Tag Archives: C. V. Whitney Cup

Orchard Hill Thunders to 16-13 Win in C. V. Whitney Cup Final

Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario and Hilario Ulloa. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Defeats Alegria with a Double Dose of Pieres Power

Wellington, Florida – March 1, 2015 – Orchard Hill galloped away with the C. V. Whitney Cup on the Engel & Völkers field Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), besting Alegria 16-13 in the 26-goal tournament final. Orchard Hill’s Facundo Pieres was named MVP and his sixth-chukker mount, NutraSweet, won Best Playing Pony. The Stella Artois “She’s a Thing of Beauty” Horse of the Tournament award went to Los Machitos Maradona, ridden in the third chukker by Alegria’s Mariano Aguerre.

It was a stunning victory over Alegria, the defending champion of the United States Open Polo Championship, Orchard Hill, rode off with its second trophy of the 2015 IPC season, having won the Joe Barry Cup in January.

It was clear from the get-go that this was going to be a high-scoring game – but whose game was anybody’s guess until Orchard Hill slowly but surely established its dominance. The first chukker was a scoring blitz for Alegria, with Julian Mannix slamming in four goals in the first couple of minutes. Keeping an eye on him from the sidelines was enough to give one a case of whiplash. Mannix blazed from one end of the field to the other and scored, only to follow up with the same act in the opposite direction. Then he did it all over again.

“I think we had a really bad first chukker,” said Facundo Pieres. “We lost all the throw-ins, and Julian (Mannix) was scoring and scoring.” He characterized Alegria’s ability to score from the throw-ins as, “Mistakes from us – mostly from me. So I knew that I had to not go crazy about it and that good things were going to come, and they did. We just had to keep playing the same game.”

That was easier said than done, however. Alegria started mixing things up left and right, taking every opportunity to scramble the lineup. “It was a lot of changing around who was on who,” said Steve Van Andel. “They changed, we changed, they changed. It started out that Julian (Mannix) was on me. Then he was not on me. Then someone else was.”

The points kept racking up in rapid succession on Alegria’s side of the board until something seemed to awaken a sleeping tiger in Pieres. The 10-goaler pounced on the field and made three goals, effectively putting the brakes on Mannix’s scoring streak by the end of the first chukker.

Alegria was clinging to a slim lead as the second chukker opened 5-4. It crept forward with a field goal by Sterling Giannico, but the team didn’t score again until the second half. Meanwhile, Orchard Hill reaped a scoring bonanza from its pair of Piereses (cousins Facundo and Polito), who each made two field goals in the second chukker.

The third chukker opened 8-6 for Orchard Hill, which maintained the lead all the way to the final horn. Alegria tried at every turn to thwart its opponent, savoring a spate of hope when Hilario Ulloa made a string of five goals in the second half. But even that wasn’t enough to counter the sustained Pieres push that kept Orchard Hill in a three-to-four-point lead at the end of every chukker from the third on.

With the speed and agility of an antelope, Facundo Pieres scored in every chukker, making a phenomenal nine points for Orchard Hill. What may have appeared to be a one-man show, however, was the result of countless assists by his teammates (in particular Polito Pieres, who doggedly ran interference for him). The same could be said in principle for Alegria’s teamwork, although it wasn’t calibrated as tightly as the Orchard Hill machine. All told, every player on the field scored at least once, a major achievement in a 26-goal tournament final.

Van Andel said he thought Orchard Hill got the advantage by staying with the men longer. “But I’ll tell ya,” he added. “It was anybody’s game. It was tough.”

Polito Pieres agreed that it was an extremely difficult game. “That team is four pros, and we knew they were going to be very tough. That’s why we weren’t surprised when they changed and tried new tactics,” he said. “But we came strong on them, and the four of us played well together as a team. We always support each other, and that’s how we won it.”

Lechuza Caracas Puts It All on the Field
Defeats Las Monjitas 12-11 in OT

Lechuza Caracas triumphed over Las Monjitas 12-11 in overtime in the final of the Les Armour Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The Most Valuable Player honor was awarded to Nico Pieres and Best Playing Pony was Patagonia, ridden by Sebastian Merlos.

The match kicked off with an energetic start as Nico Pieres drove in the first goal for Lechuza Caracas within the first 25 seconds of play. After Facundo Sola matched Pieres’ goal, Lechuza Caracas organized their defensive players to give Pieres room to score again and ended the first chukker with a one-goal lead.

