Remy Muller and Augustin Obregon. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

It’s All in the Family: Dueling Pieres Cousins Outscore the Pack

January 25, 2015 – Wellington, FL – Two points made all the difference Sunday in the finals of both the Joe Barry Cup and the Bobby Barry Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. In the featured match on Engel & Völkers field, Orchard Hill lit the afterburners in the last two chukkers, snatching the lead from Villa del Lago to win 15-13. In the Bobby Barry Finals, Audi maintained its lead at the end of each chukker, winning 12-10.

The game started and ended as a Pieres fiesta, not surprising given that Facundo Pieres is a member of the exclusive club of about 15 players worldwide rated at 10 goals. Polito Pieres, a 9-goaler who is rated at 10 in Argentina, showed Sunday why he is considered to be on the fast track to join the club.

“Polito is amazing, and he has a really good team,” said Facundo. “The thing is, if you start focusing too much on him (on the field), then his team will start making the difference.”

Indeed, that played out more than once on Sunday. After a Facundo goal kicked off the first chukker, Villa del Lago came together on the very next play. Keeping the ball on the end of his mallet in classic Facundo-style, he moved it downfield from the center, looking every few seconds over his shoulder, eyes on Polito, who was determined to take control (and did). Polito snatched the ball and kept it moving, avoiding a hook. Lucas Criado, a solid 8-goaler who played a very tight game in tandem with Facundo, took the ball right back for Orchard Hill.

Polito had had enough, and it was only the first chukker. In a departure from his trademark cat-and-mouse routine – in which he plays the first few chukkers in a deceptively casual manner, toying with his opponents until he suddenly turns into an antagonized tiger – Polito’s fangs came out early. Out of nowhere he appeared in the mix, clawing the ball away from Criado. Just when you expected Polito to break for goal, he made a stealth move (hence his moniker, “the magician”).

About 45 yards out he handed the ball off to de Lusarreta. De Lusarreta held onto it for dear life in heavy traffic, looking left and right as he made a successful run for the goal line, with Facundo never far away. The mix of players was so thick that unless you had x-ray vision (or a really good pair of binoculars), you would have sworn that Facundo had made the goal. He and de Lusarreta had their radar honed in on each other; no matter how far apart they were on the field, they kept finding each other at exactly the right moment.

From there the cousins went nonstop mano a mano until the horn sounded at the end of the game. Still in the first chukker, Facundo tried to lay a hook on Polito, losing his mallet in the process. The result was a penalty #2, and Polito took the free hit two yards out, bringing the score to 2-1 for Villa del Lago. Facundo polished off the chukker with a goal, tying the game at 2-2.

The rest of the game followed suit, sometimes almost seeming like a clip from the film “Groundhog Day.” But there was certainly nothing ho-hum about this flick. It was a continual dazzling display of polo wizardry that had most of the crowd on its feet, as if they were at a rock concert. (Word must have gotten out about the verve; even at halftime there was still a line of cars pouring into IPC.)

One of the most astounding plays came in the second chukker. Facundo jumped on a loose ball and made a run for it at about 60 yards out, flying past Polito before he could intercept (which he was dead-bang determined to do). In pretzel-like form at 25 miles an hour, Facundo reached over his pony’s neck and under the nose for a nearside shot that went between the goalposts like a missile.

The game continually took on intensity, with Orchard Hill gunning for Polito. In one play on his way to score, he was bumped in quick succession by Remy Mueller, then Criado, then Facundo.

The game was briefly tied until a Facundo goal ended the first half with Orchard Hill leading 7-6. Early in the fourth chukker the momentum shifted to Villa del Lago, with the team picking up two quick points, one of them on a nice cutshot by Steve Van Andel. The fifth chukker opened with Villa del Lago leading 10-8, but that was the end of its run.

Facundo came out guns a-blazing, smacking in four goals. Orchard Hill prevailed, with the final chukker beginning 13-11 and ending 15-13.

All in all it was quite a respectable showing for Villa del Lago. A relatively new team that started competing only two years ago, this was its second consecutive finals match of the season. Three weeks ago Villa del Lago made it to the finals of the Herbie Pennell Cup at IPC, losing to Casablanca by just two points.

Villa del Lago and Audi actually had several things in common: Both teams came into the Joe Barry finals undefeated; they won the semis by one point, and each had one of the two top scorers of the tournament in its lineup. (On top of that, Polito and Facundo together accounted for 21 of the total 28 goals Sunday).

Facundo was honored twice at the awards ceremony, as MVP and for having the best-playing pony, Shelty. (Facundo is an all-out animal lover. His dog was literally the first to congratulate him, leaping into his lap almost before he had settled into his chair to take off his boots after the game.)

“Right now I’m very happy,” he said. “It was a very difficult game because the other team has really good players. It was a good tournament, and we won, so that’s perfect.”

Orchard Hill patron Steve Van Andel agreed. “The team played great. I think we had some really good defensive plays that gave us a chance to turn the ball around and go through the toughest team.”

His thoughts about the cutshot he scored on in the fourth chukker? He laughed, saying, “It was only, ‘Don’t miss, don’t miss!’”

Audi Takes Lechuza Caracas for a Ride, Winning 12-10 in Bobby Barry Memorial Cup Final

Audi came to the field to win today in the Bobby Barry Memorial Cup Final, defeating Lechuza Caracas 12-10. Nic Roldan was the Most Valuable Player and Juan Martin Nero’s mount Somnambula was voted Best Playing Pony.

The match started out with a penalty call on each team, and after those attempts both went wide, Marc Ganzi scored the first goal off of a pass from Freddie Mannix. Shortly after that, Tomas Goti, playing for Martin Espain, converted a penalty to even the score out 1-1. Nic Roldan answered with a penalty conversion of his own to draw ahead of Lechuza Caracas 2-1 at the end of the first chukker.

Goti again took charge in the second chukker, scoring in heavy traffic. Roldan converted another penalty to make the score 3-2 in favor of Audi. Mannix and Roldan teamed up on the next play, displaying a stunning passing game that resulted in a goal by Mannix. Roldan scored a penalty conversion with a solid shot from the 60 yard line, making the score 5-2 at the end of chukker two.

Juan Martin Nero powered up in the third chukker, making a drive from end-to-end and scoring for Lechuza Caracas. Mannix scored again for Audi, solidifying the team’s lead in the first half 6-3. Roldan, under strong pressure from Luis Alfonso de Borbon, scored the final goal of the first half, ending the chukker 7-3 in favor of Audi.

Nero gained steam in the fourth chukker, scoring despite an attempted block by Mannix. A penalty conversion by Nero assisted Lechuza Caracas in their comeback. Nero scored again with a ball bouncing off of the block by Roldan neatly into the goal mouth, making the score 7-5. Goti scored on a run downfield, bringing Lechuza Caracas within one goal of Audi. Roldan converted a vital penalty shot for Audi, followed up by a goal by Mannix to gain some distance and end the fourth chukker 9-6.

