Rossmore Skins Cup -Standings March 24
Money split with Highwood winning USPA Rossmore Cup
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK 12
Danny Walker 2
Matthew Walker 2
Santiago Trotz 5
Jimmy Wright 3
HIGHWOOD 12
Ron Mathison 0
Francisco Mera-Rodriguez 4
Marcos Llambias 4
Mariano Gutierrez 4
Bensoleimani.com 12
Ben Soleimani 0
Santiago Von Wernich 5
Tomy Alberdi 4
Remy Du Celiee Muller 3
TWIN PALMS 12
Chris Maloney 1
Graham Bray 3
Ruben Coscia 4
Ulysses Escapite 4
Fri Mar 15; Farmers & Merchants vs Twin Palms, Bensoleimani.com vs Highwood
Sun Mar 17; FMB vs Bensoleimani.com, Twin Palms vs Highwood
Fri Mar 22; Twin Palms vs Bensoleimani.com, Highwood vs FMB
Sun Mar 24; Polo Skins Game - Bensoleimani.com vs Highwood
Bensoleimani.com 3 0 d Highwood, FMB, Twin Palms
Highwood 2 1 d Twin Palms, FMB l Bensoleimani.com
FMB 1 2 d Twin Palms l Bensoeimani.com, Highwood
Twin Palms 0 3 l FMB, Highwood, Bensoleimani.com
Perfect Sunday Presented by Ketel One Botanicals
Saint Patrick's Day featured great weather and great polo
Saint Patrick's Day Sunday Polo - presented by Ketel One Botanicals – in front of a huge crowd, featured, first of all, a USPA 6 Goal Governor’s Cup tournament game followed by a USPA 12 Goal Rossmore Cup Skins qualifier.
The Governor’s Cup action featured Thermal (Reg Whyte, Bayne Bossom 2, Earnie Ezcurra 2 Felipe Sordelli 2) going up against Bush League (Virgil Kyle .5, Ryan Robertson .5, Ulysses Escapite 4, Jose Rodriquez 1).
With Thermal leading after the first three chukkers (3 – 0, 3 – 2, 4 – 3), Bush League came back in the fourth period to force an overtime frame with the count tied at six. With the throw-in to start the decider inside 40 yards and right of the Thermal goal, Escapite needed only 18 seconds to score the winner. With the 7 - 6 win, Bush league remained undefeated in qualifying play.
The second game, on this perfect afternoon for polo, saw Highwood (Ron Matheson, Marcello Rodriquez-Abbiati 4, Marcos Llambias 4, Francisco Rodriquez-Mera 4) mount up against Twin Palms (Chris Maloney 1, Graham Bray 3, Ruben Coscia 4, Ulysses Escapite 4).
After three periods, Highwood led by a count of 7 – 3. Twin Palms came back in the fourth and early fifth and tied the score at seven. However, Highwood regrouped and rode to a 12 – 7 victory.
With the Ketel One Botanical ladies present, players were presented with Ketel One Botanicals after both games.
Tony Gregg
Bush League Victorious in March 6 Goal
Warmup tournament is first step to Governor's Cup
The final game of the March 6 Goal League featured Palm Desert (Dan Horn, Malia McCoy 1, Joseph Stuart 3, Alonso Andrade 1) lining up against Bush League (Virgil Kyle .5, Ryan Robertson .5, Ulysses Escapite 4, Jose Rodriguez 1). For Bush League it was to be a warm-up event for the USPA 2019 Pacific Coast Governor’s Cup – a tournament they won in 2017 with the same roster.
With a handicap award of one-half goal, Palm Desert started quickly as Stuart scored early. Rodriguez and Kyle replied for Bush League and the first ended with the minor leaguers leading by the handicap difference at 2 – 1.5.
The Bush League lead increased in the second via a penalty one call against Palm Desert but was short lived as Stuart scored his second and Andrade counted one as well. At the half, it was Palm Desert up at 3.5 – 3.
The third was a back and forth as Bush League counted three times – Escapite twice (one penalty 4) and Robertson – and Palm Desert two times – Stuart and Andrade (a penalty 3). Going to the final frame Bush League led again at 6 – 5.5.
Kyle scored the only goal of the fourth period and that would be enough as Escapite did a masterful job of running down the clock that prevented any kind of comeback by Palm Desert. The result was a 7 – 5.5 win for Bush League.
Escapite, always organized and influential, was selected as the MVP.
