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North America, Polo News

Breakout star Babson College takes center stage with inaugural title

31. March 2022

Each boasting a dominant win against Texas Tech in the two earlier games of the round-robin tournament, Babson College (Beto Aguilar, Austin Hamilton, Leo Borja, Alt. Frederick Borja, Alt. John Hamilton, Alt. Diego Ante) prepared to challenge Skidmore College (Justin Hall, Finnian O’Malia, Ben Bruce) for the second time this year, in a pseudo-final for the inaugural Division II Men’s National Intercollegiate Championship.

Battling nine other men’s teams from across the country for a spot at nationals, Babson College (Boston, Massachusetts) secured their place with a decisive 20-12 win in the Northeastern Regional Final over Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, New York), whose competitive spirit earned them the coveted wildcard. “Once we found out we were playing a rematch against Skidmore we made a decision as a team to change the lineup so we could use a strategy they wouldn’t expect,” Aguilar revealed. “During regionals we noticed that Skidmore’s best player was intercepting most of the long passes we sent to goal and converting them into goals so we had to come up with a new strategy to ensure another victory,” Hamilton added.

Traveling to compete at Legends Polo Club in Kauffman, Texas, for the first time, the playing field was completely level for both teams who were mounted by Prestonwood Polo Club for the championship. “Legends Polo Club’s arena is much larger than what we are used to since we played Skidmore at Yale Polo Club, which has a shorter and more narrow arena,” Hamilton commented. Playing to their strengths, Babson College’s tailored approach and offensive firepower ultimately gave them the advantage on Sunday, March 27, their efforts resulting in another win against Skidmore and the title 13-8.

“It feels incredible for us to be a part of this historic moment—also with my alma mater UCONN winning in the women’s division. Whether its Division II or Division I, we all put in the work to be able to get here.” – Mark Tashjian, Babson College coach

From the first bowl-in Babson’s team captain Aguilar was quick to take the ball to the offensive end and received a favorable pony goal as Skidmore attempted to clear the ball. Aguilar and Borja were quick to capitalize on the momentum, scoring a goal each to gain an early lead after the first 3-1. “We are all very different players, for example Leo is a very technical player, he’s good with small touches on the ball,” Aguilar shared. “Austin is very physical and I can hit the ball far and hard so we all bring a lot of individual strengths to the team.”

O’Malia opened up the second for Skidmore, moving quickly out of the lineup to goal just before the offensive firestorm of Aguilar and Borja erupted. Proving himself to be reliable from the penalty line, Justin Hall seized his second opportunity to convert for Skidmore just before Aguilar added two consecutive goals to the tally. Hamilton had the difficult task of defending Northeastern Regional All-Star Ben Bruce and was able to hold him off the scoreboard until the final moments of the chukker.

“Our strategy was to have me play man-to-man on Skidmore’s most talented player Ben Bruce for the entirety of the match, while Beto and Leo went up against the other two opponents,” Hamilton explained. “Beto and Leo have exceptional mallet skills, ball control and horsemanship. As a team we knew that I am not as efficient with the mallet, but we believed that if I could take their best player out of the play, then we would be victorious.” Eventually breaking away, Bruce charged end to end to keep the game within three at halftime 7-4.

“Over the course of the season we were victorious over Yale Polo Club, Harvard Polo Club, Virginia Tech, Skidmore College and Texas Tech. These clubs have been established for decades and in some cases over a century, so it means a lot to our team that such a young club, without a school-owned facility, was able to take home the national championship.” – Austin Hamilton

Babson came out firing immediately in the second half with the first two-pointer of the final off the mallet of Aguilar. Not to be outdone, Skidmore’s Ben Bruce was right on his heels, retaliating in the third with a spectacular two-point shot of his own to narrow the gap. As play continued to intensify, several penalty opportunities presented themselves on both sides, which neither team was able to capitalize on.

With only a two-goal difference headed into the final chukker, Babson was unwilling to risk the win they had worked so hard to earn in the final minutes. Sparked to action, the fourth chukker witnessed Babson’s Hamilton come alive offensively to add three goals and hold off Skidmore’s final push. O’Malia answered back with a single goal, but ultimately Babson’s strong offensive presence once again prevailed to win the inaugural title 13-8.

Preparing his team as much as possible, Babson College coach Mark Tashjian also tapped into some strategy of his own. “I coached Skidmore’s captain Ben Bruce in high school so I knew exactly how he was going to play,” Tashjian said. “He’s a really good player so I needed to prepare our captain Beto Aguilar to utilize the team as well as Ben was going to utilize his teammates.”

“Winning the championship makes me feel like I did my part as captain in creating a good environment where my teammates could play at their best.” – Beto Aguilar

A relatively new team to intercollegiate polo, Babson College launched in 2019-2020 just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic which cancelled their first season (2020-2021). Putting in the work in the meantime and returning for their first full year of Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) polo, Babson College’s impressive showing has established them as the intercollegiate club to watch.

“I think there is a lot of significance for us being such a young team and now winning our first national tournament in the same year as I/I’s 100-year anniversary,” said Aguilar. “It is just special all the way around.” Hailing from Guatemala city, Guatemala, Aguilar played competitive polo in high school before helping to establish Babson’s team as a founding member. “I can’t wait to celebrate and tell my family back home in Guatemala!” Aguilar exclaimed.

