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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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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).

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 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 Sports 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 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

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

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…

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Your Stage at POLO+10! Secure Your Ad Space Now – Deadline for the Jubilee Issue 2024 I: November 10th! 🌟🐎🌟

24. October 2023

Your Brand in the Spotlight at POLO+10! Secure Your Ad NOW – The big jubilee issue goes to print on November 10th!

Be part of it and make your brand STAND OUT!
Contact us at thomas@poloplus10.com

In 2023, we rocked the polo scene, gaining over 2,000 new fans on our social media channels, and launching exclusive corporate publishing projects with top polo clubs!

Looking ahead to 2024: Our print editions will be released in spring and autumn. All info about media data, corporate publishing, and PR can be found here:

Download Media Kit POLO+10

Your Brand in the Spotlight at POLO+10! Secure Your Ad NOW – The big jubilee issue goes to print on November 10th! Be part of it and make your brand…

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Amaro Captures Pedro Morrison Memorial; Nic Roldan MVP

24. October 2023

WELLINGTON, Fla., October 23, 2023—Amaro, making its fall season debut, won its first tournament Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm‘s Aspen Field.

Amaro (Scott Sorbaro, 0, Louis Devaleix, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6) dominated round robin action to win the Pedro Morrison Memorial.

Amaro defeated Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, 9, Sugar Erskine, 6, Pablo Dorignac, 5, Martin Jauregui, 6), 7-4, and Casablanca (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Jason Crowder, 5) , 8-5, in the final. Casablanca topped Aspen Valley 10-6 in its round robin qualifier.

Arvo Katajisto, longtime friend of Pedro Morrison, was the awards presenter for the tournament and was emotional talking about Morrison. Several of Morrison‘s friends attended the game in his memory.

„I‘m sorry Pedro‘s not here laughing with us,“ he said. „Thank you all very, very much.“

Roldan, the second highest ranked American and most decorated player at Grand Champions Polo Club, was named Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive week. Roldan finished with six goals and played well defensively.

„Pedro was a dear friend to all of us and his legacy will always be remembered within the polo world,“ Roldan said.

Pitkin, played by Grant Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

In the preliminary round robin games on Friday, Amaro edged Aspen Valley, 3-2, and Casablanca, 4-2; and Aspen Valley and Casablanca tied 5-5. The scores carried over into Sunday‘s final.

In the opening three chukkers, Amaro led from start to finish against Aspen Valley. Amaro extended its lead to 4-2 with Sorbaro‘s opening goal in the first chukker. Amaro pulled away for a 6-3 lead in the second chukker behind back-to-back Roldan goals, including a penalty-one. Amaro outshot Aspen Valley, 14-11.

In the final three chukkers, Amaro once again extended its lead, pulling away for a 5-3 advantage after the opening chukker. Amaro led by as many as four, 8-4, in the third chukker after Kampsen converted a 60-yard penalty.

„It was great to share the field with my teammates,“ said Roldan, who played with Sorbaro and Devaleix for the first time. „Scott and Louis both played really well. It was a fun weekend.“

Casablanca outshot Amaro, 14-13. Amaro led in knock-ins, 9-5, and throw-ins, 5-2. Each team had five fouls.

In addition to Roldan‘s six goals, Ganzi scored three for Casablanca including a penalty conversion, Santos Bollini had three for Casablanca and Kampsen had two including a 60-yard penalty conversion for Amaro.

On Saturday, in the Just For The Fun Of It round robin, Victory I (Becky Schmeits, Louis Devaleix, Juan Bollini, Patricio Paz/Tomacho Pieres), Victory II (Kevin Schmeits, Tomacho Pieres, Lion Mandelbaum, Sebastian Mandelbaum) and World Polo League White (Johnny Castillo, Patricio Paz, Martin Jauregui, David Farache) competed in a fun but competitive six-chukker round robin.

Kevin Schmeits, who also competes at Grand Champions sister club Aspen Valley Polo Club, returned to action after sitting out for nearly a year recouperating from knee surgery.

Brothers Sebastian and Lion Mandelbaum returned to Grand Champions. The pair have been competing in polo at GCPC since their lead line days.

In the opening round, Victory I and Victory II tied, 1-1. In the second round, Victory II and World Polo League White tied, 2-2. In the third and final round WPL White and Victory I tied, 2-2.

Castillo led in scoring with three goals. Becky Schmeits and Sebastian Mandelbaum each had two goals.