Blackjack, owned by Dayelle Fargey and Abby Riggs and played by Escapite in the fourth, earned the title of Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg
Bensoleimani.com Takes Beal 12 Over Chateau d'Esclans
With the victory, the Soleimani group shows strength before Skins
The USPA Carlton and Keleen Beal Cup 12 Goal final turned out to be a game of split momentum for five chukkers and then then a battle to the finish the sixth.
From the start, Bensoleimani.com (Ben Soleimani, Santiago Von Wernich 5, Tomy Alberdi 4, Remy Du Celliee Muller 3) took control over Chateau d’Escalns (Ron Mathison, Marcos Llambias 4, Francisco Rodriguez-Mera 4, Patrick Uretz 4 – sub for inj Marcello Rodriguez-Abbiati 4) with immediate and sustained pressure. The result was two goals from Alberdi – one from the field and a penalty three conversion to lead after one at 2 – 0.
The early second saw the momentum stay with the designers as Du Celiee Muller and Von Wernich each scored singles to lead by four. However, the late second saw a switch in momentum as Chateau d’Esclans recovered to find pressure of their own that was rewarded with a spot penalty two opportunity that was easily converted by Rodriguez-Mera and the second was over with Soleimani.com up by three at 4 – 1.
The switch in strength to favor the vintners continued into the third frame as Rodriguez-Mera counted two goals – another free hit from 10 yards and a field goal to narrow the deficit to just a goal at 4 – 3 going into the Sophia Halftime Divot Stomp.
The fourth period featured continued momentum for Chateau d’Esclans as Rodriguez-Mera counted a pair of open goal strikes and a spectacular neck shot from 65 yards and well to the right – the announcer’s shot of the day – to now lead for the first time in the game. At this point, it appeared that the vintners were on their way. Not quite as Bensoleimani.com was able to stop the six goal run as Alberdi scored on a massive penalty four effort. Notwithstanding, Chateau d’Esclans led after the frame by a count of 6 – 5. This was the vintners first lead at the end of a chukker.
With the penalty strike in the fourth, the momentum was now firmly back in the camp of Bensoleimani.com in the penultimate stanza as Alberti made three more goals – two open goal awards and one from the field. Chateau d’Esclans were able to stop the four goal run with Rodriguez-Mera launching a 60 yard penalty conversion of his own. However, the designers led again at 8 – 7 going to the final.
With scoring runs of four, six, and four again, momentum had indeed been a factor for both teams coming into the sixth period. The final frame, however, saw back and fourth scoring - all field goals - as Alberdi counted his seventh of the game to lead by two. Rodriguez-Mera brought Chateau d’Esclans back to within one but Von Wernich gave the Soleimani group another lead of two. Uretz then scored, to once again bring the winery to within one. But that would be it for the vintners and Alberdi counted another to give Bensoleimani.com the 2019 Beal Cup by a final count of 11 – 9.
With his strong play and superb foul shooting abilities, Alberdi was chosen as the MVP and Felina, played by Rodriguez-Mera in the sixth wore the Best Playing Pony cooler back to the barn.
Recent Polo Hall of Fame inductee Karlene Beal Garber, along with her husband Dick, was on hand to present the awards.
Tony Gregg
March League 6 Goal - Teams/Standings Mar 10
Bush League prevails to win prelude to Governor's Cup
THERMAL 6
Reg Whyte 0
Bayne Bossom 2
Earnie Ezcurra 2
Felipe Sordelli 2
PALM DESERT 6
Dan Horn 0
Joseph Stuart 3
Malia McCoy 1
Luciano Vazquez 2
MOTHER CHUKKERS/TIMING 6
Suzannah Forbes -1
Nicole Ball 0
Ignacio Deltour 4
Rodrigo Salinas 3
BUSH LEAGUE 6
Virgil Kyle .5
Ryan Robertson .5
Ulysses Escapite 4
Jose Rodriguez 1
Sat Mar 2; Thermal vs Palm Desert, Bush League vs Mother Chukkers/Timing
Sun Mar 3; Palm Desert vs Bush League, Mother Chukkers/Timing vs Thermal
Sat Mar 9; Bush League vs Thermal, Palm Desert vs Mother Chukkers/Timing
Sun Mar 10; Palm Desert vs Bush League
Bush League 3 0 d Mother Chukkers/Timing, Palm Desert, Thermal
Palm Desert 2 1 d Thermal, Mother Chukkers/Timing l Bush League
Thermal 1 2 d Mother Chukkers/Timing l Palm Desert, Bush League
Mthr Chkrs/Tmng 0 3 l Bush League, Thermal, Palm Desert
Carlton & Keleen Beal Cup 12 Goal - Standings Mar 10
