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Polo News, South America

Los Amigos and La Karina Advance to Final of World Polo League’s Triple Crown of Polo

7. September 2020

By Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by ChukkerTV

In the first match of the World Polo League’s Triple Crown of Polo on Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch, Los Amigos (Alejandra Foster, Jared Zenni, Horacio Heguy, and Juan Bollini) met La Indiana (Michael Bickford, John Bickford, Tincho Merlos, and Alex Gooding).

Horacio Heguy scored the first goal of the match to put Los Amigos briefly in the lead, but as the clock counted down the last minute of the chukker, La Indiana scored two goals within 30 seconds. Michael Bickford scored from the 50-yard line, picking up the ball after Gooding ran it downfield.

At the bowl-in, Gooding seized control and got out in front to score again, ending the chukker at 2-1 for La Indiana. Los Amigos took the lead in the third chukker with three goals by Jared Zenni, two of which were on penalties, and put his team in the lead at 4-2. Gooding scored to end the chukker at 4-3 for Los Amigos. The half wrapped up 5-4 for Los Amigos, after Zenni and Michael Bickford scored on penalties.

The fourth chukker started with an opportunity for La Indiana to even things up after a right of way violation by Juan Bollini. Michael Bickford took the penalty with John attempting a finish, but the shot bounced off Gooding’s pony and went wide. Juan Bollini, lurking on the side at the knock-in, got out in front for a dramatic run to goal. Jared Zenni scored on two penalties to end the chukker at 8-4 for Los Amigos. In the fifth both teams got on goal, bringing the score 9-5. A four-goal lead isn’t insurmountable, and La Indiana fought back hard, scoring three goals, but the match ended with Los Amigos winning 10-8.

In the second match of the Triple Crown, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Gussie Busch, Juancito Bollini, and Nacho Badiola) took on White Claw (Michael Payne, Vinny Sangaline, Pablo Spinacci, and Nacho Novillo Astrada).

The first chukker started with a goal from La Karina’s Brian Boyd, while White Claw failed to make it to the posts. A penalty two shot by Juancito Bollini in the second put La Karina ahead by 2, but Nacho Novillo Astrada evened things up briefly with a goal and a successful penalty before Boyd put La Karina back in the lead at 3-2. Juancito Bollini put two through the posts in the third chukker, while Michael Payne and Nacho Novillo Astrada scored for White Claw to end the half 5-4 for La Karina.

In the fouth chukker Gussie Busch sprang into action for La Karina, picking up a pass from Juancito Bollini to make a bold run at the goal. Seizing control of the ball at the throw-in, Busch made another charge downfield to score, racking up his second goal in a matter of seconds to put La Karina ahead 7-4. Michael Payne scored his own two consecutive goals to put White Claw within one, ending the chukker 7-6. In the fifth, Juancito Bollini found the goal, followed by Brian Boyd, to take the lead 9-6.

Pablo Spinacci shaved that lead to two. In the final chukker, Brian Boyd racked up a goal to put La Karina ahead 10-7, then Novillo Astrada came back with White Claw’s final goal of the game. Boyd scored to end the match 11-8 for La Karina. Brian Boyd was the high scorer of the match with five goals.

In the Just for the Love of It Cup at McClure River Ranch, Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Pedro Ramiro, Nic Roldan, and Pablo MacDonough), McClure River Ranch (Tom Barrack, Juan Martin Nero, Paco de Narvaez, and Stewart Armstrong), and Seminole Casino (Melissa Ganzi, Paquito de Narvaez, Polito Pieres and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) met in a round robin match on Field Two.

McClure River Ranch bested Los Amigos Blue by 5-4 in the first game, with Juan Martin Nero leading the scoring with two goals and his teammates adding one each. Nic Roldan of Los Amigos Blue also found the posts twice. The second chukker ended in a tie at 3 all as Los Amigos succeeded in keeping their opponent off the goal, but McClure River Ranch bounced back to find the goal twice in the third chukker and win the game.

Despite the good start to the day, McClure River Ranch couldn’t keep up the momentum in the second game against Seminole Casino, losing by 4-6. Seminole Casino maintained a one goal lead in the first and second chukkers, stretching the lead to two goals in the final chukker. Melissa Ganzi was the high scorer of the match, knocking in 5 of her team’s 6 goals.

In the final game, Seminole Casino went down 4-6 against Los Amigos Blue, with Ganzi scoring a goal in the first chukker and on a penalty in the second. Paquito de Narvaez also knocked in two goals for Seminole Casino, while Paul Foster put one between the posts in each of the three chukkers.

