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North America, Polo News

Zahedi Chogan Wins Fall Plates Final; Tommy Biddle Named MVP

8. November 2021

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira for ChukkerTV

WELLINGTON, Fla., November 1, 2021 — On a perfect day for polo, Zahedi Chogan won its first tournament in its fall season debut at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

In an exciting finish, Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi, Jason Crowder, Brandon Phillips, Tommy Biddle) defeated La Indiana (Matthew Gonzalez, Marc Ganzi, Luis Escobar, Jeff Hall), 11-10, on Sunday to capture the Fall Plates final.

The veteran field leader Biddle, playing well on both ends of the field, was named Most Valuable Player. Biddle is among 2022 inductees to the Polo Hall of Fame. A Hall of Fame Induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 18 if conditions allow for social gatherings at the time.

Tommy Biddle of Zahedi Chogan works the ball off sideboards past defender Jeff Hall.

„I think MVP could have gone to anybody on our team today,“ Biddle said. „I‘m happy to be playing here with a bunch of good players. We‘re not difficult to play with, we all play simple polo. I‘m just happy we won.“

In one of the best finals in club history, the well-matched teams battled back and forth. Zahedi Chogan had a two-goal lead (5-3) going into the third chukker. After that, it was anybody‘s game with 6-6, 7-7 and 9-9 ties at the end of the third, fourth and fifth chukkers.

„I knew it was going to be tough because La Indiana played together last week and won,“ Biddle said. „We were a bit unlucky. When we gave up all those fouls it was because we kind of got sloppy defensively. They weren‘t beating us from the field, it was just the foul line. We were just making mistakes and they were capitalizing.“

Zahedi Chogan teammates Jason Crowder and Brandon Phillips work together.

The game‘s outcome came down to the final 4:52 minutes. Phillips gave Zahedi Chogan a 10-9 lead when he won the throw-in and raced downfield to score. Crowder then came up with a big defensive play stopping Escobar‘s goal run. With 3:51 left, Zahedi Chogan fouled giving Ganzi his seventh opportunity to convert an open-goal penalty, tying the game at 10-10.

With 2:41 on the clock, it was Phillips again fighting for possession on the endline. Biddle read the play well and forced a La Indiana blocking penalty. Phillips converted the 30-yard penalty to give his team an 11-10 lead.

In the final two minutes Crowder came up with two key defensive plays to stop scoring threats and Phillips ran out the clock.

Jeff Hall of La Indiana works the ball downfield with Brandon Phillips defending.

„I am ecstatic,“ Sy Zahedi said. „It‘s such a pleasure to play with this caliber of players on both sides. La Indiana is such a phenomenal team. I kept telling my teammates a couple years ago when I started playing outdoor polo I could never dream of being on the same field with these guys. The chemistry and combination for us just worked.“

It was Zahedi Chogan‘s second tournament appearance this fall. They also competed in the Tackeria Invitational where they lost to La Indiana, 9-8, in the semifinal.

„I couldn‘t be more thrilled,“ said Zahedi, a former motocross racer. „This is a dream come true. I just want to play safe polo and contribute to my team.“

Tommy Biddle of Zahedi Chogan receives his MVP plaque from Georgette Escobar.

Zahedi, raised from minus-one to zero goals, has been playing outdoor polo for two years after trying arena polo. He was mentored by Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler Memo Gracida at La Herradura and was a natural.

„The main thing was to learn the game in a safe, controlled environment,“ Zahedi said. „It was trial by fire from four goals to eight goals and jumping to 12 goals very quickly. I had so much fun.“

Said Biddle, „He‘s doing well for a guy who has just gotten into the sport, he‘s doing great.“

Zahedi first played with Crowder at La Quinta in a four-goal tournament and continue to compete together at a higher level. Last month in Santa Barbara, Rancho Polo/Chogan won the Regional President‘s Cup Final with a 14-12 win over Klentner Ranch. Crowder was MVP with 10 goals. It was Crowder who convinced Zahedi to play at Grand Champions.

Newport‘s Gene Goldstein on his way to scoring one of his six goals as umpire Gaston Dorignac looks on.

„I‘m happiest with how much he‘s improved and how well he is playing, „ Crowder said. „I‘m super happy we won. We all had really good chemistry and everybody worked hard for each other. We got Sy down here and he has improved every game by leaps and bounds. He has accelerated his polo to the next level. He‘s got the right attitude and everything that makes a good polo player.“

Added Zahedi, „Everything Jason told me about Grand Champions was true. The fields are amazing, the people are amazing. The caliber of players I am so impressed with.“

The name of the team is the original Persian name for polo. In Iran the game is still referred to as Chogan.

Kris Kampsen of HL Polo breaks loose with the ball.

One of the most amazing moments of the game was Biddle‘s 150-yarder looking to score but bouncing off the goal post instead. „That wasn‘t the plan,“ Biddle said. „The plan was for it to go through.“

Zahedi Chogan got balanced scoring from its lineup. Phillips scored a team-high five goals, Biddle had three, Crowder had two and Zahedi added one.

Grant Ganzi of NetJets goes for the big hit downfield.

Ganzi led La Indiana with a game-high seven goals, all open-goal penalty conversions. Hall had two goals and Escobar had one.

In the semifinals, Zahedi Chogan advanced into the championship with a 9-8 victory over Newport and La Indiana defeated HL Polo, 13-11, in the four-team, single-elimination tournament.

Newport (Gene Goldstein, Juan Bollini, Sugar Erskine, Leo Mandelbaum) won the Fall Plates subsidiary with a 5-3 victory over NetJets (Larry Austin, Santos Bollini, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan/Pablo Spinacci) in the third and deciding round robin game.