From there on out, it was anyone’s game with Lechuza Caracas and Las Monjitas staying within two goals of each other for the rest of the half. Overall, the fast pace set in the first chukker was maintained. Although the players would become tightly clustered, it was only seconds before a player would explode out into a run.

Merlos
Sebastian Merlos, Facundo Sola and Juan Martin Nero

At the start of the second half, it was Sola and Sebastian Merlos who took charge, scoring for Las Monjitas. Pieres’ skill from the penalty line kept Lechuza Caracas in the match with two important penalty conversions to stay within two points of Las Monjitas. However, it was late in the fifth chukker when things got Western. Sola went off on a hot streak, scoring two goals in succession to make the score 11-7 in the early minutes of the sixth chukker.

Victor Vargas dodged defenders to take the ball within feet of the goalmouth and Pieres backed him up to score. A penalty conversion by Pieres narrowed the lead to two goals. Juan Martin Nero maneuvered through traffic to drive a goal in, and a penalty conversion in the last minute of the sixth chukker tied the game 11-11. What looked like a done deal was now up for grabs by either team.

Overtime continued the wide-open pace that characterized the entire game. Nero made an attempt on goal, but the shot went wide, putting the ball in Las Monjitas possession. After some play by both sides, it was Pieres who drove in the goal that sealed the victory for Lechuza Caracas.

Pieres credited his team’s determination for their win.

“The game finished in the last seconds of the last chukker, so we wanted to put everything on the field, and that’s what we did,” said Pieres.

Vargas said that his team has improved with every game and he shared that he looks forward to the upcoming USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

“The lineup is better because we put [Agustin] Garcia Grossi in the back and Juan Martin [Nero] at number three,” said Vargas. “Juan Martin has more of a view of the game, and Agustin plays well in the back. We’ll see what happens in the Gold Cup. But this game was a very good test for us.”

Play continues Tuesday, March 3 at 10 a.m. with CT Energia taking on Palm Beach Illustrated and Villa del Lago facing off with Tonkawa in the semifinals of the Iglehart Cup.

International Polo Club Palm Beach Fast Facts

What: Created by players for players, the International Polo Club Palm Beach was born out of the dream to build a facility to showcase the incredible skills of the ponies and players that dominate the sport.

Members and guests enjoy panoramic views of the action from field side box seats or lawn and terrace seating. Sponsors and fans convene at The Winners Circle to congratulate the players during the awards presentation following the games.

Gourmet brunches, après polo celebrations and the prerequisite charitable events will take place in The Pavilion, designed to accommodate large parties, corporate clients, as well as family and friends.

Featured Highlights:

Herbie Pennell Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 1-4, 2015

Joe Barry Memorial Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 4-25, 2015

Ylvisaker Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 28 – February 22, 2015

Iglehart Cup – 20 Goal
Feb. 28 – March 8, 2015

USPA C. V. Whitney Cup – 26 Goal
Feb. 15 – March 1, 2015

Piaget USPA Gold Cup® – 26 Goal
March 4-22, 2015

111th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship® – 26 Goal
March 25 – April 19, 2015

Directions:

From the Turnpike:
Take the Lake Worth Exit
Head west on FL-802 W/Lake Worth Rd toward Hooks Rd
Continue to follow Lake Worth Rd (3.9 miles)
Turn right onto 120th Ave S
Destination will be ahead on the left (0.4 miles)

From I-95:
Exit Forest Hill Blvd, head West
Make Left turn onto 441/St Rd 7
Make Right turn onto Lake Worth Rd
Make Right turn onto 120th Ave S
Destination on Left

Information:
3667 120th Ave S, Wellington, FL 33414
International Polo Club Palm Beach: 561-204-5687
Mallet Grille: 561-282-5340
Spa & Fitness Center: 561-282-5288
Tennis Pro Shop: 561-795-7228
Polo Operations Office: 561-282-5283
Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290

Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com

For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/

Hotels:
Hampton Inn & Suites – (561) 472-9696 – Approximately 2 miles
Hampton Inn – (561) 472-5980 – Approximately 4 miles
Four Seasons Resort – (561) 582-2800 – Approximately 9 miles
The Breakers – (561) 655-6611 – Approximately 9 miles
Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa – (561) 540-6440 – Approximately 9 miles

Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Alegria and Orchard Hill Snag Spots in C. V. Whitney Final

Hilario Ulloa and Sterling Giannico. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Alegria Defeats Audi/Millarville 15-11 in Semifinals

Wellington, FL – February 25, 2015 – Defending U.S. Open champion Alegria defeated Audi/Millarville 15-11 Wednesday to advance to the final of the C. V. Whitney 26-goal tournament at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. In the process, Julian Mannix garnered family bragging rights over big brother Freddie Mannix, who played on the opposing Audi/Millarville team. The two Mannix brothers led all players in scoring, with Julian making eight goals and Freddie six.