Bensoleimani.com - with Beal win - becomes favorite for Skins
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK 12
Danny Walker 2
Matthew Walker 2
Santiago Trotz 5
Jimmy Wright 3
HIGHWOOD 12
Ron Mathison 0
Marcello Rodriguez-Abbiati 4
Francisco Mera-Rodriguez 4
Marcos Llambias 4
Bensoleimani.com 12
Ben Soleimani 0
Santiago Von Wernich 5
Tomy Alberdi 4
Remy Du Celiee Muller 3
TWIN PALMS 12
Chris Maloney 1
Graham Bray 3
Ruben Coscia 4
Ulysses Escapite 4
Fri Mar 1; FMB vs Highwood, Bensoleimani.com vs Twin Palms
Sun Mar 3; Highwood vs Bensoleimani.com, Twin Palms vs FMB
Fri Mar 8; Twin Palms vs Highwood, FMB vs Bensoleimani.com
Sun Mar 10;Bensoleimani.com vs Highwood
Bensoleimani.com 3 0 d Twin Palms, Highwood, FMB
Highwood 2 1 d FMB, Highwood l Bensoleimani.com
FMB 1 2 d Twin Palms l Highwood, Bensoleimani.com
Twin Palms 0 3 l Bensoleimani.com, FMB, Highwood
Centurions Narrowly Win 4 Goal Constitution Cup
CedarCreek makes it tough for winners - doesn't go quietly
With the USPA Fish Creek 4 Goal Constitution Cup final – played at southern California’s Eldorado Polo Club - set as a match-up between the Centurions (Cheryl Schindel -.5, Lesley Tims -.5, Luis Saracco 3, Ignacio Saracco 2) and CedarCreek (Nicholas Wilhem -1, Alex Green -.5, Ashton Wolf 3, Diego Cossio 2), it was determined by a great many that the Romans would easily emerge as the victors. As everyone now knows, that most certainly was not the case as CedarCreek were more than prepared to play hard nosed polo from the outset.
The prognosticators were comfortable after the first period as the Centurions – having to give up a half goal on handicap - led at the end by a count of 2 - .5.
However, the second was much different as the management group sharpened their pencils and went to work. With constant pressure, the result was CedarCreek outscoring the Centurions by a pair and led at the half with a count of 3.5 – 3.
Continued and genuine force by CedarCreek in the third period saw their lead increase with a score now of 5.5 – 3.
Needing to step up in order to win, the Centurions did in the final frame as they outscored CedarCreek by three goals to barely squeeze out a victory with a final count in their favor of 7 – 6.5 to become the USPA Fish Creek 4 Goal Constitution Cup champions for 2019.
Ignacio Saracco led the scoring for the victors with four goals, Luis Saracco had two (one foul) and Tims, with a great move, attained the game winner with little time left to go.
CedarCreek counters – besides the handicap award - came from Wolf with four open goal conversions and Cossio provided two from the field.
In a great return to Eldorado, Ignacio Saracco earned the title of MVP and Maga, played by Saracco and owned along with his brother Luis, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg
Antelope Jr. Wins 12 Goal Constitution Cup
Victory earned with a full team effort to come from behind.
During the qualifying games of the Fish Creek Constitution Cup, Grant Palmer’s Antelope Jr. foursome (Grant Palmer 0, Felipe Vercellino 6, Jose Ignacio Martinez 3T, Peter Blake 3) started out very strong with four wins but then lost their next two games. The losses notwithstanding, the young Palmer group finished at the top and won a semi-final game to earn a spot in the final.
The opposition in the decider would come from Bensoleimani.com (Ben Soleimani 0, Santiago Von Wernich 5, Tommy Alberdi 4, Joseph Stuart 3), who started the competition slowly and improved as the tournament continued and arrived as a worthy foe. In fact, they defeated the young pronghorns in qualifying play.
On a superb afternoon - presented by Ketel One Botanicals - the early play, while fast, featured little scoring. The first goal came from Soleimani on a run from center on a perfect setup. Vercellino replied for Antelope Jr. to tie the count but Alberdi crushed a 60 yard award and the first ended with Soleimani.com leading at 2 – 1.
Von Wernich scored the only goal in a rather choppy second period to now lead by a pair at 3 – 1.
If the play didn’t open up in the third period, the scoring certainly did as the designers extended their lead. Soleimani counted his second on another nice run and Alberdi grabbed one from the field and another perfectly executed penalty four. The reply from the Palmer group saw Martinez and Vercellino convert open goal opportunities and Soleimani.com led by three at 6 - 3.