In the other games, Newport edged HL Polo (Harry Landy, Kris Kampsen, Juancito Bollini, Santi Toccalino), 5-4, and NetJets and HL Polo tied 4-4 in the second game giving Newport a plus-one advantage going into the third and deciding game.

Nic Roldan of NetJets tries to control the ball.

Behind the one-two punch of Goldstein and Mandelbaum, Newport dominated most of the game, 2-0 and 3-1 for a 5-1 advantage going into the third and final chukker. With Newport leading, 4-0, Roldan left the game with an ailing ankle and was replaced by Spinacci. Goldstein led scoring with six goals. Ganzi had five goals.

Fall Plates was the third of five medium goal tournaments. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek won the season-opening Fall Classic and La Indiana won the Tackeria Invitational last weekend. Four high goal tournaments are also scheduled for the fall including the Nov. 3-11 USPA Continental Cup, Nov. 9-14 USPA North American Cup and Nov. 16-21 USPA National 20 Goal.

The highlight of the fall season is the Nov. 27 doubleheader with the Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo and 10th annual International Cup. Sponsorship packages are available.

Chukker TV announcer Dale Schwetz getting ghoulish for Halloween as Motley Crue.

During fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation‘s largest club with 13 well-manicured, world-class fields at GCPC 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.

During the winter season, Grand Champions and Santa Rita will host 23 tournaments from Jan. 15 to April 15.

The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its‘ mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.

Polo fans Sandy Klein and Larry Coyle enjoy Sunday‘s polo doubleheader.

The entire fall season will be live-streamed on Wellington-based ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting with cutting-edge technology including 4K TV currently 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.

By Sharon Robb Photos by Candace Ferreira for ChukkerTV WELLINGTON, Fla., November 1, 2021 — On a perfect day for polo, Zahedi Chogan won its first tournament in its fall season…

Asia, Polo News

Active Polo autumn in Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club near Shanghai

5. November 2021

Dr. Cinderella von Dungern, 5. November 2021

Being the first international club in modern polo in China, the famous “Nine Dragon Hill Polo Club (NDH)” is well-known in international polo and among a wide range of domestic equestrians and celebrities. The club organized several medium and high goal tournaments in the past and players from all over the world came to the prestigious club around 90 minutes car-ride from Shanghai. Quite a few patrons of NDH went abroad to play in sophisticated international tournaments in Thailand, Argentina and even in Germany. Due to strict pandemic travel restrictions for foreign players and visitors, its cosmopolitan flair changed to more domestic classy events. Just recently another interesting polo tournament took place in the impressive club’s premises in Zhejiang province between Shanghai and Hangzhou. The club hosted the second part of the “Metropolitan & Nine Dragon Hill Polo Summit Score Tournament 2021”. The event was co-organized by “Polo Summit” and “Tianjin Metropolitan Polo Club” and followed a first round which was run in mid-October in Tianjin. The idea behind this circle event is to bring Chinese players from various cities, levels, and clubs together and improve their skills by rotating horses, teams and playing fields.

The external circumstances of “a whole country under pandemic zero case prevention” since almost two years, are affecting China’s modern polo development harshly. Again, also for this event, a high level of flexibility in team and horse staffing until the very last moment of the game start was required by Lilian Wang, general manager of NDH. Just a few days before the game was supposed to start, a comparatively marginal number of new Covid-cases occurred in some few parts of China which led to immediate traveling restrictions and obligatory quarantine isolation for many citizens, e.g., it involved a sudden total lock-down of Disneyland Shanghai and escort of full trains directly to quarantines. The constant fear of getting caught in an unexpected 14 days-isolated quarantine while traveling elsewhere prevented several players, sponsors, and visitors from joining the polo field.

With much passion and stamina, Chinese polo clubs and players successfully adjust to those restrictions and keep the ‘polo fire’ burning and the legacy high. The polo season in 2021 was actively orchestrated through these challenging Covid-times by various sportive and elegant club cups in Anping (Tang Polo Club), Tianjin (Metropolitan Polo Club) and Shanghai (Nine Dragon Hills Polo Club). In addition to active games and club chukkas, Chinese leading polo pioneers have also enacted a sophisticated national polo handicap rating system and are training the players according to the international rules by Hurlingham Polo Association. Just recently, the new “Green book of polo rules in Chinese” was issued by Jacky Wang and her mother, an impressive work for China’s polo & equestrian society. Equipping domestic players with theoretical and practical skills underlines the impressive transition from ancient polo in China towards a modern international polo equestrian discipline. While the North of China is facing now cold temperatures and moved chukkas and training indoor and arena polo, the South offers still warm sunshine and excellent conditions to play outdoors. Hence, NDH is organizing several more polo games until early December.

At this polo club, players can find not only excellent horses and facilities, but have the chance to meet with a range of experienced patrons and polo pioneers who support the club life and create a sophisticated level of polo. One pioneer of polo in China is Su Rong, who once introduced the sport to many Chinese players and led the first tours to Argentina. Being a director for basically all the movie scenes with horses in big movies, his horsemanship knowledge is superior. He imported many horses from Argentina, US, and UK and together with other pioneers, developed the Chinese modern polo scene from the scratch. Since many years, he is breeding young polo ponies (with imported sperm from UK and Argentina) on the club’s facilities and successfully trains them even into high goal horses. In this tournament he was the umpire and guided the ambitious players along the complex polo rules. The manager of the club, Lilian Wang, is most familiar with the polo scene in China and since modern polo started in 2008, has witnessed many developments in the market. She organized tournaments, sponsors, and several players with great success. She joined the NDH club as director a long time ago, when Mr Qinfu Li once founded the Nine Dragons Hill Estate in the surroundings of Zhapu and Pinghu in Zhejiang province. Mr Li had the ambitious plan to develop “the Venice of the East” with a large private tourism resort for high-end golf, polo, and yachting, combined with a supreme European-style villa & apartment resort. After some changes in shareholder structure and government regulations on land-use, the club had to relocate its main playing fields ten years ago from the ocean shore towards up-hill, still in the same magnificent park arena which is surrounded by beautiful mountains and offers a splendid view on the East China Sea. Since 2011, NDH is operating in new quite advanced training and playing facilities. The stables are state of the art and the club’s premises are exclusive and top-notch. It’s a premium private polo club with many social activities and a personal family atmosphere.

