Tag Archives: Herbie Pennell Cup

Casablanca Rallies in Second Half to Claim Herbie Pennell Cup

January 5, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Polito Pieres in one of his many runs down field. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Coca-Cola Claims Overtime Victory in Consolation Match

Wellington, FL – January 4, 2015 – The sidelines of the pristine Engel & Völkers field were filled to capacity with enthusiastic spectators as players mounted for the final of the Herbie Pennell Cup between the Casablanca and Villa del Lago teams. The Herbie Pennell Cup is one of three 20-goal tournaments held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach during the winter season. Villa del Lago overcame Lechuza Caracas in the semifinal to secure their position in today’s match. Casablanca, a strong team brimming with young talent, swiftly defeated Coca-Cola on Friday. Both teams are coming off strong semifinal wins, arrived to the field confident in their abilities to control the final Sunday game.

Polito Pieres, recently raised to a 10-goal rating in Argentina, started off the game on a flashy note. Pieres showed off for the crowd as he dribbled the ball in the air and through the goal posts. Roldan battled his way through a crowd of horses and popped the ball through the air to add two consecutive goals to the Casablanca tally. Pieres quickly answered back, scoring two more goals for the Villa del Lago team. The first chukker ended with Villa del Lago on top 3-2.

Miguel Novillo Astrada fought back for the Casablanca team and took advantage of a foul called against Villa del Lago, easily shooting a penalty three through the uprights. Agustin Obregon wowed the audience with a difficult, deep neck shot through the goal followed by two more goals, one by Pieres and another by Obregon to bring Villa del Lago up by three goals, 6-3 to end the 2nd chukker.

Villa del Lago played a strong, offensive third chukker to push the team further ahead. Three goals scored by Villa del Lago and two goals scored by Casablanca, kept Villa del Lago in the lead 9-5 at half.

Casablanca, down by four goals, had to make their move in order to stay in the game. Roldan and M. Novillo Astrada did just that, scoring a combined three goals. The Casablanca team made its comeback run as players streaked up and down the field putting Casablanca within one goal, 9-8.

A right-of-way infraction gave Casablanca an open goal shot from the 30-yard line. Roldan tapped the team’s ninth goal of the game through to tie the score. A similar foul called against Casablanca put Villa del Lago at the advantage, giving Pieres an easy goal from the 30-yard mark. Novillo Astrada sailed through a pack of players to add a third goal to the Casablanca tally for the 5th chukker, once again tying the score 10-10.

It came down to the wire in the sixth chukker as both teams battled for control of the ball. Novillo Astrada was the first to put the ball through the goal giving Casablanca the edge. A second goal by Roldan aided in their offensive effort and kept their momentum rolling. With their lead now gone, Pieres was forced to turn on the magic and crushed a shot through the goal. An end of the chukker score by Roldan ended the game with Casablanca on top 13-11.

After a tough game, the players were presented with awards by Herbie Pennell’s son, Bob Pennell. The horses in polo are considered to be athletes and are judged throughout the game for their ability. Paulina, a mare owned and ridden by Novillo Astrada was named Best Playing Pony. Novillo Astrada was awarded Most Valuable Player.

Grant Ganzi and Juancito Bollini, the young duo of the Casablanca team have been playing together since they were children. Ganzi described, “Playing with my best friend is incredible; there isn’t anything better,” Ganzi said. “The chemistry between us on the field is just there.”

Roldan has played with Bollini and Ganzi over the past few years and has been a guiding force in their polo careers. Playing with highly-ranked players like Novillo Astrada and Roldan in 20-goal play is likely to advance their skill.

Following the game Roldan discussed his team’s comeback strategy.

“The first few chukkers we were light; every time we hit the ball we gave it to the other team,” he said. “We finally sent someone to Polito and figured it out.”

The Coca-Cola team pulled off their first victory of the season in the Herbie Pennell Consolation Final against Lechuza held at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

“It sure feels better to win,” chuckled Kris Kampsen as he pulled his boots off after the game.