The fourth allowed the junior pronghorns to come within one as Vercellino scored twice - a penalty four and a number two. However, Stuart converted a 30 yard free-throw to lead again by two at 7 – 5.
Antelope Jr. opened up the fifth and took the lead for the first time. Martinez scored twice from the field and Vercellino scored his fourth penalty counter and added a field goal to lead by two. Alberti narrowed the gap to one with his second field goal and Antelope Jr. led 9 – 8 going to the final chukker.
In a tension filled closing stanza, the designers were not able to get even as Vercellino converted another open goal offering to now give the junior squad a two goal advantage. Alberti then scored on a penalty two from the spot to narrow the gap to just one at 10 – 9. Notwithstanding, continued pressure from the young pronghorns lead to Vercellino’s second penalty four conversion of the afternoon which ensured the win and Antelope Jr – this time defeating Bensoleimani.com - had won the 2019 USPA Fish Creek Constitution Cup by a final count of 11 – 9.
Martinez, with his strong supporting play in the middle, was selected as the MVP and Vienna, owned by Soleimani and played by Von Wernich in the second, was awarded the Best Playing Pony blanket.
Tony Gregg
Fish Creek Constitution Cup 12 Goal - Standings Feb 22
Antelope Jr defeats Bensoeimani.com to win title
A - ANTELOPE JR
Grant Palmer 0
Felipe Vercellino 6
Peter Blake 3
Jose Martinez 3
B - TWIN PALMS
Chris Maloney 1
Graham Bray 3
Ruben Coscia 4
Ulysses Escapite 4
C - FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK
Danny Walker 2
Julian Mannix 5
Mariano Gutierrez 4
Alonzo Cruz 1
D - BENSOLEIMANI.COM
Ben Soleimani 0
Santiago Von Wernich 5
Tommy Alberdi 4
Joseph Stuart 3
E - ANTELOPE
Geoff Palmer 0
Santiago Trotz 5
Marco Llambias 4
Jimmy Wright 3
F - HIGHWOOD
Ron Mathison 0
Marcello Rodriguez-Abbiati 4
Francisco Mera-Rodriguez 4
Jared Sheldon 4 injured
SCHEDULE
Fri Feb 22; Semi-finals - Antelope vs Bensoleimani.com, Antelope Jr vs Highwood
Sat Feb 23; Twin Palms vs FMB
Sun Feb 24 Finals; Bensoleimani.com vs Antelope Jr
STANDINGS - Feb 20
Antelope Jr 4 1 d FMB, Hghwd, Ant, Twn Plms l Bensol.cm
Antelope 3 2 d Twn Plms, Bensol.cm, FMB l Ant Jr, Hghwd
Bensoleimani 3 2 d FMB, Ant Jr, Hghwd l Ant, Twin Palms
Highwood 2 3 d Ant, Twn Plms l Ant Jr, FMB, Bensol.com
Twin Palms 2 3 d FMB, Bensol.cm l Ant, Ant Jr, Hghwd
FMB 1 4 d Hghwd l Ant Jr, Twn Plms, Bensol.cm, Ant
Fish Creek Constitution Cup 4 Goal - Standings Feb 23
Centurions barely win final by just the handicap difference
BRACKET 1
A - BUSH LEAGUE 4
Virgil Kyle .5
Shannon Mendez -.5
Peter Blake 3
Jose Rodriquez 1
B - EXIT CONSULTING GROUP/THERMAL 4
Lamar Rutherford -1
Reg Whyte 0
Rodrigo Salinas 3
Felipe Sordelli 2
C - CENTURIONS 4
Cheryl Schindel -.5
Lesley Tims -.5
Luis Saracco 3
Ignacio Saracco 2
D - LUNA/REMAX 3.5
Jennifer Alexy 0
Gordon Ross .5
Diego Larregli 3
Bauti Van Wernich 0
BRACKET 2
E - CedarCreek 3.5
Nicholas Wilhelm -1
Alex Green -.5
Ashton Wolf 3
Diego Cossio 2
F - ALPHA OMEGA 3
Eileen Duffy -1
Bayne Bossom 2
Erik Wright 1.5
Alexis Payan .5
G - PALM DESERT 4
Dan Horn 0
Malia McCoy 1
Danny Juarez 3
Michael Riley Jordan 0
SCHEDULE
Bracket 1
Sat Feb 23; Centurions vs ECG/Thermal, Bush League vs Luna/Remax
Bracket 2
Sat Feb 23; Palm Desert vs CedarCreek
Final Sun Feb 24; CedarCreek vs Centurions
STANDINGS
BRACKET 1
Centurions 3 0 d Luna/Remax, Bush League, ECG/Thermal
Bush League 2 1 d ECG/Thermal, Luna/Remax l Centurions
Luna/Remax 1 2 d ECG/Thermal l Centurions, Bush League
ECG/Thermal 0 3 l Bush League, Luna/Remax, Centurions
BRACKET 2
CedarCreek 2 0 d Alpha Omega, Palm Desert
Palm Desert 1 1 d Alpha Omega l CedarCreek
Alpha Omega 0 2 l Palm Desert, CedarCreek
Thermal Takes Beal 4 Goal Championship
Whyte/Sordelli combination wins second title in as many years
The two teams that qualified to play the final of the 2019 4 Goal USPA Carlton and Keleen Beal Cup – CedarCreek and Thermal – had both played in January but made changes for the month of February.
