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North America, Polo News

Santa Rita Takes High Alpine Cup; MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada Catamount Wins Ute Challenge

10. August 2021

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

CARBONDALE, CO, August 9, 2021— Santa Rita defeated Victory Polo by 8-5 to win the High Alpine Cup while Catamount prevailed over Tonkawa by 9-6 to claim victory in the Ute Challenge.

In the feature tournament of the week, The High Alpine Challenge final, saw Santa Rita (Alejandra Foster, Lauren Sherry, Tomacho Pieres, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) take on Victory Polo (Kevin Schmeitz, Vinny Sangaline, Nic Roldan, and Horacio Heguy).

Tomato Pieres reaches to hook Horacio Heguy.

Nic Roldan started the scoring at 3:17, picking up the ball on a pass from Vinny Sangaline inside the 30-yard line. Play continued back and forth until Alejandro Novillo Astrada made a spectacular pass to Alejandra Foster, who took the ball just inside the 40-yard line and put it through the posts to score with one minute left on the clock. Novillo Astrada continued to work in sync with Foster in the second period, and she scored again less than a minute into play. Vinny Sangaline retaliated with a goal, but Foster ended the chukker with a perfect Penalty 2 conversion to put Santa Rita ahead at 3-2. Horacio Heguy tied up the score at 3-all, but Foster converted another Penalty 2 to end the half at 4-3 for Santa Rita.

MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada rides off opponent Vinny Sangaline.

The second half began with Nic Roldan breaking his mallet less than 30 seconds in. Sangaline tied the score up again at 4-4 while Victory Polo failed to get on the board. Tomacho Pieres contributed back-to-back goals in the fifth period, picking up another spectacular pass from Novillo Astrada in the goal mouth at 4:22. In another brilliant play, Novillo Astrada stole the ball away from Roldan and sent it on to Pieres for his second goal. A whistle on a Penalty 6 saw Roldan make a spectacular long shot, all the more impressive since he was playing his eleventh chukker of the day.

Vinny Sangaline takes his shot to goal with Lauren Sherry closely defending.

Going into the final chukker, Santa Rita was ahead by a goal. Their strong defense kept Victory away from the posts, while Novillo Astrada lobbed a powerful shot over the uprights on a Penalty 6. Alejandra Foster scored her fifth goal of the day, working perfectly in concert with Novillo Astrada, and Santa Rita took the title with an 8-5 win. Alejandro Novillo Astrada was named MVP, while Alejandra Foster took the honors as the high scoring player.

MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada with Delfina Blaquier.

Earlier in the day Catamount (Scott Devon, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, and Juan Bollini) met Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Gonzalito Pieres, and Stewart Armstrong) to vie for the title in the Ute Challenge.

While Tonkawa thwarted several plays by Catamount in the first chukker, they were unable to make it onto the board. Just over the two-minute mark, Catamount’s Grant Ganzi scored the first goal of the day. Neither team scored from the field in the second period, while Ganzi converted a Penalty 3 and Gonzalito Pieres put Tonkawa’s first goal on the board with a Penalty 4. Scoring continued on penalties in the third chukker, with Ganzi and Pieres each contributing again from the penalty line. However, a goal from Jeff Hildebrand saw Tonkawa gaining ground and the half ended 4-3 with Catamount holding a narrow lead.

Grant Ganzi chases the ball with Gonzalito Pieres attempting a ride off.

Ganzi started the scoring after the half, again on a Penalty 2, with Nic Roldan adding a goal from the field. With just over a minute left to play. Pieres made a long pass to Jimmy Seward only to have the ball stolen away by Roldan. His shot on goal stopped. just short of the posts, allowing Seward to swoop back in and put the ball through for Tonkawa. The period ended with Catamount back in the lead by 2, at 6-4. Two minutes into the pentultimate chukker, Stewart Armstrong passed the ball to Pieres, who took it through the posts for Tonkawa’s only goal. Catamount added another two goals to the board, with Scott Devon and Ganzi scoring to end the period 8-5 for Catamount.

Gonzalito Pieres of Tonkawa hooks Catamount‘s Scott Devon.

In the final chukker, Jeff Hildebrand converted a Penalty 2 with five minutes left on the clock. With three and half minutes of play left, Roldan made an impressive steal and rocketed toward the goal, with Pieres in close pursuit. Roldan took the ball through to take the score up to 9-6. The chukker played out with neither team able to score again, and Catamount won 9-6. Nic Roldan was named MVP, and Nothing Hidden, played by Jeff Hildebrand in the third chukker, was named Best Playing Pony.

The Ute Challenge MVP award presented to Nic Roldan by Netjets representative Lindsay Fausnaugh.

In the Ute Challenge subsidiary match Audi (Marc Ganzi, Alejandro Poma, Nacho Badiola, and Toro Ruiz) met La Karina (Gussie Busch, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tomacho Pieres, and Brian Boyd. Audi dominated the field in the first chukker. Marc Ganzi started the scoring on a Penalty 2, with Toro Ruiz and Nacho Badiola contributing two more goals. La Karina roared back in the second chukker with three goals, while Nacho Badiola scored the only goal for Audi. Ganzi and Gussie Busch each scored in the third period to end the half at 5-4 for Audi.