*Juan Martin Nero and Julio Arellano with Kris Kampsen close behind*

After a tough loss to Casablanca on Friday, Coca-Cola revisited their game strategy and arrived to the field ready to bring home a win. The Coca-Cola team is unique in that every member is considered to be an American player. Team sponsor, Gillian Johnston, is one of only two female patrons playing at the high goal level.

Juan Martin Nero, a strong captain of the Lechuza team, just arrived from Argentina where he won all three major tournaments. His innate skill with the ball is a treat for spectators to watch.

The consolation match began with the score bouncing back and forth for the first two chukkers. Johnston, playing the number one position, put two goals on the board for her team in addition to a goal each by Julio Arellano and Kampsen. Nero and Marcos Alberdi led the scoring initiative for the Lechuza team. Teams were tied at 4 goals apiece at the end of the second chukker.

Lechuza charged through the third chukker, scoring four goals. Nero sank a penalty-four shot through the goal and added an additional tally from the field. Team sponsor, Victor Vargas, and Martin Espain each added a goal to push Lechuza up 8-4.

Coca-Cola reorganized their offensive attack, scoring three goals in the fourth chukker. Nero easily converted a penalty four from the 60 yard line to keep Lechuza in the lead 9-7.

Vargas tore down the field to start chukker five with another goal for the Lechuza team. A penalty in favor of Lechuza pushed the team further ahead. However, an infraction called against Lechuza allowed Arellano to tap the ball through the goal from the 30-yard mark. A miscued shot was called a safety giving Coca-Cola a penalty six. Coca-Cola hung on at the end of the fifth chukker down by two goals, 9-11.

With seven minutes and thirty seconds remaining in regulation time, Arellano stole the ball and added the 10th tally to the Coca-Cola score. On a clutch play, Wroe scored the 11th goal to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Johnston scored the winning overtime goal on a long pass from Arellano to end the game 12-11. Her scoring efforts were acknowledged with the Most Valuable Player Award. Torta, played by Kampsen, owned by Sugar Erskine, was named Best Playing Pony.

“It was a very tough game,” said Kampsen. “Lechuza had a very good third chukker. We had to fight back from that. Julio gave us a great pep talk at the half and Sugar was really helpful coaching from the side. We stayed hungry and true to our game plan and we ended playing the game the way we wanted.”

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

Phelps Media Group, Polo

International Polo Club Palm Beach High-Goal Season Kicks Off with Herbie Pennell Cup

January 3, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Kris Kampsen takes the ball down the boards.

Wellington, FL – January 2, 2015 – International Polo Club Palm Beach’s signature palm trees and lush, manicured fields provided the perfect backdrop for the first high-goal games of the 2015 season. The first match between Casablanca and Coca-Cola demonstrated the strength of the young Casablanca players. In the second face-off of the day, Villa del Lago pulled out a win over the Lechuza Caracas team.

The Casablanca team, 1-golaer Grant Ganzi, 8-goaler Nic Roldan, 9-goaler Martin Novillo Astrada, and 2-goaler Juancito Bollini, proved to be a force on the field in their first match against Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola 20-goal team includes 2-goaler Gillian Johnston, 6-goaler Sugar Erskine, 8-goaler Julio Arellano, and 4-goaler Mason Wroe. Erskine was forced to sit out the Herbie Pennell Cup due to an injury and was replaced by Kris Kampsen, rated 6 goals.

Roldan, one of the highest rated American players, got the ball rolling with the first goal of the game. Teammate Bollini added another score to the Casablanca tally. Coca-Cola was quick to answer back, and sent Kampsen streaking down the field to pop one through the goal posts. A foul committed close to the goal went in favor of Casablanca. Novillo Astrada converted the penalty two with ease. Each team scored once more to close out the chukker with Casablanca on top 4-2.