Coming off a very successful January, holdovers Reg Whyte 0 and Felipe Sordelli 2, added Lamar Rutherford -1 and Rodrigo Salinas 3 to the Thermal lineup.
CedarCreek made changes as well as Nicholas Wilhelm -1 and Ashton Wolf 3 welcomed Alex Green -.5 and veteran Diego Cossio 2 to the roster to qualify for their first final.
At the start, CedarCreek was given a handicap award of a half point and play in the first period was relatively even with each team scoring a goal and Wilhelm and Co. led at 1.5 – 1.
Thermal came out in the second and took control with three unanswered field goals to easily lead at the half at 4 – 1.5.
Scoring in the third and fourth chukkers was even with one counter in each period for both teams producing a final count of 6 – 3.5 to favor Thermal. With the victory, Whyte and Sordelli had won back to back Beal 4 Goal titles.
Scoring for the winners saw Salinas with three, Sordelli had two (one open goal conversion), and Rutherford with one (the eventual game winner).
The reply came from Cossio with a pair and Wolf grabbed one.
Sordelli, with his accurate and authoritative play, was selected as the MVP and Lucas, owned and played by Salinas in the second chukker, was honored as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg
4 Goal Beal - Feb 9 Schedule/Standings
CedarCreek wins on Saturday to face Thermal/Exit in Sunday final
THERMAL/EXIT CONSULTING 4
Lamar Rutherford -1
Reg Whyte 0
Rodrigo Salinas 3
Felipe Sordelli 2
BUSH LEAGUE 4
Virgil Kyle .5
Shannon Mendez -.5
Peter Blake 3
Jose Rodriguez 1
PALM DESERT 4
Dan Horn 0
Danny Juarez 3
Malia McCoy 1
Michael Riley Jordan 0
CedarCreek 3.5
Nicholas Wilhelm -1
Alex Green -.5
Ashton Wolf 3
Diego Cossio 2
SCHEDULE
Sat Feb 2; Thermal/Exit vs Bush League, Palm Desert vs CedarCreek
Thur Feb 7; CedarCreek vs Thermal/Exit, Bush League vs Palm Desert
Sat Feb 9; Bush League vs CedarCreek, Palm Desert vs Thermal Exit
Sun Feb 10; Final - Thermal/Exit vs CedarCreek
Thermal/Exit 2 1 d Bush League, CedarCreek l Palm Desert
CedarCreek 2 1 d Palm Desert, Bush League l Thermal/Exit
Bush League 1 2 d Palm Desert l Thermal/Exit, CedarCreek
Palm Desert 1 2 d Thermal/Exit l CedarCreek, Bush League
January NYTS Championship to Antelope
Two days of youth play impresses large Cantina crowd
The January 26th and 27th National Youth Tournament Series tournament featured four youth polo teams playing a fast and very exciting brand of polo. All four games were played on field number four – the Cantina field – which provided a perfect locale to showcase the youthful talent and ability that currently exists.
Day one's first game highlighted Antelope (Grant Palmer, Hope Kerley, Ryan Kerley, Jazmine Trotz) versus Bush League (Quin Kyle, Riley Jordan, Elise Pardue, Micaela Saracco) with Antelope emerging as the winners.
The second game on opening day featured Empire (Athena Malin, Ian Schnoebelin, Alyssa Garcia, Grace/Rose Gonzalez) and Seattle Polo (Bayne Bossom, Colby Smith, Lars Neuman, Charlize Bisogni). Seattle Polo prevailed to advance to the Sunday final.
Sunday's competition saw Bush League stop Empire in the Consolation final by a score of 4 – 2 and the Championship went to Antelope with a 5 – 4 victory over Seattle Polo.