Nero kicked off the fifth chukker with a penalty conversion. Marcos Alberdi scored a goal off of a breakaway to bring Lechuza Caracas within striking distance. Lucas Lalor made an incredible pass to Roldan, who scored in the last second of the fifth chukker to make the score 10-8.

Alberdi scored a goal from a pass from Goti, starting the sixth chukker in a tight race to determine the victors. Roldan continued his stellar performance to convert again, to make the score 11-9. In the next play, Roldan sent an accurate pass to Ganzi who scored drawing Audi clear and away from Lechuza Caracas 12-9. The final goal of the game was made by Nero, but it was Audi’s day, victorious 12-10.

Most Valuable Player Nic Roldan credits the strong team effort put in by his teammates for the win.

“Mark played solid up front,” said Roldan. “Lucas was a hustler and opened up a lot of space for us. Freddie was solid in the back, and we were lucky to still have him in the game after his injury, but he mounted up and was good.”

Patron Marc Ganzi felt that the team demonstrated Audi’s true style of play.

“Nic played amazing today,” Ganzi said. “When he’s calm and has time and releases the ball, it makes all of us better. Today was one of those great days when he had a lot of time and space to distribute. With all four players scoring goals today, that’s what we want. That’s been Audi’s style of playing polo for years, when all four guys are contributing and Nic is distributing.”

The next 20-goal tournament at IPC, the 2015 Ylvisaker Cup, starts Saturday with three matches: FlexJet vs. Valiente, Lechuza vs. Gateway Merchants, and Coca-Cola vs. Tonkawa.

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

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

January 23, 2015 – Wellington, FL – The buzz on (and off) the field this week at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, has been about three things: teamwork, teamwork and teamwork. That’s always been the name of the game in this sport, of course. But when you have a three-week stretch of 20-goal polo, the international superstars in the mix can at times dominate the game.

Friday at IPC, however, CT Energia and Palm Beach Illustrated demonstrated that mega-talent can play well – exceptionally well, at that – without outshining everyone else in the sandbox. And that’s how the Joe Barry Subsidiary match went down, with CT Energia beating Palm Beach Illustrated 13-12 in a stellar display of Vulcan mind-meld in action.

Each team had a powerhouse high-scorer who scored seven goals before the final horn: 7-goaler Joao Ganon for CT Energia and 6-goaler Facundo Obregon for Palm Beach Illustrated. That still left plenty of opportunities for others to score, which almost every member of the lineup did. Kris Kampsen, a solid 6-goaler who is always a driving force on the field, scored four times for CT Energia, along with teammates Alessandro Bazzoni and Nic Manifold, who each put one in. Palm Beach Illustrated’s Tom Collingwood made three goals, while teammates Jared Zenni and Michel Dorignac (who substituted for Magoo LaPrida) each scored once.

Clearly, the motivating factor wasn’t who was scoring but how they were scoring. There were more assists (and multiple assists on the same play) in this game than usual, with far fewer breakaways and coast-to-coast runs than have been the norm this season. CT Energia in particular played a tight, strategic game, often with two or even three team members contributing to a single goal.

That made for some incredibly fast play, as the ball seemed to swap back and forth between white jerseys at nearly every turn. The numerals on the scoreboard ping-ponged – a point for CT Energia; two for Palm Beach Illustrated; a brief tie; then just as quickly, the other team in the lead. The first chukker finished 3-1 for Palm Beach Illustrated after Zenni intercepted a Manifold tail shot and drove it in with 14 seconds left on the clock.

The action stalled a bit in the second chukker, with every goal – two by Ganon and one by Obregon – made on penalty shots. (Ganon finished the match with a 100-percent penalty shot record.) CT Energia took the lead for the first time in the third chukker, during which the score was tied three times. In the last 30 seconds Obregon scored on a pass from Dorignac, with Kampsen going mach-9, hair-on-fire behind him all the way to the goal line. The score stood 6-6 at the end of the first half.

CT Energia quickly snatched back the lead in the fourth chukker and stayed on high voltage for the rest of the match, leading at the end of every chukker. The fifth chukker started with a one-point lead for CT Energia and ended with it ahead 12-9, courtesy of a goal from the field by Kampsen in the final 19 seconds. Bazzoni made a lightning-fast play in the first 20 seconds of the final chukker, pulling out ahead of the pack to score. Still, it wasn’t a done deal. Palm Beach Illustrated rallied, slamming in the last three goals of the game in quick succession, with CT Energia winning 13-12.

“Today was good,” said Kampsen. “Our team works well when we work for Joao (Ganon) and keep hitting the ball and staying patience.” He credited the win to teamwork. “We’ve been playing a system the whole season – it just hasn’t come to fruition until today. The other night we had a long team meeting and sat and watched videos and talked. It’s important and I think it helps.”

Bazzoni agreed. “I’m happy that we’re finally playing as a team, and hopefully we’re going to keep playing as a team. We still have a lot to improve, and we need to keep working on our strategy. We’ll just keep going and hope for the best.”

Manifold summed it succinctly, evoking laughter and nodding heads in the CT Energia tent: “I’m just happy to be out here!”

The Joe Barry Cup and the Bobby Barry Cup conclude Sunday, starting at noon with Lechuza Caracas playing Audi in the Bobby Barry Cup Final. In the featured match at 3 p.m., Orchard Hill faces off against Villa del Lago in the Joe Barry Cup Final.

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

Nico Pieres and Lucas Criado. Photos: Liz Lamont/Phelps Media Group.

Lechuza Caracas and Audi Cruise into Position for Bobby Barry Cup Finals

January 22, 2015 – Wellington, FL – Thursday was a whirlwind of semifinals, with three games deciding the lineup for Sunday’s two 20-goal tournament finals. Orchard Hill beat Lucchese, securing a spot against Villa del Lago in the Joe Barry Cup Finals. Audi sped past FlexJet, and Lechuza Caracas took Tonkawa in their respective divisions of the Bobby Barry Cup Semifinals.

The semi-final match of Orchard Hill versus Lucchese was a tight match from start to finish. Ultimately Orchard Hill came out on top, ending the sixth chukker 14-13 with 23 seconds left on the clock. Facundo Pieres started off the match strong with a pass to Remy Muller, who hit the flip shot to score the first goal of the match. Facundo Pieres followed that up with a breakaway to the north to give Orchard Hill the lead 2-0. After several penalties were called on each team, Nico Pieres made a penalty conversion for Lucchese, making the score 2-1 and scoring the only goal for Lucchese in the first chukker.

