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A C T I O N
Matias Magrini and Sebastian Merlos joining
American arena-polo 10-goaler Tommy
Biddle.Jeff Hall, Julio Arellano, Pelon
Escapite, collegiate all-American Felipe
Viana and brothers Facundo and Mariano
Obregón also appeared.
The teams competed in a six-chukka
format, with each chukka consisting of five
minutes; play was constant and the pace
fast. More importantly, the games attracted
large crowds of enthusiastic spectators.
‘Next year, we are going to have eight
teams with team owners,’ says Bellissimo.
‘The ownership will include both individuals
and corporate sponsors.’ Bellissimo is
looking for a 2018 Gladiator Polo season
running from January for 10 to 12 weeks, to
become integral to Wellington’s equestrian
schedule. ‘We’re working with NBC Sports
and trying to develop a televised series as
well,’ adds Bellissimo. Games were held in
Tryon, North Carolina, on 5 May and will be in
Central Park this autumn. Bellissimo also
mentioned the possibility of a Gladiator Polo
match in Rome.
Bellissimo sees arena polo as a chance
to bring the game to a broader public. The
new owner of the International Polo Club
has plans to create a polo academy and a
‘Get Into Polo’ initiative to promote interest in
and access to the sport. There are plans to
utilise training simulators at the polo
academy to coincide with the launch of the
new World Polo Training Center this autumn.
The popular games offer free general
admission, while a VIP tent features ringside
table seating and an authentic Argentine
asado
(BBQ) for a fee of $30 per person. The
finals saw Spiculus (Mariano Obregón, Pelon
Escapite and Sebastian Merlos) upset the
unbeaten Spartacus (Jason Crowder, Felipe
Viana and Tommy Biddle) 17–10 in
a fast-paced contest with eight 2-point
goals in a very physical game.
The creation of the Gladiator Polo League
is one of the most aggressive efforts ever
made to promote and grow the game, as
indicated by a major financial sponsorship
commitment made by the US Polo
Association. Bellissimo also hinted the same
formula might be introduced to the field game.
Blazing the trail for polo’s next phase,
an anxious polo community is impatiently
awaiting Bellissimo’s next move.
Opposite, from left:
Team Spiculus
Mariano Obregón, Pelon Escapite
and Sebastian Merlos took first
prize.
This page, top
: Mariano
Obregón leads with Santi Torres
behind.
Below:
Tommy Biddle on the
ball ahead of Facundo Obregón
P L AY WA S C O N S TA N T , T H E
P A C E F A S T A N D T H E G A ME S
AT T R A C T E D L A R G E C R OWD S
