February Leagues Begin; Colorado, Valiente Play Saturday In Sterling Cup Final At Grand Champions Polo Club
WELLINGTON, Fla., February 8, 2019---Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation's busiest and most innovative polo club, kicks off February league play and plays host to its first major tournament of the season this weekend.
Colorado will make its first appearance in the Sterling Cup on Saturday at 3 p.m. when it takes on defending champion Valiente on Field One at Grand Champions.
Colorado (Rob Jornayvaz, 2, Santi Torres, 6, Diego Cavanagh, 9, Nick Johnson, 3) qualified for its first final in the prestigious tournament with an impressive 13-10 victory over Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Tony Calle, 3, Juan Martin Nero, 10, Juancito Bollini, 4).
Colorado will now try and beat Valiente (Kian Hall/Bautista Panelo, 3, Robertito Zedda, 4, Poroto Cambiaso 3, Adolfo Cambiaso, 10) which will be no easy feat with the father-son combination and strong supporting cast.
Valiente advanced into the final with a 9-4 victory over Audi on Tuesday. Both teams are undefeated at 2-0. Valiente has scored 23 goals and Colorado has scored 21 goals.
After successful league season openers in January, February league play kicks in Saturday with Halo Polo Trophy 6-goal and Top Pony 8-goal play with 8-goal between Beverly Equestrian and WPL at noon and 6-goal between Mayer Ranch and Satcom at 4 p.m. The 12-goal Sieber Memorial Tournament begins Sunday with Beverly Equestrian against Sebucan at 10:30 a.m.
Bill Ballhaus
Six teams will compete in the 12-Goal Sieber Memorial Tournament. They are:
The tournament is named in honor of polo player Rob Sieber, who died in a polo-related accident 33 years ago at Oak Brook, Ill.
Marty Cregg
In the battle of unbeaten teams, Patagones (Joaquin Avendano, 1, Robi Bilbao, 4, Benjamin Avendano, 2, Santi Wulff, 5) held off Beverly Equestrian (Bill Ballhaus, 0, Hilario Figueras, 2, Tolito Ocampo, 4, Carlucho Arellano, 5) for a thrilling 11-10 victory in last year's final. Wulff scored a game-high seven goals and was named Most Valuable Player. Six teams will also compete in the Top Pony 8-Goal:
The Sterling Cup is the club's first major tournament of the season. In last year's Sterling Cup Adolfo, Mia and Poroto Cambiaso made history by winning their first ever high goal tournament together. Along with teammate Magoo Laprida, Valiente knocked off pre-tournament favorite Audi (Marc Ganzi, Henry Porter, Nic Roldan, Nico Pieres), 10-4, in the final. Mia Cambiaso was MVP.
The Sterling Cup is one of two prestigious tournaments that the nation's busiest and most innovative polo club resurrected two years ago after a 22-year absence. It was brought back by Grand Champions owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi in hopes of recapturing polo's glory days. It was the second tournament of the 22-goal season at Palm Beach Polo after the January Challenge Cup and last played in 1995. It was considered the 22-goal championship and attracted as many as eighteen teams.
Pablo Pulido
File Photos
In addition to the strong field of players, the tournament is showcasing some of the best horses in the sport. Three awards will be presented: Best Playing Pony for the final game, Best Playing Pony for the tournament and the coveted American Polo Horse Association best registered horse of the game.
The APHA was created in 2006 by the legendary Polo Hall of Famer Sunny Hale to recognize polo ponies in America and encourages events that showcase them and hard-working dedication of grooms.
During the winter polo season, Grand Champions, the nation's largest and innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club, is hosting 24 tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 0 to 40 goals, WCT Finals and women's weekly league play and 26-goal World Polo League tournaments at both Grand Champions, Valiente Polo Farm and other fields.
Grand Champions tournaments attract a large international field of players from all corners of the world including India, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Nigeria, Venezuela, Australia and England.
Season highlights for 2019 are the Sterling Cup, March 1-31 $50,000 National 12-GoalTournament, March 1-16 John T. Oxley Memorial and March 3-24 $100,000 World Cup Tournament, a unique 0-40-goal, winner-take-all single-elimination tournament.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and three polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball with plans to build more polo fields in the future.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels and ages. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program, created by Grand Champions President Melissa Ganzi when the club first opened.
The Polo School, a stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club, is thriving. It is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November. Headed by Director of Operations Juan Bollini, The Polo School has nurtured several men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception.
JANUARY
Jan. 26-Feb. 9, Sterling Cup (20 goal) Women's League (6-12 goal), Every Wednesday & Monthly Final, Santa Rita Polo Farm
FEBRUARY Feb. 9-23, Halo Polo Trophy (6 goal) Feb. 9-23, Top Pony Series (8 goal)
Feb. 9-23, Sieber Memorial Trophy (12 Goal) Feb. 6-17, World Polo League, All-Star Challenge, at Grand Champions & Valiente Feb. 20-Mar. 3, Founders Cup, at Grand Champions & Valiente Women's League (6-12 goal), Every Wednesday & Monthly Final at Santa Rita Polo Farm
MARCH Mar. 1-23, Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (6-goal) Mar. 1-23, Limited Edition 8-Goal Series Mar. 1-23, Top Pony 12-Goal Series March 1-31, $50,000 National 12-Goal Mar. 1-16, John T. Oxley Memorial (20 Goal) Mar. 3-24, $100,000 World Cup (0-40 goal) Mar. 6-24, World Polo League, Palm Beach Open, at Grand Champions & Valiente Mar. 27-Apr. 14, World Polo League, Triple Crown of Polo, at Grand Champions & Valiente Women's League (6-12 goal), Every Wednesday at Santa Rita Polo Farm
APRIL Apr. 5-20, Las Acacias (4-8 goal) Apr. 6-20, National President's Cup April 2-6: Sunny Hale's Legacy WCT Finals, (8 goals, 16 goals, Open) at Grand Champions.
THE POLO SCHOOL
The Polo School at Grand Champions and Director of Operations Juan Bollini are dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. The school's mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November. For lessons contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
Chukker TV is live streaming the entire winter polo schedule. ChukkerTV, featuring cutting-edge technology, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club. For advertising opportunities on ChukkerTV please contact Mike Ferreira at mike@chukkertv.com.
INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.