Lucchese started off the second chukker with a superb display of teamwork. Magoo LaPrida hit a long pass to Benjamin Avendano, who passed it along to Nico Pieres to tie the score up 2-2. Facundo Pieres made a goal attempt, but it was backed out by Andres Weisz. After a penalty attempt went wide, Facundo Pieres fired a neck shot past LaPrida to put a score on the board for Orchard Hill. Lucas Criado attempted a backshot, but it went wide over the back line. Facundo Pieres picked the ball up from LaPrida and ended the second chukker with a score of 4-2. Nico Pieres made a penalty conversion to start out the third chukker. Facundo Pieres made an end-to-end run down field to score 5-3. Facundo Pieres made a great pass to Steve Van Andel to drive the ball out of Orchard Hill territory, picking up the ball from Van Andel down field to score 6-3. Facundo Pieres followed that up with a neck shot to increase Orchard Hill’s lead 7-3 and end the third chukker.

Weisz scored a goal from the field for Lucchese at the beginning of the fourth chukker, attempting to close the gap between the two teams. Nico Pieres made his third penalty shot of the day to make the score 7-5. He followed that up with another quick goal for Lucchese. Criado scored on a perfect pass from Facundo Pieres making the score 8-6. Due to darkness, the game was scheduled to continue on Thursday at 11 a.m.

The game picked up with a penalty shot in favor of Orchard Hill, which Facundo Pieres completed easily, making the score 9-6. Geronimo Obregon, in to replace Weisz, scored off of the bowl-in. Nico Pieres made yet another penalty shot to make the score 9-8. Facundo Pieres then made a penalty conversion for Orchard Hill, making the score 10-8. Nico Pieres scored, inching up on Orchard Hill. The match quickly began to follow a pattern of hard runs followed by high traffic as players on both sides fought to score. Facundo Pieres hit a pass to Criado, who fought off defender Avendano to score 11-9. Nico Pieres quickly answered with a pass to Obregon to end the fifth chukker with only one goal separating teams.

Facundo Pieres fumbled the ball on the knock-in at the beginning of the sixth chukker, only to regain control and make a long run to score 12-10. Nico Pieres made a penalty conversion to score. With the fans on the edge of their seats, Obregon scored to tie up the game 12-12. Facundo Pieres hit a lofted shot for a penalty conversion and broke the tie 13-12. After hitting heavy traffic, Nico Pieres nabbed the ball from the midst of a congested cluster and managed to score tying it up again 13-13 with 53 seconds left in the game. Facundo Pieres skirted away with the ball at the throw-in to end the game 14-13 with 23 seconds left in the game.

Patron Steve Van Andel is thrilled with the win under difficult circumstances.

“It was a tough game – it got split up between two different days and two different fields, and you lose your rhythm,” he said. “So it was tough for both teams. I’m happy we came out on top, but I’ve got to tell you, that was the toughest game we’ve had.”

Facundo Pieres, who scored 12 of Orchard Hill’s 14 goals, felt the pressure during the continuation of the match.

“They had nothing to lose,” said Facundo. “We had everything to lose because we only had two and a half chukkers left and we were only two goals up, so we had the pressure and that didn’t help us. But we won and it was a difficult game to win because they were playing better today than us. We were a bit lucky and we won.”

Audi Zooms Past FlexJet 9-7

Nic Roldan rocked and rolled his way through the Bobby Barry Cup Semifinals on Thursday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. With his trademark verve, he propelled the team to a 9-4 win over FlexJet, securing Audi a spot in Sunday’s finals against Lechuza Caracas.

For most of the match, if Roldan wasn’t making the play, he was in on it. In a consistently solid game, he scored from the field four times in as many chukkers. But this was no one-man show. The reason Audi came out on top is no mystery – it’s the same way the team got to the semifinals in the first place: the uncanny way Roldan and Freddie Mannix (who made two goals) seem to read one another’s minds. In a Lennon-McCartney sync, this duo knows how to make one and one equal one.

But by no means were Roldan and Mannix out there slugging it alone. In what has not been the norm for most teams during the past three weeks of tournament play, every member of the Audi team scored in the semifinal match. Lucas Lalor and Mark Ganzi each contributed a goal.

Audi seized the lead in the first few minutes of play and never unclenched its jaws, staying ahead of FlexJet straight through to the end. With FlexJet scoreless in the first two chukkers, Audi was in the driver’s seat. Still, this was to be no easy ride. To Audi’s consternation, “Dead-eye” (a/k/a Miguel Astrada), a powerhouse 9-goaler, made spot-on perfect drives through the goalposts in chukkers 3, 4 and 5. He engaged Roldan more times than you could count.

In a span of 30 seconds, Roldan took a 60-yard defended penalty shot, which was headed straight for goal – until Astrada snatched it out of mid-air and ran off with it. Roldan stepped on the throttle, reclaimed the ball and threaded the needle, giving Audi a 3-0 lead. Mannix followed that up pronto. In a slick maneuver, he suddenly broke for a pass and turned the play into a horse race (and another goal), leaving FlexJet in the dust. (It marked an impressive debut for Red Scent, a chestnut gelding that Mannix called “spectacular.”)

There were some lighter moments in the match, however. At one point Roldan drove the ball so high and hard that it slammed like a missile into the ground. With the clock stopped, Roldan tried to finagle the ball out of the turf from atop his horse, breaking his mallet in the process. He cantered off to fetch a new one, with the announcer joking, “That was an expensive play, Nic!”

The third chukker opened 5-0 for Audi. Then Astrada blazed one in from the field, putting FlexJet on the scoreboard for the first time. Mark Ganzi quickly countered that, bringing the score to 6-1. Audi managed to shift the momentum for a while in the fourth chukker with goals by Astrada, Mark Ganzi and Guille Aguero. But Audi reasserted itself, ending the chukker in an 8-4 lead.

Astrada and Roldan mixed it up again a few more times, each scoring once in the fifth. Audi didn’t score in the final chukker, which opened 9-5. FlexJet poured it on for two more goals, bringing the final tally to 9-7 for Audi.

“I’m really happy,” said Mannix. “I think the team functioned really well. We’ve been talking about improving our teamwork, and I think we made a lot of team plays today where we went from a defensive position to a neutral position to an attacking position, all because of teamwork. I liked it. When you make a plan and it works, it’s fun.”

Roldan seconded that emotion. “We had a good time today. The team felt great. We’re out of the semis (of the main tournament), and that kind of bummed us out a little bit because we know we’re a good team and we have the capabilities to be there. But we feel good about Sunday. We just came off a good game, and we’re ready to go. Lechuza’s a good team and it will be tough, but it will be a fun game because they play open.

Lechuza Caracas Advances to the Bobby Barry Cup Final with a Scrappy Victory over Tonkawa

Lechuza Caracas drew on the tradition and depth of their storied organization to win their Bobby Barry Cup Semifinal by a score of 9-7 over Tonkawa. The team was missing captain Victor Vargas, who was out of town on business, and 6 goal professional Martin Espain, who was suffering from stomach flu. But Luis Alfonso de Borbon, the son-in-law of Vargas, and Tomas Goti, stepped in and drew on their past experience playing with Lechuza Caracas to help roster regulars Juan Martin Nero and Marcos Alberdi defeat Tonkawa.

