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130th Argentine Open: Where do things stand?

24. November 2023

This Saturday and Sunday, the semi-finals of the season’s most prestigious polo tournament, the Argentine Open, will take place. For the first time in a while, a quick survey of the Argentine polo scene reveals that no one can make a firm, definitive prediction.

Four teams remain in contention: the defending champions La Dolfina Saudi, featuring Cambiaso father and son; the 2021 edition winners, the reformed La Natividad; the newcomer, Hilario Ulloa’s La Hache La Roca; and the disruptive force, La Ensenada Brubank. This time, neither match is a foregone conclusion, and the same holds true for the final on December 2, which will be played in front of 18,000 spectators. La Dolfina Saudi is likely to face the formidable La Hache, finalists in Hurlingham and Tortugas, and the overall leaders in the Triple Corona. However, the result of the Hurlingham final tips in La Dolfina’s favor.

The other semi-final isn’t a sure bet for La Natividad either. Lolo Castagnola, father of Jeta (the Open’s top scorer so far with 25 goals) and Barto, cautions about the upcoming final: “There’s still a semi-final next Saturday against La Ensenada, and with them, nothing is certain, so I remain cautious.” La Ensenada, known for their upsets in the Triple Corona, haven’t pulled one off this year yet. But in Tortugas, they were defeated by La Natividad (10-14). This season, every team has beaten every other at some point, and the match is expected to be tight among the three heavyweights, who enter the field with 40 goals (La Dolfina), 39 goals (La Natividad), and 36 goals (La Hache).

Also interesting is the battle for survival at the bottom of the rankings. For La Esquina, of the Laprida brothers, relegation seems inevitable. La Irenita Clinova, the Fernandez Llorente brothers, can still save themselves if they manage to beat Ellerstina on Sunday. This year, without Facundo Pieres (now at La Natividad), Ellerstina has been a pale shadow of its former self. It’s sad to witness such a decline for a team that hosted – and sometimes won – so many finals in previous decades, including unforgettable classics against La Dolfina.

La Hache Cria (B team) will control their own destiny against La Esquina, while the young and engaging El Overo Z7 team will have their fate determined passively, as they are exempt from this final round.

The weekend’s games:

Saturday – Field 2 at 14:00

La Hache Cría y Polo: Rufino Bensadón 8, Carlos M. Ulloa 7, Facundo Sola 8, and Joaquín Pittaluga 8. Total: 31.

La Esquina La Mascota: Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña 6, Juan Zubiaurre 6, Magoo Laprida 8, and Iñaki Laprida 8. Total: 28.

Field 1 at 16:30

La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Pelon Stirling 10, Poroto Cambiaso 10, and Juan M. Nero 10. Total: 40.

La Hache La Roca: Polito Pieres 9, Hilario Ulloa 9, Sapo Caset 9, and Fran Elizalde 9. Total: 36.

Sunday – Field 2 – 14:00

Ellerstina Yellow Rose: Bautista Bayugar 8, Gonzalito Pieres 9, Nicolás Pieres 9, and Nachi du Plessis 9. Total: 35.

La Irenita Clinova: Facundo Fernández Llorente 8, Tomás Fernández Llorente 8, Matías Torres Zavaleta 8, and Isidro Strada 8. Total: 32.

Field 1 – 16:30

La Natividad: Facundo Pieres 9, Jeta Castagnola 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, and Barto Castagnola 10. Total: 39.

La Ensenada Brubank: Juan Britos 9, Alfredo Bigatti 9, Juan M. Zubía 9, and Jeró del Carril 8. Total: 35.

Standings ahead of the final two rounds.

The bottom two in the standings will exit the Open 2024, while the

8th-placed team will face a playoff match against the Copa Camara winners.

With only 5 matches left to play in the 130th HSBC Argentine Open Polo, here are the points each team has accumulated for the 2023 Triple Corona Ranking.

By: Pascal Renauldon
Photos: RB Presse

This Saturday and Sunday, the semi-finals of the season’s most prestigious polo tournament, the Argentine Open, will take place. For the first time in a while, a quick survey of…

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Download the new POLO+10 WORLD. Celebrate 20 years of POLO+10 with us!

23. November 2023

A GAME, A PASSION, A WORLD OF POLO SPORT

The new edition of POLO+10 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder. The captivating blend of tournaments, intriguing polo personalities, and lifestyle beckons you to once again immerse yourself in the fascinating world of polo.