Joining the team a year and a half ago, senior Austin Hamilton echoed just how significant the win is for the Babson program. “Over the course of the season we were victorious over Yale Polo Club, Harvard Polo Club, Virginia Tech, Skidmore College and Texas Tech,” Hamilton said. “These clubs have been established for decades and in some cases over a century, so it means a lot to our team that such a young club, without a school-owned facility, was able to take home the national championship.”

Babson College’s Leonardo Borja, Texas Tech’s Jeremiah Valles and Skidmore’s Ben Bruce and Justin Hall were selected as the Men’s National All-Stars. Valles also was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award. “This was the last year I am eligible to play so I left it all in the arena!” Valles said. “Being named an All-Star humbles you because it shows all you’ve worked for pays off.”

Playing arena polo for the first time as a freshman, Borja brings his knowledge of outdoor polo from his homeland of El Salvador. “This win means a lot to the team and we are excited to let people know that Babson College has a national championship winning polo team to encourage others to start playing alongside us,” Borja said.

“Sangria has been a staple of the Prestonwood I/I string for many years—this unassuming bay mare packs a punch! She dominates both grass and arena polo, however, her prowess in the arena makes her an outstanding mount.” – Morgan McBride on Best Playing Pony Sangria

Skidmore College’s Finnian O’Maila received the Horsemanship Award. “It’s my first season playing polo, so for me it’s pretty exceptional to represent Skidmore in the championship,” O’Malia commented. “The horses were fabulous and made us all look good.”

Mounting both teams for the final, Prestonwood Polo Club’s veteran horses were named Best Playing String and Best Playing Pony was presented to 15-year-old Thoroughbred Sangria.

“Sangria was without a doubt my favorite horse I’ve played this entire tournament,” Aguilar said with confidence. “She turns on a dime and it was a pleasure to play her in the last chukker. Without her on our side the results might have been different.” Prestonwood Polo Club Manager Morgan McBride added, “Sangria has been a staple of the Prestonwood I/I string for many years—this unassuming bay mare packs a punch! She dominates both grass and arena polo, however, her prowess in the arena makes her an outstanding mount. Sangria is a favorite of amateurs and pros alike with an unbeatable ride-off and smooth handle.”

Although coming up short in the final, Skidmore College remained optimistic and proud of what they have achieved to make it to this point. “I’ve been playing polo for eight years and this is the first time I’ve made it to nationals!” Bruce exclaimed. “It’s an indescribable feeling to know that we are one of two teams at the top of the men’s Division II,” Bruce continued. Hall added, “This is my first season with Skidmore and it’s been wonderful just being able to see our progression from the ground up.”

Seeing all that Babson College has had to overcome throughout their short time as a club, senior Aguilar is proud to end his intercollegiate career on top with the tournament win of the season. “I have witnessed firsthand how much the club has grown since it was started and it would not have been possible without the people helping behind the scenes,” Aguilar said with gratitude. “We are much more organized and established as a club, so one can only hope that Babson Polo will continue to achieve great things in the years to come.”

Photos by David Murrell

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Each boasting a dominant win against Texas Tech in the two earlier games of the round-robin tournament, Babson College (Beto Aguilar, Austin Hamilton, Leo Borja, Alt. Frederick Borja, Alt. John…

North America, Polo News

Patagons remain steadfast to seize Joe Barry Memorial

21. January 2022

After great anticipation and a two-day rain delay, the Joe Barry Memorial Final took place at International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), in Wellington Florida, between Beverly Polo (Bill Ballhaus, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Jorge “Tolito” Ocampo Jr., Hilario Figueras) and Patagones (Benjamin Avendano, Joaquin Avendano, Santiago Wulff, Tomas Garcia del Rio) on a chilly but picturesque day on the Isla Carroll West field.

Tied with 1-1 records, the two teams met for the first time in the final, following a shootout to determine who would compete for the famed title. Claiming the Ylvisaker Cup in 2020, Patagones returned with the same line-up in hopes of adding their name to the Joe Barry Memorial trophy, facing a fiery and hungry Beverly Polo seeking redemption after falling just short of victory in 2021. Led by experienced 8-goaler Garcia del Rio, Patagones commanded the first half with hit-and-run polo that allowed them to overcome two double yellow cards and an impressive performance from Beverly’s Ocampo Jr. in the second half to reclaim the trophy 11-10 in overtime.

Despite playing against each other for the first time in the tournament, both teams were extremely familiar with their opponents. “[We’ve] played over the years against Bill [Ballhaus], Tolito [Ocampo Jr.] and Hilario [Figueras] in the 6 goal, 8 goal and 12 goal, we [all] got to this level at the same time. It’s fun to play against [Beverly Polo] for sure, they’re friends but it’s tough [competition],” Wulff expressed. Garcia del Rio echoed Wulff’s sentiments, “it makes a big difference knowing each other and knowing each other’s horses as well. We knew it was going to be tough.”