Both teams started the game out of rhythm, and multiple fouls slowed down the pace of play. Nero drilled a penalty 4 to start the scoring for Lechuza, and followed that by converting a penalty 3. Gonzalo del Tour got Tonkawa on the board at the end of first chukker with a penalty 3 conversion.

Tomas Goti opened up the scoring in the second chukker with a goal from the field as he followed up on a goal attempt by Alberdi, and Goti’s field goal opened the scoring floodgates for the Lechuza machine. Although Lechuza missed three penalty 4 attempts, they racked up the points on three field goals from Nero and a field goal from Alberdi which gave a Lechuza a 7-1 lead with a minute left in the third chukker. Just before the third chukker warning horn, Tonkawa’s Inaki Laprida intercepted a Lechuza back shot and sent a pass to a charging del Tour who scored to make the situation a little less desperate for Tonkawa. The third chukker closed out with the score 7-2 in favor of Lechuza.

Tonkawa came out of the half time break on a mission to create some offense. Del Tour ran coast-to-coast on a speedy little chestnut to notch a field goal for the team in white, while his shot crossed the goal line he was fouled by a Lechuza player. The goal counted and Tonkawa was awarded a Penalty 5 going south. Jeff Blake took advantage of the gain in field position to smack a pass to del Tour who scored yet again. All of the sudden, Tonkawa had the momentum, only to see their charge countered by de Borbon scoring a field goal to make the score 8-4 in favor of Lechuza. Del Tour was not finished with his scoring spree, closing out the fast and furious fourth chukker with another field goal to end it 8-5, still in favor of Lechuza.

The fifth chukker was a defensive struggle for the teams. Both were held scoreless until del Tour converted a Penalty 4 with 2:34 left in the chukker, pulling Tonkawa within two goals of the Lechuza lead. But just when it seemed that Tonkawa would come back, Nero ran a clever series of plays that resulted in a de Borbon goal and a three-goal lead for Lechuza to end the chukker.

The two teams charged back and forth across the field, but the goal eluded both. Nero was very strong on defense for Lechuza, and thwarted the Tonkawa players until Laprida was able to score a Penalty 2 for Tonkawa with a minute left. But that would not be enough for Tonkawa, and Lechuza held on to the lead to win 9-7.

“It was very good fun to win the game,” commented Nero. De Borbon whose two field goals proved crucial to the margin of victory, was happily exhausted. As he stretched out the post-game kinks he said, “It was so hard to stay on the horse after not playing 20-goal in so long!”

The other substitute player, Tomas Goti, reminisced the history of the players’ games together over the years. “It feels good to play with Juan Martin and this team, and with Alfonso who I used to play with in years past for Lechuza,” said Goti. “It is really fun to play with such a good team and good organization.”

Lechuza prepares now for the Bobby Barry Cup Final (Joe Barry Cup subsidiary), scheduled for noon on Sunday, January 25 at International Polo Club.

The action continues Friday, with CT Energia playing Palm Beach Illustrated at 11 a.m. On Sunday, Lechuza contests Audi in the Bobby Barry Cup at noon, with the featured Joe Barry Cup between Orchard Hill and Villa del Lago 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

Nico Pieres shot for his Lucchese team. Photo: Allannah Castro/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – January 19, 2015 – Tension was a living thing at the Monday morning penalty shootout tiebreaker to determine which teams would advance to the semifinals of the hotly-contested Joe Barry Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach. It crept around between the ponies’ hooves, eased up the arms of the players shooting the penalties and unsettled the nerves jangling of even the most ice-cold collected player. Hitting the polo ball 60 yards between the undefended goal posts seems easy on a practice field without anyone watching. But with the ultra-competitiveness of the players and the outcome of the tournament on the line, it seemed more daunting, as if the ball had to travel a mile.

In the penalty shootout tiebreaker, one player from each team hits the ball at the 40-yard line and then at the 60-yard line. At that point, if there is a difference between the shots converted then the shootout is over. If they are even at that point, then players continue taking shots from the 60-yard line until there is a difference.

The shootout started with the Bracket I tiebreaker between the 2-1 teams (Audi, Lucchese, and Tonkawa) to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that bracket. The winner would advance to the coveted automatic berth in the semifinals, the 2nd place would get another chance via yet another shootout against Enigma, the 3rd place team in the Bracket II/III cross section, and the 3rd place Bracket I team would be looking at a spot in the subsidiary semifinal. Nic Roldan (8) for Audi, Nico Pieres (8) for Lucchese, and Gonzalo del Tour (7) for Tonkawa were under the gun. All three were even after the mandatory 40 yard and 60 yard shots. As the players continued from the 60 yard line, Pieres converted his shot, catapulting Lucchese into 1st place in Bracket I. While Pieres breathed a sigh of relief on qualifying, the other two continued to shoot from the 60. In the next round, Tonkawa got a reprieve from elimination when del Tour converted his shot, which sent him to the bonus round against Enigma for a chance at the last semifinal position.

In Bracket II, Orchard Hill and Villa del Lago had qualified directly for the semifinals by virtue of their 3-0 records, the best in the league, so those two teams were spared the pressure cooker of the penalty shootout and elected to have a simple coin flip to determine who would place first and second in their league. Villa del Lago won the toss, placing them first in the Bracket II/III cross-section and Orchard Hill second.

This led to the second penalty shootout tiebreaker between third place Bracket II/III team Enigma and second place Bracket I team Tonkawa. The two teams had arrived at this point with an equal 2-1 record, but since they were in separate brackets and had not played each other, the tiebreaker was needed to determine which team had the right to advance. It was crunch time, as this was the last chance for either team to advance to the semifinals of the main Joe Barry Cup draw. Gonzalo del Tour returned to the line for Tonkawa, and Carlucho Arellano (5) stepped up for Enigma. A cool Arellano sank both shots but the 60-yard attempt by del Tour stumbled to a halt just before the goal line. Del Tour cantered up to the line to double check the ball placement. The ball was four inches shy of the line.

Arellano was the only player out of the five to be 100 percent accurate on his shots. When asked the secret to success, he replied, “I have a team that I know supports me and has faith in me, and my mom does too!”

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

Guille Aguero and Scott Swerdlin. Photos: Alex Pacheco.

Enigma Pours over Coca-cola, 14-13; Villa del Lago Secures a Spot in Semifinals

January 19, 2015 – Wellington, FL – Three matches kept the fields hopping Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, as the Joe Barry Tournament moved into its third week. Villa del Lago continued its winning streak, beating Lechuza Caracas 15-10 and ensuring itself a place in the semifinals. Enigma defeated Coca-cola in a tightly contested 14-13 match, and Merchant Hub took FlexJet 11-8.

