Grand Champions Polo Club Hosts Star-Studded PTF International Day On Wednesday |
By Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Grand Champions Polo ClubThe next generation of polo players will be showcased during PTF International Day on Wednesday at Grand Champions Polo Club. The Polo Training Foundation, instrumental in the growth of junior polo in Wellington regarded as a hot bed for youth players, will host U.S. and international players from around the world in a mini-tournament of round robin games. England, Argentina, Brazil and United States will be well-represented. Top U.S. players competing are Justin Daniels, Grant Ganzi, Tony Calle, Matt Coppola, Timmy Dutta, Benji Daniels, Mackenzie Weisz and Riley Ganzi.
Two games are scheduled at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. The first game at 4:30 p.m. will feature Grand Champions England against Grand Champions USA. Grand Champions England will be represented by Rob Fleming, Alex Webb and Thomas Coid, three of their country’s top junior players, and Malcolm Borwick. The juniors trio were part of the PTF’s popular PTF Exchange Program that featured the annual International Cup at Polo West Arena. Borwick is one of England’s top professional players. For more than 10 years he has been a member of the English national team which he has played more than 50 games including two World Cups. Grand Champions USA includes Justin Daniels, Grant Ganzi, Tony Calle and Matt Coppola, all top-caliber players with national-level experience. In the second game at 5:30 p.m., players from Argentina, Brazil and U.S. will compete.
Grand Champions Argentina features the next generation of two legendary polo families. Santos and Segundo Merlos will join Mia and Poroto Cambiaso on the team. Grand Champions USA II’s lineup is Riley Ganzi, Timmy Dutta, Benji Daniels and Mackenzie Weisz. Grand Champions Brazil features Guilherme Warwick Parker Maia, Joao Pedro Souza Aranha, Felipe Alves Garcia and Alexander Melo. The games will be live streamed around the world by ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting. Wellington-based ChukkerTV is exclusively live streaming International Polo Club Palm Beach and Grand Champions Polo Club games along with other games around the U.S. during the 2016 season with polo broadcasters Toby Wayman and Dale Schwetz calling the action.
The Polo Training Foundation has been instrumental in the growth of junior and youth polo players by encouraging the sport’s development with training programs, lessons and tournaments for boys and girls. The international exchange programs have been among the most popular. Grand Champions Polo Club President and USPA Florida Circuit Governor Melissa Ganzi is a longtime supporter of grass roots polo and Polo Training Foundation. She has played a key role in developing young players with the The Polo School at Grand Champions and Aspen Valley (Colo.) Polo Clubs. Most of the horses will be provided by Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm. Grand Champions Polo Club is the nation’s busiest and most innovative polo clubs. The USPA-member club hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 20-goal in addition to special events. The club also features The Polo School, dedicated to teaching polo, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November. |