In a game marred with penalties, Beverly Polo received the first break of the match on a yellow card awarded to Patagones for dangerous use of the mallet, resulting in a Penalty 2 goal from Ocampo Jr. Responding for Patagones, Garcia del Rio followed up with his first goal from the line on a Penalty 3. Unfortunately for Joaquin Avendano, his mallet caught Ocampo Jr. once again and received his second yellow card of the game, relegating him to the penalty box for two minutes of play.

Faced with a three-on-four disadvantage, Patagones tightened their defensive strategy and were able to capitalize on Beverly Polo’s eagerness, scoring shorthanded on another Penalty 4 from Garcia del Rio. Back to even strength, Garcia del Rio continued to lead his team on the field, driving Patagones’ push down field and taking advantage of Beverly Polo’s early foul troubles to score two more consecutive goals from the penalty line. The first field goal finally occurred for Patagones’ Wulff in the third chukker, but a determined Ocampo Jr. found the posts just before the half to inject momentum into a struggling Beverly Polo, closing the half 5-2 in favor of Patagones.

Regrouping in the break, Ocampo Jr. broke through in the fourth, igniting an offensive blitz leading to four goals in the chukker and quickly turning a three-goal deficit into a tied game 6-all. Not to be deterred by the sudden rush from Beverly Polo, Garcia del Rio promptly answered to begin the fifth on his sixth goal of the day, and second from the field. Following another successful conversion for Ocampo Jr., Benjamin Avendano received his first yellow card for dangerous use of the mallet, sending Ocampo Jr. back to the line on a Penalty 2, as Beverly Polo took a one goal, 8-7 lead for the first time in the match.

Knowing the tendencies of their opponents allowed for Patagones, with the assistance of coach (and undefeated 16-goal 2021 Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club season champion) Jesse Bray* to take the early lead, but Wulff acknowledged the persistence of Beverly Polo. “Nobody is selfish on [Beverly Polo]. They work really hard. They never give up. They came back in one chukker.” On Beverly Polo’s second half scoring storm Garcia del Rio remarked, “maybe we surprised them at the beginning a bit, then they came back playing like they always do. They play solid.”

Maintaining patience and relying on their experience, a trailing Patagones quickly rebounded with back-to-back field goals from Wulff and Joaquin Avendano. A back-and-forth fifth chukker that resulted in three goals from each team ended on a breakaway from Ocampo Jr., once again tying the game 9-all.

Eager to score the winning goal, both teams shot out to a quick start in the final chukker of play, with Ocampo Jr. fighting through traffic to score first for Beverly Polo. A charging Garcia del Rio quickly answered for Patagones, however, Benjamin Avendano was flagged with his second yellow card of the game for dangerous riding, placing him in the penalty box for the remainder of the chukker. As Patagones faced their second three-on-four disadvantage, Beverly Polo were once again unable to capitalize as regulation time expired.

Entering overtime Beverly Polo maintained their man advantage to start the chukker but Patagones were determined to hold off Beverly Polo. Creating more space on the field with an extra man it appeared Ocampo Jr. had the game won but an incredible save on the line from Wulff gave Patagones a fighting chance. A much-needed Benjamin Avendano re-entered the game and immediately provided defensive relief. Benjamin Avendano found redemption with a backshot that set up the game winning goal for Garcia del Rio, sending the ball through the posts for a spectacular 11-10 victory.

Following the heart pounding finish, a joyous Wulff reflected on his game saving play in overtime, “lucky for me and not so much for Tolito [Ocampo Jr.]! He hit an amazing shot and it was rolling in, I got there at the right moment. I couldn’t see where the ball was, I just hit it and the flagger didn’t raise the flag, so we kept going.” Joaquin Avendano added, “going into overtime, anything could happen. We’re a great team. We were down one player but that didn’t change our mindset that we could still win. We reorganized some things [and] luckily came out on top.”

Accounting for eight of Patagones’ goals, Garcia del Rio was named Most Valuable Player, while his 14-year-old dark bay homebred gelding Tunito (Holt x Tunita) who played as spare in the third, fifth and sixth chukkers took home Best Playing Pony.

Garcia del Rio expressed his team’s strengths leading to Patagones first Joe Barry Memorial title. “We know each other very well [and] have been playing together for the same two years. The kids [Benjamin and Joaquin] and I have been playing together in Argentina for four years, we know [what] everybody can do.”

Demonstrating a strong foundation of team chemistry, a veteran Patagones team also leaned into their familial bonds. Wulff, uncle to Benjamin and Joaquin Avendano shared the experience of playing with his talented young nephews, “I’ve been playing with them since they [were] eight, or nine [and] started playing polo. [I] taught them to ride [and] I feel very proud when I see them riding and hitting the ball. We spend the whole day together at the farm in the barn working on the horses and getting better.”

Joaquin Avendano recently competed in the U.S. Junior Open Test Match at IPC and Wulff can see the talent growing in both brothers, “their personalities get stronger and stronger every year, they don’t change but they get stronger. You start trusting them more in the field. You believe in them, that’s what [polo’s] about, believing in your teammate.” Garcia del Rio also noted the growth of the Avendano brothers, “they improve year to year. When you play with young kids they grow and improve. I think [they] can take even more responsibility [on] the team.”