In the featured match on Engels & Volkers Field, Merchant Hub took a stalled game (tied at the end of both the second and third chukkers) and kicked the logjam loose early in the fourth chukker. Merchant Hub grabbed mane and rode a runaway horse across the finish line, winning 11-8 win over FlexJet.

It was a huge tide change for Merchant Hub, which had lost its three previous games. A significant factor Sunday lay in some strategic changes both teams made to their lineups. FlexJet’s Juan Bollini (usually #2) and Guille Aguero (normally #4) swapped positions, with Melissa Ganzi (#1) and Miguel Astrada (#3) staying put.

Meanwhile, Merchant Hub played a shell game of its own, leaving only Facundo Obregon in his normal position (#2). His brother, Marianito Obregon, who generally plays #3, stepped into the #1 slot, which is usually held by Scott Swerdlin. Swerdlin played #4, and Luis Escobar moved from #4 to #3. (If it makes you dizzy just thinking about it, you’d have had vertigo trying to keep track of the way it played out on the field.)

The first chukker gave not even an inkling of what was to come. FlexJet came out swinging, slapping in two goals; Merchant Hub did not score. (The scoreboard showed 2-1 at the end of the first chukker because Merchant Hill’s team handicap of 19 had earned it an automatic point on the board at the start of the game, putting it on even keel with 20-goal FlexJet.)

Merchant Hub made its intentions known right out of the gate in the second chukker. Escobar had a clear shot down the field that found its way to a pair of Obregons in motion. The brothers kept the ball going all the way down the field, but it was just about impossible to see through the pack who had made the goal. As it turned out, Facundo Obregon’s shot morphed into a “pony goal” – the ball deflected off a hoof and ricocheted across the goal line.

Facundo followed that up pronto with another goal (without an equine assist). A chain reaction started with Marianito Obregon riding Aguero off the ball and sending it to Facundo, who propelled it downfield. With Aguero still challenging, Escobar swooped in and angled the ball toward goal. Facundo was there – right time, right place, but no coincidence – to pick it up and score. Astrada, who had scored in the first chukker, added another goal, tying the game at 3-all at the end of the second chukker.

Less than a minute into the third chukker, Escobar scored with Aguero nipping at his heels. Astrada and Bollini each scored, but Marianito Obregon had the final word at the end of the first half, tying the game at 5-all. Merchant Hub took a one-point lead in the fourth chukker on a great heads-up play by Marianito and Escobar. Under attack by Astrada, Marianito shuttled the ball over to Escobar in the front, who sent it sailing through the goalposts.

Then it was Marianito’s turn to score with an assist from Escobar. In a very technical and critically timed play, Escobar, who was being defended, had to wait for the right opportunity to pass the ball. Marianito took the ball forward and unloaded it downfield from atop a racehorse. Bollini moved in to challenge, but Marianito had the final say, bringing Merchant Hub to a 7-5 lead at the end of the fourth chukker, in which FlexJet was scoreless.

The Obregons turned the fifth chukker into their own personal scorefest, with Marianito scoring once and Facundo twice, all from the field. Astrada made two goals for FlexJet. Going into the final chukker, Merchant Hub’s lead had widened to three points (10-7). Astrada scored on a penalty, and with less than a minute-and-a-half on the clock Escobar whacked in a long drive from the field, bringing the final score to 11-8 for Merchant Hub.

Marianito said he “felt much better about this game. The horses were (going) with better rhythm, and we started getting our mechanism, started working as a team.”

Escobar agreed. “We felt good. We have been feeling good in the games. We just needed to make sure we didn’t make mistakes,” he said. “We knew the outcome was going to be good (today) because it felt good from the beginning. In the second half we changed a little bit. I was a little bit more offensive, and I think that made a big difference.”

In the awards ceremony, Facundo Obregon was named MVP and the horse Bollini rode in the fifth chukker was named best playing pony. True to his name, Oro (“gold”) is one of those unusual geldings who has the gusto for polo. Bollini described him as “very sweet,” adding, “He always gets nervous before the game starts, but once he’s in play, he loves it.”

Enigma Pours over Coca-cola, 14-13

Coca-cola enjoyed an early lead, with patron Gillian Johnston and Julio Arellano making the first goals of the game, both from the field. Enigma didn’t score in the first chukker but made up for it soon enough. It scored three goals in the second chukker, which had started off a bit sticky, with one whistle after another. But then the game opened up. In a picture-perfect setup, Matias MacDonough hit a neck shot, which was picked up from the pack by Hall on the attack. In a beautiful pass from the side, Hall handed the ball off to Jerome Wirth, who, as he so often is, was right where he needed to be. With two controlled taps, he put it in.

Eight-goaler Julio Arellano, Coca-cola’s highest-rated player, started pouring on the pressure. He scored on a penalty conversion and then proceeded to pester the Hall/MacDonough machine as best and as often as he could. But Hall and MacDonough, invincible 7-goalers working in tandem, smoked him out every time. Matias passed the ball to Hall, who took control about 80 yards out and carried the ball down the field to score. Hall did it again in the next play, going wide to score on a smooth cutshot to goal. Coca-cola rallied, with Johnston passing to Wroe. He burned through three Enigma defenders (who were all over him) to score. The second chukker ended 4-3 for Coca-cola.

In his second of two penalty goals during the third chukker – while fighting a blustery crosswind – Julio Arellano kept the ball along the ground, sneaking it past the Enigma defenders to score. The rest of the chukker, however, was a MacDonough extravaganza. He had already taken control of the ball just 30 seconds into the chukker, whacking it over to Wirth, who scored for Enigma. Then he made a pair of back-to-back goals. Straight out of a throw-in, MacDonough took the ball on a breakaway and scored, all the while Arellano giving serious chase. Then MacDonough grabbed the ball from the middle and pulled out ahead all by himself to score. In the final minute of the first half, he made it a three-peat, bringing the score to 7-6 in favor of Enigma.

Another Arellano (Carlucho) turned a lot of heads in the fourth chukker, scoring three goals for Enigma. After the game he said, “It was a very fun game for me to play because it was against my brother and a team that I respect very much. For me it was a huge effort to get everything ready for today’s game.”

Hall added another goal to the tally, and even with two more goals by Coca-cola, Enigma was three points ahead going into the fifth chukker. Coca-cola tightened the gap to one point, where it remained for the rest of the game, which ended 14-13 for Enigma.

The Enigma players paid homage to Coca-cola. Said Wirth: “That was an amazing team. I’m always amazed playing against Coca-cola. Well done to them, and well done to us.”

MacDonough said Enigma was “very happy,” calling Coca-cola “a very solid team.” He added, “They’re always tough. We knew even when they didn’t have any chances, this is a team that tries to go forward when they get on the field. They put together a really solid game.”

