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hurlinghampolo.com
D O M I N I C A N R E P U B L I C P O L O C H A L L E N G E , C A S A D E C A M P O , D O M I N I C A N R E P U B L I C , J A N U A R Y – A P R I L 2 0 1 7
A C T I O N
MATIAS CALLEJO
P O L O C H A L L E N G E
From the Bronze Cup to the Caribbean Open, most teams found it hard
to keep up with Lechuza Caracas, writes Carolina Beresford
Venezuelan titans Lechuza Caracas wholly
dominated the second edition of the
Dominican Republic Polo Challenge, once
again winning every match of the season
to claim the 22-goal Bronze, Silver and Gold
Cups, as well as the 26-goal Caribbean
Open. With Triple Crown Champions,
10-goalers David ‘Pelon’ Stirling and Juan
Martín Nero, Lechuza were able to dictate
every play and crush every opponent.
Just as Lechuza ruled the high-goal
season, the 12-goal season was led by one
team: Pitirri-El Palenque. Although they fell
against La Potranca in the Bronze Cup final,
Pitirri went on to claim both Silver and Gold;
then, after defeating Casa de Campo in the
Silver Cup final, they beat rivals La Potranca
to become Gold Cup champions.
The first high-goal final of the season
saw the mighty Lechuza take on Dominican
debutants Alegría-El Milagro for the Bronze
Cup. Brothers Julian and Fred Mannix
partnered up with Federico Tomasevich
and Ignacio ‘Cubi’ Toccalino. Lechuza had
a comparably tough start as Alegría managed
to keep the score tied over the first three
chukkas. Both Julian Mannix and Toccalino
performed well, but Stirling lived up to his
reputation. Lechuza made the difference with
their horsepower and took the lead thanks
to their 10-goalers. The 9–6 victory gave the
Venezuelan team their first title of 2017.
‘The season has really improved,’ says Stirling.
‘Polo Challenge came together last year after
only four months of planning and it went very
well. But now the fields are better, the teams