Moving on to a royal event: The Royal Charity Polo Day at the esteemed Guards Polo Club was a resounding success! With His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales participating, it wasn’t just about top-notch polo action, but also an impressive sum of £1,000,000 was raised. This amount is to be distributed among eleven charitable organizations supported by the Prince and the Princess of Wales. Truly a majestic day for a noble cause.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the inspiring story of Philipp Müller and his Standing Rock Polo Team. Rapidly establishing itself as a formidable force in England, the team has claimed the prestigious 8-Goal and 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophies in consecutive years, showcasing an impressive rise in the competitive polo scene.

Join us on a retrospective journey as we celebrate 20 years of POLO+10, showcasing two decades of polo passion and a collection of our most memorable covers.

The Polo Park Zürich has outdone itself yet again, hosting an even more international Swiss Medium Goal this year. Discover the secret to their consistently enthralling tournaments, which for the first time included four female players and representatives from nine different nations.

And from Germany, we bring the thrill of the 48th German Low Goal Polo Championship at PoloPark Berlin. The event from June 16th to 18th, 2023, was filled with passion, excitement, and exemplary polo.

But this is just the beginning. We invite you to delve deeper into the stories and personalities that make the world of polo truly special.

Enjoy the read and here’s to an exhilarating polo season in 2024!

Thomas Wirth, Founder and Publisher of POLO+10, extends a warm welcome to all readers.

Thomas Wirth, Founder and Publisher © Roberto Hegeler

**Download the latest Issue of POLO+10**

The newest edition of POLO+10 is now available for download in both web and mobile views. Each version is interactive, enabling you to click on any links, logos and advertisements within the magazine.

To enjoy the latest stories and reports from the Polo universe at your fingertips, download the magazine

POLO+10 WORLD 2024 I Desktop Version

POLO+10 WORLD 2024 I Mobile Version

Tournaments and people, polo science and lifestyle – the new issue of POLO+10 WORLD brings you stories from the whole polo universe.

+++ Hublot Polo Gold Cup Team Gstaad masterfully executed their game on the unique polo field at Saanen airport, winning the Hublot Polo Gold Cup for the second consecutive year. +++ 20 Years POLO+10 Time journey through 20 years of POLO+10 work. Not only the main issues but also a big number of tournament magazines for international polo organisers rank among the “best of” covers. +++ 24^th Zürich International Ladies Polo Cup On July 1-2, 2023, the Women’s Polo Tournament showcased emerging matches and new talent for an absolutely unforgettable weekend. +++ PPZ Swiss Medium Goal How do they do it? Each year the Swiss Medium Goal at Polo Park Zürich just gets better and better. This year, for the first time, four female players were taking part and nine nations were represented. +++ The Royal Charity Polo Day TRH The Prince of Wales took to the polo field in early July to play in the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup at Guards Polo Club, with the day raising £1,000,000 to be shared by 11 charities supported by TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales. +++ 3^rd Ladies Cup Polopark Berlin The PoloPark Berlin / Baltic Polo Events team won an exciting final of the 3^rd Ladies Cup at PoloPark Berlin, defeating Team Polo Sylt! +++ Aston Martin München Polo Cup From 30 June – 2 July 2023 the Aston Martin München Polo Cup took place at La Tarde Polo Club in Thann, near Holzkirchen. +++ Standing Rock Polo Team The Standing Rock Polo Team, formerly known as Wascosa, has emerged as a powerful contender in English polo, capturing both the 8-Goal and 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophies consecutively. Under Philipp Müller’s leadership, the team embodies the unyielding spirit and communal values of its namesake, the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. +++ 48^th German Polo Championship Polopark Berlin The 48^th German Polo Championship in the „Low Goal“ category took place at PoloPark Berlin from June 16th to 18th, 2023, offering three days of excitement and top-tier polo. +++ Our Partners United by a passion for polo – experience the strength and reach of our global network. +++

A GAME, A PASSION, A WORLD OF POLO SPORT The new edition of POLO+10 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder. The captivating blend of tournaments, intriguing polo personalities, and…

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USPA North American Cup Begins Monday At Grand Champions Polo Club

14. November 2023

The much-anticipated high goal season gets under way Monday with the USPA North American Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club.

The single-elimination, four-team tournament opens Monday with two games at 10 a.m. (Casablanca vs. Audi) and 3 p.m. (Maltese Falcons vs. Grand Champions) on Field 3 with the winners advancing into the championship final on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Field 2.

Team rosters are:

Maltese Falcons (18): Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Nic Roldan, 8, Juan Bollini, 3.

Casablanca (20): Grant Ganzi, 3, Jason Crowder, 5, Martin Jauregui, 6, Sugar Erskine, 6.

Audi (18): Marc Ganzi, 1, Kris Kampsen, 6, Pancho Bensadon, 7, Brandon Phillips 4.

Grand Champions (20): Pablo Spinacci, 6, Pablo Dorignac, 4, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Juancito Bollini, 4.

The USPA North American Cup is the club‘s first of two 20-goal tournaments of the fall season with a rich tradition in history dating back to 1974. The second high goal tournament is the upcoming USPA National 20 Goal.

The tournament has been a mainstay in American and Canadian polo for decades at the 16- to 20-goal level. The inaugural winner was Tulsa with Hall of Famers John T. Oxley and Billy Linfoot, Corky Linfoot and Jim MacGinley.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s Calgary Polo Club hosted the tournament with Millarville dominating the competition. The tournament has been held at Grand Champions since 2011 and in 2019 made its debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club before returning to Grand Champions in 2020.

Last year Santa Rita knocked off two-time defending champion Casablanca. Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nic Roldan, 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) led from start to finish for a 12-9 victory over Casablanca (Tomacho Pieres, 6, Jason Crowder, 5, Grant Ganzi, 3, Juan Sanchez Elia, 5). Roldan scored a game-high five goals and was MVP.

In 2021, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Kris Kampsen, 6, Jeff Hall, 6, Tommy Biddle, 5) took a 7-3 halftime lead and went on to defeat Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Santiago Toccalino, Juan Bollini, sub. Brandon Phillips, sub. Pablo Spinacci), 12-7. Biddle was MVP.

In 2020, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Henry Porter, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan) defeated Newport (Gene Goldstein, Sugar Erskine, Michel Dorignac, Juan Bollini), 14-9.

In 2019, Aspen-based La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos, Kris Kampsen) led from start-to-finish to defeat McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong) with a stunning 15-12 victory to win its‘ 20-goal tournament debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club. It was the first USPA 20-goal tournament ever played in the Rocky Mountains.

In 2018 in a wild finish, Travieso rallied in the second half to win. Trailing by five goals at halftime, Travieso (Tony Calle, Grant Ganzi, Juan Cruz Merlos, Pite Merlos) staged an incredible comeback for a stunning 14-13 overtime victory over Audi (Wes Finlayson, Brandon Phillips, Pablo Spinacci, Marc Ganzi) in one of the most exciting finishes in tournament history.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two exercise tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation, short work arena and stick-and-ball fields.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm cater 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 at the turnkey facility.

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal in addition to special events at its well-manicured 11 fields during the fall season. Admission is free (except for special events) and open to the public.

Wellington-based CTV Sports is live streaming the entire fall season worldwide. Grand Champions is the only USPA club that is live streaming all its games. CTV‘s state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

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. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and October through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.

Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. For more information about the upcoming season visit www.gcpolo.com.

By Sharon Robb
Photos Candace Ferreira

Cup Schedule

Monday 11/13
10 a.m. Casablanca vs Audi
at GCPC 3

3 p.m. Maltese Falcons vs Grand Champions
at GCPC 3

Wednesday 11/15
3 p.m. USPA North American Cup Final
at GCPC 2

The much-anticipated high goal season gets under way Monday with the USPA North American Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club. The single-elimination, four-team tournament opens Monday with two games at…

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El Basha dominates Patrons Cup 2023

14. November 2023

The Patrons Cup 2023 has commenced with a round-robin club chukker involving the White, Red, and Blue Teams, consisting of players hailing from various teams, including Habtoor Polo, Al Faisal Polo, AM Polo, Hesketh Polo, and Dubai Wolves.

Tomas Iriarte of El Basha opened the exhibition match of the day, scoring the first goal in the initial chukker for his team. The first chukker concluded without Al Faisal-PBS securing a goal. Al Faisal-PBS eventually scored their first goal with an intense strike delivered by Petra Spanko. The teams maintained a score of 1-1 until the third chukker. As the two teams battled on the field until the fourth chukker, El Basha solidified their lead by scoring three goals before the buzzer, while Al Faisal did not manage to add a goal to their score. Ultimately, El Basha clinched the trophy as the winner of the Patrons Cup 2023.

Match Progression:
0 – 1 | 1 – 1 | 1 – 1 | 1 – 3

Lukas Tremmel, General Manager of the Al Habtoor Polo Resort presented awards to the teams. Hani Jabsheh of El Basha was recognized as the Most Valuable Player. Additionally, during the halftime break, guests could win AED 6,000 in gift items by finding the scattered gold coin in the field. Winners were awarded vouchers from La Perle, as well as services from Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Al Habtoor Polo Club.

The Patrons Cup 2023 has commenced with a round-robin club chukker involving the White, Red, and Blue Teams, consisting of players hailing from various teams, including Habtoor Polo, Al Faisal…

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MEYER and VLADI PRIVATE ISLANDS collaborate in the US

10. November 2023

Showroom opening of the German family businesses in Palo Alto, California, USA in winter 2023

Presentation of private islands (rental and purchase islands) around the globe in combination with exclusive floating villas and yachts that can be docked to the private islands and thus protect nature

Papenburg/Hamburg/Palo Alto, November 2023 – The MEYER Group and VLADI PRIVATE ISLANDS are cooperating in the important US market, where they will jointly present private islands in prime locations around the globe as well as floating villas from MEYER Floating Solutions and superyachts from MEYER YACHTS. The two German family-owned companies are also opening a showroom in Palo Alto, California.

Floating villas offer the unique opportunity to live on the water and feel at home on a private island without disturbing the tranquillity of nature. The floating buildings are used in an environmentally friendly way without interfering with nature and are self-sufficient with renewable energy sources. This ideal combination promises unlimited opportunities to explore the impressive beauty of the sea and the lush vegetation of a private island. In this unique combination, private islands and floating villas offer the opportunity to create your own idyllic and climate-friendly living space.

“Floating solutions are manufactured in a protected environment under industrial conditions, minimising the impact on nature during construction and throughout their entire service life. This makes them the perfect and, above all, environmentally friendly addition to a private island, which is often located in pure nature, describes Thomas Weigend, Chief Sales Officer of the MEYER Group.

Vladi Private Islands and the MEYER Group are now teaming up to bring this new and previously unavailable concept to the US, opening a brand new showroom on University Avenue in Palo Alto, California, featuring a wide selection of private islands for rent and purchase, as well as customised floating homes and superyachts. “Through our rental property, Singer Castle in the 1000 Islands River, New York, which receives over 25,000 visitors a year, we are receiving more and more enquiries from island seekers from the USA. That’s why we chose this location on the West Coast as our base and point of contact for our US customers,” explains international island broker Farhad Vladi.

“Private islands offer absolute peace, privacy and a perfect contrast to city life. Having your own private paradise surrounded by sparkling waters is the ultimate island dream for many. It is an island buyer’s wish to leave the island untouched – as much as possible. That’s why the concept of combining private islands and floating homes was born,” says Farhad Vladi.

In addition to the private island portfolio of Vladi Private Islands, the superyacht concepts ONE50 and TWO10 from MEYER YACHTS, both of which have a clean drive system with fuel cells and batteries, will be presented in the showroom. This means that these yachts are also paving the way for these technologies to be used in other types of vessel in the future. The THREE05 concept, a combination of superyacht and floating home, which was recently unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show, will also be on permanent display in Palo Alto. There will also be two more spacious floating villas from MEYER Floating Solutions.

Showroom opening of the German family businesses in Palo Alto, California, USA in winter 2023 Presentation of private islands (rental and purchase islands) around the globe in combination with exclusive…

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Amaro Captures Fall Plates Tournament; Scott Sorbaro Named MVP

7. November 2023

WELLINGTON, Fla., November 6, 2023—Amaro won its second medium goal tournament of the fall season Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Amaro (Kevin Schmeits, Scott Sorbaro, Pedro Gutierrez, 5, Pablo Dorignac, 4) defeated Victory (Becky Schmeits, Patricio Paz, 2, Govinda Quish, Martin Jauregui, 6), 8-4, and La Fe/Dazos (David Farache, Santos Bollini, 2, Sugar Erskine, 6, Louis Devaleix, 2), 7-5, in the round robin final. Victory defeated La Fe/Dazos, 7-6, in the other game.

Amaro, in the midst of its fall season debut, also won the Pedro Morrison Memorial with Sorbaro, Devaleix, Nic Roldan and Kris Kampsen earlier in the season.

Sorbaro, 25, who scored three goals including two penalty conversions, and played well defensively, was named Most Valuable Player. Sorbaro just started playing polo four years ago and has made remarkable progress.

The Best Playing Pony was 4get Me Not, a 9-year-old mare played by Martin Jauregui in the first and sixth chukkers and bred and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm.

It was the fifth of six medium goal fall tournaments as Grand Champions Polo Club heads into the high goal part of its schedule with two upcoming USPA tournaments and International Cup featuring much-improved Spain and GCPC-USA. The Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup is the final medium goal tournament.

On Sunday, Sorbaro, Jauregui, Dorignac and Bollini shared scoring honors, each with three goals.

Going into the third and final round robin, Amaro was sitting pretty with a net goal advantage of four while La Fe/Dazos was minus-four. La Fe/Dazos needed five goals to tie and six to win. Amaro led by as many as three, 6-3, in the first chukker. La Fe/Dazos clawed its way back into the game to cut the lead to one, but fell short.

In Friday‘s preliminary round robin where scores were carried over into Sunday‘s final, Amaro defeated Victory, 4-2; La Fe/Dazos and Victory tied, 3-3; and Amaro defeated La Fe/Dazos, 4-3. Erskine and Dorignac led scoring with three goals and Schmeits, Gutierrez and Bollini each had two goals.

On Saturday, in the Just For The Fun Of It, World Polo League (Jony Castillo, Martin Jauregui, Patricio Paz, Meredith Lovegrove) defeated Grand Champions (Sugar Erskine, Haley Schaufeld, Santos Bollini, Gaston Dorignac, 3-2. Lovegrove scored the winning goal with 3:40 left in the fourth chukker.

The game marked the fall season playing debut of world-renowned umpire Gaston Dorignac who played well during the four-chukker game.

In last year‘s Fall Plates Tournament, Sebucan (Jason Crowder, 5, Pablo Pulido, 2, Sugar Erskine, 6, Leo Mandelbaum, 2) scored the winning goal with 40 seconds left to defeat NetJets (Larry Austin, 0, Juan Sanchez Elia, 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Marc Ganzi, 1), 6-5. It was Sebucan‘s first win of the season. Mandelbaum scored five goals and was named MVP.

The nation‘s largest and most innovative polo club celebrating its 17th anniversary, is hosting both medium and high goal tournaments this season. The action is free (with the exception of special events) and open to the public.

Among the season highlights are the Nov. 7-15 USPA North American Cup and Nov. 11-21 USPA National 20-Goal Championship and Nov. 18 doubleheader featuring the Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial and International Cup featuring GCPC USA putting its undefeated 11-game win streak on the line against Spain. In last year‘s International Cup, GCPC USA won its 11th consecutive title with a 6-5 win over Switzerland.

Winners of the first four medium goal tournaments were Fall Classic, Maltese Falcons (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, 5, Juan Bollini, 3, Nic Roldan, 8); Tackeria Invitational, Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, Jason Crowder, 5, Sugar Erskine, 6, Nic Roldan, 8); Pedro Morrison Memorial, Amaro (Scott Sorbaro, 0, Louis Devaleix, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6), and Banyan Cup, La Fe (Sebastian Mandelbaum, -1/Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Nic Roldan, 8, Grant Ganzi, 3, Louis Devaleix, 2) by one net goal in a round robin over Victory I (Kevin Schmeits, 0, Santos Bollini, 2, Martin Jauregui, 6, Sugar Erskine, 6).

Wellington-based CTV Sports is live streaming the entire fall season worldwide. Grand Champions is the only USPA club that is live streaming all its games. CTV Sports state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. For more information about the upcoming season visit www.gcpolo.com.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira

WELLINGTON, Fla., November 6, 2023—Amaro won its second medium goal tournament of the fall season Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm. Amaro (Kevin Schmeits, Scott Sorbaro, Pedro Gutierrez, 5, Pablo…

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Standing Rock: more than just a polo team – a brand to watch out for.

3. November 2023

Despite taking up polo later in life, Philipp Müller – known for his achievements as a successful entrepreneur and in various sports – has, thanks to his boundless enthusiasm and new ideas, brought a breath of fresh air to the sport of polo.

It didn’t take long for Philipp Müller to establish his Standing Rock team as a formidable force in polo in England. After their triumph in winning the 8-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophy last year, one of the most coveted trophies in the British polo calendar, the Standing Rock Team went on to win the 12-Goal Victor Ludorum Trophy this year. Moreover, when they competed in a 15-goal tournament for the first time, the Standing Rock team won it outright.

How did you get into polo?

Well, everyone has their dreams, don’t they? When I saw polo being played live for the first time in St. Moritz back in the 1980s, I was immediately fascinated by this sport! However, at that time, bobsleigh was my sport. As a member of the Swiss national team, I had the opportunity to travel to World Cup races in Europe and around the world. It was an exciting time! I got involved with polo about seven years ago through an acquaintance of mine. My youngest son and I first played mainly in Switzerland. Our passion for polo grew so much that three years later, we moved to England. Polo has a much bigger presence there, and it’s incredibly fun!

You changed the name of your polo team from Wascosa to Standing Rock – what was the reason behind that?

We sold our family business, Wascosa (a rail wagon leasing company), last year; the new name represents a new beginning, both professionally and personally.

The team’s new name is the Standing Rock Polo Team, and it’s generating a lot of interest. What’s the story behind the name?