Hall concurred. “That’s a tough team. They’re out of the tournament now, but they always play to win, whether they’re in or out. They’re always tough, so we knew we were going to have a tough game. We managed to keep it together the whole game. So now we’ve got another one under our belt, and we’re getting better and better. We know the strengths and weaknesses of our team, and that’s all good.”

Villa del Lago Secures a Spot in Semifinals

Villa del Lago secured its place in the semi-finals, beating Lechuza Caracas 15-10. Marcos Alberdi scored the first goal of the match, outrunning Jim Zenni to the goal line and putting one on the board for Lechuza Caracas. Polito Pieres scored the first goal for Villa del Lago with a lofted shot for a penalty conversion.

Peke Gonzalez, who was substituting for Lechuza Caracas’ patron Victor Vargas, scored off the bowl-in, once again outrunning Zenni. In what was undoubtedly the play of the game, Pieres “picked the pocket,” as the announcer called it, of Martin Espain from the knock-in within yards of Lechuza Caracas’ goal line to score. After much play back and forth, Juan Martin Nero scored in heavy traffic with one second left on the clock to end the first chukker 3-2 in favor of Lechuza Caracas.

Augustin Obregon attempted a goal, only to be backed out by Alberdi in a stellar defensive play. Juan Martin Nero scored in the only goal of the second chukker to make the score 4-2. Pieres made a penalty conversion for another score for Villa del Lago. Then an intense ride-off between Obregon and Nero resulted in a penalty in favor of Lechuza Caracas. Nero drove the ball in and passed it to Gonzalez to make the score 5-3. Nero made back-to-back goals by scoring again after the ball bounced off Gonzalez’s head in heavy traffic. Pieres attempted a third penalty conversion but was blocked, and the ball went wide. Alberdi rounded out the third chukker with another goal to end the chukker 7-3.

The fourth chukker opened with an exciting ride-off between Nero and Pieres that resulted in a goal for Villa del Lago. Nero attempted a penalty conversion, but the shot went wide. In a stunning display of ball-handling ability, Pieres scored with a neck shot from the boards. Pieres then took off on a breakaway pass from Julian de Lusarreta to score again. Pieres tied the score 7-7 when he followed up with a goal, while fighting off Alberdi on the goal line. Nero responded with a near side neck shot through the goal mouth for Lechuza Caracas. In a run down the field, Obregon scored the last goal of the chukker to end the fourth chukker tied at 8-8.

Villa del Lago came on strong in the fifth chukker. Pieres defeated Espain to get a pass off to Obregon, taking the lead 9-9. Gonzalez shot one through to tie the game once more. Pieres promptly made one of his signature neck shots and Villa del Lago took the lead. Obregon then took the ball coast-to-coast and scored again. Gonzalez beat de Lusarreta to the goal line to drive one in for Lechuza Caracas, making it 10-12. In the sixth chukker, Villa del Lago continued its hot streak. Pieres lofted an incredible shot from 100-odd yards to score. Obregon drove another goal in to gain another point for Villa del Lago. De Lusarreta scored the final goal of the match, ending the game 15-10 and locking in his team’s place in the semi-finals.

When asked about how his team played, Obregon credited Pieres for bringing them back from a deficit in the first half. “It was kind of hard at the beginning, but it helped that in the second half Polito was on fire,” Obregon said. “All the goals we couldn’t make in the first half, we made in the second half.”

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

Nic Roldan, Lucas Lalor and Alessandro Bazzoni. Photos: Alex Pacheco/Phelps Media Group.

Tonkawa Trumps Lucchese 10-9 in OT

January 17, 2015 – Wellington, FL – After two tightly contested games Saturday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, Tonkawa and Audi both stand 2-1 in the Joe Barry Tournament. Tonkawa took Lucchese 10-9 and Audi beat CT Energia 12-9.

Joao Paulo Ganon and Nic Roldan, both playing the number three position, scored 6 goals apiece for their respective teams. Four of Ganon’s goals came in the first chukker, which ended with CT Energia ahead 4-3. Roldan’s most impressive goal of the chukker came on a breakaway from inside the 60-yard line. In a display of great situational awareness and perfect reading of the play, he brought the ball from the middle toward the sideboards and charged ahead to score on a neckshot.

Later, with Kris Kampsen giving chase, Roldan took the ball on a breakaway and shot on goal. The ball hit the goalpost and bounced, only to be drilled right back in by Freddie Mannix, who scored for Audi. Ganon followed that up with a deft penalty shot (after he settled his horse, who had been jigging sideways), tying the game at 2 all. Audi didn’t let that stand for long. On a penalty conversion, Roldan scored on a 40-yard defended shot on goal, breaking the tie. Ganon then tapped in two goals on penalties, bringing CT Energia to a one-point lead (4-3) at the end of the first chukker.

Audi turned the tables during the second chukker, during which CT Energia was scoreless. Within the first two minutes of the chukker, Roldan tied the game back up at 4-all. Then Mannix grabbed the ball from a tailshot by Lucas Lalor, carried it forward and scored. Lalor made the next goal on a penalty shot, bringing Audi to a two-point lead (6-4).

Audi continued its slick teamwork as Lalor stole the ball from Ganon. With an inside backshot, Lalor set up Roldan, who passed the ball to Mannix for a goal. It was Mannix’s third goal of the day, all made from the field. (When asked about his string of goals, which were difficult to make from the back, number four Mannix shrugged and said with a laugh, “That’s what we’ve been practicing for – to put it between the posts!”)

Audi started the third chukker with a three-point lead (7-4) but didn’t score again until the second half. Still, it made CT Energia work hard to score. Early in the third chukker Kampsen fired to the left, where Ganon was waiting. Lalor cut in and flipped the ball back around, putting the pressure on Ganon. In a great play, Ganon ran back down the middle of the field, reached behind for the ball and scored. It was a running, open chukker (as the fourth was also to be), going six-and-a-half minutes without a whistle. With less than a minute left in the chukker, Kampsen scored on a penalty, tightening Audi’s lead to 7-6.

Audi owned the second half, which saw CT Energia scoreless during the fourth chukker. In a beautiful play, Mannix (with Ganon on his hip) pulled out in front and scored. Roldan grabbed the ball from the sideboards and handed it off to Ganzi, who scored, giving Audi a three-point lead. His teammates followed up with an amazing three-way play. On a nearside neckshot, Lalor delivered the ball to Mannix, who guided it down the field as far as he could. Then Lalor jumped back in and flipped the ball under Mannix’s horse to Roldan, who scored. (In the interim, Kampsen’s helmet came off. Without a break in the action, he scooped it up from the ground with his mallet and deposited it back onto his head, all in one smooth move.)

Audi was leading 10-6 at the start of the fifth chukker. CT Energia rallied, with Gannon and Alessandro Bazzoni scoring on penalties. On a breakaway with Bazzoni in hot pursuit, Roldan fired on goal and scored.

