Along the Sideboards
By Alex Webbe
November 23, 2009
The Grand Champions polo team of Greg Keough, John Gobin, Tommy Biddle and Cachi Garcia ended the Grand Champions Polo Club’s fall polo season on Sunday afternoon with 9-8 win over Boca Developers. The addition of a “spring” and “fall” season to the Wellington, Florida scene has been a boon to players who live in the polo rich area all year long.
Piaget has stepped up to the place at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in a big way by coming to an agreement with the polo facility to acquire the naming rights to Piaget Championship Field in a three-year sponsorship agreement which will carry through the 2012 season.
Piaget’s name will be associated with IPC’s finely manicured Championship field which hosts the country’s most competitive polo competition including the USPA Piaget Gold Cup, March 7-21, 2010,
“Having our name adorn the sport’s American field of play makes this the perfect partnership,” said Larry Boland, President of Piaget.
More news from IPC as they announce that it has selected Shamin Abas Public Relations as their Public Relations agency of record. Shamin Abas will join IPC’s efforts as they ramp up for the highly anticipated 2010 season.
“I am very familiar with how Shamin Abas Public Relations operates and its undeniable commitment to its clients,” said John Wash, IPC President. “There is certainly a synergy between our leadership teams that can serve only to strengthen the IPC brand and our unique status as the premier polo event of its kind in the U. S.”
There have been rumblings of a Christmas polo tournament at the Gulfstream Polo Club in Lake Worth, Florida and at Port Mayaca Polo Club on Lake Okeechobee in Martin County, Florida.
“We’re looking forward to our Third Annual Holiday Family Tournament,” said Stevie Orthwein. “We had a great turnout last year and are expecting another field of competitive teams again this year,” he added.
The Holiday Family Tournament is scheduled to begin play on December 29 and take place through January 3. At least two members of each team have to be related for the team entry to be eligible to compete.
It sounds like the Americans are taking the proposed return to England this year to compete for the arena cup is taking on a more somber tone. According to USPA Governor-at-Large Russ Sheldon, the USPA will organize a number of test matches for potential USA team members for the 2010 pilgrimage. Last spring the team of Billy Sheldon, Shane Rice and Charlie Muldoon lost in the Morrison Cup competition to a strong 20-goal English side.
“There was an issue with the different rules,” offered Rice, reflecting on the team’s loss. “I know that if we were to play them again we’d show them some polo,” he added.
No venue has been selected at this time, but a number of players have voiced interest in taking part in the test matches.
Martin County’s (the county just north of polo-rich Palm Beach County in Florida) newest polo club, the Sunlight Ranch Polo Club, is continuing to stretch its wings. Working in coordination with Bob Reyers, they are making efforts to create and develop a Friday night women’s arena polo league.
Sunlight Ranch’s polo manager, Marcelo Cabeza, continues to work with beginning players in the Sunlight Ranch polo arena as they prepare for the 2010 season.
Just down the road, the Hobe Sound Polo Club continues to hang its hat on the ability of Phil Heatly to attract his patrons from the Outback Polo League into traveling an hour north of Wellington to compete at the five-field facility. The question will be whether or not his loyal support base is willing to travel throughout the season. Time will tell.