Also celebrating the thrilling victory was Patagones team owner Gonzalo Avendano. Last playing in the Joe Barry Memorial in 2011, Avendano shared his feelings about the win, “it means a lot. Winning with my two sons [Joaquin and Benjamin], my brother-in-law [Santiago Wulff] and a good friend in Tomas [Garcia del Rio] is an honor.”

Wulff will be playing in the 16-goal in Wellington, joining Benjamin and Joaquin Avendano, with Bray jumping into the saddle. Maintaining a healthy, strong string through a grueling season of high-goal polo is a priority for Wulff, “We’ll try to rotate horses these next two weeks, we’re going to have a lot of polo, I’m saving three or four, just so they last the whole season.”

Beverly Polo and Patagones will be back in 18-goal action on Sunday at IPC to begin competition in the Ylvisaker Cup, where Beverly Polo will look to defend their 2021 title. Turning their attention to the Ylvisaker Cup, Garcia del Rio shared, “we always enjoy any game we play. We know we’re competitive and we’ll try and win.” Gonzalo Avendano believes his team will be prepared for a Beverly Polo rematch if necessary, “we’re going to try and win the [Ylvisaker Cup] also. It’s not easy, [Beverly Polo] is wonderful. I have to congratulate them too.”

*Jesse Bray is an Active Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

Photos by David Lominska

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After great anticipation and a two-day rain delay, the Joe Barry Memorial Final took place at International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), in Wellington Florida, between Beverly Polo (Bill Ballhaus,…

North America, Polo News

Ace sportswear goes all-in to claim second USPA WOMEN’S ARENA OPEN® title

30. September 2021

Concluding a competitive weekend of elite women’s arena polo, Ace Sportswear (Demitra Hajimihalis, Ingrid Donnan, Anna Winslow-Palacios) and Boothwyn Pharmacy (Katie Mitcham, Cindy Halle, Jessica Schmitt) captured hard-fought semifinal victories to meet in the illustrious USPA Women’s Arena Open® Final on Sunday, September 26. A spirited comeback from Boothwyn Pharmacy was completed on a two-point goal from Halle, however Anna Winslow-Palacios was the hero, scoring the game winning goal with one minute remaining to lead Ace Sportswear to an 11-10 victory and the coveted title at Virginia Polo, Inc. (Charlottesville, Virginia).

“We knew it was going to be a defensive battle. We’re all really seasoned arena players, so we all mark-up really effectively. We knew that we all had to be disciplined on the man, disciplined on the wall, which is tough against this team because I know they have the same strategy.” – Anna Winslow-Palacios

Withstanding an opening run from Boothwyn Pharmacy, Winslow-Palacios picked up the ball at midfield with a burst of speed to open the scoring for Ace Sportswear. Fighting her way along the wall on consecutive plays, back-to-back goals from Hajimihalis gave Ace Sportswear the early 3-2 lead in the first chukker.

A resilient Boothwyn Pharmacy pulled even in the opening stages of the second chukker, until a booming penalty from the center line for Winslow-Palacios found the goal for a two-point conversion, pushing Ace Sportswear’s lead to two. After exchanging goals, Ace Sportswear resorted to their long-distance shooting once again, this time with Donnan scoring the two-pointer to send her team into halftime with an 8-5 advantage.

Determined to extend their lead further, Ace Sportswear raced out of the gate in the second half, leaving Boothwyn Pharmacy pinned in front of their own goal. After three missed attempts from Ace Sportswear, Hajimihalis found the goal for her third score of the day. Regrouping, Boothwyn Pharmacy found their footing in open play, finishing the third chukker with goals from Mitcham and Schmitt to decrease the gap to just two. Kept just out of reach through most of the game, Boothwyn Pharmacy took their opportunity in the final chukker with time running out. Trailing by two, Halle jumped on the loose ball and sent a two-point shot into the goal, tying the score and leaving spectators on the edge of their seats entering the final minutes. Blocking the clearing attempt, Winslow-Palacios turned the corner and hit the ball in, giving Ace Sportswear the one-goal lead with one minute remaining. Despite the best efforts of Boothwyn Pharmacy, Ace Sportswear held on to claim the prestigious title with an 11-10 victory.

Ace Sportswear inscribe their name on the USPA Women’s Arena Open® trophy for the second time after winning in 2017. Members of that winning team, Winslow-Palacios and Hajimihalis reunited, while adding newcomer Donnan to emerge victorious. “I’ve lucked out in playing a few times with Anna [Winslow-Palacios] and we’ve gained a lot of great chemistry. It was really fun, competitive polo and it translates onto the field really well,” shared Donnan. As part of the USPA’s Tournament Stimulus Package, Ace Sportswear received $1,500 in prize money while Boothwyn Pharmacy took home $1,000.

Capturing her second title in as many days after winning the USPA Women’s Arena Handicap® on Saturday, Hajimihalis reflected on the memorable weekend. “It feels incredible. I really have to thank my teammates in both flights. They made it really fun and I think it’s just the attitude of no matter what, we knew we were going to have fun.” Deploying five horses that rotated over four days of play, Hajimihalis reiterated the work that was put in to capture the two titles. “I’m very exhausted and so are the horses today. They all played amazing.”