Co-founded by Grand Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Club owner and president Melissa Ganzi and Valiente Polo Farm owner Bob Jornayvaz, the successful 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 World Polo League attracts a large international field of players from all corners of the world including Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Nigeria and England.

For more information and to watch the games go to www.worldpolo.org for a complete library of WPL inaugural and second season games.

Sunday September 6, 2020

Just For The Joy Of It Subsidiary Final
10:30am White Claw vs La Indiana

Just For The Love Of It Final **
Round Robin scores continued from Friday
11am McClure River Ranch vs Los Amigos vs Seminole Casino

Triple Crown Of Polo Final**
1:30pm Los Amigos vs La Karina

**Games live-streamed on www.chukkertv.com

Mountain Standard Time

The Triple Crown of Polo trophy is one of the sport‘s most coveted and prestigious in the world. Designed by Tiffany & Co., the magnificent trophy is comprised of three separate trophies that fit perfectly together to create an entire polo scene that is breathtaking in sterling silver.

The Triple Crown of Polo, an ESPN2 television series, was created in 2005 by David McLane, known for Pro Beach Hockey, Women of Wrestling and Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, to help promote polo in the U.S. The spectacular trophy was created for the event that had stops in Sarasota, Dallas, Santa Barbara and Aiken during its heyday.

2020 Aspen Valley Summer Polo Series

September
The Triple Crown of Polo Aspen 9/1 – 9/6
The Triple Crown of Polo Colorado 9/11 – 9/13

www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com

By Rebecca Baldridge Photos by ChukkerTV In the first match of the World Polo League’s Triple Crown of Polo on Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch, Los Amigos (Alejandra Foster, Jared…

Europe, Polo News

MT Vikings rule the ladies

7. September 2020

Charity final raises more than £6,000 for Smart Works Reading and Guards Polo Club announce new tournament sponsor from 2021

Siri Bazzoni’s MT Vikings confirmed their dominance in ladies’ polo by securing the Guards Ladies Charity Polo Final for the Lord Patrick Beresford Trophy, 4½ – 4, on Bank Holiday Monday at Guards Polo Club. This was their third ladies title this year, after victories at the Royal Berkshire and Cowdray Park.

Another big winner on this day was Smart Works Reading, the official charity of the Guards Ladies’ Polo Tournament. As the polo had to be played behind closed doors Smart Works Reading was unable to host its popular fundraising day at Smith’s Lawn. So they teamed up with Guards Polo Club to host an online auction and raffle that was live throughout this year’s tournament. Thanks to some frantic bidding and generous donations the day raised more than £6,000 for Smart Works Reading.

In the final itself, Siri’s team (rec ½ goal on handicap) narrowly defeated Varvara Borodina’s Park Place by that very margin, 4¹/₂– 4, in a nip-and-tuck game on The Queen’s Ground. Park Place were 2 – ½ up at half-time, with Lia Salvo making the most of any space that she was given. However some great team-work from Kayley Smith and Hazel Jackson-Gaona put MT Vikings back into this game in the third, while Milly Hine worked hard to ensure that Park Place retained their lead.

With the score reading 3 – 2½ to Park Place at the start of the fourth chukka there was still all to play for. Hazel converted a penalty to put MT Vikings into the lead and team-mate Emma Boers, who had a really strong game and was later named the Most Valuable Player, followed up with a fabulous goal to give MT Vikings some air on the scoreboard for the first time. Lia converted a penalty in the final moments of this match for Park Place but with the clock ticking down there were not enough minutes remaining to force this game into extra time.

Siri received the trophy from Sarah Burns MBE, Chairman of Smart Works Reading. Every player also received some gorgeous prizes, generously donated by Clé de Peau Beauté. It was announced during the presentations that Clé de Peau Beauté will be the new sponsor of the ladies’ 18-goal tournament at Guards Polo Club from 2021 and offered prizes this year to highlight this exciting new partnership. Clé de Peau Beauté is Japan’s number one luxury skincare and beauty brand whose philosophy is to unlock the power of a woman’s radiance by innovative skincare technology and harnessing makeup from around the world. Clé de Peau Beauté is the perfect partner for Guards Polo Club’s ladies’ polo and is available exclusively in Harrods.