In the tournament, 12 players competed in three teams in a ‘round robin’ the first day and organized club chukkas for the second day. After intense and speedy polo fights on the fields, sun was already down and the scores were tight, the invited guests and players joined a cheerful barbeque club night. Being there feels very warm and charming, like a little polo family. Chinese national player Windson Rao (hcp 0) and patron of team ‘Fast Fish’ is passionate about polo. He has been playing in clubs all over the world for more than 10 years, sponsored several professional players and games and is chairman of a large fast fashion chain company. His team won the club tournament. Brian Xu, who joined Sunday chukkas, is another famous Chinese player. He is president of Axus, a wooden pencil and stationery manufacturer in Shanghai, and went several times also to polo clubs in the South of Germany. Both are Chinese patrons with a strong sense for high quality horses and have a thorough understanding of the strategy in playing the game. Their long-term commitment, excellent skills and network enabled the club in Shanghai to establish a promising solid and exclusive polo center. Of course, there are a few more patrons, all of them are promoting and enhancing polo in China and it’s very rewarding to get a glimpse of this dynamic and sportive development.

As Shanghai is a popular business hub among Western expatriates and executives, many of those who play polo know the NDH club and often come to join their activities. One of the distinguished guests is Dr. James Tong (USPA rating -1) who was born in Shanghai but went to the US for his education. He started his professional career on Wall Street. After becoming a venture capitalist, one of his funds invested in an equestrian breeding business named Rider Horse. He started acquiring polo ponies and equestrian properties in 2019 at St. Louis, MO and Indio, CA. He’s the owner of Thor LLC which is the home of 15 equestrian professionals and 70+ horses at various disciplines ranging from polo, dressage, hunter jumper, western reining, barrel racing and others. His view on Polo in China is reflected: “Polo is a burgeoning sport in China. Due to the relative significant costs in operation, there have been fluctuations in the number of players and games each year. Often it was portrayed as a luxurious discipline that were afforded only by the super-rich. This notion could have deterred a meaningful number of people who could have entered the sport and excelled while enticing another group of affluent individuals who would purchase horses yet scarcely play after knowing how much dedication is needed to improve and enjoy the sport. The costs of running the operation are another consideration. All polo clubs have endured hardship during pandemic across China as well as US. Even more so in China. Polo should gain strong momentum if the operation is carried out efficiently with methodical and inventive methods of training in place for China grown polo ponies.”

Shanghai Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club

Shanghai Nine Dragon Hill Polo Club was founded in 2008 and has a British and Argentinean background. It is the first international standard private polo club and among the three leading polo clubs in China. The club takes its’ name from a beautiful coastal parkland of Nine Dragons Hill resort where it is situated together with Golf and Marina clubs. The club is 90 minutes’ drive from Shanghai near Zhapu Town (Pinghu) in Zhejiang province. It is an exclusive, private members club and has around 600 members, of which only a few selected are active polo players. The club plays polo on a highest level and offers a wide range of services. In 2011, it had to relocate its polo field from the ocean shore up-hill to a new area, but still in the same scenic spot. The club, which is also famous for its horse care service and training team, has the only international standard turf horse racing track, over 300 stable blocks, outdoor arenas and fields for both polo and equestrian competitions. It offers excellent facilities and around 120 polo ponies. A few years ago, the club starting breading young polo ponies by themselves.

Website*: http://www.ndhpolo.com/

* Please be informed that due to other national major social media channels, in China websites are not the main platform for communication and hence not regularly updated or used.

Team “Fast Fish”
Will Yang (hcp 0)
Dr. Cinderella von Dungern (hcp 0)
James J. Tong (hcp -1)
Windson Rao (hcp 0)

Team “Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club” (NDH)
Yan Kangliang (hcp -2)
Jack Ji (hcp 0)
Alan Xing (hcp 0)
Da Hai (hcp -1)

Team „Tianjin Metropolitan Polo Club”
Eko Zheng Yin (hcp -2)
Zack Liang (hcp 0)
Biao Wang (hcp 0)
Jeff Su (hcp 0)

Umpire
Su Rong

Results
Game A: Fast Fish vs NDH 2:0
Game B: Fast Fish vs Tianjin 3:2
Game C: Tianjin vs NDH: 3:3
Ranking: 1st Fast Fish, 2nd Tianjin 3rd NDH

Photos: ©NDH, Lillian Wang, Cinderella v. Dungern

Dr. Cinderella von Dungern, 5. November 2021 Being the first international club in modern polo in China, the famous “Nine Dragon Hill Polo Club (NDH)” is well-known in international polo…

In own affaires, Polo News

POLO+10 edition 1/2022

4. November 2021

The new issues will go to press in 2 weeks

The countdown has started and excitement is high: In 2 weeks, the new edition of POLO+10 World will go to press.