Julian Mannix was pleased with the victory of his cerise-clad Alegria team but downplayed the matchup against his brother. “It was a semifinal, and (it was) in the C. V. Whitney, which is an important tournament,” he said. “You are trying to play your best and elevate yourself as much as you can. I have played against Fred before, but not with this pressure of the semifinal.”

Alegria only changed one player (Clemente Zavaleta for Sterling Giannico) due to handicaps from last year’s U.S. Open team. In this situation some teams might feel the pressure of living up to the title. But Hilario Ulloa, who plays for the Mannix organization in the U.S. and Argentina, denied there was any pressure from carrying the U.S. Open crown.

“Players change, players bring different horses, so things are different,” he said. “We had a good feeling in the first couple games of this tournament. It is a good start.”

The Mannix brothers both had the added pressure in the semifinals of taking most of the penalties for their respective teams. Julian Mannix won the penalty battle in the opening chukker, drawing first blood in the game with a safety conversion. Marc Ganzi countered with a field goal for Audi/Millarville to make it 3-1 at the end of the first chukker (with handicap goals for 24-goal Audi/Millarville factored into the score).

After the evenly matched first chukker, Alegria went on a scoring spree in the second and third. Stellar direction in the center of the field by the team general, Mariano Aguerre, and the collected presence at the back by Giannico created numerous scoring opportunities for Julian Mannix and Ulloa, who capitalized on them. Alegria led 8-5 at halftime.

Audi/Millarville came out of the halftime break energized, tying the score at 8-all behind three unanswered goals from Freddie Mannix early in the fourth chukker. The last goal in that series was a gritty, determined effort to battle through the Alegria defenders, and it looked like the tide was turning. But Alegria rallied and scored two quick goals off the mallet of Julian Mannix, with Giannico contributing another. Giannico made the hook, turned quickly to accept the pass from his teammate and smoothly slid through the defenders to put Alegria back in the lead 11-8 at the end of the fourth.

Play got heated in the fifth chukker as both teams battled to regain momentum. There was a lot of up-and-down action but not many goals, and the Audi/ Millarville team saw several shots go wide of the goal. Alegria escaped the chukker with its three-goal lead intact.

Freddie Mannix started the sixth chukker by scoring a penalty two to chip away at the Alegria lead. But Ulloa countered with two more goals, and Julian Mannix drilled an exclamation point of a shot from about 70 yards out to finalize the victory for Alegria.

Julian Mannix, getting ready to depart IPC after the game to attend his afternoon college class, said, “It was a good one to win! Just concentrate and win” (which was sound advice for any team heading into a 26-goal final).

Alegria will attempt to maintain its winning record on Sunday when it faces Orchard Hill in the C. V. Whitney Final at IPC.

Orchard Hill Digs Deep; Defeats Valiente 11-8

Orchard Hill defeated Valiente 11-8 Wednesday in the semifinal of the C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Orchard Hill and Valiente went all out right from the beginning. This was high-octane polo at its best, with both teams separated by no more than three goals at any given point in the game. The Orchard Hill squad was firing on all cylinders throughout the first half, ending the first chukker with a three-goal lead. Throughout the next two chukkers, however, Valiente steadily gained ground. The first half ended with Orchard Hill leading 5-4.

Guillermo Terrera, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres and Polito Pieres
Guillermo Terrera, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres and Polito Pieres

Instant replay was a strategic factor in the match. The fourth chukker started off with a penalty call in favor of Orchard Hill, which was overturned after review by the independent umpire. After that, Adolfo Cambiaso started to make some noise, scoring two consecutive goals that gave Valiente a slim lead.