Going into the final chukker, Audi was ahead 11-8. In excellent team play by CT Energia, Ganon stole the ball from Roldan and hit two open backshots to Kampsen. Kampsen tried to work it in, but the ball hit the goalpost. Bazzoni was positioned perfectly to take it over, scoring on a nearside open backshot. A final goal by Roldan ended the game 12-9 for Audi.

Tonkawa Trumps Lucchese 10-9 in OT

In what ended up being a nail-biter, Tonkawa defeated Lucchese in overtime.   Magoo LaPrida, with an assist from Nico Pieres, scored the first goal of the match and the only goal of the first chukker. Pieres had several goal attempts that went wide of the goal mouth. In the second chukker Inaki LaPrida broke out of heavy traffic to even up the score 1-1. After another wide attempt by Pieres, Tonkawa knocked in the ball. Magoo LaPrida picked up the ball in traffic about 80 yards from the goal and brought it in to 40 yards, where he slammed it between the goal posts with a neck shot. There was some play back and forth after the bowl-in, when Magoo LaPrida backed out a goal attempt by Gonzalo Deltour in a stellar defensive effort.

Following a knock-in by Lucchese, Magoo LaPrida drove the ball in to Tonkawa territory and received an assist by Andres Weisz to make the score 3-1. Inaki LaPrida responded with a nearside back shot to bring Tonkawa one goal closer. Magoo LaPrida scored to put one up on the board for Lucchese, and Deltour fired back with a goal making the score 4-3.

After a penalty three was called, Pieres, in his trademark style, walked up to the 40 yard penalty shot and slapped the ball between the posts. Inaki LaPrida hit Deltour on an open back shot following the bowl-in, and Deltour drove the ball in to end the third chukker 5-4. A wide goal attempt by Pieres was picked up by Magoo LaPrida and passed back to Pieres in traffic, resulting in a penalty that gave Tonkawa the ball from the point of the infraction. Tonkawa made a drive downfield only to have a foul called on Lucchese. Tonkawa capitalized on this and evened up the score 5-5 after Deltour made the penalty shot.

In the fifth chukker, Tonkawa came out swinging. Inaki LaPrida scored on a breakaway from a broken play by Magoo LaPrida and quickly scored again to put another one up on the board for Tonkawa. Deltour continued his hot streak by tapping the ball through the Lucchese defenders to make the score 8-5. Pieres started out the sixth chukker strongly, scoring and making up some ground on Tonkawa.

Jeff Blake made a strong play by pulling the ball from Weisz and getting it to Deltour, scoring inside a minute-and-a-half of the sixth chukker. After a penalty two was called from the point of the infraction, Lucchese, made the score 9-7. Magoo LaPrida continued to close the gap, scoring for Lucchese. Pieres scored on a breakaway to even the score up 9-9. After Pieres took an insignificant fall, the ball was thrown in and there was some play along the boards. A whistle was blown, but it was determined there was no foul.

In overtime, Lucas Arellano scored the first goal in the sudden death round. However, the goal was made after a whistle was blown. A foul was called in favor of Tonkawa, and Deltour slapped the ball in to win the match 10-9.

Arellano said that it felt “awesome” to be out on the field substituting for Jeff Hildebrand, who usually plays the number one position. It was Tonkawa’s strategy going into the game to use Arellano to shut down John Muse (Lucchese’s number one), he said.

“I’m happy,” said Inaki LaPrida. “We came with good horses and played well. We were losing (for a while), so we just needed to stay focused. I think that started happening in the fourth and fifth (chukkers). The sixth chukker wasn’t so good, but we were lucky in the overtime.”

The tournament continues Sunday with Coca-Cola vs. Enigma at 10 am and Lechuza Caracas vs. Villa del Lago at noon. The featured match at 3 pm pits Merchant Hub against FlexJet.

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

Mason Wroe, Polito Pieres, Julian de Lusarreta. Photo: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Coca-Cola owned the field for the first four chukkers of Sunday’s featured match against Villa del Lago in the 2015 Joe Barry Cup on Engel & Völkers Field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. But in the end, the “Polito factor” (which had been giving Coca-Cola a caffeine headache throughout the game) proved too powerful. Nine-goaler Polito Pieres made the last two chukkers his own, reversing Coca-Cola’s consistent lead and acing the game for Villa del Lago, 13-12.

Pieres made his intentions clear the moment he rode onto the field, scoring the first goal of the day on a handoff from Julian de Lusarreta. In the first of many demonstrations of his legendary ball-handling skill, Pieres promptly scored again, pulling out in front of the pack to make a razor-sharp, precise cutshot. Coca-Cola’s Julio Arellano, an 8-goaler, scored on two penalty shots, with Gillian Johnston adding another point to the team’s tally.

In a show of teamwork at its finest, Coca-Cola’s Mason Wroe took control of the ball from a throw-in and shuttled it over to Johnston. In a well-played neckshot, Johnston smacked the ball with authority between the goalposts, breaking a 2-all tie and moving Coca-Cola into a 3-2 lead at the end of the first chukker.

The action accelerated in the second chukker and never stalled after that. Arellano scored on a penalty, increasing Coca-Cola’s lead to two points. Then, in a flash of no more than four seconds, Villa del Lago went from two points down to even keel with Coca-Cola. Pieres hit the throttle, tightening the gap to 4-3 as he went forward uncontested. On a bowl-in, de Lusarreta fired at point-blank range from four yards in front of the goal line to tie the game at 4 all.

Johnston jumped in seemingly out of nowhere, as she had earlier in the game, and dashed down the field with the ball. Pieres snatched it away, only to have Wroe pull a surprise swoop-in and score, bringing Coca-Cola to a 5-4 lead. Wroe’s stealth move turned out to be a harbinger of the recognition that was to come his way after the game, when he was named MVP.

Things took a curious twist near the end of the second chukker. Arellano scored on a penalty #2 for Coca-Cola, and then several mallets went up like lightning rods. A foul was called against Villa del Lago, and some high-volume words (unintelligible from the stands) were exchanged. Pieres summarily wheeled his horse around and cantered off the field, having been ousted on a technical for the last remaining minute of the chukker.

When asked after the game about the incident, Pieres laughed good-naturedly and explained, “For me, it wasn’t a foul for us. But they blew the whistle for us. I complained to the umpire. He told me, ‘One minute down.'”

It was a costly penalty for Villa del Lago. With its 9-goaler out, the team lost almost half of its total handicap (20) for the rest of the chukker. The action played out with four Coca-Cola players against Villa’s three. Arellano worked that to his team’s advantage, taking a free hit from centerfield and working the ball down the field to score. The scoreboard stood 7-4 in favor of Coca-Cola at the end of the second chukker. When Pieres rejoined the game for the third chukker, he promptly made his presence known. On a handoff from de Lusarreta, he turned toward goal, avoided a hook from Wroe and proceeded to slice and dice his way down the field with stunning stick work that resulted in yet another goal.