It’s a cause very close to my heart! Since my youth, I’ve been fascinated by Native Americans and their history. The plight of Native Americans deeply touches me. Sitting Bull, Chief of the Lakota Sioux, must have been a wise and fascinating personality. Standing Rock is the name of a reservation in North Dakota, home to descendants of the Lakota Sioux. Standing Rock represents the courage, valor, respect for nature, and passion for horses of Native Americans. What better name could there be for a polo team!

How have the name Standing Rock and the motto “unbridled spirit” been received by your team?

It was a joy to see how much the whole team identifies with the name and the spirit of the Native Americans behind it. Camaraderie and team spirit within our organization are crucial to me. It’s always about the team, never about an individual. We are one big family. This spirit and positive energy are certainly palpable to everyone who visits our tent.

What are the sporting goals of the Standing Rock Team?

After three successful seasons in England, competing in the 8-12 Goal range, next year we plan to have a High Goal team in addition to our 12 Goal team. It’s a genuine pleasure to pour our heart and soul into building a great team, complete with everything that entails. While sporting success is certainly crucial, other values matter to me as well.

What are these values, and what makes Standing Rock such a special team?

Caring for people and horses is of utmost importance to me. This includes showing the highest regard for our grooms, who are vital to our team; without them, we wouldn’t be playing polo. Every year, we organize a celebration for all the grooms at our club, the Berkshire Polo Club. Standing Rock also strives to bring people together and share the joy of polo. Our annual White Party invites the entire polo community. Moreover, supporting charities is a given for us. Lastly, fair play and sportsmanship are integral to our ethos – areas where we aim to increase our involvement.

The logo and the team’s appearance are visually striking. Are there plans to establish yourselves as a brand in polo as well?

Who knows what else we’ll come up with? Anyway, it’s wonderful to see how well the name Standing Rock, our logo, and our spirit have been embraced. I am incredibly grateful for that.

Standing Rock – sporting successes 2023 season

• Winners of the 10 Goal Simon Holley Trophy, Berkshire Polo Club
• Winners of the 12 Goal Cheltenham Trophy, Cirencester Polo Club
• Subfinal winners of the 12 Goal Prestwich Cup, Berkshire Polo Club
• Winners of the 15 Goal Coworth Park Challenge, Guards Polo Club
• Winners of the 8 Goal Coupe de Bronze, Deauville
• Subfinal winners of the 8 Goal Coupe Internationale, Chantilly
• Winners of the 12 Goal Victor Ludorum Trophy, HPA

Both the 8 Goal and 12 Goal Victor Ludorum Trophies neither has ever been won before by a father and son team.

This year‘s 12 Goal Team from Standing Rock and winners of the Victor Ludorum Trophy:
Nacho Goncalez (BK), Paco O‘Dwyer, Pierandrea Müller, Philipp Müller

In the background, the people from Standing Rock:
Eugenio Fernandez, Team Manager, David Morley, Tactical Coach, Jaime Roberts, Equine Manager, India Parker-Smith, Fitness Trainer, Nick Dann, Mental Coach, Ann-Kristin Sandmann, Office Manager

Text by POLO+10
Photography: Peer Polo Ltd., APRH / P-H FLAMENT,
Tony Ramirez/www.imagesofpolo.com, The Art of Polo/www.theartofpolo.com

Despite taking up polo later in life, Philipp Müller – known for his achievements as a successful entrepreneur and in various sports – has, thanks to his boundless enthusiasm and…

Polo News

Fall Plates Tournament Begins Friday At Santa Rita Polo Farm; Daylight Savings Time Ends As We „Fall Back“ This Weekend

1. November 2023

WELLINGTON, Fla.—The fifth of six medium goal tournaments of the fall season begins Friday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

The Fall Plates begin with a preliminary round robin at 3:30 p.m. The scores carry over into Sunday‘s final at 10 a.m. The four-chukker Just For The Fun It game is Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

The old USPA rules for round robin play will be used for the Fall Plates. The game will be played on the flat. The winner of the first three chukkers will sit on Sunday.

Rosters for the tournament are:

Victory Polo: Becky Schmeits, Govinda Quish, Martin Jauregui, 6, Patricio (Tuco) Paz, 3.

Amaro: Scott Sorbaro, Kevin Schmeits, Pablo Dorignac, 4, Pedro Gutierrez, 5.

La Fe/Dazos: David Farache, Santos Bollini, 2, Louis Devaleix, 2, Sugar Erskine, 6.

The best news for polo players, trainers, fans and horses will have an extra hour to sleep in before heading out for the games. Daylight Saving Time ends 2 a.m. on Sunday when the clock will „fall back“ and now the morning commute will have more daylight.

In last year‘s International Cup, GCPC USA won its 11th consecutive title with a 6-5 win over Switzerland. Tomas Ruiz Guinazu, 39, a member of the 2022 Swiss National Team, was named Most Valuable Player after dominating the game.