Facundo Pieres responded by racking up two goals, tapping one in from the air in an astonishing show of skill. After Cambiaso briefly tied the score, Facundo Pieres pulled Orchard Hill into an 8-7 lead with a penalty conversion.

In the sixth chukker both teams struggled to find the goal mouth as several shots went wide. Facundo Pieres pumped up his horsepower to put a point on the board for Orchard Hill. In a crucial moment Orchard Hill challenged a penalty call, which was overturned after review. Guillermo Terrera made a goal to bring the score to 9-8, but Orchard Hill delivered the knockout punch with two consecutive goals to end the game 11-8.

The match was every bit as defensive as offensive, and patron Steve Van Andel had several defensive plays that were key to his team’s success. “For me, I get lucky once in a while, and that’s kind of nice,” said Van Andel with a chuckle. “I think both teams played man-to-man really well. It was tough to get around anybody. If you watch, the whole game was a battle.”

Facundo Pieres said he felt his team put in a Herculean effort to come back from a rough fourth chukker. “I love the way that we played in the first three chukkers and in the last two,” he said. “Hopefully we can look at what we did in the fourth chukker and not do it again.”

Polito Pieres, a major factor in many plays, credited his teammates with their play in their first tournament together. “I think it’s a good team. The four of us did well,” he said. “Steve (Van Andel) played a really good game against Bob (Jornayvez).”

The semifinals of the Les Armour Cup subsidiary begin Thursday, with Las Monjitas taking on FlexJet at 10 a.m. at the International Polo Club Palm Beach and Coca-Cola playing Lechuza Caracas at noon at Everglades Polo Club.

International Polo Club Palm Beach Fast Facts

What: Created by players for players, the International Polo Club Palm Beach was born out of the dream to build a facility to showcase the incredible skills of the ponies and players that dominate the sport.

Members and guests enjoy panoramic views of the action from field side box seats or lawn and terrace seating. Sponsors and fans convene at The Winners Circle to congratulate the players during the awards presentation following the games.

Gourmet brunches, après polo celebrations and the prerequisite charitable events will take place in The Pavilion, designed to accommodate large parties, corporate clients, as well as family and friends.

Featured Highlights:

Herbie Pennell Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 1-4, 2015

Joe Barry Memorial Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 4-25, 2015

Ylvisaker Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 28 – February 22, 2015

Iglehart Cup – 20 Goal
Feb. 28 – March 8, 2015

USPA C. V. Whitney Cup – 26 Goal
Feb. 15 – March 1, 2015

Piaget USPA Gold Cup® – 26 Goal
March 4-22, 2015

111th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship® – 26 Goal
March 25 – April 19, 2015

Directions:

From the Turnpike:
Take the Lake Worth Exit
Head west on FL-802 W/Lake Worth Rd toward Hooks Rd
Continue to follow Lake Worth Rd (3.9 miles)
Turn right onto 120th Ave S
Destination will be ahead on the left (0.4 miles)

From I-95:
Exit Forest Hill Blvd, head West
Make Left turn onto 441/St Rd 7
Make Right turn onto Lake Worth Rd
Make Right turn onto 120th Ave S
Destination on Left

Information:
3667 120th Ave S, Wellington, FL 33414
International Polo Club Palm Beach: 561-204-5687
Mallet Grille: 561-282-5340
Spa & Fitness Center: 561-282-5288
Tennis Pro Shop: 561-795-7228
Polo Operations Office: 561-282-5283
Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290

Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com

For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/

Hotels:
Hampton Inn & Suites – (561) 472-9696 – Approximately 2 miles
Hampton Inn – (561) 472-5980 – Approximately 4 miles
Four Seasons Resort – (561) 582-2800 – Approximately 9 miles
The Breakers – (561) 655-6611 – Approximately 9 miles
Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa – (561) 540-6440 – Approximately 9 miles

Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Alegria, Valiente, Orchard Hill and Audi/Millarville Win C. V. Whitney Cup Opener

Nic Roldan and Sapo Caset. Photos: Alex Pacheco.

Cambiaso Leads Valiente to 9-7 Win over FlexJet

Wellington, FL – February 20, 2015 – The C. V. Whitney Cup opened Friday with four matches, kicking off the 26-goal season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC). Alegria defeated Coca-Cola 13-9, Audi/Millarville won over Lechuza Caracas 10-9, Orchard Hill took Las Monjitas 16-11 and Valiente defeated FlexJet 9-7. The resulting slate for next Wednesday’s semifinals is Alegria vs. Audi/Millarville and Valiente vs. Orchard Hill.