Earlier in the day Mindi Byrne’s Tex8n Ladies claimed the subsidiary final, which was played at Coworth Park. They beat Celina Lawrence’s Tarantula 5-4. However, win or lose, every player in this match also headed home with fabulous Clé de Peau Beauté gifts.

MT Vikings: Siri Bazzoni (2); Kayley Smith (2); Emma Boers (5); Hazel Jackson-Gaona (9). Park Place: Varvara Borodina (1); Catalina Lavinia (3); Milly Hine (6); Lia Salvo (8).

Tex8n Ladies: Mindi Byrne (2); Beanie Bradley (3); Emma Wood (6); Tamara Fox (7). Tarantula: Holly Gadsby (1); Alice Servaes (5); Heloise Wilson Smith (6); Rosie Ross (6).

For more information on the work of Smart Works Reading please go to: www.smartworks.org.uk/reading-smart-works
For more information on Clé de Peau Beauté please go to: www.cledepeaubeaute.com

Gallery: © Images Of Polo

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Charity final raises more than £6,000 for Smart Works Reading and Guards Polo Club announce new tournament sponsor from 2021 Siri Bazzoni’s MT Vikings confirmed their dominance in ladies’ polo…

Europe, Polo News

Sainte Mesme Wins The Playtech Gold Cup In The Final Of The 49th MANSION International Polo Tournament

7. September 2020

The French team Sainte Mesme was proclaimed this Sunday the winner of the Playtech Gold Cup, after beating the Pakistani team BN Polo Team 11 to 10 in the grand final of the 49th International Tournament MANSION Polo, held at the Santa Maria Polo Club in Sotogrande. This trophy is the most important of this sport event, one of the four most relevant in the polo universe. The vice-president of the Junta de Andalucía and Minister of Tourism, Juan Marín, and the mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruíz Boix, attended the event. In total, there were more than 30 days of intense competition with 10 teams at the highest level, which put San Roque (Cadiz) back in the center of world sport, and which brought together players from the United States, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Sweden, Ireland and Pakistan.

The match was up to the big finals, with maximum emotion until the last minute. Both teams gave everything to win the coveted title. Sainte Mesme, who played with his skipper Birger Strom, along with Robert Strom, Clemente Zavaleta and Salvador Jauretche, was ahead on the scoreboard throughout the match, but in the sixth chukker or period of play in which a polo match of this category is divided, BN Polo Team -a set integrated by Babar Nassem, Second F. Llorente, Pelayo Berazadi and Ezequiel Zubiaurre-, managed to tie at ten goals and it was necessary to play an extra time, in which the golden goal was decided, so much so that Robert Strom, from Sainte Mesme, scored.

Prior to the final, a triangular match was played, in which Mansion-LaLigaSports, Kazak and Los Schatzies faced each other in three matches of three chukkers each to decide the winner of the Subsidiary Cup, which finally fell to Kazak, a team made up of Sebastian Aguettant, Patrick P. Paillol, and Matthieu and Clement Delfosse.

And after the matches, trophies were awarded on the playing field. Georgina Morello, Playtech Project Specialist & Welfare Officer, handed over the Playtech Gold Cup 14-goal handicap to Sainte Mesme, accompanied on the podium by the Vice-President of the Andalusian Government, Juan Marín, and the Mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix. All of them were also in charge of delivering the individual trophies to the players of the finalist team, BN Polo Team.

Salvador Jauretche, from Sainte Mesme, was chosen as the best player of the final, a trophy given by Nuria Seguí, representing MANSION. And “Guerrera”, played by Robert Strom, received the prize sponsored by Hola! magazine for the best horse of the match, awarded by the president of the Santa María Polo Club, Antonio Ortiz. For his part, Lorenzo Diez, president of the Real Club de Polo de Jerez de la Frontera, presented the Playech Subsidiaria Gold Cup to Kazak, accompanied by Nacho Domecq and Juan Maldonado, members of the board of directors of this institution.

The atmosphere of the big finals

The public could enjoy the afternoon from the stands, gardens and terraces of the Santa Maria Polo Club, where for this special summer the spaces have been rethought. To ensure safety and hygiene measures, the Club implemented a specific protocol with regulated distances and seating, limited spaces such as in the terraces and bars, as well as hydroalcoholic gel dispensers and a reminder of the mandatory use of masks.

