Tag Archives: Iglehart Cup

Tonkawa Captures Iglehart Cup

March 8, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Facundo Obregon and Gonzalo Deltour. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – March 7, 2015 – A single point made all the difference in both games Saturday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Tonkawa trotted off with the Iglehart Cup, and CT Energia rode home with the Glenn Hart Cup. Tonkawa defeated Palm Beach Illustrated 12-11, and CT Energia bested Tackeria 10-9 in the finals of the 20-goal tournament and subsidiary.

In the Iglehart Cup, Gonzalo Deltour was named MVP and his horse, Manca, was Best-Playing Pony. Joao Paulo Ganon was MVP and his horse Lilli was BPP in the Glenn Hart.

What do you do when everything is at stake, and absolutely everything is going against you? If you’re playing for Tonkawa, you ignore it and push on until you win.

In the same comeback-kid mode with which it won the semifinals four days ago, Tonkawa trailed for the first two chukkers, evened the score at the top of the third and then slammed the door on Palm Beach Illustrated. The first half ended with Tonkawa leading by one point and eventually winning by the same margin.

At the outset things were looking pretty grim for the quartet in white. Although Inaki Laprida scored in the first chukker, it turned out to be Tonkawa’s only goal for the period. Immediately afterward a costly foul resulted in an automatic point for Palm Beach Illustrated, which slid into a one-point lead. With Tonkawa still scrambling to get its balance in the second chukker, its nemesis capitalized on a rapid-fire succession of goals by Jared Zenni and Facundo Obregon (the latter on a slick Michel Dorignac assist).

Palm Beach Illustrated’s coastal surge didn’t last long, however. Laprida and Deltour, both seven-goal powerhouses, synced their playbooks in the third chukker. They made the majority of Tonkawa’s goals, generally by passing or through defensive moves that enabled the other to score. Deltour tied the game at 5-all in the third chukker and then ramped it up to make three more goals in a row. He was the game high-scorer with seven goals.

On fire and nowhere near running out of fuel, Deltour was as fierce on defense as he was on offense. Going for the “fear factor,” as announcer Gus Whitelaw put it, Deltour stormed the field like a fighter pilot, swooping in wherever the ball went. He seemed to delight in giving Michel Dorignac (not one who is easily intimidated) a run for his money. Deltour stole the ball from him, lost it on a bounce but stayed on his trajectory. He snatched the ball back as though he had planned it that way and ran it to goal.

With that Tonkawa moved into the lead and never looked back. The gap widened to four points in the fifth chukker when Deltour sent a high-flyer to Jeff Blake. Blake slapped it in, making the score 9-5. By then Palm Beach Illustrated hadn’t scored since the second chukker. Facundo Obregon and Zenni reactivated their team’s verve with a couple of goals, but to no avail, as Deltour and Laprida had melded into an impenetrable wall of power.

Undaunted, Dorignac poured the pressure on. He worked his way through a pack of white shirts, zigzagging as though trying to outfox a sniper (not a bad idea with Deltour and Laprida closing in on him). Dorignac found a window and passed the ball to Tommy Collingwood, whose shot to goal narrowed Tonkawa’s lead to one point (10-9). Another goal by each team ended the match 11-10.

The challenge of playing in a final was compounded by the light but steady rain throughout the game. Players said the field held up fine, but maneuvering a horse and mallet was something else. Blake said the conditions made the game challenging.

With their reins as slippery as seaweed and the ball behaving like a tennis ball as it bounced and skidded on a whim, how did Tonkawa’s players manage to seize control of the game?

“I really don’t know,” said a soggy Deltour with a wry smile.

“We started to slip behind, and then we just started hitting balls and playing better together, all of us. That’s it.”

Blake said his teammates “started in the rain and kept it together. Both teams played really hard. It could have been anyone’s game, but we came out with one more goal.”