That will make for a busy week for Valiente, which is simultaneously preparing to play Coca-Cola in Sunday’s 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup Finals. Also on Sunday, Tonkawa will take on Palm Beach Illustrated in the Haas Cup subsidiary finals.

In his second game of the season at IPC, Adolfo Cambiaso again led Valiente to a win, this time over FlexJet. Valiente led throughout the entire game, with all four of its players scoring. Yet the victory came about in an uneven rhythm for Valiente, which in its last game steadily increased its momentum throughout, pouring it on in the second half.

This time, however, Valiente started out strong, ending the first half with a five-point lead. Then it inexplicably stalled, remaining scoreless in the fourth chukker and making only two more goals in the game.

Even Cambiaso seemed to have a hard time wrapping his head around it. “We started really good, and then in the middle we kind of slipped down,” he said. “We got it to 7-2, and then, I don’t know, we couldn’t score. Probably (FlexJet) played better the last couple of chukkers. I’m just happy that we won our first game.”

The early signs were pointing to a hands-down Valiente victory. In the first chukker the team established a two-point lead, stretching it to a three-point advantage in the second. The first half ended with a commanding five-point lead for Valiente, three of its goals contributed by Alejo Taranco.

FlexJet galloped into the fourth chukker determined to show that it meant serious business. It rapidly racked up three points, courtesy of Gonzalito Pieres and Nic Roldan. Each team scored once in the fifth and sixth chukkers.

“I’ve got to give (FlexJet) a lot of credit,” said Valiente patron Bob Jornayvaz. “We played well in the beginning, and then they really came back and sped it up – which was fine because it became a very fast game the last two chukkers. It was a great game, so much fun!”

Roldan, always a force of nature, lit the afterburners in the second half. His second goal, which came in the fifth chukker and narrowed Valiente’s lead to just one point, had a certain vehemence to it. After getting the ball away from Valiente, he whacked it so hard that his mallet head broke off and flew through the goal posts right alongside the ball.

Cambiaso reasserted himself in the final chukker. With a minute-and-a-half left in the game, he slammed the ball down the field, catching up with it as it headed toward goal. He slowed it down in front of the goal mouth and then tapped it in. Pieres answered with a field goal for FlexJet, ending the game 9-7.

“I thought Miguel and Nic and Gonzalito played really well,” said Jornayvaz. As for Valiente, he said, “This was the first game the four of us have played together. They’ve played team practices, but I haven’t even played with them because I’ve been traveling quite a bit. I feel like I know what Adolfo’s going to do, but never having played with Guillermo or Alejo before, I didn’t know what to expect today. It was just a good, hard, physical game, and we were lucky to come out on the top side.”

Orchard Hill Shines in First 26 Goal Match
Advances to C. V. Whitney Semifinals

Orchard Hill powered by a tough Las Monjitas team 16-11 to win their first 26-goal game in the C. V. Whitney Cup. The Orchard Hill lineup featured two Pieres cousins, Facundo and Polito, united on the same team for the first time, and the family connection paid off for Orchard Hill as the cousins combined for fourteen of their team’s sixteen goals.

Polito Pieres and Eduardo N Astrada
Polito Pieres and Eduardo N Astrada

“It was fantastic!” said Polito Pieres about playing with his cousin Facundo Pieres. The two Pieres superstars have both experienced success and are proven goal scorers on separate teams in the past, and the combination of the two high scoring players proved explosive.

Facundo Pieres seemed equally pleased after the match. “It was our first game with the 26 goal team and we brought in some new horses as well. The new horses played well so that was good. Everything with the team was fine in practice but you never know in the games so we were a little scared. But I liked it in the game! The other team was tough but I felt we had them under control, it was a good way to start.”

The first chukker started slow with most of the goals coming from penalty conversions by Orchard Hill. The lone exception was a splendid field goal set up by a bomb of a pass from Facundo Pieres at midfield to Polito, who had a horse length on his man running to goal. Orchard Hill took an early 4-1 lead and continued to outscore their orange clad opponents in the second chukker, stretching their lead out to 7-2.

