Ricky Cooper & Clogau Wales Polo team return to defend their title at the Fifth Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
In just over a week, Ricky Cooper captain of Clogau Wales Polo team will be returning with his team to America to defend the title they have held for the last two years, as winners of the Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower. Beating the US Military team and Jeff Hall 9-8 in the 2013 season. In 2014 Ricky Cooper, Roddy Matthews, Richard Blake Thomas and Pete Webb playing again as Clogau Wales retained their title, winning against Sunny Hale (USA), Sarah Wiseman (England), Paula Martinez (Argentina) and Caroline Anier (France) playing as Molina Fine Jewelers Woman’s All –Star Team with a final score of 9-5.
This year October 24th 2015 will be the date in many diaries for the ‘polo party’ that just seems to keep attracting more and more spectators – last year drawing the biggest crowd in the country for a two-day polo event – with over 12,000 people attending.
Lining up for this year’s three polo matches are: Polo Aztec v Club Cabo, San Diego Polo Club v Arizona’s own Polo Club and Clogau Wales Polo Team v Aspen Valley Polo Club. This will be the inaugural year for Aspen Valley Polo Club, owned by Marc and Melissa Ganzi to enter a team, which will include Nic Roldan who last played at Scottsdale in 2012. Following the matches a polo clinic will be held my some of the top professional players in the Valley.
Alongside the polo, spectators will also be treated to a preview of the 2016 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and the Barrett-Jackson 2016 Collector Car Auction, plus Larsen Gallery’s live ‘Fine & Contemporary’ Art Auction, the Phoenix Symphony and The World’s ‘longest’ fashion show presented by Arizona Fashion Week. It is hardly surprising that this collection of polo, fashion, cars, art, food and action has been dubbed ‘polo for the masses’ by The Arizona Republic – for this is an event where all are made to feel welcome to share the ‘Horses & Horsepower.’
Event Schedule:
10am Larsen LIVE Art Auction
10am Gates Open
11am Polo Azteca v Club Polo Cabo Presented by One & Only, Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico
12.30pm The World’s ‘Longest’ Fashion Show presented by Phoenix Fashion Week
1pm San Diego Polo Club v Arizona Polo Club
1.30pm High Tea with the Phoenician Resort
2.30pm The Canine Couture: Presented by Applewood Pet Resort & Bark Avenue. A dog fashion show like no other!
3.30pm FEATURED MATCH: Clogau Wales Polo Team v Aspen Valley Polo Club
4.30pm – 6pm After Party in the Heineken Pavilion: presented by Wasted Grain