CT Energia Squeaks by Tackeria in Glen Hart Cup Final

CT Energia finished the season on a high note, winning the Glen Hart Cup 10-9 over Tackeria, hosted by International Polo Club Palm Beach. The Glen Hart Cup is a new tournament for 2015 and is the second tier tournament to the 20 goal Iglehart Cup. Hart was the longtime pro for Skey Johnston and a much-loved fixture in the polo community, who passed away last year.

The weather was wet and windy to start the match, but that did not deter the players. Matt Coppola delivered a goal from the field for Tackeria that was followed in short order by Joao Paolo Ganon juking and jiving through the defenders for a score for CT Energia. The score was even at 2-2 at the end of the first chukker.

The rain came down even harder in the second chukker and started to affect the players. Nick Manifold scored early for CT Energia. The Tackeria team had several drives down field that stymied by the rain, finally evening up the score on a penalty two at the close of the chukker.

Conditions improved and so did the scoring in the third chukker. Ganon met the pack on a handy horse for a steal and a goal and was followed quickly by Alessandro Bazzoni scoring on the south end. Tackeria got a goal from Pelon Escapite but Ganon ran the ball coast to coast on a big brown horse to close out the half strong for CT Energia with a 6-4 lead.

Ganon continued his scoring ways after the halftime break, but then Malcolm Borwick put in two field goals for Tackeria, aided by the strong blocking from his teammates. The Tackeria teamwork led to two more goals from Alejandro Gonzalez in the fifth chukker. The Tackeria momentum was checked momentarily by a penalty one against them, but then Coppola tied the match at 9 all for Tackeria on a nearside with an assist from Escapite.

Tommy Biddle, substituting in this match for Kris Kampsen, scored a penalty four from the 60 yard line to make the score 10-9 in favor of CT Energia at the beginning of the sixth chukker. The teams battled it out for the remainder of the sixth chukker but Biddle’s goal proved to be the go ahead goal; CT Energia clung to the lead for the victory.

Joao Paolo Ganon was selected MVP, he led all scorers with five goals. His beautiful mare Lily was awarded Best Playing Pony.

CT Energia patron Alessandro Bazzoni said as he carried the trophy away, “It was nice to win a game this season. Now we have to get ready for next season!”

The USPA Piaget Gold Cup resumes Sunday at IPC, with four games. At 10 a.m. Audi plays Engel & Völkers and Alegria faces Las Monjitas. Coca-Cola plays Lechuza Caracas at noon, followed by Orchard Hill versus. Valiente in the featured match at 3 p.m.

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

Competitions, Polo

Palm Beach Illustrated and Tonkawa Clinch Spots in Iglehart Cup Final

March 4, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Facundo Obregon and Kris Kampsen. Photo: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Smooth Sailing for Palm Beach Illustrated in 10-7 Win over CT Energia

Wellington, Florida – March 3, 2015 – Palm Beach Illustrated and Tonkawa will advance to the 20-goal Iglehart Cup Final on Saturday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC). In Tuesday’s semifinals, Palm Beach Illustrated bested CT Energia 10-7 and Tonkawa took Villa del Lago 13-8.

If a polo match had a mantra, this one would have been slow and steady wins the race. Palm Beach Illustrated’s play was a textbook example of how to win a polo game with drama-free determination – and still keep things interesting.

Regardless whether it was leading, trailing or tied, Palm Beach Illustrated kept cruising around the field with cool-headed control and consistency. There weren’t more than a handful of whistles during the entire match, and only two goals were made on penalty shots. That’s not to say there weren’t some supersonic ride-offs and mano-a-mano moments, but all in all it was a relatively smooth ride to victory.

“I was confident from the beginning that we were going to do well. We were patient and leading for the entire game,” said Michel Dorignac, noting that his teammates have been working well together and playing consistently in their last few games. “So far it’s been great fun. I think one of the reasons is that it’s a very balanced team. Everyone on the team can play polo, take the men and carry the ball. So we only have to hit and run and be smart. That’s it.”