2021 Ute Challenge Winners Catamount‘s Juan Bollini, Nic Roldan, Terri Devon, Grant Ganzi, Scott Devon, and Netjet‘s Lindsay Fausnaugh.

The tables turned as the second half began, with Tomas Pieres and Alejandro Novillo Astrada found the posts while Audi was frustrated. La Karina took a 6-5 lead, increasing it to 8-7 in the fifth chukker. Audi made a strong effort in the final chukker, keeping La Karina off the board while Poma converted a Penalty 2 and Badiola scored to end the match victorious, with Audi winning 9-8.

In the High Alpine Just for the Love It subsidiary, NetJets (Michael Payne, Alex Gooding, Pablo Spinacci, and Nacho Figueras) met Rancho Los Amigos (Nacho Novillo Astrada, Sugar Erskine, Govinda Quish, and Paul Foster). Alex Gooding scored for NetJets in the first chukker, while Rancho Los Amigos couldn’t get on the board. The situation was reversed in the second chukker, with Paul Foster scoring for Los Amigos while NetJets was frustrated. Gooding scored two goals in the third chukker, with Los Amigos again failing to get on goal, and the half ended 3-1.

Fans enjoyed Kidz Wheelie polo after the days matches.

It was NetJet’s turn to be frustrated again in the fourth period, while Paul Foster found the posts to bring the score to 3-2. Each team scored a goal in the pentultimate chukker (Govinda Quish for Los Amigos and Michael Payne for NetJets), with Audi maintaining their one goal lead at 4-3. Payne scored the only goal in the final chukker, giving Audi a 5-3 win over NetJets.

2021 Aspen Valley Summer Polo Series

August
Rocky Mountain Open 8/9-8/14
Mount Sopris Cup 8/11-8/15
The Carbondale Classic 8/18-8/22
World Polo League Triple Crown of Polo 8/25-8/28

Arena Tournaments & Asado – Tuesday Evenings
Kidz Uni-Wheel games during select tournament halftimes

Chukkers, Champagne, & Caviar
to benefit Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation
Sunday August 22, 2021

Visit www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com for more details.
Games live-streamed on www.chukkertv.com

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV CARBONDALE, CO, August 9, 2021— Santa Rita defeated Victory Polo by 8-5 to win the High Alpine Cup while Catamount prevailed…

Europe, Polo News

Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup Day 3

9. August 2021

Park Place 10 – 5 UAE Polo Team & Monterosso Polo Team 11 – 9 Bardon

Park Place secured their second win of the Talacrest Prince of Wales Championship Cup tournament. They had a convincing victory over HH Sheikha Maitha’s UAE Polo Team, beating them in the rain on the Duke’s Ground 10-5. Facundo Pieres and Juan Britos were in excellent form, ensuring Park Place were 5-1 up at half-time. The UAE Team, playing in a new combination for the first time – nine-goaler Bartolome Castagnola wearing a UAE shirt for this tournament – took time to gel and gave away too many penalties in the first half. UAE Polo Team started to find their form in the second with the big hitting Alfredo Capella and Castagnola closing the gap to 6-4 going into the sixth chukka. Park Place then upped a gear and great team-work from Pieres, Britos and Will Harper saw them score four goals in this final chukka, ensuring they head to their third match on Thursday, against Monterosso with two good wins under their belt. Castagnola got one back for his new team in the final minutes of this match and with this first game played, UAE Polo Team will build on that experience for their next match, against Vikings, on Wednesday.

Both Monterosso and Bardon were looking for that all important first win after going down by just one goal apiece in their opening games earlier in the week. However it is Monterosso that go into week two feeling a little calmer as they won today 11-9. This was a tense and feisty game which saw Facundo Sola being sent off for two minutes in the first chukka after an incident with Alfredo Bigatti, while the umpires showed a couple of yellow cards later in the game. There was nothing between these two teams for much of the match, reflected in the 5-5 scoreline at half-time. Monterosso managed to put some air in the score at the end of the fourth (9-7), with Ignacio Toccalino, Matt Perry and Sola all adding to their team’s tally. Perry in particular had a particularly strong game for Monterosso, always in the right place at the right time and winning the odd horse race against Matias Machado. The tension really showed in the fifth with only Toccalino finding the flags, a spot hit from over 100 yards out from the goal line. Monterosso’s patron was the first to score in the sixth chukka, only for Bigatti and Machado to produce two impressive goals to close the gap. Time was against Bardon now though and on the final bell victory went to Monterosso.

Next Game

Wednesday 11 August: 2pm: UAE Polo Team v Vikings

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

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Park Place 10 – 5 UAE Polo Team & Monterosso Polo Team 11 – 9 Bardon Park Place secured their second win of the Talacrest Prince of Wales Championship Cup…

North America, Polo News

U.S. Polo Assn. and USA TODAY High School Sports Awards (HSSA)

6. August 2021

U.S. Polo Assn. and USA TODAY High School Sports Awards (HSSA) Announce Nation’s Top Student Athletes in the Star-Studded Student Awards Program

The Sport of Polo is Included for the First Time in the 2021 Awards Event

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 6, 2021) The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards (HSSA), presented by U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA) has announced the nation’s top athletes in a first-of-its-kind, national student awards show which aired on August 5.

