Wellington Florida

North America, Polo News

Gauntlet of Polo: Pilot first one million dollar champion

20. June 2019

The “gauntlet” comes from the phrase “throw down the gauntlet”, which is a physical action to issue a formal challenge. For the first time ever in the sport of polo, the GAUNTLET OF POLO trophy was played at the International Polo Club.

The GAUNTLET OF POLO presented by the United States Polo Association is the sport’s newest and most challenging tournament series in the US with an unprecedented $1Million prize purse, and pits the world’s top polo teams in a fierce competition to be crowned GAUNTLET Champion. The GAUNTLET OF POLO consists of three major tournaments. It officially began with the C.V. Whitney Cup in February, continued with the USPA Gold Cup at the end of March and finished on April 21 with the US Open Polo Championship at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) on the U.S. Polo Assn. stadium field in Wellington, Florida.

Pilot polo team with Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Curtis Pilot and Matias Gonzalez secured its place in history as the inaugural winner of the GAUNTLET OF POLO title 2019 with a score of 12-7 over Las Monjitas by winning the U.S. Open Polo Championship, the third leg of the GAUNTLET series. The GAUNTLET was created to increase team participation and attendance, enhance fan experience through interactive events, build public awareness for polo, establish a hero campaign to feature some of the best players in the world, and drive event viewership on CBS Sports. “The GAUNTLET will challenge the world’s top players and horses to strive for the most prestigious tro-phies in the United States and provide a new platform for athletes, teams, sponsors and polo fans,” said Robert Puetz, CEO of the USPA.”

Over the three GAUNTLET months, Pilot played against the high-est level of skilled athletes and ponies and managed to clinch wins in all three GAUNTLET events “It’s amazing to win, it’s like a fairy tale for all of us, the whole team. I started playing polo when I was 49 years old. It’s been an amazing three months and I have to give a shout-out to Mia Bray, a young up-and-coming female polo player, who covered three chukker for me,” said Curtis Pilot, team owner.

www.uspolo.org

The “gauntlet” comes from the phrase “throw down the gauntlet”, which is a physical action to issue a formal challenge. For the first time ever in the sport of polo,…

North America, Polo News

Valiente etches their name on the Ylvisaker Cup at IPC Palm Beach

26. February 2018

Valiente wins Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach: Eager to pull out the ultimate upset of the Ylvisaker Cup tournament, finalist GSA challenged Valiente for the prestigious title on Sunday, February 25, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Previously losing by one goal in their first tournament match up, GSA’s valiant effort for redemption ultimately came up short, Valiente outscoring their opponent 8-6.

Anticipating strong, fast polo, GSA’s Mariano Gonzalez took the ball straight to goal within the first minute of play, Valiente nimbly responding with two of their own. Competitive throughout the first half, both teams courageously battled for the edge that would put them ahead. Two unanswered goals gave GSA the lead after the second. Recognizing an opening in the third, Adolfo Cambiaso picked up a loose ball scored an easy goal. A final goal by Matias Magrini ended the half 4-3 in favor of GSA, with each teammate contributing one a piece.

Riddled by penalties, play slowed in the second half as a determined GSA fought to shut down Valiente’s set plays. Opening the fourth with an undefended Penalty 2 conversion from the spot, Cambiaso dominated the fourth and fifth, scoring four consecutive goals, including three off the penalty line. Not to be underestimated, Henry Porter continued to confidently pursue players well above his handicap. Gonzalez received a yellow flag in the fifth and immediately took out his frustration by working the ball down field past Santi Torres* to score GSA’s first goal since the third.

Heading into the final chukker 7-5, Valiente was unstoppable and sealed the win with a final pass up to Torres who put the ball between the goal posts. Relentless until the end, GSA displayed strategic player positioning and managed to pick up the last goal by Dylan Rossiter, ending the game with a win for Valiente 8-6.

Reflecting on his first high-goal tournament, Bautista Panelo was happy with the day’s outcome. “I have worked with Valiente since 2014, and work with the horses,” said Panelo. “Chance and Aerea, my fourth and fifth chukkers were bred from La Dolfina. I trained them, and so my happiness is doubled getting to play horses that I have trained. I never imagined that I would be here playing. They told me in December that I was on the team, so this is kind of new for me, this professional life. I am trying to stay humble and stick with Valiente, and if they need me for another tournament I’ll be ready.”

Scoring six of Valiente’s eight goals, Adolfo Cambiaso was named Most Valuable Player. “Bob never won this tournament so we are happy to win,” said Cambiaso. “We had an okay game, I think we played better in the semifinals. I was lucky to convert my penalties in the second half and that’s what put us back in the game.” Best Playing Pony honors were awarded, for the second time in the tournament, to Macarena, a six-year-old grey American Thoroughbred played by GSA’s Mariano Gonzalez in the first and fifth chukkers.

www.uspolo.org

www.palmbeachpolo.com

Valiente wins Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach: Eager to pull out the ultimate upset of the Ylvisaker Cup tournament, finalist GSA challenged Valiente for the prestigious…