“We feed off each other’s energy, which is awesome. I would play for this team over and over again.” – Anna Winslow-Palacios

The Most Valuable Player award was presented to Anna Winslow-Palacios, whose six-goal performance, including the game-winning goal, helped lead Ace Sportswear to the win. “I actually switched my horse order around quite a bit from the semifinals,” Winslow-Palacios commented. “I put my second half horses in the first half today, which I think helped a lot. I started really strong with my big run-and-gun horses and ended on my steady horse.”

Capturing the victory again with Hajimihalis, Winslow-Placios continued by saying “She’s really positive, which is great. We feed off each other’s energy, which is awesome. I would play for this team over and over again.” exclaimed Winslow-Palacios.

Played in the first and fourth chukkers, Cindy Halle’s Estrella, a 15-year-old Argentine Mare was awarded Best Playing Pony. “She got hurt before the season started, but I’m so happy to have her back” explained Halle. “She’s got a huge bump and moved over a lot of big horses. Anyone could play her, but I really love playing her. She worked really hard out there.”

“In my senior year, I was starting for the National Intercollegiate Championship but it was cancelled, I never got my opportunity to shine. This is a pseudo-nationals for me to finally show all the years of hard work.” – Ingrid Donnan

Building on their chemistry from their 2017 title, Ace Sportswear gained valuable experience together on the grass this past summer, playing in a women’s tournament together in a lead-up to the USPA Women’s Arena Open®. Donnan drew on her experience from playing with the heralded Cornell program. “I learned to play at Cornell, started freshman year and worked my way up to starting on varsity.” Donnan continued by saying, “[i]n my senior year, I was starting for the National Intercollegiate Championship but it was cancelled, I never got my opportunity to shine. This is a pseudo-nationals for me to finally show all the years of hard work.”

Photos: © Oana Moore

North America, Polo News

AIKEN GIRLS MAKE THEIR MARK IN INTERSCHOLASTIC HISTORY

25. May 2021

Each team securing a strong win in their respective semifinals, number one seed Aiken Polo Club (Summer Kneece, Sophie Grant, Robyn Leitner, Reagan Leitner) and two-time defending champions Maryland Polo Club (Kylie Beard, Sierra Blevins, Jordan Peterson) entered the Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship (GNIS) Final with confidence after their first games. Receiving a bye into the semifinals, Aiken made their tournament debut with a decisive victory while Maryland made an equally strong showing in their opening game at New Bridge Polo & Country Club (Aiken, South Carolina). Putting Maryland on the defensive from the first chukker, Aiken extended their lead throughout the game to claim their first national championship win 17-5, denying their opponents a tenth tournament title.

“Having the opportunity to come to Aiken [South Carolina] and lead such a young team and the new Aiken Youth Polo organization to a national title is especially gratifying. I’m so thankful to have such a supportive coach [Tiger Kneece], teammates and family to finish this exciting journey of high school arena polo.” – Sophie Grant

The final took place on the evening of Saturday, May 22, as both teams competed for the most important trophy of their interscholastic career. Claiming the first three goals of the game, Aiken commanded the scoreboard from the opening throw in as Maryland Polo Club’s Sierra Blevins added one to the tally. Holding Maryland scoreless throughout the second chukker, Aiken continued to gain offensive momentum, Kneece adding three consecutive goals for her team.

“Our strategy was to be aggressive, communicate and really take our time with the ball,” Kneece said. Following an impressive display of team play and skill, Aiken Polo Club moved into halftime with a comfortable 8-1 lead.

Hammering in her sixth goal to open the second half, Kneece was met by strong resistance from Peterson who fired back with four goals for Maryland, including a two-pointer. Contributing a series of goals to the scoreboard, Aiken remained solid and consistently strong throughout the remainder of the game. “I think the order of our horses really helped!” Robyn Leitner commented. “I started in the second chukker on Miley who is my favorite to play and a great mare to get me into the start of the game. I ended on Shorty in the fourth, who can be a little strong at times, but he played well for me having already played one chukker.”

Although having a seven-goal lead entering the final chukker, Aiken was relentless in their pursuit of their first national title with Kneece picking up three additional goals. Highly effective

in the back, Grant closed out the final with a pair of goals to sweep another decisive victory 17-5. Capping off a great evening of polo, the team extended the celebration to the New Bridge clubhouse where they enjoyed a team dinner.

“We wanted to keep the game as open as possible and play to the strength of each teammate,” Grant said about her team’s strategy. “Summer [Kneece] is very good offensively so we wanted to keep her up in front receiving passes and scoring goals. Robyn and Reagan [Leitner] are really good in the middle and work hard taking the man. I thought I could make the greatest contribution by playing back. I planned to shut down Maryland’s offense and hit backshots and passes up to my teammates, trusting that they would score the goals.”

“Another strategy was our lineups for the throw ins,” Grant continued. “When we were on the good side of the throw in, I would line up next to the umpire. This positioning would let me jump on the ball and get the play going towards our goal.”

Splitting a position with her identical twin sister, Robyn Leitner was proud of what the girls had accomplished together. “This win was a huge compliment for my team and represented Aiken’s youth players,” Robyn Leitner said. “Being a part of such a great team who made Aiken’s first GNIS trophy happen was an honor. I am going to miss playing with Sophie [Grant] next year!”