As part of the partnership with U.S. Polo Assn., the ESPY-style award show included for the first time, the country’s top female and male athletes in the sport of polo. Unlike many sports, female and male polo players of all ages play on the same fields together, and at all levels, including professional. In addition, many of today’s great polo players began in their youth, like those being recognized here at this special award event.

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, hosted by Michael Strahan and Rob Gronkowski, along with red carpet hosts DJ Khaled and Charly Arnolt, featured top professional athletes like Aaron Rodgers, Shaquille O’Neal, Kerrie Walsh Jennings, Chipper Jones, Laurie Hernandez and many others.

USATODAY High School Sports Awards, one of the most extensive high school sports recognition programs in the country, honors talented high school athletes, coaches and teams. This year, 104 regional and statewide programs culminated to set the stage for the first ever national show, highlighting more than 1,000 honorees in 27 sports categories from 50 states, all vying for the opportunity to be named the top athlete in their sport. The regional honorees and winners were revealed in June and state winners were announced in July. Winners from the state level, chosen from a base of more than 60,000 student athletes and 24,000 schools, made up the honorees for the national show.

All honorees received a special gift box from USA TODAY with commemorative items, including a keepsake co-branded trucker hat from U.S. Polo Assn., the show program and other sponsor gift items.

The national award winner in the girls’ high school polo category was Hope Arellano, featuring finalists, Sophie Grant and Summer Kneece. The national award winner in the boys’ high school polo category was Mackenzie Weisz, featuring finalists Lucas Escobar and Winston Painter.

“On behalf of U.S. Polo Assn., I’d like to congratulate all of the participating athletes and recognize the outstanding winners,” said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing, the worldwide licensor of the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “It’s been an honor for U.S. Polo Assn. to be the presenting sponsor for this star-studded event where we had the tremendous excitement of introducing the sport of polo to this year’s roster of awards. As an authentic, sport-inspired global brand, we love the opportunity to support up and coming student polo players as well as the amazing athletes from so many other sports.”

Finalists and winners for the category of polo were selected through a stringent process that was conducted by the USPA and included acommittee of internal experts and a diverse group of representatives from within the USPA, Polo Training Foundation and the Interscholastic/Intercollegiate Committee. Ultimately, the winners were selected for being the highest performing and most qualified candidates.

“The USPA is proud to have this opportunity to be included in this prestigious student athlete recognition event and to be able to put forth our best student polo players from around the U.S. on this stage,” said Stewart Armstrong, Chairman of the USPA. “It’s the USPA’s mission to support youth polo players through our interscholastic and intercollegiate programs, and we hope to see these deserving athletes on the professional stage in the coming years. Congratulations to all!”

Among the other 27 sport categories for these elite high school athletes, coaches and teams were baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, tennis, volleyball, wrestling and more. The national broadcast showcased stories and highlights of the nation’s top athletes in each sport and their stellar performances from the past year.

“We were thrilled to partner with a sport-inspired brand like U.S. Polo Assn. and to include polo in our awards this year,” said Crystal Costa, the program’s event director. “Polo is an amazing sport that many people don’t get a chance to see in person. It’s great that we can draw more attention to the sport of polo by including it in an event of this stature for such deserving kids.”

The on-demand awards show can be viewed at Global Polo TV and at USA TODAY, USA TODAY News and USA TODAY Sportswire channels, available on Amazon Fire TV, the Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus and most Smart TVs. It’s also available on Amazon Prime Video Direct and at SportsAwards.USATODAY.com. Stories about the honorees and more program information can also be found at https://sportsawards.usatoday.com/national/honorees/.

For more information, please visit uspolo.org.

U.S. Polo Assn. and USA TODAY High School Sports Awards (HSSA) Announce Nation’s Top Student Athletes in the Star-Studded Student Awards Program The Sport of Polo is Included for the First…

Europe, Polo News

Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup, Day 2

6. August 2021

Park Place 9 – 8 Bardon

Andrey Borodin’s Park Place had a winning debut in the Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup tournament this afternoon but Bardon made them work hard for this victory. Like yesterday’s opening game, there was little air between these two teams in all six chukkas. Park Place, featuring Borodin, Will Harper, Juan Britos and Facundo Pieres, had a narrow 1-goal advantage (4-3) at the half-time break but Andras Tombor’s Bardon were very much still in the mix.

Bardon, who won the 18-goal Indian Empire Shield just last month, may be playing in the 22-goal for the first time but showed today that they mean business. Fran Elizalde, Alfredo Bigatti and Matias Machado made a formidable opposition and those watching live on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club or catching it live on Guards TV were treated to some fast-paced polo, particularly in the second half. There were some great horse races between Elizalde and Pieres and Machado and Britos, despite the unseasonal August rain.

