In an exciting Memorial Day match May 30, LBL Polo took home the trophy from the Spring Classic 8-Goal tournament at New Bridge Polo and Country Club. It was a commanding victory for LBL Polo, who defeated Derry Heir 10-6. LBL's Pelon Escapite was named Most Valuable Player and his horse, "Don la Fleur," won the Best Playing Pony award.
Chip McKenney, CEO/CFO of Phelps Media Group International and an avid polo player, moderated a two-day panel at the 2016 United States Polo Association (USPA) Board of Governors annual meeting in April in West Palm Beach, Florida. The first panel addressed Team USPA's 2015 near-win in the 2015 Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship in Chile. The second panel focused on the growth and future of women in polo, along with the impact of the Women's Championship Tournaments (WCT).
Twin Palms narrowly averted a comeback by the Antelope Polo Team in the 2016 Pope Challenge, ultimatley defeating them 14-13. The winning Twin Palms Polo Team joined forces this past January at the Eldorado Polo Club 12 Goal. The team has played a total of eight tournaments together, competing in seven finals and bringing home five 12 goal trophies. Santi Wulff was named MVP while Felipe Vercellino's "Barbarita" was Best Playing Pony.
Greenwich Polo Club will kickoff its 35th season of high-goal polo with opening day on Sunday, June 5th. Sunday's match is open to the public and will feature an exclusive pre-game book signing by internationally renowned polo player Nacho Figueras from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., followed by the first match of the United States Polo Association-sanctioned Monty Waterbury Cup.
Foxdale Equine defeated Blackberry Ranch 9-5 on Monday, May 16 in the 8-goal New Bridge Members Classic final. Five teams competed in the tournament, which began April 28 at the New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina. Alan Martinez of Foxdale Equine was named Most Valuable Player and his horse, Ruterra, was Best Playing Pony.
Prince Harry led the Sentebale ISPS Handa team to victory in the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup on May 4 at Valiente Polo Club. Valiente owner Bob Jornayvaz, Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick and Melissa Ganzi rounded out the team, which defeated the Royal Salute team 6-3.
In the culmination of an exciting month-long tournament, La Mission won the 2016 Palm City Spring Classic 6-Goal final 7-3.5 over Phelps Media on April 30 at Palm City Polo Club. Joey Casey, owner of Palm City Polo, played on the winning team, along with Bob Kohn, Adam Koeffler and Misha Rodzianko. Rodzianko was the game high-scorer, with six field goals. Kohn contributed two goals for La Mission, which maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game, stretching its lead with two goals in the final chukker to take the win.
The second annual Sugar Erskine Charity Polo Clinic will take place at the Tacoma Polo Club on June 25 and 26 and will be hosted by The Alcott Academy. A percentage of proceeds from this event will benefit Horses Healing Hearts, a charitable organization in Florida that Erskine personally endorses and serves as an official ambassador. Horses Healing Hearts helps children raised with addiction in their home by working with horses.
The Dutta Corp, one of the most successful teams at Grand Champions Polo Club, won the final tournament of the spring polo season Sunday at International Polo Club's Stadium Field. The foursome of teenager Timmy Dutta, Marc Ganzi, Lucas Diaz Alberdi and Kris Kampsen won The Memorial with an impressive 10-7 victory over Flexjet. The Memorial was the final tournament of the club's most successful season in its nine-year history.
Farmers and Merchants Bank powered through the first tournament of the summer winning the Jewelry by Gauthier Polo Cup. The stands were jam packed as Farmers and Merchants Bank and Twin Palms took the field for the first 12 goal tournament final of the summer. A non-polo related injury sidelined Charlie Walker, but his replacement, Alonso Cruz, stepped up to the plate and was a strong addition to the team with Felipe Viana, Henry Walker and Luis Escobar.
The Gay Polo League (GPL) is pleased to announce the GPL Polo Club has been granted nonprofit status as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service tax code. The nonprofit designation means donations and gifts to GPL are tax-deductible and the organization is eligible to apply for government and foundation grants. The Gay Polo League is a sports organization with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members and friends across the United States. The membership includes international players in Argentina, Australia, China, Canada, England, France and South Africa.