Claiming her fourth Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship, Grant felt that this win was particularly special as team captain. “I won the first three championships (2019, 2018, 2016) with my two older sisters, Abbie and Maddie, on Maryland,” Grant said. “But having the opportunity to come to Aiken [South Carolina] and lead such a young team and the new Aiken Youth Polo organization to a national title is especially gratifying. I’m so thankful to have such a supportive coach, teammates and family to finish this exciting journey of high school arena polo.”

All Stars included Summer Kneece (Aiken Polo Club), Sophie Grant (Aiken Polo Club), Saralyn Painter (Gardnertown Polo Club) and Jordan Peterson (Maryland Polo Club). Kylie Beard (Maryland Polo Club) received the Sportsmanship Award.

As this was the first year the Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship was livestreamed, fans had a unique opportunity to watch interscholastic arena polo on Global Polo TV. “I was so thankful the games were livestreamed as my brothers, sisters and other family members were able to watch from their workplace,” Reagan Leitner shared. “I had grandparents in Pennsylvania and Arizona who watched and my sisters in Virginia and Scotland were able to give me pointers at halftime,” Grant added.

Holding an impressive 7-goal women’s arena handicap, Grant recently changed from competing with her longtime Maryland team to joining Aiken last year. “In 2020 I moved to Aiken to

become a more well-rounded player and specifically to improve my outdoor polo,” Grant said. “I also thought it was a great opportunity to join Tiger Kneece’s young Aiken Youth Polo (AYP) interscholastic team. In our 2020 regional final, AYP played against Maryland and for me that was mentally harder than this final because I had to play against my good friend and former teammate Catie Stueck, with whom I had won three national titles.”

Summer Kneece (Aiken Polo Club) received the Horsemanship Award. “Winning the championship means so much because our team has been working for this moment for so long,” Kneece revealed. “We prepared by having many practices with our coach, my dad, and we’ve also been playing grass polo which helped us.” „It was a great feeling to coach my daughter in this championship tournament,“ coach Tiger Kneece said. „We started this journey together four years ago and it‘s a dream come true.“ Chunky Monkey, owned by UVA, received Best Playing Pony honors while UVA 1 was awarded Best Playing String.

Ending her senior year on a high note, Grant is looking forward to continuing to playing polo in South Carolina. “For the next year I have decided to be based in Aiken,” Grant revealed. “I’ve made many friends and have found Aiken to be a very supportive environment for young players. I have some green horses to train as well and I’m excited to see where that takes me.”

The Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) staff would like to thank the wonderful hosts at New Bridge Polo & Country Club, Raza Kazmi, Aiken Youth Polo and Tiger Kneece. The horses were graciously provided by Aiken Youth Polo, DI Polo, Berube Polo, and UVA. They would also like to thank the umpires including Tom Wisehart, John Bianco, Ronnie Hayes, Brent Marikatani and Bradley Biddle.

Images: ©Larry Johnson

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North America, Polo News

La Herradura shines in Women’s Pacific Coast Open Debut

9. September 2020

Making their debut in the second annual 2020 Women’s Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California) La Herradura joined three returning teams, Dundas, Timing and Polo Gear/Coffee Company, but proved to be a step ahead of their opponents in the final on Sunday, September 6. After narrowly defeating Dundas in the semifinal, La Herradura used efficient 55% shooting from the field and three goals from Meghan Gracida to defeat Timing 7-4 and capture their first Women’s Pacific Coast Open title.

“We watched Timing play a very strong game in their first match. Our plan was to try and shut them down early, be quick in the transitions and use all four members of our team. We were also very fortunate to have Memo [Gracida] as a coach and I was spoiled to play La Herradura’s horses.” – Izzy Parsons

Played at the 18-goal level, the elite level of women’s polo was on full display throughout the weekend, culminating with the performance of La Herradura (Suzette Yamani, Meghan Gracida, Izzy Parsons, Dayelle Fargey) against Timing (Nicole Ball, Mia Bray*, Mia Novillo Astrada, Sofia Lorenzo). A quick start for La Herradura saw them hold the possession advantage in the first chukker as Parsons opened the scoring with back-to-back field goals on a gelding named Elvis, giving La Herradura the 2-0 lead. The beginning of the second chukker saw La Herradura extend their lead to three on Gracida’s first goal of the game, taking advantage of extra possessions and shot attempts at goal. Timing brought the deficit back to just one by halftime, converting both shot attempts on field goals from Mia Novillo Astrada and Sofia Lorenzo. La Herradura led headed into the second half 3-2.

The well-rounded La Herradura attack began the second half strong, restoring their three-goal advantage, led by Suzette Yamani contributing a goal in the number one position. Gracida’s second goal quickly put Timing on their heels as they were in need of an offensive strategy in order to challenge Timing over the final chukkers of the game. “Our strategy headed into the final was to put pressure on Timing and really mark the man,” Gracida said. “Sofia Lorenzo and Mia Novillo Astrada like to play the ball and turn it rather than hit backhand so we tried to capitalize on that and really mark our man.” Before the end of the third, Mia Bray found her stride, cutting the lead down to two with just one chukker remaining. The intensity increased in the fourth as pressure was applied on both sides of the ball, but Fargey’s Penalty 3 conversion extended the lead and landed all La Herradura teammates on the board. Answering back for the second time, Bray kept Timing in the game by maintaining the gap. An impactful player in the game, Gracida provided to be the answer the La Herradura needed with her third field goal which sealed the victory 7-4 and the 2020 Women’s Pacific Coast Open trophy.

