows.