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North America, Polo News, South America

Grand Champions, Aspen Valley Polo Clubs Capture U.S. Polo Assn Junior Tournament Events At Santa Rita Polo Farm

24. February 2022

WELLINGTON, Fla., February 23, 2022—Grand Champions won the U.S. Polo Assn Junior Tournament Tackeria President‘s Day Cup and Aspen Valley Polo Club won the historic Avendano Trophy celebrating its 40th anniversary Monday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Grand Champions (Maeve Reicher, Harrison Reicher, Ava Nunes, Paquito de Narvaez) won an exciting 5-4 penalty shootout over Red Barn (Jack Whitman, Ethan Siekel, Elisabeth Brassart, Joaquin Vilgre de la Madrid). Grand Champions, Red Barn and Tackeria (Matteo Bilbao, Alea Crespo, Ava Hinkson, Joseph Schwartz) were the top three finishers in the round robin.

Teams Tackeria, Red Barn, and Grand Champions.

Paquito de Narvaez of Grand Champions earned Most Valuable Player honors. Jack Whitman of Red Barn was awarded the Sportsmanship Award and his horse, 8-year-old Pintada, was Best Playing Pony.

Aspen Valley Polo Club (Santiago Gonzalez, Francisco Spinacci, Cruz Bilbao, Artemio Figueras) dominated runner-up Power Group Total Care (Brock Bromley, Milo MacDonough, Antonio Aguerre, Valentina Tarazona) and third-place finisher GJ Racing (Jem Handler, Max Scott Barnes, Santos Teves, Finn Secunda) to win the second round robin and historic Avendano Trophy celebrating its 40th anniversary.

MVP Paquito de Narvaez and Pablo MacDonough.

Milo MacDonough of Power Group Total Care was Most Valuable Player. Lucama, played by Santiago Gonzalez of Aspen Valley Polo Club, was Best Playing Pony. Jem Handler of GJ Racing earned the Sportsmanship Award.

After the four-chukker Santa Rita-Alex Photo matchup, Antonio Villamil was named Most Valuable Player. Blueberry, played by Villamil, was Best Playing Pony. Silver Novillo Astrada of Santa Rita earned the Sportsmanship Award.

Teams GJ Racing, Aspen Valley Polo Club, and Power Group Total Care.

The Morning Line won its round robin over Tackeria and Cavaliers. Florencio Merlos of The Morning Line was Most Valuable Player. Myla Cambiaso of Cavaliers earned the Sportsmanship Award. Minla Sobre, played by Inda Pieres, was Best Playing Pony.

In the Huskies, Wahoos and Grand Champions round robin, Emilia Wulff of Wahoos was Most Valuable Player. Lorenzo Nero of The Morning Line earned the Sportsmanship Award. James Bond, played by Felix Pieres of the Huskies, was Best Playing Pony.

MVP Milo MacDonough and Polito Pieres.

After the ChukkerTV, Polo School and Red Barn round robin, Izzy Novillo Astrada of Polo School @ GC was Most Valuable Player. Milo Vilche earned the Sportsmanship Award. Perfecta, played by Kawai Dawson, was Best Playing Pony.

ChukkerTV (Azu Pieres, Lupe Pieres, Mia Pieres, Violeta Pieres) were 1-0 winners over Alex Photo (Isa Nero, Alba Figueras, Olivia MacDonough, Carmen Aguerre). Lupe Pieres, who scored the lone goal, was Most Valuable Player. Carmen Aguerre earned the Sportsmanship Award. Chevy, played by Alba Figueras, was Best Playing Pony.

Teams Santa Rita and Alex Photo.

The tournament featured 81 players on 19 teams competing at various levels. In addition to South Florida, players travelled from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, South Carolina and Sarasota to compete.

„I was very happy with the turnout and to see the numbers coming back up to where we had it back in 2012, 2013 and 2014,“ PTF Executive Director Jennifer McLeavy said. „Our record was around 119. Getting back up to 81 was magical.

MVP Antonio Villamil.

„These kids get better every year, especially seeing the lead line level,“ McLeavy said. „The number of kids in that group this year was exciting and points us toward higher numbers in the future.“

World Polo League players Polito Pieres, Juan Martin Nero, Pablo MacDonough and Mariano Aguerre took turns awarding trophies to smiling faces.

Teams Huskies, Grand Champions, and Wahoos.

The day-long, fun event featured top caliber competition among boy and girl youth players.

„I think it‘s playing opportunity,“ McLeavy said. „That‘s part of the reason we try to do these junior tournaments, getting kids playing with other kids. The more they play, the more they learn. More hours in the saddle, the better.

Sportsmanship Award recipient Lorenzo Nero and Pablo MacDonough.

„What I‘ve learned is even if they don‘t come up from a polo-playing family they will come to one of these events, let‘s say their first one and they will play and then they‘ll go home and they want to ride, they want to get better and want to go to the next one and do even better. It‘s very encouraging.“

Three different ChukkerTV announcers, Jan-Eric Franck, Dale Schwetz and Steve Lane kept the large crowd and world-wide stream audience entertained and informed. The post-tournament trophies and asado ended a perfect day of polo.

Teams Tackeria, Cavaliers, and The Morning Line.

Grand Champions Polo Club President, PTF Chairman and tournament host Melissa Ganzi is a longtime supporter of grass roots polo and PTF. Grand Champions provided the fields, staff, five umpires, and several horses for some of the players and umpires.

The Polo Training Foundation is dedicated to the future of polo in the U.S. The PTF has been instrumental in the growth of junior and youth polo players by encouraging the sport‘s development with training programs, lessons and tournaments for boys and girls.

Inda Pieres receiving Best Playing Pony award for Minla Sobre from Mariano Aguerre.

The PTF was created in 1967 by Palm Beach Polo and Country Club founder and former 7-goal amateur Bill Ylvisaker to teach the game of polo to youth by promoting youth clinics, interscholastic and intercollegiate competition, good sportsmanship and good will through friendly competition.

The Polo Training Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization and relies solely on tax deductible donations for financial support.

Teams Alex Photo and ChukkerTV.

Grand Champions, the nation‘s largest and busiest polo club celebrating its 15th anniversary, is coming off its most successful fall season. Club officials hope to build off that success when it hosts 23 tournaments from January through April.

Grand Champions is host to the World Polo League, now in its fourth year and only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina. Already underway with the All-Star Challenge, it has attracted a large international field from around the world.

Carmen Aguerre receiving her Sportsmanship Award trophy.

The world-class league will run through April 16. In addition to the All-Star Challenge which ends on Saturday, the remaining WPL events are the inaugural Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial, Feb. 27; Founders Cup, Feb. 23-March 13; Palm Beach Open, March 9-27; Triple Crown of Polo, March 23-April 16 and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach, April 29-May 1.

Grand Champions has also added Sunset Chukkers and Cocktails, presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek held Tuesday late afternoon on Field One for players and guests.

Walking Class teams ChukkerTV, Polo School, and Red Barn.

The high goal club tournaments feature the Sterling Cup, $100,000 World Cup and Santa Rita Abierto.

The 16-goal league play includes the Grand Champions Cup, Power Horse Invitational and Pedro Morrison Memorial.

The 12-goal league continues with the current Sieber Memorial Trophy, the $50,000 National 12-Goal and Mar. 8-26 Top Pony 12-Goal.

MVP Izzy Novillo Astrada with Juan Martin Nero.

After January‘s successful Aspen Valley Cup, the 8-goal tournament schedule continues with the 5 Top Pony 8-Goal and Limited Edition 8-Goal.

The 6-goal schedule features the Metropolitan Cup, also underway; Halo Polo Trophy and Madelon Bourdieu Memorial.

Lead-line teams GJ Racing and Mayer Ranch.

There is also the Polo School Grand Champions Women‘s League, co-founded by Melissa Ganzi and Alina Carta, for all ages and playing ability held Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 100-acre polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in several self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and stick-and-ball fields.

Felix Pieres receiving the Matt Cohen Unsung Hero Award from Melinda Cohen.

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.

The Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility, 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 or General Manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.

Players and their families enjoyed an Asado after the day‘s festivities.

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

North America, Polo News

Audi Wins Overtime Thriller In WPL All-Star Challenge To Advance Into Thursday Semifinals

23. February 2022

WELLINGTON, Fla., February 22, 2022—In the most exciting game of the World Polo League All-Star Challenge opening round, Audi secured the fourth and final spot for Thursday‘s semifinals.

Audi (Marc Ganzi, 2, Jeta Castagnola, 9, Barto Castagnola, 9, Paco de Narvaez, 6) rallied in the second half to defeat defending champion Richard Mille (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10), 10-9, in overtime Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Audi joins Catamount, White Birch and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in Thursday‘s semifinals. Catamount plays White Birch at 11 a.m. on Field 3 and Audi plays Seminole Casino Coconut Creek at 4 p.m. on Field 1.

With 6:56 left in overtime, Barto Castagnola quickly recovered from a rideoff to score the winning goal. Castagnola finished with three goals and earned Most Valuable Player honors.

The WPL Best Playing Pony was Irenito Sinforosa, played by MacDonough in the second and sixth chukkers.

The Grand Champions Best Playing Pony was Sunriver, played by Jeta Castagnola in the first and sixth chukkers.

Juan Martin Nero and Jeta Castagnola.

Richard Mille opened the first chukker with a 1-0 lead on handicap. Audi had two scoring opportunities early, missing a penalty conversion and having a goal nullified on a right-of-way penalty. MacDonough scored with 1:34 left for a 2-0 lead.

Nero scored early in the second chukker for a 3-0 advantage. Three unanswered goals by brothers Barto Castagnola (two goals) and Jeta Castagnola (one goal) enabled Audi to even the score at 3-3. MacDonough came back with a goal through defenders with 22 seconds left for a 4-3 lead.

With Richard Mille controlling 80 percent of the throw-ins, Richard Mille outscored Audi, 2-1, in the third chukker for a 6-4 halftime lead.

Ganzi scored with 5:27 left to give Richard Mille a 7-4 advantage in the fourth chukker but the lead was shortlived. Three unanswered goals including Jeta Castagnola‘s goal with five seconds enabled Audi to tie the game 7-7 at the end of the chukker.

Marc Ganzi and Grant Ganzi.

Audi‘s defense was relentless in the second half frustrating Richard Mille‘s offensive attack. By the end of the fifth chukker, Audi had ten knock-ins.

Audi and Richard Mille exchanged goals in the fifth chukker, the first by Marc Ganzi with 6:43 left for an 8-7 lead and the other by Nero with 2:35 remaining to end another chukker tied, 8-8.

The sixth chukker continued the defensive battle with great defensive goal stops and missed scoring opportunities by both teams. Jeta Castagnola opened the chukker with a 40-yard penalty conversion at the 7:22 mark for a 9-8 lead.

Audi saw its hopes of winning in regulation end when Grant Ganzi backhanded the ball which MacDonough then turned quickly to retrieve and put through the goal posts with five seconds remaining to send the game into overtime at 9-9.

Audi got balanced scoring from its lineup. In addition to Barto Castagnola‘s three goals, Jeta Castagnola scored a team-high four goals, Ganzi had two goals and De Narvaez added one.

Grant Ganzi, Juan Martin Nero, and Jeta Castagnola.

It was Jeta Castagnola‘s second game of the day. Earlier, he substituted for an injured Francisco Elizalde in the La Fe lineup and scored a team-high four goals in their 13-11 loss to Pilot in the C.V. Whitney Cup at International Polo Club.

Richard Mille‘s two 10-goalers combined for seven goals. Nero had a team-high four goals and MacDonough had three. Ganzi had one. The team picked up one goal on handicap.

Richard Mille was the defending champion of the All-Star Challenge. The foursome of Marc Ganzi, Jeta Castagnola, Pablo MacDonough and Paco de Narvaez defeated Hawaii Polo Life (Chris Dawson, Poroto Cambiaso, Jejo Taranco, Adolfo Cambiaso), 12-8. MacDonough was MVP.

The World Polo League, now in its fourth year, is the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina. It has attracted a large international field from around the world.

Barto Castagnola.

The world-class league will run through April 16. The World Polo League is preserving the highest level of polo and its rich tradition in the U.S. The WPL has its own set of simpler fan-friendly rules to improve the flow of the game and world-class umpires.

In addition to the All-Star Challenge, the remaining WPL events are the inaugural Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial, Feb. 27; Founders Cup, Feb. 23-March 13; Palm Beach Open, March 9-27; Triple Crown of Polo, March 23-April 16 and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach, April 29-May 1.

Grand Champions has also added Sunset Chukkers and Cocktails, presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek held Tuesday late afternoon on Field One for players and guests.

Grand Champions, the nation‘s largest polo club, celebrating its 15th anniversary, is coming off its most successful fall season. Club officials hope to build off that success when it hosts 23 tournaments from January through April.

Pablo MacDonough.

The high goal club tournaments feature the Sterling Cup, $100,000 World Cup and Santa Rita Abierto.

The 16-goal league play includes the Grand Champions Cup, Mar. 8-26 Power Horse Invitational and Mar. 29-Apr. 16 Pedro Morrison Memorial.

The 12-goal league is currently underway with the Sieber Memorial Trophy, the $50,000 National 12-Goal which gets under way this week and Mar. 8-26 Top Pony 12-Goal.

After January‘s successful Aspen Valley Cup, the 8-goal tournament schedule continues with the Top Pony 8-Goal and Mar. 8-26 Limited Edition 8-Goal.

Paco de Narvaez, Santos Bollini, and Pablo MacDonough.

The 6-goal schedule features the Metropolitan Cup, also underway; Halo Polo Trophy and Mar. 8-26 Madelon Bourdieu Memorial.

There is also the Polo School Grand Champions Women‘s League, co-founded by Melissa Ganzi and Alina Carta, for all ages and playing ability held Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Coco Cabana VIP tent and World Polo League Stadium.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira

World Polo League All-Star Challenge 2022 Schedule

Thursday 2/24
Semifinals

11am Catamount vs White Birch at GCPC 3
4pm Audi vs Seminole Casino Coconut Creek at GCPC 1

Saturday 2/26
4pm All-Star Challenge Final

WELLINGTON, Fla., February 22, 2022—In the most exciting game of the World Polo League All-Star Challenge opening round, Audi secured the fourth and final spot for Thursday‘s semifinals. Audi (Marc…

North America, Polo News

Grand Champions Polo Club Limited Edition 12 Goal Schedule And Team Rosters

2. February 2021

Limited Edition 12 Goal
2021 Rosters

La Portola: (12)
Mark Urdahl
Ciro Desenzano 2
Carlitos Gracida 4
Michel Dorignac 6

Casablanca: (12)
Grant Ganzi 3
Torito Ruiz 7
Dillon Bacon 2
TBA

Dundas: (12)
Sarah Siegel-Magness
Robertito Zedda 4
Mariano Fassetta 4
Oscar Taylor 4

Dundas II: (11)
Cable Magness
Geronimo Obregon 5
Juan Cruz Marcos 2
Juan Martin Obregon 5

Limited Edition 12 Goal
Live Stream Schedule

Tuesday 2/2
3:30pm Dundas vs Casablanca

Thursday 2/4
10am La Portola vs Dundas II

Sunday 2/7
11am Casablanca vs Dundas II

Tuesday 2/9
1pm Dundas vs La Portola

Thursday 2/11
10am Dundas vs Dundas II
1pm La Portola vs Casablanca

Sunday 2/14
3pm Limited Edition 12 Goal Final

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

Winter 2021 COVID-19 POLICY: The GCPC property, facilities, and events are only accessible to polo players, their immediate families, and necessary staff. This policy will remain in effect until further notice.

The GCPC family is immensely grateful and humbled by the excitement and support shown by locals and new guests over the years. We wish we could welcome everyone to the sidelines to cheer our players on; however, in order to remain in operation amidst a global pandemic, we regret to inform you that Grand Champions Polo Club events and facilities are currently closed to the public. Ultimately, our goal as a Club is to keep polo going, but our goal as a community first and foremost is to keep everyone safe and healthy.

There is nothing we would love more than to have more spectators on the sidelines and to greet new and friendly faces to the Club. Unfortunately, we cannot operate as normal and have temporarily minimized the Club’s capacity in an effort to prioritize the health and safety of our community.

MORE UPDATES TO COME SOON: For potential GCPC policy changes, we encourage our fans to continue to check our Instagram and website for more updates to come.

In the meantime, we thank you for your cooperation in this team effort to ensure we can keep playing polo, as well as keep playing our part in the community to minimize risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We appreciate your loyalty and understanding and hope to see you back on the sidelines soon!

Limited Edition 12 Goal 2021 Rosters La Portola: (12) Mark Urdahl Ciro Desenzano 2 Carlitos Gracida 4 Michel Dorignac 6 Casablanca: (12) Grant Ganzi 3 Torito Ruiz 7 Dillon Bacon 2 TBA…

North America, Polo News

Casablanca Triumphs Over La Indiana in Craig Sakin Memorial Final

21. July 2020

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko and Candace Ferreira for ChukkerTV

In Sunday’s final, Casablanca left La Indiana behind to win the Craig Sakin Memorial title.

2020 Craig Sakin Memorial champion Casablanca‘s Juan Martin Nero, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Lauren Sherry

In the Craig Sakin Memorial final at McClure River Ranch, Casablanca (Lauren Sherry, Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, and Juan Martin Nero) bested La Indiana (Michael Bickford, 2 Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, 8, and Nacho Badiola, 5) by a score of 9 to 7.

After scoring all his team’s 9 goals against Spindrift on Friday, Nic Roldan was hot off the mark in chukker one of the final. Within the first minute of play, he hooked Grant Ganzi and put the ball through the posts. Casablanca went on the offensive and Juan Martin Nero took his team into an early lead with two goals, including one at the horn.

In the second chukker, Roldan roared back with two goals of his own, while Bickford scored a third to put La Indiana into the lead for the only time in the game. Casablanca played a strong defense in the third chukker and kept their opponent off the goal, while Grant Ganzi scored on a penalty to end the half in a 4-4 tie.

Casablanca took the lead in the fourth after a goal by Juancito Bollini, and after a right of way violation by Roldan, Ganzi scored on the penalty shot to put Casablanca ahead by two. The fifth chukker saw Casablanca take a decisive lead, with their powerful defense again keeping La Indiana from scoring. At the 3:22 mark, Roldan’s stirrup leather broke, nearly unseating him, but after a brief time out he was back in the saddle. Juan Martin Nero and Ganzi both scored, and nearing the end of the chukker, Juancito Bollini made a strong run downfield and knocked one in to end the period at 9-5 in Casablanca’s favor.

La Indiana played an intense last chukker, effectively defending against Casablanca and scoring three goals, including an impressive 150-yard center field penalty shot by Roldan, but couldn’t make up the margin, losing by 7 to 9.

Craig Sakin Memorial MVP Juan Martin Nero

Juan Martin Nero was named the Most Valuable Player, while Pontiac, an 8-year old by mare owned and played by Michael Bickford was named Best Playing Pony.

In the day’s second match, the Just for the Fun of It tournament, Spindrift (Marc Ganzi, 2, John Bickford, 1, Polito Pieres, 10, and Stewart Armstrong, 3) shut out The Island House (Alex Gooding, 2, Peter Holowesko, Toro Ruiz, 7, and Jared Zenni, 6) by 10 to 9.

Island House got off to a difficult start, failing to get past Spindrift to the goal in the first two chukkers, while Marc Ganzi scored three of this team’s four goals. In a fast third chukker, Toro Ruiz again showed what he’s made of, scoring two goals, along with Jared Zenni’s one, to end the half with Island House trailing by two with a score of 3 to 5.

Island House fought hard in the fourth, with Ruiz scoring on a penalty and then on a shot from the left corner to tie up the score at 5 all. In more back and forth in the fifth chukker, Ganzi tapped in a penalty shot to once again tie the score. Island House drew ahead briefly when Ruiz scored with a picture-perfect neck shot from 70 yards.

Aspen Valley Polo Club Best Playing Pony, Pontiac, owned and played by Michael Bickford

Two penalties put Spindrift back in the lead and in the final chukker it looked like anybody’s game. Alex Gooding tied it up again at 9-9, but a penalty shot to the open goal by Ganzi put it in the bag for Spindrift.

Toro Ruiz won the Gibson Goal of the Day with his spectacular neck shot in the fifth chukker.

Earlier in the day, in the Just for the Love of It tournament, La Elina (Melissa Ganzi, Bobby Gerry, Pablo MacDonough, and Juan Bollini) took down Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Larry Austin, Horacio Heguy, and Nacho Novillo Astrada) by a score of 9 to 7. The ladies dominated the scoring, with Ganzi ending the game with 6 goals and Foster with 4.

In Just for the Joy of It, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Tincho Merlos, and Jimmy Seward) bested Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Gussie Busch, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, and Pablo Spinacci) by a score of 9 to 8. Pablo Spinacci and Jimmy Seward were the high scorers of the game, with four goals each.

The Craig Sakin Memorial is the third of ten grass tournaments and three arena tournaments being staged at AVPC in what is expected to be a successful season.

The tournament is named in honor of Sakin, who passed away on Feb. 11, 2014 at age 52. The former president of the Homeowners‘ Association of Sopris Mountain Ranch, was instrumental in helping Marc and Melissa Ganzi secure their first polo field. In 2015, some of Sakin‘s ashes were released over the polo field.

Sakin was a private equity investor and turnaround specialist. His personal interests included horses and the outdoors. Sakin owned Sugar Frosted Cat, a mare ranked by the National Reined Cow Horse Association, and Idocus, a Dutch Warm Blood stallion that competed in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in dressage and represented the U.S. in the World Cup. He was an avid and skilled hunter and skier, pursuing his passions around the world.

While admission is traditionally open and free to the public, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the club to close to spectators for the foreseeable future. AVPC has taken this step out of an abundance of caution. Players and staff have been tested in 3 rounds at sister club Grand Champions Polo in Florida since March and will continue to be tested throughout the 2020 summer season.

Just For The Love Of It champions La Elina, Juan Bollini, Pablo MacDonough, Bobby Gerry, Melissa Ganzi

AVPC has also implemented testing for the Carbondale Fire Department, which stations an ambulance field side during all tournaments.

We are closely following the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC strongly recommends that individuals protect themselves and their communities by minimizing the time spent with others in large groups, and by avoiding close contact with other individuals, especially those who are sick.

The CDC also recommends that you:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Stay home if you are unwell, except to seek medical assistance.

* Always wear a face mask in public areas.

Aspen Valley Polo Club Best Playing Pony, Irenita Coral, played by Pablo MacDonough

Although Aspen Valley Polo Club will be closed to spectators, ChukkerTV will livestream the entire 2020 polo series so fans can still enjoy the best polo of the US summer season. ChukkerTV was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

2020 Aspen Valley Summer Polo Series

July
Craig Sakin Memorial 7/17 – 7/19
USPA National Arena Handicap 7/22 – 7/29
Basalt Handicap 7/24 – 7/26
Emma Challenge Cup 7/30 – 8/2

August
High Alpine Cup 8/7 – 8/9
Mount Sopris Cup 8/14 – 8/16
Rocky Mountain Open 8/21 – 8/23
Carbondale Classic 8/28 – 8/30

September
The Triple Crown of Polo 9/1 – 9/6

www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com

© Thomas Wirth

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko and Candace Ferreira for ChukkerTV In Sunday’s final, Casablanca left La Indiana behind to win the Craig Sakin Memorial title. 2020 Craig Sakin…

North America, Polo News

Aspen Valley Polo Club Kicks Off Summer Season With Independence Cup

17. July 2020

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: Nick Tininenko and ChukkerTV

Aspen Valley Polo Club kicked off the summer season with three hard-fought matches as part of the Independence Cup.

Despite the lack of spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no shortage of excitement at McClure River Ranch on Sunday with three matches, the Red, White and Blue, played as part of the Independence Cup.

The first match of the day, the Blue, saw Seminole Casino (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Alejandra Foster, 0, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, and Juan Bollini, 5) best Los Amigos (Paul Foster, 0, Vinny Sangaline, 0, Horacio Heguy, 6, and Juan Martin Nero, 10) with a score of 13 to 10.

The ladies made a spectacular showing, with Alejandra Foster scoring the first goal of the match and ending the play with a total of seven goals. Melissa Ganzi and daughter Riley, splitting chukkers, scored two and four goals respectively. Vinny Sangaline scored nine of Los Amigos’ ten goals.

On Field One, the White match pitted Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juancito Bollini, 4) against Michael Bickford’s La Indiana (Michael Bickford, 2, Stewart Armstrong, 3, Polito Pieres, 10, and Nacho Badiola 5), with Richard Mille winning 11 to 8.

Richard Mille’s Juancito Bollini was hot out of the gate, scoring his first of five goals early in the first chukker. He repeated that play later, scoring just moments into the fourth period. The team also benefited from great teamwork by Marc and Grant Ganzi, and four goals from superstar Pablo MacDonough.

In the final Red match, Spindrift (Gussie Busch, 2, John Bickford, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, and Tincho Merlos, 8) bested Brian Boyd’s La Karina (Brian Boyd, 0.5, Alex Gooding, 2, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8) by 8 to 5. Team sponsor Brian Boyd suffered a minor accident in the second chukker and as a precaution, he was taken to Aspen Valley Hospital. Boyd is okay and will return to play soon. Harrison Azzaro, 1.5, took over the number one position. Azzaro showed his mettle in the fourth chukker, scoring a goal with an impressive 120-yard shot.

Sofia, owned and ridden by Pablo MacDonough in the fifth chukker of the White match, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

While admission is traditionally open and free to the public, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the club to close to spectators for the foreseeable future. Aspen Valley Polo Club has taken this step out of an abundance of caution.

Players and staff have been tested in 3 rounds at sister club Grand Champions Polo in Florida since March and will continue to be tested throughout the 2020 summer season.

Aspen Valley Polo Club has also implemented testing for the Carbondale Fire Department, which stations an ambulance field side during all tournaments.

The CDC also recommends that you:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Stay home if you are unwell, except to seek medical assistance.

* Always wear a face mask in public areas.

Although Aspen Valley will be closed to spectators, ChukkerTV will livestream the entire 2020 polo series so fans can still enjoy the best polo of the US summer season. ChukkerTV was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

2020 Aspen Valley Summer Polo Series

July
Independence Cup 7/5
Craig Sakin Memorial 7/10 – 7/12
ChukkerTV Challenge Cup 7/17 – 7/19
USPA National Arena Handicap 7/22 – 7/29
Basalt Handicap 7/24 – 7/26
Emma Challenge Cup 7/30 – 8/2

August
High Alpine Cup 8/7 – 8/9
Mount Sopris Cup 8/14 – 8/16
Rocky Mountain Open 8/21 – 8/23
Carbondale Classic 8/28 – 8/30

September
The Triple Crown of Polo 9/1 – 9/6

www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com

© Thomas Wirth

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: Nick Tininenko and ChukkerTV Aspen Valley Polo Club kicked off the summer season with three hard-fought matches as part of the Independence Cup. Despite the…

North America, Polo News

World Polo League: Grand Champions capture Founders Cup

4. March 2019

In one of polo’s biggest upsets, Grand Champions knocked off Valiente, 12-11, in overtime to win the World Polo League Founders Cup Sunday at Valiente Polo Farm. – By Sharon Robb

In front of an overflow crowd, Argentine 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero scored the winning goal in the first two minutes of overtime to upset previously unbeaten Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, 2, Agustin Nero, 6, Santi Torres, 6, Adolfo Cambiaso, 10).Playing together for the first time in the WPL’s second tournament of the season, Grand Champions finished the eight-team, 26-goal tournament undefeated at 4-0. Nero and teammates Rodrigo Andrade, 9, Grant Ganzi, 3, and Juancito Bollini, 4, earned $60,000 in prize money.

“I don’t know what happened, they say that we won,” joked Nero, named the Tournament Most Valuable Player. Nero also earned the Catena Watch Play of the Day for his game-winner. Andrade was selected Tato’s Game MVP. “I saw Grant was with Adolfito, I was open and went for it. I said to myself ‘I can’t miss this goal.’ I was completely alone. I was lucky to get it. This is huge for us. This is the first tournament we played together and we won. The game was really, good, it was open. We had a lot of fun.”

The stunning victory marked a successful 26-goal final debut of longtime friends and teammates Grant Ganzi, 20, and Juancito Bollini, 22. “I am at a loss for words, I can’t describe it, this is insane,” Ganzi said. “This is a huge upset. The last time Adolfo lost at this level other than last year’s U.S. Open final was a long time ago. It’s tough to beat these guys. Congrats to them, they have been playing unbelievable polo.

About World Polo League:

Co-founded by Grand Champions owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi and Valiente Polo Farm owner Bob Jornayvaz, the World Polo League is the only 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina. The WPL is preserving the highest level of polo and its rich, hallowed tradition in the U.S. The WPL has its own set of simpler fan-friendly rules to improve the flow and action of the game.

The WPL, with 14 tournament-quality fields to play on, includes the Feb. 19-March 3 Founders Cup, March 6-24 Palm Beach Open which gets under way on Wednesday with two games including the debut of SD Farms, and March 27-April 14 Triple Crown of Polo.

The World Polo League is open to other teams that wish to compete in one or more of the tournaments. Games are offered on the flat (Open) and on Handicap. The World Polo League has attracted a large international field of players from all corners of the world including Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Uruguay and U.S.

www.gcpolo.com

In one of polo’s biggest upsets, Grand Champions knocked off Valiente, 12-11, in overtime to win the World Polo League Founders Cup Sunday at Valiente Polo Farm. – By Sharon Robb…