As always, we will share the latest news from the international polo community: a review of the most important events, new polo formats in the USA, new impulses in Africa, interviews, personalities, opinions and interesting lifestyle and travel topics.

Do not miss out: Subscribe to the new issue of POLO+10 World for spring and autumn 2022 here: subscription@poloplus10.com

Or do you want to reach the worldwide polo community and present your company, club or tournament with an ad placement? Please do not hesitate to contact us: thomas@poloplus10.com.

DID YOU KNOW…
Check out the front cover of the next POLO+10 German issue: B 01 and B 04 are two of the rarest horses on the planet! They are clones of the very best polo pony to have ever existed – the legendary Cuartetera (owned by Adolfo Cambiaso). Photo was taken by Irina Kazaridi @irinakazaridi at @ladolfinapoloclub, Cañuelas, 2018.

Adolfo Cambiaso himself is shown on the cover of POLO+10 WORLD. The photo was taken at the Argentine Open in Buenos Aires last year by Nacho Corbalan. Many thanks to Irina and Nacho for your great work!

→ Media Kit extract POLO+10 WORLD 2022/23 (1,4MB)

→ Media Kit POLO+10 WORLD 2022/23 (4MB)

→ Technical Kit POLO+10 WORLD 2022/23 (800KB)

→ Public Relations POLO+10 WORLD 2022/23 (4,9 MB)

The new issues will go to press in 2 weeks The countdown has started and excitement is high: In 2 weeks, the new edition of POLO+10 World will go to…

Asia, Polo News

Hesketh Polo Wins the Ladies Charity Cup For the Third Year

1. November 2021

Narrow win for Hesketh Polo, ending the game with a half goal lead against Lionesses Polo.

29 October 2021, Dubai, UAE: The third edition of the Ladies Charity Cup, held in association with Al Jalila Foundation and Brest Friends, gathers the strength of women in the sport of polo in honour of the breast cancer awareness advocacy.

The afternoon featured two exhibition matches, a pink-themed picnic area where guests enjoyed the games in polo picnic style, a shopping village, free breast examinations from SEHA, free activities for the little ones, prizes for the best-dressed ladies, and competitions with valuable prizes.

The first match between the Pink Warriors and Pink Soldiers opened with a goal from Raja Abuljebain, and the Warriors closed the first chukker at 2 goals to nil. The team kept its lead by halftime and carved a 3 goal lead at the end of the third chukker. The Pink Soldiers managed to close the gap in scores during the last quarter but, Habtoor Al Habtoor scored back to back goals and closed the game at 5 – 2 goals.

The ladies match saw Hesketh Polo face a new team – Lionesses Polo. Hesketh Polo dominated the first half of the game and the penultimate chukker saw a Lionesses make a comeback as they took the lead at 3 goals to 2.5. Lauren Dickson broke the lead during the fourth chukker only to be reciprocated by a goal from Georgina

Brittany. With a few seconds left on clock, Lee Slimmings scored a goal that sealed Hesketh‘s claim to the Ladies Charity Cup 2021 trophy with a final score of 4.5 – 4.

Fatima Al Hamadi, a patient representative from SEHA, awarded the teams of the day. Georgina Brittany was the most valuable player. Madel, an Al Habtoor Polo Academy horse was the Best Playing Pony of the day. The winners received gifts from Black Hound Sports Dubai, Biologique Recherche, and The Bunch Box.

The Club also hosted a Charity Auction for the benefit of its charity partner. The auction featured beautiful works of art from the Art Connects Women collection donated by Zee Arts Gallery. Valuable polo memorabilia signed by polo superstars such as Pablo Mac Donough, the 10-goalers from the Pieres clan, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella, were also showcased at the auction.

Photos: © Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club

Narrow win for Hesketh Polo, ending the game with a half goal lead against Lionesses Polo. 29 October 2021, Dubai, UAE: The third edition of the Ladies Charity Cup, held…

Europe, Polo News

Interview with Sébastien Le Page, President of POLO PARK ZURICH

26. October 2021

He is the president of Polo Park Zurich and one of the most colorful minds on the scene. At the end of the 2021 season, POLO+10 met Sébastien Le Page and talked to him about his very personal season review, plans for 2022, highlights, low points and his philosophy of life.

“I just can`t get enough of the polo life!”
Sébastien Le Page, President of POLO PARK ZURICH

What is your summary for the 2020 polo season?
It was another successful season for Polo Park Zurich, despite the poor summer weather and the spectre of Covid. On a local level, we were able to run all nine scheduled tournaments, play over 800 chukkas, organize the Swiss Medium-Goal Championship and the 22nd International Ladies Cup, and increase our membership at all levels, both low and medium-goal. New organizations have joined us, many of our players have progressed, the polo level has increased, and we have welcomed many new horses. We reached 170 playing members this year, half of whom are women, and currently host more than 200 horses. The kids polo is also flourishing. We have had the joy of hosting the Swiss national team twice at our tournaments and many players from abroad have joined us regularly. The atmosphere of friendship and sportsmanship was excellent as always and we had a lot of fun!

That sounds like a successful season all around.
And it goes even further: Internationally, we were namely also very proud that the two teams from La Irenita brilliantly represented the colors of Polo Park Zurich at the Argentine Open. We are also very fortunate that we won both the Rider Cup and the Open de France Ladies in Chantilly. So, all in all, it was a great season. As for me personally, I only won one tournament during that time, even though I had wonderful horses and made good progress in my polo. So there is still some room for improvement!