The best sport was accompanied all afternoon by the best atmosphere. The numerous public enjoyed the exciting game, as well as the presentation of trophies on the playing field. And then it was time to enjoy in the gardens. The group Solera60 from Jerez offered a concert with versions of hits from the 60s and 70s, and the audience in the main pavilion enjoyed a tasting of Covap Alta Expresión Iberian products. In addition, those who were left behind could take advantage of the opportunity to do their last shopping in the Shopping Village shopping area, and to dine at sunset in the Gastro Garden restaurant area. With this final, the Santa María Polo Club gives the starting signal for the organization of the 2021 edition, in which the International Polo Tournament will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and will once again be sponsored by MANSION.

The French team Sainte Mesme was proclaimed this Sunday the winner of the Playtech Gold Cup, after beating the Pakistani team BN Polo Team 11 to 10 in the grand…

Europe, Polo News

Martha & Lucien Barrière Gold Cup Final: Alejandro Aznar forty years after his father!

31. August 2020

After a second half of August a little complicated on the weather side, the final of the 70th Martha & Lucien Barrière Gold Cup was played in ideal conditions: sunshine for the public and freshness for the horses. It opposed the Spanish team of Marqués de Riscal to the Swiss team of Tommy Rinderknecht who played under the Barrière colors in front of almost full stands, 2,000 spectators. A hot, hot, hot match! The Spaniard Alejandro Aznar finally wins his first Gold Cup… 40 years after his father.

In spite of an open and spectacular game from the beginning of the match, it will have been necessary to wait 6‘25“ to see the first “golaso” registered of more than 60 yards by the handicap 8 of Marqués de Riscal, Alejandro Muzzio. Nacho Kennedy replied immediately a few seconds from the bell. The tone was set: the battle was going to be tough. From one end of the game to the other, the teams did not give up with a difficult fourth period, full of fouls and the temporary exclusion of the “hot” Spanish captain, Alejandro Aznar who, a few seconds before, had made a very nice action: a long ball concluded by a goal that had brought both teams back to equality. Cernadas then gave the advantage to his team on a new penalty.

The last period was like the match: a perfect equality, after a goal by Martin Aguerre, Alejandro Muzzio replied with a new penalty, confirming the Spanish victory, a first success for Alejandro Aznar in Deauville, forty years after his father who had won this Deauville Gold Cup with… Santi Cernadas‘ uncle. Polo is all about beautiful family stories: „It‘s an emotional, indeed, it‘s been five times that I‘ve tried to win this Golden Cup. The match was tense, but I am very happy. I‘m especially happy about this goal scored with a mare from my breeding, I‘m proud of it. I have ten mares for my breeding and it is a great satisfaction when the products reach this level. Then, after this goal, it‘s true that I got banished two minutes (laughs), I‘m a little bit hot, you know, Spanish blood! To tell the truth, I was hit by a player in the leg and it hurt and I shouted at him, but the referee took it for him and sent me to the sidelines. But that didn‘t affect the result, they didn‘t score during that time“. Tomorrow, the thirty horses of Marqués de Riscal will embark for Chantilly and try to win the third round of the French Triple Crown, the French Open that the Spanish team won last year.

An Open that the Spaniard will have to defend against seven teams rather well „furnished“ with no less than eleven players of the level of the Argentinean Open: Barto Castagnola (h8) and Camilo Castagnola (h7) who have just won the Queen‘s Cup, Guillermo Terrera, (h8, semi-finalist Argentine Open with La Dolfina Polo Ranch), Fran Elizalde (h8), Santiago Chavane (h7), which was 9), Martin Aguerre Jr., Juan-Gris Zavaleta, Clemente Zavaleta and Tito Guinazu (h7) and the brand new winners of this Gold Cup Martha & Lucien Barrière de Deauville, Alejandro Muzzio (h8) and Santiago Cernadas (h7).

Marqués de Riscal: Luis Aznar (ESP, h1), Santiago Cernadas (ARG, h7, 2 penalties), Alejandro Muzzio (ARG, h8, 5 goals including 2 penalties and 1 corner) and Alejandro Aznar (ESP, h0, 1 goal)

Barrière: Ignacio Kennedy (ARG, h4, 2 goals), Jota Chavanne (ARG, 5), Martin Aguerre Jr. (ARG h7, 5 goals including 2 penalties), Tommy Rinderknecht (SUI, h0)

©RBpresse ARenauldon

Progression Marqués de Riscal : 1/1 – 1/3 – 4/5 – 6/5 – 8/
Best player of the final: Alejandro Muzzio (Marqués de Riscal)

©RBpresse ARenauldon

www.deauvillepoloclub.com

After a second half of August a little complicated on the weather side, the final of the 70th Martha & Lucien Barrière Gold Cup was played in ideal conditions: sunshine…

Europe, Polo News

The 49th International Mansion Polo Tournament, From July 25th To August 30th.