Playing in the Sunny Hale Invitational a week prior, the tournament proved to be good preparation for the Women’s Pacific Coast Open. “This is a huge win for myself and for our organization since we are now based here in California,” Gracida said. “I didn’t have the opportunity to play in the inaugural Women’s Pacific Coast Open last year so I made it a goal of mine to put a team in this year and I was very determined to get organized so we would win. We worked very hard before we got to this point and it was with the help of Memo’s [Gracida] amazing organization La Herradurra and the horses.”

Most Valuable Player was presented to Dayelle Fargey. “She completely deserves to win MVP,” Gracida said. “She played so well and was the true leader on the field. I’d argue that she is the best U.S. women’s player.”

Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Galguita (Galgo x Lechuza), a homebred grey mare owned by Patagones Polo Team and played by Mia Novillo Astrada in the third chukker. “She was very comfortable, fast, powerful and has a really good mouth,” Novillo Astrada said. “Also she is great in the ride off and I really enjoyed playing her.” “She was bred by my brother Carlos Avendaño and now Gonzalo [Avendaño] owns her,” Anita Avendaño added. “Galguita’s dam Lechuza was an Argentine Thoroughbred which Carlos played in high goal in Argentina including the Copa Cámara de Diputados. In the U.S. she has also played in the Silver Cup®, Ylvisaker Cup, C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Gold Cup®.”

Originally from Kenya, Izzy Parsons was happy that her international trip paid off. “I’ve played in a number of tournaments in the U.S. making it into a few finals here and there, but I’ve never won so it was great to get this win!” Parsons expressed.

www.uspolo.org

Gallery: All photos ©David Lominska

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*Mia Bray is a member of Team USPA. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

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14. October 2019

EDITORIAL

Europe had many polo highlights to offer this summer. One of them is just being built – in Alentejo, Portugal.

A magnificent busy polo season is drawing to a close in Europe. The Berenberg German Polo Masters on Sylt was one of the major highlights. Now in its 21st year, the tournament is one of the traditional annual fixtures in the German and indeed, European polo calendar. The record number of visitors together with the international line-up of teams who attended are testament once again to the increasing interest and appreciation of the sport on Germany´s northernmost island.

In Switzerland, the polo classic, Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad once again lit up the polo stage in August. At 1,050 metres above seal level, amidst the Bernese Oberland mountains, team captain Dr Piero Dillier and his team: Lucas Labat, Bautista Beguerie and Juan Manuel González really showed the competition what winners look like. We can already look forward to August 2020, when this unique polo event will celebrate its 25th anniversary. With Pierre Genecand and his team at the helm, this jubilee is sure to be a truly memorable occasion.

The Open de France is well-known to be the most important, prestigious polo tournament in France. This year, after a hugely successful international polo season in Chantilly, the Chantilly “newcomers” from the Spanish team, Marqués de Riscal were able to demonstrate their skills on the pitch. The final of the Paprec Open de France 2019 also delivered on all expectations for the women´s competition.

In Three Roses, just 20 minutes away from Sotogrande in southern Spain, we visited the Iridike Polo Club. Thanks to the ideal winter climate in Andalucía, it is an excellent year-round polo destination in which to play, learn from experienced polo professionals and accommodate the horses.

Finally, we come to Portugal, just across the border from Spain. About an hour´s drive south from Portugal´s lively capital, Lisbon, lies the Alentejo. A little-known region that is making its mark on the map as the new “place to be”, as the new “Hamptons” of Portugal. Some prominent millionaires are already there. This is the just the beginning of a project that is set to transform the small country in the far western reaches of Europe into one of the polo hotspots of the continent and indeed, of the whole world. Project developer, Stefan Maria Gast knows what it takes to make the dream of creating the world´s best polo club in Portugal come true. We are looking forward to it.

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Thomas Wirth, Founder, thomas@poloplus10.com

© Thomas Wirth

EDITORIAL Europe had many polo highlights to offer this summer. One of them is just being built – in Alentejo, Portugal. A magnificent busy polo season is drawing to a…

Asia, Europe, North America, Polo News, South America

The new POLO+10 WORLD is out now! FREE DOWNLOAD

14. October 2019

EDITORIAL

Europe had many polo highlights to offer this summer. One of them is just being built – in Alentejo, Portugal.

Free Download of POLO+10 I/2020:
POLO+10_WORLD_I_20

Thomas Wirth, Founder, thomas@poloplus10.com

© Thomas Wirth

EDITORIAL Europe had many polo highlights to offer this summer. One of them is just being built – in Alentejo, Portugal. A magnificent busy polo season is drawing to a…

North America, Polo News

Carlos Gracida Cup Final on Saturday

29. March 2018

Undefeated teams Coca-Cola and La Indiana prepare for Carlos Gracida Cup final, which is the last 20-goal final of the International Polo Club Palm Beach season on Saturday, March 31. Following cross-bracket play between seven teams, four progressed into the semifinals to battle for a spot in the Carlos Gracida Cup Final. In the first semifinal played on Tuesday, March 27, at the Everglades Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, Coca-Cola held onto a slight lead in the second half, outscoring Prestige Worldwide 9-7. A few hours later at nearby International Polo Club Palm Beach also in Wellington, Florida, La Indiana came back from the penalty line to capture the second spot 10-9 from Pilot. Coca-Cola will challenge La Indiana in the final this Saturday, March 31, at 3:00pm ET at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, each vying for the opportunity to be crowned Inaugural Carlos Gracida Cup champions.