Arellano pounded a big hit downfield, which was briefly intercepted by Jim Zenni. Coca-Cola’s Sugar Erskine snatched the ball away and pulled out ahead, making his first of two goals for the day and increasing his team’s lead to 8-5. A colorful character in more ways than one, Erskine was easily identifiable on the field in his creative version of “Coca-Cola red” branding. He had dyed his long hair red – not red as in a typical carrot-top but red as in fluorescent, flaming red. The same went for his boots.

When asked after the game what had prompted his fashion statement, Erskine said casually, in his lyrical South African accent, “Oh, it’s just a Coca-Cola-oriented thing I thought up. I’m always trying to do something silly, and Gillian’s very nice – she lets me do whatever I want. I get away with it, so I keep doing it.” But don’t expect Erskine to look the same in his next match. He said he had made a vow with his teammates that if they won today’s match, he would keep his hair long and continue dying it red. “But we didn’t win,” he said, “so I’m going to shave my hair off,” to which his teammate Arellano quipped with a laugh: “I think he threw the game because of that!”

But when halftime began, it looked like Erskine may just have to keep his red locks, with Coca-Cola leading 8-6. Arellano increased that spread to 9-6, scoring his seventh goal for the day (of an eventual nine), this one on a penalty #4 from 60 yards. He maintained a 100 percent record of scoring on his 60s throughout the match.

Pieres quickly tightened the gap with Coca-Cola, bringing the score to 9-7 at the end of the fourth chukker. He made what for anyone but him would have been an unbelievable play, busting out of a thick traffic jam and dribbling the ball on the end of his mallet on a long stretch to the goal. It looked like a “Polito sandwich,” with an opponent glued to each side of him all the way down the field.

The players had been fighting strong crosswinds the entire game, but the weather turned when a hard rain pelleted the field for most of the fifth chukker. Coca-Cola’s early command of the game soon came to a halt, courtesy of Pieres. He had already made six goals by then, but his team was still trailing.

Then in rapid-fire wizardry, he slammed in three more goals in the fifth chukker to pull Villa del Lago into a one-point lead, 11-10. Arellano dug in his heels and gave Pieres a run for his money, making his eighth goal of the day and repeating it in the sixth chukker. But nothing could stop the Pieres steamroller, powered by his grit and an amazing string of ponies. Among them was Cordorniz, named the best-playing pony in the post-match ceremony.

Also in the awards was Coca-Cola’s Wroe, who was named MVP. Just minutes before the award was announced, Wroe was wearing a pensive look as he sat in the Coca-Cola tent with Erskine and Arellano, replaying the game in his head. Arellano looked his way and said gently but with conviction, “We can do it. We have a good team.” All three nodded in silence.

Things were looking up for Coca-Cola for a stretch in the sixth chukker, when Arellano and Erskine both put in goals. But Villa del Lago kept its one-point spread intact to the end, as Agustin Obregon tapped one in and Pieres made the decisive goal to clinch a 13-12 win.

In Pieres’s opinion, the most challenging point of the game came at the end of the second chukker. “We were three goals down; we suffered a lot,” he recalled. “But we (knew that we) could score, and we played as a team so we could win it.” How did they accomplish that? “We played focused most of the game. Coca-Cola’s a great team, but we are also. We missed a lot of goals, but we have patience and we played to win it.”

The action resumes Wednesday at 1 p.m., when Lucchese plays Audi, followed by CT Energia versus Tonkawa at 3.

Orchard Hill 2-0 in Victory over Merchant Hub

Sunday’s morning matches were a showcase of talent and horsemanship, with each game more evenly matched than the last in the Joe Barry Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC). Orchard Hill defeated Merchant Hub 12-11 and Flight Options bested Lechuza Caracas 8-7.

Starting the game with a one-point advantage, Merchant Hub took off to an early lead in the first chukker following a penalty conversion on an undefended goal. Orchard Hill’s Facundo Pieres answered with a goal of his own, ending the first chukker 2-1. During the second chukker, in what was undoubtedly the play of the game, Remy Mueller backed out a very close goal attempt by Luis Escobar. Lucas Criado received the pass from his teammate and broke away down the field, tying up the score 2-2. After a pair of goals by Pieres and Facundo Obregon, the score remained tied at the end of the second chukker 3-3.

After the half, Orchard Hill demonstrated its team work, starting with an impressive cut shot by Steve Van Andel that resulted in a goal. Mueller followed up Van Andel’s goal with a passing play to Pieres, who drove in the goal to make the score 5-3. Toward the end of the fourth chukker, Luis Escobar made a pin-point accurate sharp-angled neck shot into the goal that tied the game 6-6. Van Andel, Orchard Hill’s patron, ended the fourth chukker with a goal, bringing the score to 7-6 in favor of Orchard Hill.

Pieres took the field by storm in the fifth chukker, scoring four of Orchard Hill’s five goals. Escobar answered the challenge by scoring one goal and assisting one goal scored by Obregon. Then Pieres scored for Orchard Hill, bringing the score to 8-12. Obregon rallied as the chukker went on, scoring three more goals, but ran out of time as the horn sounded.

Van Andel was thrilled with his team’s performance. “I think the whole team played awesome,” he said. “This was our second game, and we haven’t really had a chance to have a team practice yet. I think we’ve come a long ways in two games. It’s coming together really quickly.”

When asked to what he attributed his team’s success, Van Andel credited its defense. “I think that’s allowed us to be really quick if we have to break on offense,” he said.

Flight Option Flies to Victory over Lechuza Caracas

In the second match of the day, Lechuza Caracas sprang to an early lead. Juan Martin Nero scored the first goal of the game on a pass from patron Victor Vargas. Marcos Alberdi followed that up with a goal of his own, ending the first chukker 2-0 in favor of Lechuza Caracas.

In the second chukker, Justin Daniels, substituting for Melissa Ganzi, scored Flight Options’ lone goal of the chukker. Miguel Novilla Astrada made a superb defensive move, hitting the ball in midair and driving it out of Fight Options territory. Nero scored his second goal of the match on a penalty conversion, ripping a high and long shot to end the second chukker 3-1.

The third chukker was wide open, as Victor Vargas completed a 140-yard run on a breakaway to make the score 4-1. Astrada put one up on the board for Flight Options before the end of the third chukker and continued his streak into the fourth by scoring again as he brought Flight Options closer to Lechuza Caracas. Guille Aguero tied up the game at 4-4. After penalty conversions by Nero and Martin Espain, the score remained close as the chukker ended 6-5 in favor of Lechuza Caracas.

Astrada put up the only goal scored in the fifth chukker. After an inconsequential spill by Nero, Lechuza Caracas took a narrow lead resulting from a goal by Espain. Aguero stayed cool and collected under pressure, earning two goals as the sixth chukker wound down. Although Aguero had twisted his ankle earlier in the game, his final goals resulted in Flight Options’ victory of 8-7 over Lechuza Caracas.

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