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FIP World Polo Championship: all games have been postponed until Friday |
| By Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Grand Champions Polo Club
Jesse Bray and his Team USPA teammates will try to become the first U.S. team since 1989 to win the 10th FIP World Polo Championship when the tournament begins on Tuesday in Santiago, Chile. Bray would like to see the 26-year drought end and said the U.S., one of six international 14-goal qualified teams, has the team to do it.
The U.S. opens play on Wednesday at 3 p.m. against defending champion Argentina. “We want to play as a team and that’s what we have been doing. The more polo we play together the better it’s going to be.” The other teams are Chile, Pakistan and England in the Zone A bracket and Argentina and Brazil along with the U.S. in Zone B. Bray, 22, will be joined by teammates Cody Ellis, 19, Felipe Viana, 25, Remy Muller, 22, Mason Wroe, 30, Patrick Uretz, 23, and Will Tankard, 30.
The team broke training camp last week at the club where Team USPA players have been training with head coach Joel Baker and competing against some of the world’s top high goal players. Four of the players were mounted by Grand Champions. “It’s been a great opportunity for them to play together and try out different options for their team,” said Grand Champions president Melissa Ganzi. “We have been live streaming (ChukkerTV) so people who have never seen these young American players had the opportunity to do so.”
“The whole month has been great playing,” Bray said. “Playing in this kind of atmosphere definitely helps. It’s better than sitting at home and everybody playing on their own, then jump together and off we go play. It takes a couple of games to play like a team.” Bray said playing against high level players such as Gonzalito Pieres, Rodrigo Andrade, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Mariano Gonzalez, Magoo LaPrida and Nic Roldan helped hone the team’s skills. “If we can slow these guys down just imagine what we can do against 3, 4 and 5-goal players,” Bray said. “All these guys who are 6, 7 and higher, you learn a lot from playing against them.
“I always want to win, I don’t like losing too much,” Bray said. “I don’t want to get used to losing. I like staying on the winning side.” Baker was pleased with the team’s progress during training camp. “This is big, it is really important to play really good players on really good horses,” Baker said. “Each game has gotten better and better. I can’t think of a better team we have sent than this one. “This is the most emphasis the USPA has put on the team,” Baker said. “The USPA has really been behind this team and it’s shown. These guys really keep improving. They are a good group of hard-working guys. I know we are prepared for this. “We don’t have an easy draw but we haven’t had an easy time this week. We have been playing some of the best players in the world. The way we are going to win is as a team.” Opening day games on Tuesday are Argentina vs. Brazil at 3 p.m. and Chile vs. England at 5 p.m. On Wednesday, in addition to the U.S.-Argentina match at 3 p.m., England plays Pakistan at 5 p.m. On Thursday the U.S. plays Brazil at 3 p.m. and Chile meets Pakistan at 5 p.m. The last time the world championship was held in Chile was 1992 when Argentina, Chile and England won gold, silver and bronze. The tournament was last played in 2011 when Argentina hosted and won the title. Land Rover is the presenting sponsor and La Martina Polo, the official supplier for the tournament. 2015 POLO ON DEMAND Grand Champions Polo Club, featuring five world-class fields, has a full schedule of tournaments from January to May. Let our polo experts create a turn-key experience including top pros to bring out the best in you and your team. Lessons are available. 12-GOAL TOURNAMENTS MARCH: The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; APRIL: Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup 8-GOAL TOURNAMENTS: MARCH: The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series and USPA Regional President’s Cup; APRIL: USPA Association Cup 6-GOAL TOURNAMENTS MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial; APRIL: Las Acacias 16-GOAL TOURNAMENTS: MARCH: Santa Rita Abierto; APRIL: John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414. DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera, 561-644-5050,gcpoloclub@gmail.com INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi, FlexJet and Casablanca. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere that includes a free Argentine asado during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events coming up including the March 28 WCT Qualifier, April 1-4 Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) and International Cup in November. Admission is free except for special events. |