What are your plans for the upcoming season?
So far, we have planned ten tournaments at Polo Park Zurich, including the Swiss Championships (with medium or low goal ratio from -2 to +8 goals). We will organize the 23rd international Ladies Cup and we intend to defend our title at the Rider Cup in Chantilly. We will play the Gold Cup in Gstaad. At the Argentine Open we will again compete with two teams, this year with a Ladies and a La Irenita team. We are also in the process of developing more events around polo, as well as events that have nothing to do with polo at all, but for which we still use the club as a facility. This year, we hired a special event manager for this purpose, and I expect a lot from her. This will allow us to open the door to polo to people who previously knew nothing about the sport or its lifestyle, hopefully making it more mainstream. We have also signed many new sponsorships, some of which are multi-year, so we are well supported by both our sponsors and our members. Personally, I have a feeling we will be playing more than 900 chukkas this coming season. Let‘s see how the weather cooperates!

Please also tell us about your plans in Argentina for the rest of 2021 and 2022.
Morgan and I are flying to Argentina in mid-November to our farm in Lobos. Unfortunately, the uncertainty around Covid and the travel restrictions from afar make it impossible for us to organize the traditional San Eugenio women‘s tournament. Therefore, we will have to forgo it again this year. Instead, we will focus on training in Lobos and of course supporting our teams at the Argentine Open! La Irenita II has yet to qualify but the La Irenita Ladies already are, so we will definitely be there in Palermo! Separately, Morgan will be training for the Gaucho Derby, arguably the toughest horse race in the world, in which she will compete in early March. So we will probably stay in Argentina for two to three months, if the situation around Covid allows it.

Can you also tell us about your sponsorship activities?
We sponsor two teams in the Open. First La Irenita II with Facu and Tomas Fernandez Llorente, Min Podesta and Flaco Garcia Grossi. They still have to pass the qualification, but I have high hopes for this team. Secondly, La Irenita Ladies is also there with Milagros Sanchez, Hope Arellano, Izzy Parsons and Fatima Balzano. They are already qualified and I hope they will present us brilliant polo as well! Then we are also sponsoring the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz, although we won‘t be fielding a team there this year. We also sponsor the Swiss national polo team. On the other side we have many new interesting sponsors, including very good support from for example „Perrier-Jouët“ or „Clinique La Prairie“, but also some newcomers in polo, like the „SwissOne Smart Index Crypto Fund“. We are also in the process of building sponsorship relationships with new companies that become aware of Polo Park Zurich through our success. I will hopefully be able to tell you more about this shortly! Watch this space!

What is the biggest challenge in the coming polo season?
The biggest problem we are facing at the moment is the fact that we have almost reached the maximum number of horses we can accommodate at the Polo Park Zurich or in the surrounding area. It really pains me to have to say this – but I think that in the coming season we will have no choice but to keep a waiting list. However, not for completely new beginners, but for new potential members who bring their own horses. We simply don’t have the space for horses on top. But to be honest, it’s a good problem to have, rather than the opposite!

What are you most looking forward to in the Polo Season 2022 – and why?
In this respect, my role is a bit schizophrenic. On the one hand, as the owner of Polo Park Zurich, I have to keep my members happy and make sure they like to come back. On the other hand, I‘m also a player and the head of the Los Lobos organization, and I want to win tournaments. However, the two don‘t always go hand in hand. This season, when we got so many new members, I focused more on making sure they enjoy polo. So I helped them with my own horses, sometimes to the detriment of my own polo and to the detriment of my own polo pros. But for this coming season, I want to be selfish again for a season, because I intend to have a 1-goal handicap by the end of the season. For this I have the right horses and the right organization. I will therefore focus strongly on this dream! Of course, I will also put my focus on the Swiss Championships and put a lot of energy into winning the Gold Cup in Gstaad. I am also considering playing a few weeks in France next year. I‘m already in talks with sponsors, so we‘ll see what happens there. But a 1-goal handicap by the end of the season is what I am really hoping for!

Your wife Morgan is the president of the Swiss Polo Association. How do you complement each other in work?
The funny thing is that Morgan‘s election as president of the Swiss Polo Association – the first woman in the history of polo to hold the office of president of an active polo association anywhere in the world – was my idea. But she also told me from the very beginning that she would only do it if I didn‘t interfere with her work! So we do not complement each other at all. She almost never asks me for advice, at most once in my role as owner of a polo club in Switzerland, but not as husband or even as former vice president of the SPA. But I am a busy man and I trust her completely anyway, so it kind of suits me!

Is it true that you have discovered your passion for polo through your wife?
No, Morgan and I started polo on exactly the same day in 2011 – when we attended the taster course at the Polo Park Zurich with Francisco Podesta. We got both immediately hooked.

Not only both of you are active players but also your son. How do you describe the energy in such a Polo-loving family?
With Armand it took a little longer, because he was originally afraid of horses. Now, of course, he‘s long since playing better than we are! The energy in the family is very good, because playing together with his loved ones or against them is one of the best aspects of the sport. And of course, a polo-loving family means that all the ancillary aspects of the lifestyle are understood by everyone: the respect for the horses, the grooms, the asados, the mate-drinking, the endless discussions about handicaps, about horses, the hours spent at the polo club. All this makes sense in our family. The only tensions arise when we sometimes have to decide who sits on which horse for a match. But fortunately we have always solved that well in the end so far!

Polo has played a very important role in your life for ten years now. Can you tell us about a particularly great moment during this time?
This question is almost impossible to answer because so many memories come to mind: the day I bought the Polo Club, the Grand Opening of the new clubhouse and stables, or winning the Swiss Medium Goal Championships. The Golden Goal at the Deauville Silver Cup and the face of Pancho Bensadon. The lunch with Facu, Nico, Polito and Gonzalito Pieres. The infamous evening in Chantilly with Pablo MacDonough. The game three against four with Min Podesta, which I lost only by a golden goal. Juan Martin Nero, who addressed me by my name even though we had never met before. Scoring a goal with a neck-shot and hearing Martin Podesta shout behind me: „THIS is polo!“. Playing with the Maharajah of Jaipur in Germany.