With the scores reading 7-7 as the teams headed into the sixth chukka there was still all to play for. Elizalde put Bardon in front only for Park Place to convert a penalty. Then with two minutes left on the clock Park Place took the ball to goal, with Britos in determined fashion firing through the winner. Bardon kept on battling but could not find another to push this game into extra time.

With such close games we are clearly going to be treated to some amazing late summer polo at Guards Polo Club.

Next games: Sunday 8 August

12noon: Park Place v UAE Polo Team

3pm: Bardon Polo Team v Monterosso

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

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Park Place 9 – 8 Bardon Andrey Borodin’s Park Place had a winning debut in the Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup tournament this afternoon but Bardon made them…

Europe, Polo News

Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup, Day 1

6. August 2021

Vikings 11 – 10 Monterosso

The Vikings team started their Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup campaign with a win, beating Monterosso in a tight game on the Castle Ground at Flemish Farm. Max Voelker was standing in for Vikings’ patron Siri Evjemo-Nysveen and was joined by Vikings’ regulars Chris Mackenzie, Sebastian Merlos and Juan Martin Zubia. Monterosso was fielding a different line-up to this Queen’s Cup, with Matt Perry and Facundo Sola coming into the team to play alongside Monterosso stalwart Ignacio “Cubi” Toccalino.

There was little air between these two teams for all six chukkas, with both squads eager to register a win on the opening day of this new 22-goal tournament. The Vikings had a narrow, 6-5 lead at half-time but this was still anyone’s game. Both Sebastian Merlos and Facundo Sola made the most of any opportunities when they were given space but their great efforts just cancelled each other out. It was also a fairly feisty game with several yellow cards and Cubi Toccalino being sent to the “sin bin” for two minutes in the closing minutes of the fourth chukka. Despite being a man down, Monterosso, who were trailing at this point 7-6, managed to level the scores with Sola successfully converting a penalty three.

Merlos started the fifth with lovely goal to put the Vikings ahead once more but the rest of this chukka belonged to Monterosso. They managed to put some air in the scoreline (10-8), with Cubi and Sola successfully converting penalties. Many might have thought this was the moment that Monterosso would pull away but the Vikings had written a different script. Juan Martin Zubia, who is always an impressive penalty taker, first converted a 30-yard penalty. Then some great team-work from Merlos, Zubia and Mackenzie enabled the Vikings to level the score again, 10-10. Then with 90 seconds left on the clock Zubia converted his second penalty of this chukka, a 60-yarder, to give the Vikings the edge. Despite some frantic play neither team could add to their tally and Vikings won the day.

This is the first time Guards Polo Club has hosted 22-goal tournament in August and the first game did not disappoint. Five, 22-goal teams have entered this new tournament in its inaugural year and it aims to deliver some top quality sport over the next 19 days. The tournament is sponsored by Talacrest, a classic Ferrari specialist owned by former high-goal player John Collins, and all matches are being filmed live at Guards TV.

Tomorrow: Bardon Polo Team v Park Place on The Queen’s Ground at 3.30pm.

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

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Vikings 11 – 10 Monterosso The Vikings team started their Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup campaign with a win, beating Monterosso in a tight game on the Castle…

North America, Polo News

2021 USPA FMB SILVER CUP & 2021 AMERICA CUP

6. August 2021

SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 1st, 2021) This weekend determined the teams qualified for the semi-finals of the USPA FMB Silver Cup to take place this Friday and the finals for the America Cup to take place on Sunday. All six teams had a lot on the line during these Sunday games so they all came out full force with something to prove.

The morning game took place at 10 AM between Lucchese and Antelope. Both teams needed to win to help their standing for the semi finals. Lucchese put the first two goals on the board with some dynamic polo between Keko Magrini and Jeff Hall. Penalty shots helped keep Antelope in the game with two conversions from Tomas Garcia Del Rio in the first half. After the third chukker, Lucchese had an advantage over Antelope 5-3. Antelope had a comeback in the fourth chukker with a beautiful goal from Grant Palmer and two more goals from Del Rio. However, Lucchese had a goal from each player in the fifth chukker to put them in the lead yet again. The final score was 12-9 to Lucchese.

The second game between Farmers and Merchants Bank and Klentner Ranch already had both teams secure in the semi-finals. Regardless, they both still fought it out for bragging rights and confidence. FMB took the lead in the first half 7-6. But, Klentner Ranch turned it on in the second half, especially Santiago Toccalino, with seven goals by himself in three chukkers. The result was 16-11 to Klentner Ranch.

The featured match at 4 PM had BenSoleimani.com vs. Santa Clara. Juan Curbelo took the place of Luis Escobar on the family team of Santa Clara. BenSoleimani.com had a good first half by capitalizing on the new team makeup of Santa Clara by catching them on some fouls and converting four penalty shots. After a good half-time pep-talk, Santa Clara came back in the fourth chukker with two goals from Juan Curbelo and a penalty conversion from Lucas Escobar. It came down to the last chukker with some very strong play from Santa Clara that won them the game 11-10.