As easy as he made it sound – and as easy as Palm Beach Illustrated made it look much of the time Tuesday – high-goal polo is never a cakewalk. The game began in fits and starts, with CT Energia trying its darnedest to give its opponents a few gray hairs. CT Energia made some initial headway, scoring once in each of the first two chukkers and mounting a strong defense that thwarted Palm Beach Illustrated from scoring in the second.

“We missed six or seven (shots on goal) in the second chukker,” said Jared Zenni. “But after that we started making a little more space for each player so that they had more time and could really define the goals.”

That adjustment worked as intended for Palm Beach Illustrated. The team made two goals in the third chucker and kept its opponent off the board. In the opening moments of the second half, Tommy Collingwood stretched Palm Beach Illustrated’s lead to three points. That triggered a collective comeback by CT Energia, with three of its members contributing to a beautifully orchestrated goal. Nic Manifold stopped the ball long enough for Kris Kampsen to come through with a powerhouse of a backshot. As the pack scampered downfield, Manifold read the play perfectly. He took the ball on a breakaway, surprising his opponents by backing off just before the goal mouth to allow super-scorer Joao Paulo Ganon to finish the play and score.

For a time it looked like CT Energia was getting its groove back. The team jumped into the mix at the top of the fifth chukker with three quick goals from the field, two of them by an energized Alessandro Bazzoni. Then with the ball suddenly hurtling toward him, Kampsen – with the wingspan of a pterodactyl – stabbed it out of the air and sent it into goal. That brought CT Energia into true contender status, with only one point separating it from the leader. Palm Beach Illustrated wasn’t about to let that stand for long, however. Dorignac made his third and fourth goals of the day in the final chukker, with the game ending 10-7 for Palm Beach Illustrated.

Collingwood attributed his team’s success to discipline. “We kept pushing forward, playing open, listening to our teammates, everybody doing his part of the job,” he said. “We got a few lucky bounces off the horses that maybe helped out, but I think we just played really well.”

The much-anticipated 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup opens Thursday at IPC with four high-octane matches starting at 10 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. The lineup: Orchard Hill vs. Coca-Cola; Valiente vs. Lechuza Caracas; Engel & Völkers vs. Las Monjitas, and Alegria vs. Audi.

Tonkawa Takes Command, Defeats Villa del Lago 13-8

Tonkawa defeated Villa del Lago 13-8 in the semifinal of the Iglehart Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

The match started off with dominant play by Polito Pieres, fresh off a win in the C.V. Whitney Cup with his Orchard Hill squad. In his high-octane style, Pieres went on a scoring spree, using his teammates as battering rams to run the ball up the field. Villa del Lago racked up three goals in the first chukker.

The game took a quick turn in the second chukker, however. Tonkawa gained momentum when Gonzalo Deltour took off on a hot streak, scoring his team’s first goal on a nearside neckshot. He followed that up with two penalty conversions to tighten Villa del Lago’s lead to one point (4-3).

Tonkawa took control in the third chukker, driving in goal after goal and keeping a wide-open pace. A high-speed goal by Agustin Obregon and a penalty conversion by Pieres kept Villa del Lago in the match, tying the score 6-6 at the half.

The fourth chukker remained tight as Tonkawa and Villa del Lago fought for control, but Tonkawa pulled ahead 9-7. Inaki LaPrida and Deltour demonstrated brilliant team work in the fifth chukker, hitting passes seamlessly on the run and racking up three more goals. The sixth chukker was a pitched battle as each team went all out. Villa del Lago put its passing game to work. Julian de Lusarreta crushed a pass to Pieres, who sent it to Obregon for a run into goal, sewing up a 13-8 victory for Tonkawa.

“It was a tough match. Today we had the lineup that we didn’t have the last tournament,” said Deltour. He typically plays the number two position but was number one in the match against Villa del Lago. All in all, he said, “We played good open polo. My thanks to my teammates. They played really well.”