|
France’s top woman polo player, Caroline Anier, heads a star-studded lineup of players and team sponsors for the April 12-13 Gay Polo League International Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.
The fourth annual event will feature four teams with three returning sponsors Cat Malone’s Cedar Crest Stables, Gordon W. Ross Team RE/MAX, Polo Gear and newcomer Wellington Coalition.
Anier, rated at two goals, won the first USPA U.S. Women’s Open. She is one of the world’s best female players and has been rated as high as 5 goals.
Anier will compete on Cat Malone’s Cedar Crest Stables along with Christine Vermes and Phil Tremo, both rated at minus-1 along with pro player Joey Casey of Palm City Polo Club, rated at 4 goals.
Talbot Logan, last year’s tournament Most Valuable Player rated at 0-goals, will play for new team Wellington Coalition along with Jack Hoffman, rated at 0-goal, Mark Bennett, a 1-goaler and 6-goal player Nacho Badiola, at 23 making his 26-high goal debut this season in Wellington.
Chip McKenney, founder of the Gay Polo League and rated at minus-1, will play for Polo Gear and team with Jean-Marc Herrouin and Dan Haynia, both rated at minus-one and pro Jeff Hall, rated at 7 goals and one of the highest rated American players.
Hall, is the face of Piaget as polo’s brand ambassador. He is the highest rated pro in the GPL tournament.
Gordon W. Ross returns with Team RE/MAX and will play with Richard Cote, rated at minus-one, Gina Padilla, rated at 0-goal and Argentine pro Juan Bollini, a 5-goaler and member of last year’s winning team.
In last year’s finale in front of a record crowd of 4,000, Gammu Mu defeated Polo Gear, 6-5. Logan, who competed for Polo Gear, scored a career-high four goals and outscored Bollini, who had three goals, including the game-winner with three minutes left in regulation.
The rosters were determined by Joey Casey, who has worked with several GPL players in clinics at Palm City, and Piaget team captain MelissaGanzi, who along with husband Marc Ganzi is providing the horses and well-manicured polo fields at their Grand Champions Polo Club.
“We spend a lot of time making sure these are competitive teams and they are fitted with the right ponies, Melissa spends a lot of time with this,” Casey said. “This is probably going to be the most competitive tournament we have had.”
Players will travel from around the world to vy for the coveted Senator Cup Trophy for the championship game winners and Founders Cup for the consolation match winner.
On Friday, April 12th two four-chukker games will be held to determine
the seeding among the four teams for Saturday’s consolation and championship games at 1 and 3 p.m.
The Gay Polo League, created in 2006, is an international organization and only known gay polo league in the world. Currently, the GPL’s established four U.S. chapters are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Wellington.
GPL members include players from several foreign countries such as France, England, Argentina, South Africa, Canada and Australia.
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget and The Polo School @ Grand Champions. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special eventsLive including the International Cup, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament.
Fourth Annual International Gay Polo Tournament Fast Facts
Where: Grand Champions Polo Club
On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road
When: Saturday, April 13, 2013
Time: Polo Matches start at 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Gates open at noon
Tickets: General Admission $25, also available at the gate
Tailgate Price: $225, includes eight tickets and one field side parking place
VIP Tables: $1,000 includes seating for eight center field, four beverage tickets for each, gourmet food ticket for each, tableside service, including hors d’oeuvres, throughout the polo matches
Kick-Off Party: Friday, April 12, International Polo Club Pavilion, 3667 120th Ave. S., Wellington, FL Start Time: 6:30 p.m. (food, dancing and auction).
For Tickets: (561) 753-3389 or go to http://www.gaypolo.com/the-event/
For Tailgates and VIP Tables: Call (561) 753-3389
|