At the end of these three games, Klentner Ranch will face off against Antelope and FMB will go up against Lucchese for the USPA FMB Silver Cup semifinals. The finals of the America Cup on Sunday will be between Santa Clara and BenSoleimani.com.

www.sbpolo.com

Photos by David Lominska /Polograpics.com

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SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 1st, 2021) This weekend determined the teams qualified for the semi-finals of the USPA FMB Silver Cup to take place this Friday and the finals for…

North America, Polo News

U.S. Polo Assn. Announces Matt Coppola, Professional Polo Player, As Brand’s Newest Global Brand Ambassador

6. August 2021

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2021) – U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand for the United States Polo Association (USPA), welcomes American polo player Matt Coppola as the multi-billion-dollar, sport-inspired brand’s newest global ambassador. Now 26, Coppola has been playing professionally since he was 14 years old and played in the semi-finals of the 2011 U.S. Open Polo Championship at the age of 16. Today, he is one of the highest handicapped American players.

The scope of Coppola’s year-long role as global brand ambassador is broad and designed to shine the spotlight on the dynamic crop of young and talented polo players coming up through the ranks. Coppola will be outfitted in U.S. Polo Assn. apparel and gear both on and off the field, will post regularly about his polo-related and other daily activities on social media, and will engage in media requests for interviews and campaigns.

“U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to welcome professional polo player Matt Coppola to our outstanding roster of global brand ambassadors for 2021,” said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing, which manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “Coppola is an exceptional polo player who has come up the ranks quickly in the U.S. He is an excellent representation of what our brand is all about – sport-inspired, youthful, vibrant and fun.”

Born and raised in Wellington, Florida by show jumper Jesse Coppola and professional polo player Tony Coppola, he developed a love for horses at a very young age. Today, Coppola travels the United States and Argentina to play professional polo throughout the year and works with his father to help give racehorses a second career in polo. Coppola is also a graduating member of Team USPA, a prominent program developed and managed by the USPA to develop young American polo players for the highest levels of competition.

“I could not be more excited to represent U.S. Polo Assn., with whom I have worked over the years through the brand’s sponsorship of the GAUNTLET OF POLO,” said Coppola. “As a professional polo player, it’s meaningful for me to represent a brand that’s authentically connected to polo and gives back to the sport and its players.”

Coppola has competed in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO® competitions in Wellington and has triumphed in many of these prestigious tournaments. With a shooting accuracy of more than 70 percent, Coppola, who played for Las Monjitas, ranked second out of all the players in the 2019 GAUNTLET and first for shooting accuracy in the U.S. Open Polo Championship. In 2021, he played in the GAUNTLET with Park Place, alongside Andre Borodin, Hilario Ulloa and Juan Britos, winning the prestigious C.V. Whitney Cup and making the finals of the U.S. Open Polo Championship.

To learn more about Coppola and to see him play in these exciting events, visit globalpolo.com.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2021) – U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand for the United States Polo Association (USPA), welcomes American polo player Matt Coppola as the multi-billion-dollar,…

North America, Polo News

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: 2021 USPA FMB SILVER CUP

5. August 2021

SANTA BARBARA, CA. (July 25th, 2021) The historic Silver Cup began with the first round of play on Sunday, July 25th. This tournament dates back to the year 1900 when it was first played and originally established as the Junior Championship. The Santa Barbara Polo Club has now hosted the Silver Cup many times throughout its 121 year history, but this will be its second consecutive year after it took place on the East Coast for two years. Farmers and Merchants Bank is sponsoring the tournament this year and it is also a USPA National Tournament.

The first two teams to face off in the USPA FMB Silver Cup were Klentner Ranch and Santa Clara. Santi Toccalino cut right to the chase with a goal for Klentner Ranch out of the lineup in the first chukker. Over the rest of the half, both teams battled it out, goal for goal, to finish the third chukker tied five all. Santa Clara had some difficulties with no goals in the fourth and fifth chukker, which let Klentner Ranch take a lead. Dynamic brother duo of Lucas and Nico Escobar scored three goals in the last chukker, but not it was not quite enough to secure a win. Klentner Ranch won the game 11-8.

The second game of the day was Lucchese vs. BenSoleimani.com, with a substitution of Carlos Leiva (one goal in handicap) for John Muse on the Lucchese team. The first half went by quickly with lots of goals and fast play. Facundo Obregon capitalized off of his penalty shots, converting six penalties total for Lucchese. On BenSoleimani.com, the eponymous patron, Ben Soleimani, had a great game scoring three field goals throughout the match. In the end, the experienced Lucchese team took the win 15-13 from the exciting, high scoring game.