31. August 2020

The Santa Maria Polo Club Organizes And Hosts The 49th International Mansion Polo Tournament, From July 25th To August 30th.

The excitement of a unique sport returns to Sotogrande, with the beauty and strength of the horse, and the fun and leisure that accompany the competition. This year everything has been designed with safety in mind, with itineraries created to move around the Club grounds in comfort and maintaining all the obligatory hygiene measures.

Every afternoon the venue opens its doors to enjoy the best polo together with a varied leisure offer. Enjoy its gardens and large outdoor spaces while feeling the excitement of the match. The Gold Cup, the Silver Cup and the Bronze Cup of the International Tournament are already in play.

Have a drink with friends on the terraces and tables served by our staff or look for the perfect summer outfit in the shopping area of the Village. Children have their own place in the KidsArea, the children’s area with attractions for them to have fun.

If you wish to have a VIP service, the Club has private spaces such as the terraces and boxes, with the best views over the playing field, with limited capacity and with the possibility of premium drinks and snacks. All this and much more this summer at Santa Maria Polo Club. Buy your tickets and season tickets now.

www.tip.santamariapoloclub.com

The Santa Maria Polo Club Organizes And Hosts The 49th International Mansion Polo Tournament, From July 25th To August 30th. The excitement of a unique sport returns to Sotogrande, with the…

North America, Polo News

La Karina Defeats Spindrift in Rocky Mountain Open

25. August 2020

La Karina defeated Spindrift in the final of the Rocky Mountain Open by a score of 10-9. Carlitos Gracida named Most Valuable Player.

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by ChukkerTV

La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Stewart Armstrong and Juan Bollini) met Spindrift (John Bickford, Gussie Busch, Jared Zenni and Horacio Heguy) on Field One at McClure River Ranch yesterday to vie for the title in the Rocky Mountain Open.

Spindrift got off to a rocky start and couldn’t make it to the goal in chukker one. Their first foul came barely a minute into the game, with several more to follow, and allowed La Karina’s Gracida to rack up three goals on penalties. In the second chukker the tables were turned, and La Karina couldn’t find the goal. Gussie Busch and Jared Zenni each knocked one in on penalties to end the chukker at 2-3 in favor of La Karina. In the third chukker, each team scored, while Brian Boyd also knocked one in on a penalty two to make it 5-3 for La Karina at the half.

In chukker four, it was back and forth on the penalties again, but Spindrift roared to life in the fifth, with Jared Zenni and Gussie Busch bringing Spindrift within a goal until Gracida scored on a penalty two. The chukker ended 7-8, with La Karina ahead. At the beginning of the final chukker, Gracida brought the score up to 9. John Bickford found the goalposts, and a shot by Horacio Heguy tied things up at 9 all. The final blow for Spindrift came from yet another penalty shot by Gracida, and La Karina edged out Spindrift with a final score of 10-9.

Carlitos Gracida, who scored 8 of his team’s 10 goals, was named MVP. Seven-year-old Open Maradona, owned and played by Stewart Armstrong in the second chukker, was the Best Playing Pony.

In the Just for the Fun of It, subsidiary of the Rocky Mountain Open, White Claw (Lauren Sherry, Vinny Sangaline, Pablo Spinacci, and Nacho Novillo Astrada) took on La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Michael Payne, Nacho Badiola and Tincho Merlos).

White Claw started the match on a strong note, with Vinny Sangaline and Nacho Novillo Astrada scoring while holding off La Indiana to end chukker one 2-0. The head start failed to hold though, and White Claw was unable to get on goal for the next two chukkers. La Indiana’s Payne and Bickford both found the goal in the second and third chukkers to end the half at 4-2 in favor of La Indiana.

The second half of the match started off with both teams frustrated and unable to score, but White Claw poured on the steam in the fifth chukker, with goals from Sangaline, Lauren Sherry and Pablo Spinacci taking the score to 5-4 for White Claw at the horn. The sixth chukker was tight. Michael Bickord tied things up on a penalty three, but White Claw drew ahead on a penalty five by Nacho Novillo Astrada. Payne managed to tie it up again, but a penalty four goal by Novillo Astrada won the match for White Claw with a final score of 7-6.

In the Caras Cup Final on McClure River Ranch Field One, McClure River Ranch (Alejandro Poma, Marc Ganzi, Juan Martin Nero and Juan Bollini) took on Tonkawa (Paul Foster, Jeff Hildebrand, Nic Roldan and Polito Pieres) in the first match of the round robin. Scores carried over from Friday, and McClure River Ranch went on to win by 9-7. In the second match, Seminole Casino (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Pablo MacDonough and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) defeated Tonkawa by 11-10. In the final game of the round robin tournament, Seminole Casino defeated McClure River Ranch by 6-5 to win the title. Alejandro Novillo Astrada took the MVP title for the tournament, and the Best Playing Pony was Matsu, owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm and played by Juan Martin Nero.

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.

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.

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

The CDC also recommends that you:

* Always wear a face mask in public areas.

• 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.

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

August
Carbondale Classic 8/28 – 8/30

September
The Triple Crown of Polo Aspen 9/1 – 9/6
The Triple Crown of Polo Colorado 9/11 – 9/13

www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com

La Karina defeated Spindrift in the final of the Rocky Mountain Open by a score of 10-9. Carlitos Gracida named Most Valuable Player. By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by ChukkerTV La…

Europe, Polo News

Les Lions / Great Oaks defeats Park Place in extra time in The Cartier Queen’s Cup 2020

24. August 2020

Les Lions/Great Oaks this afternoon received one of the sport’s most important trophies, the Cartier Queen’s Cup. They beat Park Place on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club in extra time. This tournament is considered one of the most prestigious and renowned events of the British sporting calendar and this year was celebrating its 60^th anniversary. HM The Queen personally gifted the Cup to Guards Polo Club in 1960.

Although today’s final was a little unusual as it was played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cartier proudly continues to sponsor this high-goal tournament. The Maison has been the honoured sponsor for the past eight years and a supporter of polo worldwide for more than 30 years. In addition, Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, could not attend as he was self-isolating at home due to a recent overseas trip but sent a message to all the teams taking part today.

“It has been incredible to see such powerful games played by some of the very best polo players in the world, during this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo, despite the unprecedented turn of events this year. I am truly inspired by the resilience and talent of these wonderful players capturing the true essence and spirit of the sport.”

Ten world-class teams had entered this year’s tournament and have been playing over the past three weeks in a bid to reach today’s final. This afternoon, in a thrilling and competitive match Dillon Bacon’s Les Lions / Great Oaks defeated Andrey Borodin’s Park Place, adding their name to an illustrious cohort of teams for the first time. Les Lions were ahead in this game at half-time (4-3) but Park Place rallied in the second half to force the game into extra time. The 17-year-old Jeta Castagnola then fired through the winner for Les Lions / Great Oaks.

Dillon Bacon received the prestigious silver cup from Mr Brian Stein, the Chairman of Guards Polo Club. Dillon was also named the Cartier Most Valuable Player, while the stallion Challo Angelo, played by both Barto and Jeta Castagnola in this match, received the Cartier Best Playing Pony prize, a Cartier rug. Every member of the winning team received a Cartier Tank watch.

Earlier in the day Mr Stein presented Alessandro Bazzoni of the Monterosso Polo Team with the Cartier Trophy, which had been played for this morning. This was the first time in the history of the tournament that a Cartier Queen’s Cup match has been played between a husband and a wife. Alessandro Bazzoni was competing in this tournament for the fourth time while his wife Siri was making her Cartier Queen’s Cup debut with her MT Vikings team. This was a close game played over six chukkas with Monterosso just stealing a 6-5 win in the final chukka. Alessandro was rewarded with the Cartier Most Valuable Player prize in this Cartier Trophy match.

Lions/Great Oaks: Camilo (Jeta) Castagnola (7); Dillon Bacon (2); Bartolome Castagnola Jnr (8); Santiago Laborde (6). Park Place: Andrey Borodin (0); Will Harper (3); Gonzalo Pieres (9); Facundo Pieres (10). Park Place received 1 goal on handicap.

Monterosso Polo Team: Alessandro Bazzoni (1); Guillermo Terrera (7); Ignacio Toccalino (8); Jeronimo del Carril (6). MT Vikings: Siri Evjemo-Nysveen (0); James Beim (7); Sebastian Merlos (8); Juan Martin Zubia (7).

www.guardspoloclub.com

Photos by Tony Ramirez / IMAGES OF POLO

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Les Lions/Great Oaks this afternoon received one of the sport’s most important trophies, the Cartier Queen’s Cup. They beat Park Place on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club in…

Europe, Polo News

Silver Cup – the quirky surprise: Coupe d’Argent Diane Barrière Desseigne

18. August 2020

Maison Décalé (Quirly House), an essentially French team, were not really the favorites for this Silver Cup. Composed of three French players and an Argentinian who partly grew up in France (Ramiro Zavaleta, h4, is also bilingual), this close-knit team came up with a string of surprises.

It started with the victory over Talandracas last Thursday which allowed them to advance to the penalty play-off and then to the final where they would face the impressive Spanish team Marqués de Riscal and its two Argentinian stars, the 8-goaler Alejandro Muzzio and the 7-goaler Santiago Cernadas alongside two amateurs playing „very strong“, the Aznar father and son. In short, a big piece for the „little ones“ of Maison Décalé. But obviously, the victory over Talandracas had given wings to the young Thomas Rolland (best man of the match) and his acolytes. A united game, not giving up, with an impeccable back (Ramiro Zavaleta), a perfect organizer (Pierre-Henri Ngoumou, h6 and scorer of 5 goals) and a decisive Édouard Pan in the key moments.

It was a Hitchcock-style match scenario where neither team ever gave up, making it a blow for blow, so much so that at the end of regular time the score was still undecided: 9 – 9 and overtime! Pierre-Henri Ngoumou put an end to the suspense until the end with a third goal with a mare named Vaivia: „Basically, we are four friends which makes it easier to get along on the field,“ he explained. “I played with Édouard (Pan) at the beginning of the season, I had already won the Gold Cup with Ramiro (Zavaleta) here a few years ago. This team got organized very quickly, we were still in La Baule last week. After losing the first game against Barrière, we got back on track after a comeback against Talandracas, who had dominated us for a good half of the match. It was a structuring victory for the team. We then started to believe in it and we‘re winning today and it‘s always a joy to win here in Deauville“.

The first match between Barrière and Taladrancas will be played on Tuesday. A double for Maison Décalé? Why not?

Maison Décalé: Thomas Rolland (FRA, h2, 3 goals), Édouard Pan (FRA, h4, 2 goals), Pierre Henri Ngoumou (FRA, h6, 5 goals) and Ramiro Zavaleta (ARG, h4)
Marqués de Riscal: Luis Aznar (ESP, h1, ), Santiago Cernadas (ARG, h7.4 goals), Alejandro Muzzio (ARG, h8, 4 goals) and Alejandro Aznar (ESP, h0, 1 goal)
Best playing poney: British, 11 year-olds mare bred, owned and played by Alejandro Muzzio, dark bay by Theol and Franganzia.

www.deauvillepoloclub.com

Maison Décalé (Quirly House), an essentially French team, were not really the favorites for this Silver Cup. Composed of three French players and an Argentinian who partly grew up in…

North America, Polo News

Oak Brook Polo Falls to Good Thunder In a Heated Match During the Chicago Polo Open

18. August 2020

On Sunday, August 16th Oak Brook Polo Club hosted the finals of the prestigious Chicago Polo Open in front of a sold-out crowd. Presented by Heineken and Modern Luxury CS Magazine, the heavily contested 12-goal match featured Oak Brook Polo vs. Good Thunder.

Good Thunder’s team was comprised of Bill Paterson (Hcap 0), Miguel Gutierrez (Hcap 3), Lindor Novillo Corvalan (Hcap 4) and Tommy Collingwood (Hcap 5) while Oak Brook featured James Drury (Hcap 0), Mariano Gutierrez (Hcap 4), Tomas Obregon (Hcap 4) and Horacio Onetto (Hcap 4).

The match featured the traditional opening ceremonies and activities which included: team parade & roster announcements, national anthem performance by Reid Taylor, and champagne sabering by WGN TV’s Lauren Magiera.

The first chukker got off to a quick start with Oak Brook’s Obregon scoring the first goal of the match. Good Thunder’s Gutierrez would answer with a goal and to end the first chukker tied 1-1. In the second chukker, Oak Brook’s Gutierrez would give his team a two-goal league with two back-to-back goals while him and his teammates held Good Thunder to one goal scored by Collingwood and end the Chukker 3-2, Oak Brook. In the third chukker, Good Thunder would go on a three-goal streak beginning with Collingwood followed by Paterson and Corvalan. Oak Brook’s Obregon was able to squeeze one goal in before the first half ended 5-4, Good Thunder.