In an evenly matched second chukker, each team scored two goals. Roldan and Novillo Astrada each added a goal from the field for Casablanca. A goal by Kampsen and a penalty three shot by Arellano aided the offensive effort of the Coca-Cola team. Casablanca maintained their two-goal lead, 6-4, at the end of the 2nd chukker.

Two costly fouls in the third chukker increased Casablanca’s lead to 4 goals, 8-4.

After sitting down for halftime, players from both teams remounted, looking to bring home the first win of the season for their team. A safety called against Casablanca gave Coca-Cola the opportunity to score. Arellano lofted the ball high through the air, adding the goal number 5 for the Coca-Cola team. A foul against Coca-Cola proved to be costly as Novillo Astrada easily sunk the penalty four shot for a goal. The fourth chukker ended with Casablanca in the lead 9-5.

Casablanca came to the field with confidence and dominated the fifth chukker. Bollini, Novillo Astrada and Roldan each added a goal to further their lead to 12-5.

Coca-Cola scored the first goal of the sixth chukker on a penalty shot. Casablanca left nothing to chance, scoring two more goals to end the game up 14-6.

“We all executed as we planned and that’s a very big advantage,” said Ganzi. “That’s how you really win a game.”

“We set up exactly what we wanted to do and we were able to execute that,” agreed Bollini.

Ganzi said that the team started practicing five days ago to prepare for their first outing. Roldan began playing with Novillo Astrada recently in Aspen, adding to the fluidity of their teamwork.

“It is always important to start off the season like this,” Roldan said. “It is the first game and it sets the tone for the rest of the season. Grant and Juancito just had the best games of their lives in high-goal. I’m getting to know Miguel so it was really fun. He makes it really easy on the field.”

The outcome of a tight game between Lechuza (1-goaler Victor Vargas, 3-goaler Marcos Alberdi, 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero, 6-goaler Martin Espain) and Villa del Lago (A-rated Jim Zenni, 6-goaler Julian de Lusaretta, 9-goaler Polito Pieres, 5-goaler Augustin Obregon) determined who would play against Casablanca in the Herbie Pennell Cup Final. With Nero just coming off an Argentine Open win and Pieres rating raised to 10 goals in Argentina, the players were fired up for the start of the Wellington season.

The game was an even match from the first bowl in. Espain snagged the first opportunity to score. Obregons flicked the ball through the uprights to tie the score 1-1.

The second chukker began with players looking to gain an advantage for their team. Nero expertly converted a penalty goal to bring Lechuza up by one goal. Obregon ran down the field, scoring his second goal of the day on a fast pony. Pieres, who just arrived from Argentina this morning, added a goal of his own to put Villa del Lago on top 3-2.

Villa del Lago pushed forward on the attack to widen their lead in the third chukker. Obregon easily scored again, followed by a penalty goal and a field goal by Pieres to end 6-2.

A right of way violation near the goalmouth gave Nero another easy shot from the penalty line. He tapped the ball through to widen their lead. Six-goaler, Lusaretta, picked up a loose ball on the run and tapped one through for Lechuza to put them back in the hunt. Nero and Pieres each scored a goal from the field to close out the fourth chukker 8-4

Nero streaked through the fifth chukker scoring two goals. A third goal by Alberdi brought Lechuza to within one goal of Villa del Lago.

In the crucial sixth chukker, players raced up and down the pitch looking to secure their win. Lusaretta drilled a ball through the goal to give Villa del Lago a slight advantage. Nero answered back, stealing the ball and running across the field to add another goal to Lechuza tally. A final goal by Pieres sealed the deal for the Villa del Lago team, winning the match 10-8.

“They had Juan Martin Nero, one of the best players in the world,” said Pieres. “He scored those two goals to come back in the game but luckily, we scored and we won the game.”

Obregon agreed and commented on how great he thought the horses played.

“For now I am looking forward to hopefully winning on Sunday,” Obregon said.

Villa del Lago will face off against Casablanca on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Herbie Pennell Cup Final. A consolation match between Coca-Cola and Lechuza will be held on Sunday at 10 a.m.