Las Monjitas came alive in the third, winning lineups, hustling the Orchard Hill attackers and feeding the ball downfield. Facundo Sola got the first goal from the field for Las Monjitas, dancing around the goal post and the other Facundo (Pieres) to light up the scoreboard. Las Monjitas went on to outscore Orchard Hill 3-1 in the third chukker, but the lone goal from Orchard Hill should have got extra for style points, it was that spectacular. Facundo Pieres took the ball out of the air and went down field effortlessly tapping it out of the air around the defenders, finishing with a neck shot to goal that started with the ball a yard high in air when he hit it.

Las Monjitas rode the momentum from their successful third chukker into the fourth chukker, and closed within two of Orchard Hill behind goals from Facundo Sola and Sebastian Merlos. But the Pieres show resumed in the fifth chukker and stopped the Las Monjitas comeback attempt. Facundo Pieres converted two penalty shots and scored back-to-back field goals by somehow outfoxing his defenders at midfield and scoring through the unguarded goal on two brilliant runs. The four goals by Facundo Pieres in the fifth chukker gave Orchard Hill a comfortable five goal lead heading into the sixth. Las Monjitas, a team of warriors, kept on fighting to the end, but Orchard Hill maintained the lead to finish the match 16-11 and move forward to the C. V. Whitney semifinals.

Audi/Millarville Takes Tight Win over Lechuza Caracas

Audi/Millarville defeated Lechuza Caracas 10-9 Friday in the 26-goal C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

This was one of those nail-biters in which 42 minutes of polo came down to the last two minutes. With Audi/Millarville leading then by one point, 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero hit a neck shot that looked as though it was about to tie the match. With overtime nearly a foregone conclusion, the standing-room-only crowd gasped at the announcement that an independent review by the umpires had determined the shot went wide. Then with one minute remaining, Victor Vargas also shot wide, closing the door on Lechuza Caracas’s last viable chance to tie the match.

Audi/Millarville held the lead from start to finish, maintaining a three-point spread in both of the first two chukkers. Magoo LaPrida and Freddie Mannix made three goals between the two of them in the third chukker, widening the gap to five points.

The second half opened 9-4 for Audi/Millarville, which gained only one more point (made on a field goal by Rodrigo Andrade) before the final horn. Lechuza Caracas came on like gangbusters in the fifth chukker, with goals by Nico Pieres and Agustin Garcia Grossi. Grossi added another in the final chukker, with the game ending 10-9 for Audi/Millarville.

It was an impressive showing for Audi/Millarville, particularly given that the team had been put together in the past few weeks and was an eleventh-hour entry in the tournament. Friday was the first time Mannix had played a match with LaPrida and Andrade (8- and 9-goal players, respectively).

Calling it a “very pleasurable experience,” Mannix said he had ridden in two practice matches with them earlier in the week, adding, “We executed our game plan today and were able to play as a unit. We beat a very good team.” (Mannix and LaPrida meshed well in the match, creating a force to be contended with now and in the future. The two are going to be teammates next year in Argentina.)

Marc Ganzi, who played a strong, consistent game, said, “The team was put together at the last second, so there were no expectations, which is the best thing to do because you just play loose and have fun.”

Noting that his team missed several goals in the sixth, Ganzi said, “We had a chance to win by two or three (points). Rodrigo and I both had good runs but couldn’t put it in. What I like is that we played defensively really sound polo today. Most of (Lechuza Caracas’s) goals came off penalties. We didn’t give them anything easy – they had to work for everything today, and we have to take that mentality forward against Alegria.”

The C. V. Whitney Cup semifinals take place Wednesday at IPC with Alegria facing on Audi/Millarville at noon and Orchard Hill playing Valiente at 3 p.m.

Alegria at Home in the Cold Defeats Coca-Cola 13-9

Alegria defeated Coca-Cola 13-9 in the opening game of the C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Alegria looked right at home in the morning’s chilly temperatures, which had most everyone bundled up. The game started out with Coca-Cola in the lead with a one-goal handicap. Julian Mannix and his Alegria team quickly took charge once play started, scoring their first two goals in rapid succession.

Pelon Sterling showed why he is one of the best players in the world, scoring from over 100 yards out to tie the score 2-2. Mannix flipped in a tail shot to score and end the first chukker 3-2. Mariano Aguerre scored on a breakaway to start out the second chukker.