In the second half, Oak Brook’s Onetto would score his first goal and tie the match 5-5. But Good Thunder’s Corvalan would score two back-two-back and give his team a two goal lead to end the 4th chukker, 7-5. In the fifth chukker, Oak Brook would hold Good Thunder scoreless, while putting up two goals by Gutierrez and Onetto and tie the match 7-7 for a fourth time. In the sixth and final chukker, Oak Brook’s Obregon would help his team reclaim the lead 8-7, but only for a brief moment, before Good Thunder’s Corvalan put up his second back-to-back goals and give his team the lead and win, 9-8.

Casablanca Polo’s “Most Valuable Player” honors were awarded to Good Thunder’s Corvalan for his impressive five goals, including his team’s tying and winning goals in the final chukker. Casablanca Polo’s “Best Playing Pony” went to Avispa, ridden by Collingwood.

The match’s runner-up trophies awarded to Oak Brook were presented by NBC Chicago Reporter, Courtney Hall, and winner’s trophies awarded to Good Thunder were presented by Eva Gregersen, daughter of owner of Oak Brook’s Beyond Shades. The Chicago Polo Open trophy awarded to Good Thunder was presented by Lifestyle Magazine publisher, Candice Kuhnen.

Oak Brook Polo Club’s next home event will the Team Up For Tony tournament on Sunday, August 30th which will feature the finals of the 4-goal USPA Governor’s Cup and 8-goal USPA Master’s Cup tournaments. Proceeds collected from the match will contribute to the necessary everyday care and therapy for Tony Sekera. For general information, event scheduling, news, tickets and parking directions, please visit www.oakbrookpoloclub.com or call 630.368.5095.

Photos by Andrew Meier

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On Sunday, August 16th Oak Brook Polo Club hosted the finals of the prestigious Chicago Polo Open in front of a sold-out crowd. Presented by Heineken and Modern Luxury…

Europe, Polo News

Cartier Queen’s Cup subsidiary quarter-finals

18. August 2020

MT Vikings 9 – 8 Polo Stud Schockemohle

Segavas 11 – 10 Park Place Vaara

text by diana Butler

Two close games today confirmed who would be playing Monterosso and Next Generation in Thursday’s subsidiary semi-finals. The first match today saw Siri Evjemo-Nysveen not only return to her MT Vikings team but score too. Their opponents this morning were a higher-handicapped Polo Stud Schockemohle team. Looking for their first win in this tournament the German-based team were playing the four-goaler Charlie Hanbury in place of their patron Ekard Joules. This new strategy appeared to be paying off for them in the early stages of the match. They were 2-1 up after the first chukka and were 4-2 up in the second. Failing to score at all in the third was the turning point in this game though. MT Vikings may have only added one further goal to their tally at half-time but the dynamics in this match had slightly shifted. MT Vikings levelled the scores to 5-5 in the fourth and not only pulled away in the fifth but managed to maintain that all-important one-goal advantage on the final whistle. This team performance has earned MT Vikings a date with Next Generation on Thursday at midday.

Segavas have secured a subsidiary semi-final game on Thursday against Monterosso after beating Park Place Vaara at Coworth Park this afternoon. In addition to winning this match, this team also won the Gerard Leigh Trophy, presented in memory of a former Chairman of Guards Polo Club, Col William Gerard Leigh. He was Chairman of the Club from 1955 until 1981. The match had looked as if this was going to be Park Place Vaara’s game. They arrived at Coworth Park fresh from a surprising win over Les Lions/Great Oaks last Wednesday and everyone wondered if they had now found their spark. It seemed they had in the first few minutes – leading 4-1 in the early stages of the second chukka. Their game then stalled, while Segavas piled on the goals, taking the lead 6-5 at half-time. Park Place Vaara had not given up quite yet, remaining only a goal behind the leaders for the rest of the match. It was great to see such competitive play from both teams. Segavas will now play Monterosso in the second subsidiary semi final on Thursday. These two teams have already met in this year’s tournament, Monterosso coming out best last Tuesday. Segavas will be hoping to turn the tables on Alessandro Bazzoni’s team and win a place in Sunday’s subsidiary final, where the winning team heads home with the Cartier Trophy.

www.guardspoloclub.com

Photos by Tony Ramirez / IMAGES OF POLO

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MT Vikings 9 – 8 Polo Stud Schockemohle Segavas 11 – 10 Park Place Vaara text by diana Butler Two close games today confirmed who would be playing Monterosso…