The featured match at 4 PM had Antelope vs. Farmers and Merchants Bank. Thirteen year old Paquito de Narvaez substituted for Daniel Walker on FMB. This game had intense play with less goals and more defense. Tomas Garcia Del Rio did get the first goal of the game but the half ended with the low score of 3-2 to Antelope. FMB came back in the second half with four goals from Luqitas Criado alone to tie, Paquito de Narvaez showed talent beyond his years in scoring the game winning goal with under a minute left. The final score went to FMB, 8-7 after a close game.

www.sbpolo.com

Photos by David Lominska /Polograpics.com

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SANTA BARBARA, CA. (July 25th, 2021) The historic Silver Cup began with the first round of play on Sunday, July 25th. This tournament dates back to the year 1900 when…

Europe, Polo News

SARDINIA ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMES POLO’S RETURN TO THE COSTA SMERALDA

5. August 2021

Sardinia is a region in which equestrian traditions are powerfully present in the inhabitants’ DNA, where a location such as the Costa Smeralda with its extraordinary beauty is one of the most popular high-end tourism destinations in the world, and it was here that the organising committee addressed the same care to both the sporting and social aspects of this event…

The mix of these three elements marked a total success of the end of July Italia Polo Challenge Baylandi Cup – Porto Cervo 2021.

©Max Giorgioni

After the success of tournaments organised in Cortina d’Ampezzo on snow and in Rome’s Villa Borghese, the Arena Polo series planned by the Argentinean player Patricio Rattagan, in partnership since 2019 with the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), landed in Porto Cervo in the Arzachena area. This was yet another prestigious tournament that enriched a series of both technically and entertaining high-profile events.

The last on the list of Italia Polo Challenge tournaments was a success, also involving local spectators with exciting moments such as when horses and players paraded through Arzachena’s historical centre followed by another spectacular representation of the teams riding through the famous square in Porto Cervo.

Crowded with people having before dinner drinks, with the splendid marina as the backdrop and in the presence of the Brigata Sassari’s musical military band, the lined-up polo ponies created a wonderful image for the debut of the Italia Polo Challenge-Baylandi Cup.

An extremely beautiful hospitality village created along the side of the Andrea Corda Sports Centre in Abbiadori, was built and equipped to welcome guests in perfect Costa Smeralda style on all three evenings with many fans and guests who had come to watch the matches (the Organising Committee allowed everyone admission free of charge) as well as to enjoy sophisticated wine and food tasting sessions and after-match evenings with live music and DJ Sets.

THE TOURNAMENT

Petra Bianca Polo Team is the team that won this first edition of the Italia Polo Challenge Baylandi Cup-Porto Cervo, played in the evenings under the spotlights of the Andrea Corda Sports Centre in Abbiadori (Arzachena).

During the final played on Saturday July 24th, Petra Bianca finished the match with a two-goal lead (7 – 5) over Team Battistoni, which had instead beaten them in the July 22nd opening match.

©Max Giorgioni

The team captained by Riccardo Paganelli, born Italian but with British nationality, therefore certainly got its own back in the decisive match played in front of a large crowd. Brothers Jeronimo and Bautista Fanelli, respectively scoring four and three goals, looked unbeatable as they finished the match against Battistoni 7-5. Captain Riccardo Paganelli explained that this win was also the result of a well-established understanding between himself and the Fanelli brothers after playing together for the whole of 2021.

The tournament also emphasised the talent of another Argentinean player Joaquin Maiquez (Battistoni Polo Team; hp 6). The player with the highest handicap (7) Francisco Bensadon (Sea Earth Sky Polo Team) worked hard to ensure that his team mates Therance Cusmano and Francesco Scardaccione were able to score. Patricio Rattagan (U.S. Polo Assn. Polo Team) scored often and had the merit of launching 23-year-old Alexander Aggravi, making his debut in a major tournament.

COMMENTS

Roberto Ragnedda, Mayor of Arzachena: “Sardinia has always boasted a great tradition in equestrian sports and we are delighted to have renewed such traditions in great style thanks to this prestigious polo tournament that we plan to host until 2023 in partnership with the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation.”

Marco Di Paola, president of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation: “This is an event that both the Federation and the local authorities firmly wanted to organise and one must praise their farsightedness for having enthusiastically supported the plans of an Organising Committee projected towards great goals.”

Patricio Rattagan, the Italia Polo Challenge event manager said: “We have organised a tournament in a fantastic location, creating a really beautiful hospitality village. Expectations were high among those who provided us with this great opportunity and we hope we have lived up to them. This was a first of course and we need to work on and improve a number of organisational aspects. It has, however, been a wager we have won, as have all those who placed their confidence in us both at an organisational and technical level as far as the tournament’s quality and level of play was concerned.”

Alessandro Giachetti, director of polo for the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation added: ”It was important for us to return to Sardinia with a significant tournament after being away for eleven years. We are particularly satisfied as far as the event’s success is concerned. The Arena polo format is a winning one since the smaller pitch increases the speed of play and the game becomes more spectacular.”

Paolo Riccardi, president of PMP Polo and of the Organising Committee said: “The idea of organising a new and enchanting event in which horses play the leading role and one respecting the great sporting tradition of this location had attracted us powerfully. Now we are delighted that we made the right choice together with the Federation, the Municipality of Arzachena and the Consorzio Costa Smeralda. It was a test run for this tournament and we are proud of its success and now everything indicates that we will do even better at the next two editions.”