Coca-Cola Advances on Home Turf

Confident having placed first in Bracket III, Coca-Cola’s combination of teamwork and strategic play earned them a spot in the semifinal on Tuesday, March 27, with only Prestige Worldwide standing between them and the final. A tight game throughout, Coca-Cola’s precision from the penalty line gave them the advantage needed to claim their third win 9-7.

Eager to be the first on the board, both teams played the first chukker with fervor, resulting in several right-of-way violations. Assisted by his teammates, Sugar Erskine struck first for Coca-Cola with a field goal which Steve Krueger* followed up with a Penalty 2 conversion. Mirroring their opponents’ goals, Prestige Worldwide reset the game and entered the second once again on a level playing field. After an attempt to score went wide, Miguel Novillo Astrada finally found his target, closing in on the posts with a nearside neckshot to pick up his second goal. Benefiting from an automatic Penalty 1 goal, Coca-Cola established a brief two-goal lead and through expert ball control, Krueger slowly guided the ball close enough to shoot. “We tried to use Gillian [Johnston] to go long and Steve helping in the back,” Erskine shared. “Also us slowing down a little bit more and then releasing helped us control the ball, making a transition in the speed of the plays.” Elevating his game, Stevie Orthwein secured three consecutive goals from the field as Prestige Worldwide unleashed strong offensive maneuvers to end the half 6-all.

As both teams struggled from disrupted plays in the second half, Coca-Cola’s Krueger remained steady from the penalty line, converting two additional Penalty 2 shots. Fueled by adrenaline, Felipe Viana* continued to break up Coca-Cola’s plays and exhibited excellent defensive skills long enough for Orthwein to make a single goal in the last 30 seconds of the fifth chukker. Hitting back and forth unsuccessfully up until the last minute of the sixth, Prestige Worldwide lost their chance to force overtime after a turning call resulted in a second Penalty 1 in favor of Coca-Cola. Unable to respond, Prestige Worldwide conceded victory to Coca-Cola 9-7.

Although playing without Julio Arellano due to a hand injury, Coca-Cola has continued to work together cohesively. “Now we’ve hit our stride playing with Nacho [Novillo Astrada] and hopefully it will carry over to the finals,” Krueger said. “We are going to have to play really well to win.”

La Indiana Sets Their Sights On Tournament Final Win

Unphased by their previous loss in the Iglehart Cup Final, La Indiana’s determination paid off, finding themselves in the Carlos Gracida Cup Semifinal. Edging out Pilot by one goal, La Indiana fought vigorously for a well-deserved win 10-9. Many attempts on goal fell wide leading to a low scoring initial chukker. Pilot’s Matt Coppola* managed to score the single goal of the first to put Pilot on the board. Headed into the second chukker energized, La Indiana produced results with Michael Bickford finishing off a play on the south end and immediately scoring again on the north end. Forcing his way through the pack of defenders, Toro Ruiz kept the drive alive with a powerful neckshot to goal. As play continued in the third, La Indiana demonstrated well-executed teamwork, earning them three additional goals from the field. Resisting the offensive force, Gonzalito Pieres forced a final goal for Pilot in the last 30 seconds before the half, moving the tally to 6-4 in favor of La Indiana. “Our strategy was to put one man in front and another behind Gonzalito,” La Indiana’s Jeff Hall said. “He’s an excellent player and very well mounted so you have to box him in.”

Returning in the fourth, neither team would give up a point easily which resulted in over two minutes of continuous running from one goal mouth to the other. Possession going to La Indiana, Ruiz finally ended the stalemate with a goal, but Pilot was right behind him with two. Opening the fifth with an agile backshot between the goal posts, his fifth of the game, Pieres inspired Pilot to pull together as a team and play their strongest chukker yet. Blocking high-scorer Ruiz from their goal, Pilot picked up the lead 9-8 to end the fifth, but it would not hold for long. The renewed aggression of Pilot’s plays sparked by the desire to overturn the game resulted in two critical right-of-way violations which cost them the game. Capitalizing on the advantageous Penalty 2 call, Facundo Obregon converted both from the line to sweep the victory 10-9.

Playing together since the start of the 2018 Florida season, La Indiana is confident in their progressive growth and ability to take the tournament title. “We’ve gotten to the quarterfinals, semifinals and now our second finals and we keep getting better,” Hall revealed. “We know each other better as players and when we start moving the ball I feel like nobody can beat us.”

www.uspolo.org

Undefeated teams Coca-Cola and La Indiana prepare for Carlos Gracida Cup final, which is the last 20-goal final of the International Polo Club Palm Beach season on Saturday, March 31. …