2009 WESTCHESTER CUP TEAMS

2009 WESTCHESTER CUP TEAMS  

Handicap:7 Goals – DOB: 1-27-1977

Luke is currently one of England’s highest handicappedplayers (7 goals) and has played in two Argentine Opens during his career andthis year reached the semi-finals of the Camera.
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His career highlights include beating Argentinain their own back yard at Palermoin 2002. He has won every major domestic trophy including the Queens Cup (2005)as well as the Prince of Wales Trophy, the Argentine Club Cup and the famousGold Cup all in 2003.

Luke has represented Englandat various levels on countless occasions including 7 Cartier Internationals,three of which have been as captain including last years 9-8 win over Australia.

When not playing for England,Luke plays for Sir Charles Williams’ Apes Hill Club Barbados team who in 2008 yearreached the quarter finals of the Queens Cup and went on to win the Vivari Cupat Guards Polo Club.

Mark Tomlinson

Handicap: 6 Goals – DOB: 3-25-1982

Mark graduated from Bristol Universityin 2005 but is no stranger to the International stage. After his win in theGold Cup in 2003 with his brother, Mark captained a Young England side to aclean sweep in a two match series in Australia.

Eight weeks later, Mark made his full England debut against South Africa at Kurland International (14-9 win), beforerepresenting England in theCartier International against Chile.He has now played in four Cartier Internationals.

In 2005 Mark and his brother Luke became the firstEnglishmen to qualify for the Argentine Open since Julian Hipwood in the1970’s, something he is keen to repeat.

Like his brother, Mark has been playing for the Apes HillClub Barbadosteam and won the Vivari Cup. He has spent the last 4 months in Argentinaenjoying success in a number of tournaments.

James started playing polo at the age of 12 with the NorthCotswold Pony Club in the UK.His polo C.V. speaks for itself. At just 22, he had already won the Prince ofWales Cup (1999), The Queens Cup at Guards (1998, 1999) and in 1998 won theGold Cup with Ellerston.

In the same year James was named ‘Best Young Player in Europe’. His success has also washed off while playing inAustralia,where he has won 3 Melbourne Cups with Ellerston and Elysian.

2005 saw James captain the Hurlingham team onInternational day and represent Englandon three occasions including twice against South Africa both at home and away.In February 2006 James helped Englanddefeat New Zealandat Kihikihi Polo Club with a last gasp goal in the last 30 seconds.

James has played for England on Cartier day on 3occasions twice winning (New Zealand 2006 and Australia 2008) and starts 2009on his new handicap of 7.

Eduardo Novillo Astrada

Handicap: 9 Goals – DOB: 10-7-1972

Eduardo needs very little introduction having played atthe top level in Argentina,the USA and England,winning every major tournament in the countries he has played.

Eduardo’s first taste of success in the country of hisbirth (England)came when he won the Verve Clicquot Gold Cup playing for Urs Schwarzenbachs’Black Bears team in 2002. Four years later he repeated the feat with BlackBears this time with Guy Schwarzenbach.

In 2003 Eduardo lived every polo players dream when he wonthe Tortugas Open, The Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open, and in doing sosecured the famous Triple Crown.

Eduardo has been a regular here at Palm Beach for a numberof years and in 2006 won the US Open playing for Las Monjitas, beating OrchardHill 12 – 8 and also picking up the most valuable player award.

United States:

Adam Snow

Handicap: 8 Goals – DOB: 4-25-1964

Adam’s athletic talent and keen sense of game earned himthe position of captain of his college hockey team. His sense of discipline andhunger to learn has kept Adam Snow at the forefront of American polo for nearlythree decades.

Twice named Player of the Year (1998 and 2002), the former10-goaler has played on winning teams in the United States Open the C. V.Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup, the USPA Silver Cup the Monty Waterbury Cup, thePacific Coast Open over the years while maintaining a top international rating.

Envied for a top string of horses that include multipleBest Playing Ponies Amy, Chloe, Hale Bopp, Indrea, Pumba and Turnkey, Adam issure to be one of the best mounted players on the field.

His acumen for team play and coordination of both attackand defense make him a constant threat on offense and a menace on defense.
He competed in Argentina(including two Opens), Spainand the United Kingdom.Adam was also a member of the victorious 1992 US Championship Westchester Cupteam.

The USteam will lean heavily on his leadership talents on and off of the field.

Mike Azzaro

Handicap: 9 Goals – DOB: 1-18-1966                                               

Mike held a 10-goal handicap for 10 years, and iscurrently the highest rated player in the country at 9-goals.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mike began riding as atoddler and began playing polo at the age of five with his father and hisbrother. His family moved to Texaswhen he was fifteen-years-old and he began playing professionally the followingyear.

Mike won his first US Open Championship with Retama in1986 and was named “Young Player of the Year” in 1987. He went on to win fourmore US Open Championships and attained a 10-goal rating by the time he was 27.

Mike played in three Argentine Opens, appearing in thefinals in 1996 and 2000, and was a member of the 1997 Westchester Cup team. Hewas recently named captain of the USteam that will face Mexicoin the 2009 Camacho Cup. He has unbelievable stick and ball skills and is aconstant threat to score. His talent and experience will be a huge asset to theUSteam.

Nicholas Roldan

Handicap: 8 Goals – DOB: 12-4-1982                                                

The youngest player to appear on a winning US Open team,Nick Roldan accomplished the feat with the Escue team in 1998 at the age of 15,when he was named Young Player of the Year.

He left polo briefly, while finishing high school ascaptain of the Varsity golf team before finding his way back to the fields.

Since that time, his talents and skills have beenconstantly increasing while playing in England,Argentina and the United States.

Over the years he has added championships in the C. V.Whitney, the Monty Waterbury, the Joe Barry Memorial, and the Ylvisaker Cupamong others.

He usually spends two or three months a year in Argentinapracticing and playing, working on every aspect of his game under the watchfuleyes of polo veterans.

A hard-hitting, accurate shooting player, Nick’s defenseis as troublesome for opposing players, as is his offense.

Jeff Blake was selected Young Player of the Year in 1998before going on to play on the winning Gold Cup team.

One of the quietest players on the field, Jeff has playedon winning teams in the Joe Barry Memorial (MVP-2006) Pacific Coast Open, theSilver Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the United States Open Championship where hereceived MVP honors in 2008.

A consummate professional, Jeff takes his blue-collar workethics to the field every day in an effort to better his horsemanship andmallet skills.

One of the biggest assets Jeff brings to the field is hisability to play a disciplined position. Give him a job, a responsibility andknow that he will get it done, and done quietly.

His ability to cover an opponent like a blanket on defenseis balanced by his ability to be in the right place at the right time onoffense. Whether he is being asked to ride an opposing player out of the way,pass the ball to a streaking teammate or score himself, Jeff will get it doneand will get it done without noise or fanfare.