In NYTS tradition, seven All-Stars were selected in alphabetical order; Bayne Bossom, Riley Jordan, Hope Kerley, Ryan Kerley, Athena Malin, Grant Palmer, Ian Schnoebelin.
December, owned, trained, and played by Bossom , was selected as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg
Cotterel Farms Wins Officer's Cup 4 Goal
Great effort stops undefeated team and seizes championship
The final game of the USPA Coachella Valley Officer’s Cup featured Thermal (Reg Whyte, David Carlson, Ernesto Ezcurra 2, Felipe Sordelli 2) lining up against Cotterel Farms (Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni .5, Francisco Benardoni 1.5, Mike Kerley 1, Gabriel Saccullo 1).
Thermal came into the decider undefeated for the entire month and, as well, World Gym champions - playing as Ocean Air - while Cotterel qualified in a shootout after a so-so World Gym Tournament.
From the outset, it appeared as if Thermal’s hold on their perfect status might be in jeopardy as Cotterel outscored the unconquered foursome to lead at the end of the first at 2 – 1.
The second was scoreless and it was now obvious that Cotterel had figured out the previously successful Thermal offense and were able to keep it at bay.
Cotterel maintained their slight advantage as scoring was even in the third at one apiece. The final had indeed turned into a defensive battle with the Idahoans leading at 3 – 2.
Scoring in the fourth was, once again, even at one and the final count was 4 – 3 to favor Cotterel and they became the Officer’s Cup champions.
Cotterel scoring featured Kerley with a pair, and Benardoni and Sacullo with one each.
For Thermal, Ezcurra scored twice and Sordelli provided one.
Benardoni's aggressive play was rewarded with his selection as the MVP and Alba, owned by Erik Wright and played by Ezcurra in the third was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg
Bush League/FMB Turn Around to Win Officer's Cup
Slow start in early January to become winners at end of month
The start of the first January 8 Goal Tournament (Jason Memorial) did not go well for the Bush League/Farmers and Merchants Bank entry (Virgil Kyle, Danny Walker 2, Henry Walker 2, Ulysses Escapite 4) as they finished at the bottom.
Of course, the early season can be somewhat difficult as players who haven’t played together become accustomed to each other and horses haven’t reached midseason form. Whatever the reason was for the new combination’s issues, they were mitigated for the second tournament – the USPA Coachella Valley Officer’s Cup.
The final, played on an absolutely perfect afternoon with a temperature of 77 degrees and in front of a large crowd, would feature the rejuvenated group and undefeated Antelope (Geoff Palmer, Grant Palmer, Santiago Trotz 5, Jimmy Wright 3). The pronghorns, however, were the team that Bush League/FMB still had an issue with – the result of a loss in qualifying play.
The Officer’s final started off with good scoring opportunities for both teams but the only goal came off the mallet of Geoff Palmer converting a penalty number two offering and Antelope was up by one at 1 – 0.
The second was all Bush League/FMB as Danny Walker scored three open goal awards along with a field goal and Escapite counted from the field as well. Trotz got one for the pronghorns and it appeared that the money men might be on their way as they led 5 – 2.
With Trotz masterminding the lineup, Antelope scored three times in the third – Geoff Palmer, Trotz, and Wright) as Bush League/FMB was able to counter with just one – Escapite - and the second period lead was now just one at 6 – 5 going to the half.
Antelope drew even in the fourth as Trotz counted a field goal to tie the count at six with no reply from the financiers. It appeared that the undefeated Palmer group could very well stay that way – not.
Whatever was said in the Bush League/FMB huddle between the fourth and fifth chukkers will never be known but to say it worked would be a gross understatement. The orange and white shirts came out and absolutely dominated with four goals – two from the field by Danny Walker, a penalty number one, and an open goal counter by Walker as a result of a perfect set-up – from Escapite - on the free shot from center after the number one call. Going to the final period Bush League/FMB led by four 10 – 6.
Sensing a victory – and a halt to the Antelope winning streak - the leaders did not slow down as enormous pressure allowed Walker to convert another open goal chance and Escapite counted from the field to now lead by six. As if it mattered, Wright scored for Antelope to come within five and it was over at 12 – 7. Bush League/FMB became the champions and at the same time handed Antelope their first loss of 2019.
Because of his very aggressive play and his ability to deliver and set up when needed, Henry Walker was selected as the Most Valuable Player to his team and Martina – owned by and played by Trotz in the fourth – was awarded the Best Playing Pony blanket.