Since 2012, the U.S. has beaten England, Chile, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil, Azerbaijan, France, Argentina twice and Switzerland in the annual battle for the coveted cup.

The fall medium goal schedule features six tournaments. In addition to this weekend‘s Fall Plates, one medium goal tournament remains, Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup.

Winners of the first four medium goal tournaments are Fall Classic, Maltese Falcons (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, 5, Juan Bollini, 3, Nic Roldan, 8); Tackeria Invitational, Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, Jason Crowder, 5, Sugar Erskine, 6, Nic Roldan, 8); and Pedro Morrison Memorial, Amaro (Scott Sorbaro, 0, Louis Devaleix, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6). Banyan Cup, La Fe (Sebastian Mandelbaum, -1/Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Nic Roldan, 8, Grant Ganzi, 3, Louis Devaleix, 2) by one net goal in a round robin over Victory I (Kevin Schmeits, 0, Santos Bollini, 2, Martin Jauregui, 6, Sugar Erskine, 6) that finished with 0 net goal.

The well-organized fall tournaments attract players from all over the world including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, San Salvador, Switzerland, Spain, England, France, India, Mexico, Azerbaijan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, South Africa and United States.

The Grand Champions Fall Invitational League is geared toward improving a player‘s polo skills at every level. Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams featuring pro and amateur players. It‘s also a great opportunity for players and sponsors to prepare for the winter season highlighted by the 26-goal World Polo League, now entering its sixth season at Grand Champions.

The fall league features: stick-and-ball sessions during the week; two medium tournament games every weekend; ambulance and USPA umpires for all tournament games; world-class polo fields; club-sponsored social events every weekend for all players; and top-of-the-line trophies for all teams every weekend.

Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) is live streaming the entire fall season worldwide. Grand Champions is the only USPA club that is live streaming all its games. ChukkerTV‘s state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. For more information about the upcoming season visit www.gcpolo.com.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira

2023 Fall Plates Schedule

Friday 11/3
3:30 p.m. Victory Polo vs Amaro vs La Fe/Dazos at Santa Rita Polo Farm

Saturday 11/4
10:30 a.m. Just For The Fun Of It

Sunday 11/5
10 a.m. Fall Plates Final at Santa Rita Polo Farm

WELLINGTON, Fla.—The fifth of six medium goal tournaments of the fall season begins Friday at Santa Rita Polo Farm. The Fall Plates begin with a preliminary round robin at 3:30…

Polo News

La Fe Captures Banyan Cup In A Thriller; Louis Devaleix Named MVP

29. October 2023

WELLINGTON, Fla., October 30, 2023—La Fe won its first tournament of the fall season Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

La Fe (Sebastian Mandelbaum, -1/Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Nic Roldan, 8, Grant Ganzi, 3, Louis Devaleix, 2) won the Banyan Cup by one net goal in a round robin over Victory I (Kevin Schmeits, 0, Santos Bollini, 2, Martin Jauregui, 6, Sugar Erskine, 6) that finished with 0 net goal. Victory II (Becky Schmeits, 0, Jason Crowder, 5, Pedro Gutierrez, 5, Pablo Dorignac, 5) finished third with minus-one.

In the third and final round robin match, La Fe clinched the exciting nailbiter with an 8-6 win over Victory 1, which had closed the gap to one goal (7-6) with 3:52 left in the game but was unable to overcome the deficit.

Louis Devaleix, 42, who took his first polo lesson in 2020 and is playing fall polo for the first time in Wellington, was named Most Valuable Player for the first time at Grand Champions Polo Club and in Florida.

It was his second victory this season. Devaliex also won the Pedro Morrison Memorial playing with Amaro.

„I had a great time the last few weeks,“ Devaleix said. „I was not aware fall polo was even available…great polo, fast and good way to prep for the main season.

„What Melissa (Ganzi) does for everyone who stays here is second to none. Both her and her husband really go above and beyond for everyone and for the game of polo here in Florida and the U.S.“

Born in France, Devaleix‘s family moved to Brazil when he was a baby. He grew up in Rio de Janeiro, where he played golf. But in 2020 he was at Sunset Polo Club in Loxahatchee where he rode a horse for the first time and took his first polo lesson from Carlos Gonzalez. He was hooked and ever since he has been playing polo at every level, from 8 to the 26-goal World Polo League.

Karma, a 10-year-old mare played in the fourth and seventh chukkers by Grant Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

„It was great to get another Best Playing Pony blanket,“ said Ganzi, who has been playing her for three years in Aspen and Wellington. „She‘s been showing really well this fall.“

The fourth medium goal tournament was the most competitive this season. With well-balanced teams it was anyone‘s guess who was going to win.