In last year‘s tournament, Barbarossa Leather won the Pedro Morrison Memorial at Santa Rita. Trailing by two goals going into the final chukker, Barbarossa Leather (Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Jason Crowder, 5, Juan Bollini, 3, Tommy Biddle, 5) rallied for a thrilling 4-3 victory over Casablanca (Nick Manifold, 3, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Juan Sanchez Elia, 5). Mandelbaum was MVP.

The tournament is named in honor of Pedro Morrison. Born in Spain and University of Miami alum, Morrison died Dec. 11, 2003 in Wellington at age 49. He was an avid polo player, patron of The Sympatico Polo team and helped develop Wellington into a thriving community.

The nation‘s largest and most innovative polo club celebrating its 17th anniversary, is hosting both medium and high goal tournaments this season.

The fall medium goal schedule features six tournaments. The remaining medium goal tournaments are the Oct. 24-29 Banyan Cup, Nov. 1-5 Fall Plates and inaugural Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup.

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.

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

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

WELLINGTON, Fla., October 23, 2023—Amaro, making its fall season debut, won its first tournament Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm‘s Aspen Field. Amaro (Scott Sorbaro, 0, Louis Devaleix, 1, Nic…

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Team Polo Sylt wins Season-Ending Tournament with Oktoberfest at PoloPark Berlin, Oct 2023

17. October 2023

In an exhilarating season finale, Team Polo Sylt emerged victorious against Team COSMOPOLO / PoloPark Berlin, securing first place in Germany‘s last grass polo tournament of the year. This event, held from October 13th to 15th, 2023 at PoloPark Berlin, attracted four international polo teams who, with around 70 polo horses, battled for the win.

Autumn showcased its finest colors and provided optimal conditions for thrilling chukkas over the course of three days. With expert commentary by „the Polospeaker“ Jan Zavazal and musical ambiance set by Polo DJ Sebastian, referee Marco Zubrod ensured the adherence to the rules on the field.

Unfortunately, Team POLO+10 had to settle for 4th place after suffering two losses by a narrow margin of half a goal and playing one game to a draw.

Thomas Bauer and his crew took care of the culinary needs of the players and guests, who enjoyed the exciting matches and the special atmosphere of the tournament.

With this event, Baltic Polo Events concludes a remarkable season with a total of ten polo events involving around 200 polo players and approximately 700 polo horses. This action-packed year culminated in a unique blend of sport and culture as the season-ending tournament was combined with an Oktoberfest celebration.

Now, Baltic Polo Events is heading into a well-deserved winter break. However, the anticipation for the 2024 polo season is already mounting.

For more information about the world of polo and upcoming events, please visit www.baltic-polo-events.de.

Photos by Polo Sylt & Baltic Polo Events by Sebastian

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Aspen Valley Wins Tackeria Invitational Thriller; Nic Roldan Named MVP

17. October 2023

WELLINGTON, Fla., October 16, 2023—In a thrilling finish, Aspen Valley won the Tackeria Invitational Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, Jason Crowder, 5, Sugar Erskine, 6, Nic Roldan, 8) edged Casablanca (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Martin Jauregui, 6), 10-9.

With four seconds left, Roldan scored the game-winner on an incredible lofted angle shot from the sideboards to win the club‘s oldest tournament.

„Basically, there was only one play left,“ Roldan explained. „Casablanca hit the ball out inside the 60, so that took the ball back to the 60-yard line where the ball went out which was basically right by the boards. I had a much smaller angle to shoot from and put it right through the middle with a little bit of luck. I just closed my eyes and shot and it went straight through.

„I find those shots, the ones that are much harder angles, sometimes I find them a little bit easier. You don‘t really think that much about it. Keep your head down, try to make good contact and hope that it goes in.“

The nation‘s second highest ranked American player at 8 goals (behind 10-goaler Polito Pieres) was named the game‘s Most Valuable Player. Roldan is the most decorated MVP in the club‘s 17-year history.

„It never gets old,“ Roldan said. „You always want to win. No matter what game it is, no matter how important it is or how unimportant it is, I still always want to go out there and do my best to win.

„I am constantly trying to improve no matter what the level is in whatever area I can. There‘s always room for improvement as an athlete. You‘re always learning new things.“

At age 40, Roldan said he has set a goal to play another 10 years. His consistent training with well-respected trainer Jeremy Fedoruk, director of Wellington-based Athletic Enhancement Group, has helped prolong his career.

„I think I am in the best shape that I‘ve ever been,“ said Roldan, at 15 the youngest player to win the U.S. Open. „I think I am playing better than I did 10 years ago. I have better horses, I‘m wiser, I have more experience and I am a little bit more relaxed on the field.

