Limited Edition 8-Goal Series

 

Valiente turned it on in the second half to defeat Hawk Hill, 14-7, to win the Limited Edition 8-Goal Series Final Saturday at Valiente.

Valiente (Poroto Cambiaso, Rob Jornayvaz, Salvador Lokei, Pablo Spinacci) and Hawk Hill (Narcos Sika, Bauti Crotto, Gringo Colombres, Scott Swerdlin) played a tight, penalty-marred first half.

Limited Edition 8-Goal champions Valiente Rob Jornayvaz, Pablo Spinacci, Poroto Cambiaso and Salvador Lokei. Photo by ChukkerTV

In a sweltering two-hour marathon, both teams scored evenly, 2-2, 4-4 and 6-6 in the first three chukkers.

Valiente took a 7-6 lead in the fourth chukker on one of Spinacci’s five penalty conversions of the game and started pulling away with more horsepower in the fifth chukker for a 10-7 advantage.

Six-goaler Pablo Spinacci was named Most Valuable Players.

MVP Pablo Spinacci of Valiente receives his award from Juan Olivera. Photo by ChukkerTV

“The first half was even and close but we changed our strategy at halftime and it worked,” Spinacci said. “It is nice to win for Valiente. It is a good organization.”

Cambiaso’s horse, Reyna, was named Best Playing Pony.

Poroto Cambiaso of Valiente carries his Best Playing Pony blanket award for Reyna. Photo by ChukkerTV

Spinacci scored a game-high 10 goals including five on penalty shots. Cambiaso had three goals and Lockei added one. Colombres led Hawk Hill with four goals and Crotto added three goals.

Spinacci, who also plays the 8- and 20-goal tournaments, was the field general during the game and enjoyed playing along 11-year-old Poroto Cambiaso, son of polo great Adolfo Cambiaso.

Hawk Hill teammates Gringo Colombres and Bauti Crotto try to mount an offensive attack.

“I try to coach him but he doesn’t need coaching,” Spinacci said with a smile. “Poroto is very talented. The sky is the limit for him one day.”

Spinacci is looking forward to playing the upcoming $100,000 World Cup (0-26) at Grand Champions. He will play for Valiente II with Rob Jornayvaz, Matias Torres Zavaleta and Tomas Garcia del Rio.

Pablo Spinacci of Valiente hooks Bauti Crotto of Hawk Hill.

In other tournament finals:

In the Limited Edition 8-Goal Series Handicap Final, Smithfield Farms (Juanse Olivera, Craig Callen, Marcos Garcia del Rio, Julio Ezcurra) defeated Skaneateles (Marty Cregg, Cesar Jimenez, 

Juan Martin Obregon, Alfredo Guerreno), 10-5. Olivera was named Most Valuable Player.

Poroto Cambiaso of Valiente defends Bauti Crotto of Hawk Hill.

Grand Champions Polo Club (Grant Ganzi, Jesse Bray, Will Jacobs, Santos Bollini) defeated The Polo School (Jeff Desich, Rich Desich, Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor), 7-4.5 to win the Series One Madelon Bourdieu Handicap Final. Will Jacobs was Most Valuable Player.

Poroto Cambiaso of Valiente goes for the nearside, against defender Scott Swerdlin of Hawk Hill.

Equuleus (Juanse Olivera, Dani Tagliaferro, Tommy Biddle, Joe DiMenna) defeated Sebucan (Pablo Pulido, Juan Olivera, Stewart Armstrong), 9-7, to remain undefeated and win the Series One Madelon Bourdieu 6-Goal Final. Biddle was named Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony was Lady Di, ridden by Pablo Pulido.

Valiente’s Pablo Spinacci pursues Gringo Colombres of Hawk Hill.

Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its’ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its’ Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.

Poroto Cambiaso of Valiente drives downfield.  Photos by Ramon Casares

The Polo School at Grand Champions, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals in all walks of life opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November.