“In a way, polo is even more important to me than my family.”
Sébastien Le Page, President of POLO PARK ZURICH

And the list goes on and on?
Don‘t say I didn‘t warn you! (laughs) Seeing my son play polo even though he‘s afraid of horses. Seeing Morgan win the Open de France with the Vénot sisters. Laughing to tears together with Jorge MacDonough in London. Meeting Adolfo Cambiaso. The purchase of San Eugenio. The January 1 chukkas where three generations of Le Page played three generations of Podesta and the tears of Min Podesta who had never seen his grandfather on a horse (and Oscar scored the first goal!). The first time I ever signed an autograph as a polo player. But to be completely honest – and maybe it sounds a bit cliché, but I swear it‘s true: The best moments I‘ve had playing polo are all the evenings around the campfire playing truco, talking about polo, laughing with each other, drinking wine and just enjoying the atmosphere and the friendship.

When did the enthusiasm for polo really grab you for the first time? Can you remember the moment and the feeling?
The first day, the first lesson, the first hit with the ball – and I was immediately hooked. I was hooked! I remember that my friend Cédric Schweri had made T-shirts in his former club that said: „If you‘ve got the virus, we a-polo-gize“. And that‘s exactly what it is. Not only do Morgan and Armand see it that way and are that way, but my parents are now following polo as well. So the virus is spreading. Let‘s make it a pandemic!

Not only do you enjoy being on the Polo field – you also love everything around this sport. Why?
I played rugby for 25 years and this sport is famous for the atmosphere outside the pitch. I think the tougher the sport, the more respect the players have for each other. I‘ve always loved that camaraderie in rugby; the third half, the mutual respect. And I‘ve found the same thing in polo. I can‘t understand people who come to a game, play, and then quickly leave to do other things. I have to bask in the wonderful atmosphere long after the game is over. I remember Francisco Podesta telling me once two years ago: Seb, you organize too many asados in the club, the grooms need to sleep sometimes too, you know! But I just love that camaraderie, the banter, the fun, the conversations about horses, handicaps, the jokes. And I love playing Truco, of course! But it‘s also more than that. It also has to do with meeting people, discovering Argentina and also many other places in the world. I just can‘t get enough of this polo life: Whether it‘s meeting kings or arguing with my gauchos on my farm. I just love it!

What is so fascinating about this sport? Why is it the most important thing in your life – after your family?
Actually, in a way, polo is even more important than my family. I’m aware that this is one of the most dangerous team sports in the world, so the risk of death or permanent injury is real and possible. If I wanted to put family first, I would tell my wife and son not to play. It‘s too dangerous! But I‘ve made my peace with it. In the clubhouse at Polo Park Zurich, I put up a poster with a drawing of polo players that says, „Anything will kill you, so choose something you enjoy.“ And that‘s what polo is all about. It‘s fun! It‘s a team sport, polo is fast and furious, there are animals involved, it‘s glamorous! The lifestyle is wonderful, it‘s interacting with others, and it‘s a chess game, physically and mentally. And of course, in addition, it has become my main business.

Why is there a prejudice in many people’s minds that Polo is an extremely elitist sport?
I guess it‘s because British monarchs have been playing polo for decades and many know the sport from that context. So it‘s automatically associated with the monarchy and therefore with elitism. When I invite people to watch some chukkas, they still very often ask me how they should dress. My answer is always the same: „Come like me, in shorts and flip-flops“.

16 years ago, you had to digest a severe blow of fate when your first wife died at the age of 33. How did you manage to regain your strength, positivity, optimism and your hunger for life?
Well, that‘s a question I could fill a whole book with the answer to! But in short, I was lucky to be surrounded by a loving family and a great son, even though he was only three years old at the time. I was working for the Glencore group of companies at the time, and everyone there was absolutely fantastic, too. But that doesn‘t mean it‘s all over today, if you want me to be frank. And I‘m sure all the people who know me well can fully confirm that. But I‘m ok! With Armand and Morgan by my side, I live a very happy life today.

Are you a fighter and a survivor?
Not at all. I am exactly the opposite. I‘m lazy, get scared easily, get depressed and anguished. I stress myself out too much and therefore stress others out too. I am good at making excuses and I try to make things easy for myself. Sometimes I suffer from impostor syndrome. But I am a thinker and I am empathetic. I am generally lucky, I am a success person and I trust people. That compensates for my negative traits quite well. And when I get a little down again because things aren‘t going the way I want them to, Armand is almost always there right away to tell me, „Dad, slow down, turn around and look at what you‘ve already accomplished.“ This helps me a lot in moments of doubt. I wonder if he is not basically more mature than I am!

How do you describe your philosophy of life?
My life changed completely at the age of 17 when I read Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This book by Nietzsche is about a master and his disciple. The disciple asks, „Master, what should I do to be happy?“. And the master answers, „Be happy!“. And that has been my philosophy of life ever since.

He is the president of Polo Park Zurich and one of the most colorful minds on the scene. At the end of the 2021 season, POLO+10 met Sébastien Le Page…

North America, Polo News

Oak Brook Polo Club Signs Long-Term Agreement with Village of Oak Brook and Moves Back To Cecil Smith Field at Butler International Golf Club

26. October 2021

OAK BROOK, IL – Oak Brook Polo Club announces today that it has entered into a long-term agreement with the Village of Oak Brook to move and host polo operations and competition on the Cecil Smith Field (Field #2) beginning summer 2022 and marking its 100^th season.