„Everyone goes through those different chapters in life, there are completely different stages in a career,“ Roldan said. „All those workouts that I do is because I want to continue to prolong my career. I feel mentally and physically I am in a great place. I am still given the opportunities to compete at the top level and still want to compete at the top level given the right opportunity.“

Casablanca jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the opening chukker. Aspen Valley reeled them in by the end of the third chukker, tying 4-4 just before the half. After that, the clean, open control game was tied four more times and the lead changed hands twice.

Aspen Valley led 7-5 going into the fifth chukker before Casablanca bounced back to tie, 8-8. Quish converted a penalty with 5:07 left to give Aspen Valley back the lead at 9-8. With 1:37 Pieres scord on a broken play after the knock-in to tie the game 9-9 and set up Roldan‘s heroics.

„The game could have gone either way,“ Roldan said. „The other team played really well. We were back and forth, up chukkers, down some chukkers. It was a fun game for both teams and a great game for the fall season. It was a much faster-paced game than we usually play.“

Roldan led Aspen Valley scoring with four goals. Quish had three goals, Crowder two and Erskine one. Jauregui led Casablanca with five goals.

Aspen Valley outshot Casablanca, 20-13, and led in throw-ins, 12-6. Casablanca led in knock-ins, 10-4.

China Clay, a dark bay mare played by Erskine and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.

The Tackeria Invitational has a special place in club history as the inaugural tournament when the club first opened in 2007. The Tackeria was founded in 1975 by Tony Coppola.

In last year‘s Tackeria Invitational, NetJets (Larry Austin, 0, Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Juan Sanchez Elia, 5, Tommy Biddle, 5) held off Travieso (Teo Calle, 1, Santos Bollini, 2, Tony Calle, 3, Sugar Erskine, 6) in the final chukker for a thrilling 10-9 victory. Hall of Famer Tommy Biddle was 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 fall medium goal schedule features six tournaments. The remaining medium goal tournaments are the Oct. 17-22 Pedro Morrison Memorial, Oct. 24-29 Banyan Cup, Nov. 1-5 Fall Plates and inaugural Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup.

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.

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 16, 2023—In a thrilling finish, Aspen Valley won the Tackeria Invitational Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm. Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, Jason Crowder, 5, Sugar Erskine, 6,…

Instagram, Polo News

Grand Champions Polo Club Opens 17th Fall Season With Fall Classic At Santa Rita

9. October 2023

Polo returns to Grand Champions Polo Club for the fall season that gets under way Friday with the Fall Classic.

The nation‘s largest and most innovative polo club, is celebrating its 17th anniversary.

The season-opener will feature three teams: Maltese Falcons, Casablanca and Aspen Valley Polo Club. Opening day action is Friday at 10 a.m. at Santa Rita Polo Farm. The final is Sunday, also at 10 a.m. The games are free and open to the public.

The team rosters are:

Maltese Falcons (16): Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Juan Bollini, 3.

Casablanca (15): Marc Ganzi, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6+, Martin Jauregui, 6.

Aspen Valley Polo Club (17/15): Santos Bollini, 2/Govinda Quish, Sugar Erskine, 6, Pablo Dorignac, 5, Patricio „Tucu“ Paz, 4.

The Maltese Falcons, the club‘s newest sponsor, is named after the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, featuring Humphrey Bogart playing Sam Spade, Mary Astor and Peter Lorre, seeking a stolen statuette made of gold and jewels by the 16th century Knights of Malta as a gift to the King of Spain.

In last year‘s Fall Classic, NetJets (Jason Crowder, 5, Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Larry Austin, 0, Nic Roldan, 8) led from start to finish in the final round robin game to defeat Sebucan (Nick Manifold, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Juan Sanchez Elia, 5, Tommy Biddle, 5), 8-6. Austin was named MVP, his second MVP honor since returning to play in 2021 after a 10-year break.

Grand Champions will host both medium and high goal tournaments this season.

Among the season highlights are the Nov. 7-15 USPA North American Cup and Nov. 11-21 USPA National 20-Goal Championship and Nov. 25 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. Grand Champions has been the only club in the nation to stage two USPA-sanctioned 20-goal tournaments in the fall.

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 the Fall Classic the others are the Oct. 10-15 Tackeria Invitational, Oct. 17-22 Pedro Morrison Memorial, Oct. 24-29 Banyan Cup, Nov. 1-5 Fall Plates and inaugural Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup.

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

Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) will live stream 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.

Photos by ChukerTV