Tony Gregg
USPA Coachella Valley Officer's Cup 8 Goal
Bush League/FMB wins Saturday to play Antelope in Jan 27th final
LAZY 3 (7)
Louisa Musselman Fikes
Jared Sheldon 4
Peter Blake 3
Audrey Persano
ANTELOPE (8)
Geoff Palmer
Grant Palmer
Santiago Trotz 5
Jim Wright 3
BUSH LEAGUE/FMB (8)
Virgil Kyle
Dan Walker 2
Henry Walker 2
Ulysses Escapite 4
TWIN PALMS (8)
Chris Maloney 1
Ryan Robertson
Graham Bray 3
Ruben Coscia 4
SCHEDULE
Saturday January 19; Lazy 3 vs Twin Palms, Antelope vs Bush Lg/FMB
Sunday January 20; Antelope vs Lazy 3, Bush Lg/FMB vs Twin Palms
Sunday January 26; Bush Lg/FMB vs Lazy 3, Twin Palms vs Antelope
Sunday January 27; Bush League vs Antelope
STANDINGS
Antelope 3 0 d Bush Lg/FMB, Lazy 3, Twn Plms
Bush League/FMB 2 1 d Twn Plms, Lazy 3 l Antelope
Lazy 3 1 2 d Twn Plms l Antelope, Bush Lg
Twin Palms 0 3 l Lazy 3, Bush Lg/FMB, Antelope
Coachella Valley Officer's Cup 4 Goal
Ocean Air/Thermal will play Cotterel in Sunday final
BRACKET #1
CedarCreek (3)
German Coppel 0
Nicholas Wilhelm -1
Ashton Wolf 3
Conrad Kissling 1
OCEAN AIR/THERMAL (4)
Reg Whyte 0
David Carlson 0
Ernesto Ezcurra 2
Felipe Sordelli 2
PALM DESERT/EXIT CONSULTING GROUP (4)
Dan Horn 0
Lamar Rutherford -1
Matthew Walker 2
Rodrigo Salinas 3
BRACKET 2
COTTEREL FARMS (3)
Jennifer Luttrell-Benardoni .5
Francisco Benardoni 1.5
Gabriel Saccullo 1
Angel Jose Rodriguez 0
LUNA POLO (4)
Jennifer Alexy 0
Shannon Mendez -.5
Diego Larregli 3
Santiago Mendez 1.5
SCHEDULE
Saturday January 19; CedarCreek vs Cotterel, Ocean/Thermal vs Luna
Sunday January 20; Palm Dsrt/Exit vs Luna, Cotterel vs Ocean/Thermal
Saturday January 26; Luna vs CedarCreek, Palm Dsrt/Exit vs Cotterel
Sunday January 27; Final
Bracket #1 - 50% for a win. Bracket #2 - 33% for a win.
Top two teams will play final; Cotterel vs Ocean Air/Thermal
STANDINGS
Ocean Air/Thermal 100% 2 0 d Luna, Cotterel
Cotterel (won Shootout) 66% 2 1 d CdrCrk, Plm Dsrt/Exit l Ocn Air/Thrml
Luna Polo 66 % 2 1 d Plm Dsrt/Exit, CdrDrk l Ocn Air/Thrml
Palm Desert/Exit 0 2 l Luna, Plm Dsrt/Exit
CedarCreek 0 2 l Cotterel, Luna
Ocean Air/Thermal Win Second World Gym Title
Identical line-up has little trouble in defence of 2018 victory
The rain delayed 2019 World Gym Tournament 4 Goal final - played on Thursday afternoon – featured the 2018 champions Ocean Air/Thermal (David Carlson, Reg Whyte, Ernesto Ezcurra 2, Felipe Sordelli 2) and Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy, Shannon Mendez -.5, Francisco Guinazu 3, Pepe Roriguez 1). Guinazu and Rodriguez were replacing the injured Diego Larregli 3 and Santiago Mendez 1.5 respectively.
With Luna Polo starting with a handicap grant of one half, Ocean Air/Thermal scored twice in the first to lead 2 - .5.
Luna came back with three in the second but the defending champions scored a pair and still led at half-time at 4 – 3.5.
Ocean Air/Thermalcounted another in the third chukker to lead by one and a half going to the fourth at 5 – 3.5.
Scoring was split in the fourth with one apiece to give a final score of 6 – 4.5 and the 2018 winners had successfully defended their title and had won the 31st annual World Gym Tournament.
For the victors, Sordelli scored three goals and Ezcurra counted three as well (2 fouls).