RESULTS

Day 1
Battistoni Polo Team Vs Petra Bianca Polo Team: 6-4
U.S. Polo Assn. Polo Team Vs Sea Earth Sky Polo Team: 5-3

Day 2
First semi-final
Petra Bianca Polo Team Vs U.S. Polo Assn. Polo Team: 7-5

Second semi-final
Battistoni Polo Team Vs Sea Earth Sky Polo Team: 8-7

Day 3
Final 3º-4º place
Sea Earth Sky Polo Team Vs U.S. Polo Assn. Polo Team: 6-5

Final 1º-2° place
Petra Bianca Polo Team Vs Battistoni Polo Team: 7-5

TEAMS

Battistoni Polo Team (+8)
Stefano Giansanti ITA (0)
Alexander Hauptmann GER (+2)
Joaquin Maiquez ARG (+6)

Petra Bianca Polo Team (+8)
Riccardo Paganelli GBR (0)
Bautista Fanelli ARG (+3)
Jeronimo Fanelli ARG (+5)

Sea Earth Sky Polo Team (+8)
Francesco Scardaccione ITA (0)
Therance Cusmano ITA (+1)
Francisco Bensadon ARG (+7)

U.S. Polo Assn. Polo Team (+10)
Diego White ARG (+6)
Patricio Rattagan ARG (+4)
Alexander Aggravi ITA (0)

www.italiapolochallenge.it

Sardinia is a region in which equestrian traditions are powerfully present in the inhabitants’ DNA, where a location such as the Costa Smeralda with its extraordinary beauty is one of…

North America, Polo News

Tonkawa Victorious in Basalt Handicap; Toro Ruiz Named Most Valuable Player

5. August 2021

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

CARBONDALE, CO, July 26, 2020 — Tonkawa defeated La Karina by a score of 13-10 to capture the Basalt Handicap title. In the Just For The Fun Of It subsidiary, Aspen Valley Polo Club defeated McClure River Ranch in overtime by 6-5.

Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Toro Ruiz, and Grant Ganzi) and La Karina (Brian Boyd, Gussie Busch, Nic Roldan, and Marc Ganzi) took to the field in Sunday’s final match of the Basalt Handicap.

Team sponsors Brian Boyd and Jeff Hildebrand go neck and neck down the field.

La Karina dominated play in the first chukker, with Nic Roldan taking possession from the bowl-in. He slammed the ball downfield to Brian Boyd, who sent it on to Marc Ganzi to put the first goal on the board at 5:33. Roldan came out of the next bowl-in with control of the ball again, sending a long shot for Brian Boyd to pick up and put through the posts despite Jeff Hildebrand’s best efforts to ride him off the line. As the clock ticked under four minutes, Tonkawa had yet to take control of the ball for an offensive play, and Gussie Busch took his turn at the goal after working the ball downfield. With just a minute left on the clock, Roldan fired off another long shot to Marc Ganzi, who picked up the pass and carried the ball through the uprights. The chukker ended 4-0 in favor of La Karina.

Grant Ganzi shoots a long near side neck shot with Brian Boyd on the defense.

At the beginning of the second chukker, it was clear that Tonkawa needed to start winning throw-ins. Although Marc Ganzi scored the first goal in the second chukker, taking La Karina up to 5, Tonkawa began to gain some ground. At 2:48, Toro Ruiz scored his team’s first goal on a Penalty 6, and a minute later he put another on the board. With 46 seconds left on the clock, Grant Ganzi made a spectacular shot to cut La Karina’s advantage to 2 goals. The period ended 5-3. Tonkawa put the first goal on the board in Chukker 3, but a goal from Busch and a Penalty 2 conversion by Marc Ganzi saw La Karina hang on to the advantage and end the half leading by 7-4.

Torito Ruiz gains possession with teammate Jeff Hildebrand behind riding off Gussie Busch and Marc Ganzi.

La Karina gave away much of their advantage through fouls in the fourth chukker, with Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hildebrand, and Toro Ruiz all scoring on penalties. Marc Ganzi also scored on a penalty, while Gussie Busch put the ball through from the field with 1:28 left on the clock. The players returned to the center for the throw-in and Ruiz jumped on the ball, moving it downfield and slamming a long shot to goal to end the period closing in on La Karina at 9-8. In the fifth period, Ruiz tied the score at 9-9 but a Penalty 3 conversion by Marc Ganzi put La Karina back in the lead. Ruiz scored another goal from the field and the period ended 10-all.

MVP Torito Ruiz with Netjets representatives.

The final chukker saw Tonkawa capitalize on their momentum while La Karina seemed to run out of gas. Tonkawa kept the team in pink off the board, while goals from Hildebrand and Ruiz, plus a penalty conversion by Marc Ganzi, saw Tonkawa seize the title with a 13-10 victory over La Karina. Toro Ruiz was named the Most Valuable Player while Debutante, a 16-year-old mare owned by Jeff Hildebrand, took Best Playing Pony honors.

Best Playing Pony Debutante owned and ridden by Jeff Hildebrand gets a well deserved treat.

In the Just for the Fun of It subsidiary match, Aspen Valley Polo Club (Alejandro Poma, Nacho Badiola, Tomas Pieres, and Stewart Armstrong) defeated McClure River Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Govinda Quish, Sugar Erskine, and Pablo Spinacci) by a score of 6-5 in overtime.