In final day action, Victory I defeated Victory II, 9-7, in the first three chukkers. In the second round robin, Victory II edged La Fe, 7-6. Becky Schmeits, the only woman in the tournament, scored the winning goal in the final 20 seconds.

The top two scoring teams faced off in the third and final round robin. La Fe managed a two-goal lead for most of the three chukkers with Ganzi scoring three goals including a penalty conversion.

Victory I made it interesting with 3:52 left when Santos Bollini scored to cut La Fe‘s lead to one, 7-6. Ganzi‘s 30-yard penalty conversion gave La Fe back its two-goal cushion for the remainder of the game.

It was Ganzi‘s first tournament win of the fall season and first time he played with Devaleix.

„We just needed to maintain our lead from the other day and that was a tough task,“ Ganzi said. „It was tough. Pedro Gutierrez did a really good job filling in for Tomacho (Pieres). They were tough to play today. They played a lot better today than they did on Friday.

„In the end we got it but we struggled in our first three chukkers. We started off okay. There were moments in the game where things didn‘t go our way. We adjusted well. It was really nice to win.

„It was fun playing with Louis, he was a good teammate,“ Ganzi said.

In opening day action on Friday, Victory I defeated Victory II, 7-3; La Fe topped Victory II, 4-2; and La Fe edged Victory I, 5-3, with Ganzi and Roldan goals breaking a 3-3 tie in the final two minutes of the game. The scores carried over into Sunday‘s final.

In last year‘s Banyan Cup tournament, Roxbury Raiders (Josh Silverman, 0, Jason Crowder, 5, Santos Bollini, 2, Tommy Biddle, 5) led from start to finish to defeat Aspen Valley Polo Club (Juancito Bollini, 4, Sugar Erskine, 6, Nic Roldan, 8, Tito Gaudenzi, 2), 8-6, to win their fall debut. Santos Bollini was MVP.

Since 2012, the U.S. has beaten England, Chile, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay, Brazil, Azerbaijan, France, Argentina twice and Switzerland in the annual battle for the coveted cup.

The fall medium goal schedule features six tournaments. In addition to this weekend‘s Oct. 24-29 Banyan Cup the two remaining medium goal tournaments are the Nov. 1-5 Fall Plates and Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup.

Winners of the first three medium goal tournaments are Fall Classic, Maltese Falcons (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, 5, Juan Bollini, 3, Nic Roldan, 8); Tackeria Invitational, Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, Jason Crowder, 5, Sugar Erskine, 6, Nic Roldan, 8); and Pedro Morrison Memorial, Amaro (Scott Sorbaro, 0, Louis Devaleix, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6). Roldan has been MVP for all three tournaments.

Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. For more information about the upcoming season visit www.gcpolo.com.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira

WELLINGTON, Fla., October 30, 2023—La Fe won its first tournament of the fall season Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm. La Fe (Sebastian Mandelbaum, -1/Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Nic Roldan, 8,…

Polo News

Georgetown University Club Polo Splits the Bill with Harvard

27. October 2023

In a formidable debut of skill and teamwork, the Georgetown Men’s Polo team defeated Harvard in their first match of the season, winning 12-1. Team captain Ford Middendorf together with Benedikt Jaenecke were unremitting in their offensive and passing strategy against the Crimson, with major assists and goals from Alfonso Pla Zobel de Ayala and Muhammad Bin Talal.

In spite of the adverse weather conditions that persisted throughout the match on Saturday, October 21, the Hoyas had the Crimson trailing from the start. Jaenecke led the team with eight goals, Middendorf contributed two, and Pla Zobel de Ayala and Bin Talal each scored one.

The Hoya women achieved their breakout goal of competing together for the first time after significant roster turnover, but were unfortunately not able to secure the win against the more seasoned Harvard team, with a final score of 15-4. Returning member and captain Ashley Parekh guided new members Camila Navarro-Delavega, Lucienne Bacon, and Marley Simpson through their first match on Sunday, October 22. Despite heavy losses in the first chukker, Georgetown was able to tie and win the second and third chukkers, respectively, though unfortunately not by enough to recover the overall score.

The Georgetown men will look to build on their strong start to the season at the University of Virginia Fall Tournament. They take on UVA at 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 26, with the winner advancing to the final match on Sunday, October 29, against either Cornell University or the University of Kentucky. Meanwhile, the women’s team will return to Georgetown with their sights set on preparing for upcoming non-conference matches.

The club thanks Harvard University for inviting them, Anja Eckbo for housing accommodations, as well as Hoya coach Gus Fraga-Errecart.

Text by Lucie Bacon
Photos by Gus