The reply for Luna was Alexy with a pair and Guinazu counted two foul conversions.
Mike and Claudia Uretz were on hand to present the unique World Gym Trophy and the Best Playing Pony award went to Pepo, owned by Whyte and played by Sordelli in the first period.
Tony Gregg
Antelope Comes Back to Win Jason Memorial
Santiago Trotz engineers huge rebound to take coveted trophy
It has long been stated that if you work slowly but constantly, you will succeed better than if you work fast for a short while and do not continue. This of course was the moral of the famous Aesop fable about the hare and the tortoise, but it was enacted in real time on Sunday in the 2019 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial final.
Coming in to the game undefeated, Geoff Palmer and his Antelope herd (Geoff Palmer, Grant Palmer, Santiago Trotz 5, Jimmy Wright 3) lined up against once defeated Louisa Musselman Fikes’ Lazy 3 (Louisa Musselman Fikes, Jared Sheldon 4, Peter Blake 3, Audrey Persano). Lazy 3’s only loss was to Antelope in qualifying play.
With a handicap award of one, Lazy 3 started very fast and right off the opening bowl-in Persano scored to take a two goal lead. The charge continued as Sheldon then scored three times (one penalty 2) and in what seemed – and probably was – record time, the Texans led by five at 5 – 0. Trotz and Wright recovered somewhat and were able to get a couple back to narrow the gap to three, but Persano counted her second and the first was over with Lazy 3 leading by a staggering four at 6 – 2. Lazy 3 was – in a word – overwhelming.
Sheldon converted another penalty 2 opportunity in the early second and Lazy 3 now led by five – would it ever stop? In another word – yes. Trotz took control and Antelope recovered as Geoff Palmer converted an open goal counter and Grant Palmer scored from the field. The second ended with the pronghorns trailing by just three.
The third period was scoreless as the Antelope recovery continued.
Lazy 3 came out in the fourth and appeared to be okay as Sheldon was allowed another open goal opportunity which he converted. However, Antelope continued to apply pressure and Geoff Palmer – perfect on the day – converted his second penalty offering. Trotz then scored his second and the fourth was over with the Texas lead narrowed to a pair at 8 – 6.
The fifth gave Antelope two goals – Wright on a penalty 4 and Trotz from the field – and the count was tied at eight going to the final.
Wright scored to give the pronghorns their first lead of the game but Sheldon converted another open goal chance to tie. Overtime looked to be inevitable as play proceeded into the final 30 seconds. With less than 15 seconds on the clock, Trotz sent one through from 65 yards and after some confusion on the part of most everyone, Antelope had won the Jason Memorial by a final count of 10 – 9.
The comeback was complete as Antelope allowed just three goals in the final five chukkers and garnered eight in the same time frame. Aesop would have been proud.
Because of his gifted playing and coaching abilities, Trotz was named the Most Valuable Player to his team and Sheldon’s first chukker gelding SportsCenter was named the Best Playing Pony – not the first such honor for this talented equine athlete.
Tony Gregg
Opening Day Presented By Ketel One Botanical
Winners receive bottles of new natural fruit infused Vodka
Opening day 2019 was presented by Ketel One Botanicals and the expansive crowd witnessed games from the 8 Goal Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial and the 4 Goal World Gym Tournaments.
The Jason Memorial featured Lazy 3 (Louisa Musselman-Fikes 0, Peter Blake 3, Jared Sheldon 4, Audrey Persano 0) and Bush League/FMB (Virgil Kyle 0, Danny Walker 2, Henry Walker 2, Ulysses Escapite 4) in an extremely entertaining game.
After six wide open, hit and run chukkers, Lazy 3 prevailed by three goals (one handicap) by a final count of 12 – 9.
For the winners Shelden led all scorers with eight goals (two fouls) and Blake counted three.
The reply for Bush League/FMB saw Danny Walker with five (two fouls), Kyle had a pair, and Henry Walker and Escapite struck once each.
In the World Gym 4 Goal, Ocean Air (David Carlson 0, Reg Whyte 0, Ernesto Ezcurra 2, Felipe Sordelli 2) defeated Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy 0, Shannon Smull -.5, Diego Larregli 3, Santiago Mendez 1.5) 9 – 6.
Sordelli led the winners with five goals, Ezcurra grabbed three (one penalty 4), and Carlson had one.
For the runners-up, Larregli scored four (one foul) and Alexy provided two.
The winning teams from both games were presented with bottles of Ketel One Botanicals by Eric Estrada of Pacific Wine and Spirits.
Tony Gregg