Located on Butler National Golf Club’s practice golf range, the field is widely known in the sport of polo as a historic and beautiful space. Village of Oak Brook and Polo Club founder, Paul Butler, called the field a “masterpiece” in a 1962 Sports Illustrated article. Some of the sport’s most legendary and best players have competed on this storied pitch. Tucked away on The Village of Oak Brook’s Sports Core property, just east of the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club and north of the Sports Core Soccer Fields. The field is the highest point in Oak Brook lined with large oak trees older than the field itself.

“The Cecil Smith Field is what Augusta is to golf,” adds Danny O’Leary, Manging Director of Oak Brook Polo Club. “The field is as beautiful as is legendary, with historic matches won and lost, memorable plays and dramatic defeats. This is a proud moment for polo as Oak Brook’s team returns to its home field.”

The Cecil Smith Field embodies the Village of Oak Brook’s long and storied advocacy for sport and outdoor recreation. It contributes to the Village’s vison of being one of the nation’s best residential, commercial and entertainment destinations.

During the height of the recession in 2009, Oak Brook Polo Club struggled to find an organizer and as a result, the Village agreed to allow target golf greens being installed on the Cecil Smith Field. This forced polo to be played on the Prince Wales of field (Field #1), which also operates as the Oak Brook Golf Club’s practice range. Even when an organizer returned in 2010, nothing changed.

In the early 1990s, the polo community demoted Field #1 to a practice field due to flooding and costly repairs as a result. The conditions would greatly affect polo for the next 12 years from an unsafe and unrepairable field to numerous canceled matches and seasons.

“The future of polo in Oak Brook greatly depended on the Club’s move to Cecil Smith,” explains Jim Drury, President of Oak Brook Polo Club. “Polo now has a brighter future on and off the field as we continue to work on returning our club to its original glory while ushering in a new generation of fans, players and new ideas. And what greater time for this to occur than on the eve of Oak Brook Polo Club’s 100^thAnniversary. Village founder, Paul Butler, would be thrilled and overjoyed to see polo return to its ‘masterpiece field’ and original home for Sunday polo festivities.”

Negotiations for polo’s return to Field #2 began in Fall of 2020 with the Village of Oak Brook and Butler National Golf Club and continued for nearly a year until now. On September 14^th, the agreement would be unanimously approved during a Board of Trustees Meeting.

“Polo exemplifies the tradition of what we call ‘restrained good taste’ in Oak Brook,” explains Edward Tiesenga, Oak Brook Village Trustee. “From a distance it can look effortless, but it’s only due to the great power and grace of the horses combined with the skill and experience of the players. We look forward to hosting polo teams and spectators from all over the world on the reclaimed historic Cecil Smith field.”

Oak Brook Polo was privatized from the Village of Oak Brook in 2016 and is led and supported by Drury whose passion and ongoing commitment to polo is what’s kept the sport alive in Chicagoland for so long. It is one of the nation’s oldest polo clubs in operation today and the fourth oldest sports property in Chicago.

With many iterations over the years, the first season dates back to 1922 when Polo visionary Paul Butler first established the Oak Brook Polo Club. He expanded his polo operation to fourteen fields, plus built the necessary horse stables to serve the visiting teams. Eventually, Oak Brook became one of the “polo capitals” of the world with Butler’s son, famed producer Michael Butler, and daughter, philanthropist Jorie Butler Kent, acting as the club’s stewards through the years. The summer Polo seasons were not only the stomping ground for celebrities and notables alike for decades but also the destination for American Polo players and enthusiasts. Oak Brook was often referred to as “The Town That Polo Built.”

Butler National Golf Club is an exclusive private, members only golf club, located in the western suburb of Oak Brook, Ill. The club has a traditional 18-hole golf course, previously hosting the Western Open tournament from 1974-1990. Membership is by invitation only.

The 2022 season and 100^th Anniversary kicks off on Sunday, June 26^,2021 on the Cecil Smith Field. Multiple events & activities are planned to commemorate the centennial, including the return of the prestigious “polo ball”, which is scheduled to take placed at the end of the season.

For general information, event scheduling, and parking directions, please call 630.368.5095.

About Oak Brook Polo Club

Founded in 1922 by legendary businessman, Paul Butler, the Oak Brook Polo Club is an American Polo treasure and one of the oldest polo clubs in the United States. It was once the sport’s epicenter for elite professional polo in the United States and served as home to the U.S. Open Polo Championship for twenty-four straight seasons and other prestigious international and national polo tournaments. For decades, the Club has been a popular Sunday tradition and social scene known for entertaining Hollywood celebrities, dignitaries, royalty, and Chicago’s distinguished. Today, Oak Brook Polo Club hosts several Sunday matches and continues to attract thousands of fascinated spectators who marvel at the athleticism and majesty of this timeless sport.

Photos: ©Oak Brook Polo Club

OAK BROOK, IL – Oak Brook Polo Club announces today that it has entered into a long-term agreement with the Village of Oak Brook to move and host polo operations…

Asia, Polo News

Tianjin VIP Member Polo Weekend in China

21. October 2021

Dr. Cinderella von Dungern, 19. October 2021

Tianjin is a second tier, coastal municipality in Northern China, around one hour car drive east from Beijing on the shore of the Bohai Sea. With a population of around 15 million inhabitants, it is one of the nine national central cities in China and has a long history as major seaport and gateway for trade. Western influence has also played an important role in this city, as it emerged from the concessional history and global trade city in the 19^th century into a modern business hub for many western companies and expatriates today. So, it is not surprising to find there since 2010 also a polo ground according to international standards. Before COVID started, the club hosted large international medium and high goal polo events with an international participation and recognition. Due to the external travel restrictions, this and last season they organized a range of national low goal events.