In what was undoubtedly the play of the game, Hilario Ulloa took off on a breakaway, only to be covered by defenders, so Ulloa sent a back shot pass to Aguerre, who took the ball up field and drove it in for a goal. The speed and accuracy of these defending US Open champions was a sight to behold. Mannix followed this play up by crushing a pass to Ulloa, who was already on the run and ran the ball in to score 6-2.

Ulloa started out the third chukker with a penalty conversion. On the next play, a penalty was called and Alegria challenged the call. This was the first time that the instant replay has been utilized in a high goal game at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Each team is awarded one challenge per half, and an additional challenge if the match goes into overtime.

The call was upheld and play resumed with a penalty five hit from the point of the infraction. After another penalty was called, Aguerre converted to put one up on the board for Alegria. Mannix picked Pelon Sterling’s pocket to turn the ball around and sting Coca-Cola, making it 9-2 at the end of the half.

In the second half, Sterling started out with a conversion for Coca-Cola, making the score 9-3. A penalty one was awarded to Alegria, which awarded them another point. Ulloa scored the lone non-conversion goal of the fourth chukker, making the score 11-3. In the fifth chukker, Sterling continued his string of conversions, scoring for Coca-Cola and working diligently to close the gap between their team and Alegria.

Alegria then scored the next two goals, continuing their scoring streak. A penalty one was called in favor of Coca-Cola, awarding them a point and making the score 13-6. Sugar Erskine knocked the ball out of the air to make a pass to Jeff Hall, who drove it in to score and end the fifth chukker. Coca-Cola warmed up in the sixth chukker, with Hall making a strong pass to Sterling to score and make it 13-8. Sterling scored the final goal of the match, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Alegria’s solid lead.

Mannix felt that this was a solid start to the 26-goal season.

“I know Hilario [Ulloa] and Mariano [Aguerre] well, and Sterling [Giannico] fit in great,” said Mannix. “It’s a good first step of the season, and it’s a long process, so we’re happy we got the first win.”

C. V. Whitney Tournament play will continue on Wednesday, February 25 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach with Alegria taking on Audi/Millarville at noon and Orchard Hill playing Valiente at 3 p.m. in the semi-finals of the C. V. Whitney.

International Polo Club Palm Beach Fast Facts

What: Created by players for players, the International Polo Club Palm Beach was born out of the dream to build a facility to showcase the incredible skills of the ponies and players that dominate the sport.

Members and guests enjoy panoramic views of the action from field side box seats or lawn and terrace seating. Sponsors and fans convene at The Winners Circle to congratulate the players during the awards presentation following the games.

Gourmet brunches, après polo celebrations and the prerequisite charitable events will take place in The Pavilion, designed to accommodate large parties, corporate clients, as well as family and friends.

Featured Highlights:

Herbie Pennell Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 1-4, 2015

Joe Barry Memorial Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 4-25, 2015

Ylvisaker Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 28 – February 22, 2015

Iglehart Cup – 20 Goal
Feb. 28 – March 8, 2015

USPA C. V. Whitney Cup – 26 Goal
Feb. 15 – March 1, 2015

Piaget USPA Gold Cup® – 26 Goal
March 4-22, 2015

111th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship® – 26 Goal
March 25 – April 19, 2015

Directions:

From the Turnpike:
Take the Lake Worth Exit
Head west on FL-802 W/Lake Worth Rd toward Hooks Rd
Continue to follow Lake Worth Rd (3.9 miles)
Turn right onto 120th Ave S
Destination will be ahead on the left (0.4 miles)

From I-95:
Exit Forest Hill Blvd, head West
Make Left turn onto 441/St Rd 7
Make Right turn onto Lake Worth Rd
Make Right turn onto 120th Ave S
Destination on Left

Information:
3667 120th Ave S, Wellington, FL 33414
International Polo Club Palm Beach: 561-204-5687
Mallet Grille: 561-282-5340
Spa & Fitness Center: 561-282-5288
Tennis Pro Shop: 561-795-7228
Polo Operations Office: 561-282-5283
Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290

Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com

For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/

Hotels:
Hampton Inn & Suites – (561) 472-9696 – Approximately 2 miles
Hampton Inn – (561) 472-5980 – Approximately 4 miles
Four Seasons Resort – (561) 582-2800 – Approximately 9 miles
The Breakers – (561) 655-6611 – Approximately 9 miles
Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa – (561) 540-6440 – Approximately 9 miles

Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com