Aspen Valley took the lead early on and held onto it through the first half. McClure River Ranch couldn’t get past the Aspen Valley defense to score in the first chukker, while a goal from Nacho Badiola and a Penalty 2 conversion from Alejandro Poma ended the chukker 2-0. Neither team was able to get on the board during the pitched battle of the second chukker, but Govinda Quish scored consecutive goals to ties thing up at 2-2. A final goal from Poma ended the half with Aspen Valley leading 3-2.

Ale Pome runs the ball down the field.

The teams played an evenly matched game through the second half, with each chukker ending in a tie. In the fourth chukker, Quish put the ball through for a third time, tying the score at 3-all, while holding off Aspen Valley and keeping them away from the goal. In the fifth chukker, Quish converted a Penalty 2, but Stewart Armstrong found the posts to tie the match up again at 4-all. A goal from Tomas Pieres in the final chukker put Aspen Valley ahead, but a Penalty 2 conversion from Quish ended the chukker at 5-all and sent the game into overtime. After two and half minutes of play, Nacho Badiola scored the winning goal for Aspen Valley, ending the match at 6-5. Govinda Quish was the high-scoring player, with five goals to his credit.

McClure River Ranch‘s Sugar Erskine with the long reach for the ball.

In the round robin Elk Mountain Challenge final, Victory Polo (Ryan Cronin, Kevin Schmeits, Gonzalito Pieres, and Juan Bollini) defeated Rancho Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Nacho Figueras, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) and Sopris Mountain Ranch (Alejandra Foster, Larry Austin, Horacio Heguy, and Nacho Novillo Astrada).

Vinny Sangaline and Horacio Heguy have all eyes on the ball.

With scores carrying over from Friday’s play, Victory Polo was in the lead. The first match saw Rancho Los Amigos take on Sopris Mountain Ranch. The game ended in an 11-11 tie, with Alejandra Foster leading the scoring with four goals. In the second match, Rancho Los Amigos remained on the field to face off against Victory Polo. Victory Polo had a strong advantage going into the game, leading by 8-4. Although Los Amigos scored six goals, Victory Polo won the day with a final score of 11-10.

Larry Austin is first to the ball to gain possession, teammate Alejandra Foster is close behind to offer support.

In the final game, Victory Polo took on Sopris Mountain Ranch and went into this match with an advantage as well, leading by 6-4. Play was evenly matched throughout but Sopris Mountain was unable to erode Victory Polo’s advantage and went down 7-9. Victory Polo took the title in the Elk Mountain Challenge with a cumulative score of +3, while Rancho Los Amigos was in second place at -1 and Sopris Mountain followed with -2.

2021 Aspen Valley Summer Polo Series

July
Emma Challenge Cup 7/28-8/1

August
High Alpine Cup 8/4-8/8
Rocky Mountain Open 8/1-8/14
Mount Sopris Cup 8/11-8/15
The Carbondale Classic 8/18-8/22
World Polo League Triple Crown of Polo 8/25-8/28

Arena Tournaments & Asado – Tuesday Evenings
Kidz Uni-Wheel games during select tournament halftimes

Chukkers, Champagne, & Caviar
to benefit Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation
Sunday August 22, 2021

Visit www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com for more details.
Games live-streamed on www.chukkertv.com

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV CARBONDALE, CO, July 26, 2020 — Tonkawa defeated La Karina by a score of 13-10 to capture the Basalt Handicap title.…

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By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Tomato Pieres reaches to hook Horacio Heguy.

MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada rides off opponent Vinny Sangaline.

Vinny Sangaline takes his shot to goal with Lauren Sherry closely defending.

MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada with Delfina Blaquier.

Grant Ganzi chases the ball with Gonzalito Pieres attempting a ride off.

Gonzalito Pieres of Tonkawa hooks Catamount‘s Scott Devon.

The Ute Challenge MVP award presented to Nic Roldan by Netjets representative Lindsay Fausnaugh.

2021 Ute Challenge Winners Catamount‘s Juan Bollini, Nic Roldan, Terri Devon, Grant Ganzi, Scott Devon, and Netjet‘s Lindsay Fausnaugh.

Fans enjoyed Kidz Wheelie polo after the days matches.

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

Photos by David Lominska /Polograpics.com

Photos by David Lominska /Polograpics.com

©Max Giorgioni

©Max Giorgioni

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

Team sponsors Brian Boyd and Jeff Hildebrand go neck and neck down the field.

Grant Ganzi shoots a long near side neck shot with Brian Boyd on the defense.

Torito Ruiz gains possession with teammate Jeff Hildebrand behind riding off Gussie Busch and Marc Ganzi.

MVP Torito Ruiz with Netjets representatives.

Best Playing Pony Debutante owned and ridden by Jeff Hildebrand gets a well deserved treat.

Ale Pome runs the ball down the field.

McClure River Ranch‘s Sugar Erskine with the long reach for the ball.

Vinny Sangaline and Horacio Heguy have all eyes on the ball.

Larry Austin is first to the ball to gain possession, teammate Alejandra Foster is close behind to offer support.

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By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko for ChukkerTV