Along the Sideboards
By Alex Webbe
March 2, 2009
In reviewing the recently completed 20-goal Iglehart Cup it should be noted that of the nineteen matches played, fourteen decided by one goal and eight of those were decided in sudden-death overtime. It certainly is a testament for the handicap system in Americana and the parity of teams entered.
It should then come as no surprise to note that the first two games of the 26-goal C. V. Whitney Cup have also been decided in overtime.
In the tournament’s opening match, Pony Express squeezed by Las Monjitas 12-11 in overtime while Lechuza was forced into overtime by Orchard Hill before escaping with a 14-13 win. In the third game of the tournament, Audi held off White Birch for an 11-10 victory.
The Villages is pressing forward with plans for the Camacho Cup, but there appears to be a little confusion as Hector Galindo, and American citizen, has said that he would not be playing for Mexico. Julio Gracida, another listed member of the Mexican team is also an American citizen. Kind of makes you wonder what the USPA is going to do when it comes time for them to define players by nationality in order to enforce a “two American” rule that will serve as a stimulus to get more Americans playing high-goal polo.
The Camacho Cup hasn’t been played in 21 years, and it is hoped that through the efforts of The Villages and the Mexican Polo Association, the tradition will continue to be played again on a regular basis.
The US Arena Polo Team that just competed in England returned home with their tails between their legs after suffering a 15-9 defeat at the hands of the English. Add to that the debut of a recently completed polo arena in Aiken, South Carolina and the introduction of polo promoter Randy Russell’s “unauthorized” US Open Arena Championship in Aiken that was played in cold weather on the heels of heavy rains that flooded the arena (no method of drainage appears to have been installed). A setback for arena polo in the US? We’ll have to wait and see, but activity continues at Roberto Narvaja’s Del Sur Polo Club in Wellington which recently hosted collegiate competition in his arena and continue to stage high-goal matches on Friday nights under the lights.
As if the polo in the Wellington area isn’t fractured enough, Crab Orchard’s George Rawlings has organized a four team, 12-goal league in the guise of the Casablanca Invitational. Joining Crab Orchard is Francisco Escobar and his Santa Clara team; Tommy Lee Jones and his San Saba crew; and Bo Goodman with a team playing under the Isla Carroll banner.