In mid-October, the “Tianjin Metropolitan Polo Club” hosted a low goal-tournament as part of the “Metropolitan & Nine Dragon Hill Polo Summit Score Tournament 2021”. The event was co-organized by “Polo Summit” and “Shanghai Nine Dragon Hill Polo Club” and was supported by Mixc and China Jockey Club. Shao Wenyao, chief editor of China Jockey Club National Equine Media, and Xu Zhaoyu, director of the International Department of Chinese Jockey Club visited the event.

In the impressive premises and facilities of the Tianjin polo club and after a solemn open ceremony with Maserati cars and line-up of all teams, the players fought hard and with lots of passion and enthusiasm. As temperatures were chilly for horses and players and season’s end is approaching, playing safe and healthy was most important for the enthusiastic polo crowd the match. The polo professional Cesar Hugo Palacios from Argentina Corrientes (hcp +3) joined the match and his presence on the field then made the game very high quality and fast. Hugo came to China in 2015 and is the leading coach in Tianjin. Being an active polo since more than 20 years his idea for his time in China is on the one hand to promote beginners and on the other hand, train the domestic players & horses according to international standards. Prior to his arrival in China, he has also been playing in England, Nigeria, and Ireland. Three teams played in a ‘round robin’-competition with various players from Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin. Team “Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club” won both games and became first, second prize went to the team “Polo Summit” and third place was awarded to the team “Metropolitan Polo Club”.

Polo culture in China has a long history and is an important part of Chinese horse culture. Modern polo in China began in 2005 when the first club in the country was founded by Xia Yang (Beijing Sunnytimes Polo Club). In 2019, China’s first professional standard on polo was issued, in September 2021 the first polo rulebook, the green book of modern Chinese polo rules, was published in China. With great personal efforts of a few polo pioneers many exciting national and international tournaments of various kinds took place all over the country. But still, considering its size and population, China is a country where very little polo is played. Hence, getting more polo to be played, is the challenge for its polo community. Since many years national clubs also promote the development of China’s national polo league, thus the exchange and cooperation of domestic polo clubs play a major role in offering various platforms for new Chinese polo riders to learn and compete on the field.

Muniain (Mucho) Chen is one of those early movers and he established “Polo Summit” to increase opportunities for competition between national players of all levels, so that more people will get attracted by this sport in China. To his observation, Polo is becoming more and more popular, but it requires constant efforts to enhance and keep the level and develop a professional polo culture. So, for him as the tournament’s organizer it was very important to also integrate five female polo players which is quite unique for Chinese Polo Cups. Among them, Ms. Wa Wa was also actively playing. She is the first woman polo player in China and a pioneer in her generation.

Tianjin Metropolitan Polo Club

Tianjin Metropolitan Polo Club was founded in 2010 by Goldin Group, but is now operating on its own. The club has one international standard high- goal and one training polo field as well as a sand and indoor arena. With 150 polo ponies imported from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and Europe it is also a leading training center in China for learning polo. Many people in Northern China start their polo career here, as they can benefit from good quality horses, facilities, and an elaborated training program.

Shanghai Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club

Shanghai Nine Dragon Hill Polo Club was founded in 2008 and has a British and Argentinean background. It is one of the three leading polo clubs in China. The club takes its’ name from a beautiful coastal parkland of Nine Dragons Hill resort and is an exclusive, private members club. The club is one hour drive from Shanghai and offers excellent facilities, two full-size polo fields and around 100 polo ponies.

Team “Metropolitan Polo Club” Michael Xu (hcp 0) Henry Tang (hcp -1) Xu (Alex) Xing (hcp -1) Man (Fatin) Li (hcp -2)

Team “Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club” Yan Kangliang (-2 hcp) Sun Kai (-2 hcp) Dr. Cinderella von Dungern (-1 hcp) Cesar Hugo Palacios (+3 hcp)

Team „Polo Summit” Hao (Wa Wa) Xinyu (-1 hcp) / Liu Yiyi (-1 hcp) Feng Laoxian (-2 hcp) / Yuan Jian (- 2hcp) Ye Yang (-1 hcp) Muniain (Mucho) Chen (0 hcp)

Umpires (in alternate order) Michael Xu, Cesar Hugo Palacios, Muniain Chen

Photos: ©Polo Summit / MPC

Dr. Cinderella von Dungern, 19. October 2021 Tianjin is a second tier, coastal municipality in Northern China, around one hour car drive east from Beijing on the shore of the…

North America, Polo News

International Polo Club Palm Beach and United States Polo Association Announce 2022 High-Goal Tournament Schedule and One-Year GAUNTLET OF POLO® Extension

20. October 2021

International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), in conjunction with the United States Polo Association, is 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.

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 was crowned GAUNTLET Champion.

The 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO® will return for the fourth year and begin on February 6-27 with the C.V. Whitney Cup®, continue with the USPA Gold Cup® from March 1-27, and conclude with the illustrious U.S. Open Polo Championship® from 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 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.

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.

For more information, please visit internationalpoloclub.com.

Polo Tournament Schedule

16-18 GOAL

IGLEHART CUP
January 2

JOE BARRY MEMORIAL
january 2-16

YLVISAKER CUP
January 15 – February 6

18-22 GOAL

U.S. OPEN WOMEN`S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
March 1-27

GAUNTLET OF POLO

C.V. WHITNEY CUP
February 6-27

U.S. OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
March 29 – April 24

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.

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.”