Grand Champions Polo Club Opens Fall Season Friday With Tackeria Invitational |
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It’s show time at Grand Champions Polo Club as the fall season gets under way Friday with the Tackeria Invitational.
By: Sharon Robb
The two-day tournament begins Friday at 4 p.m. on Field 4 with a round robin between Audi, Casablanca and Flexjet. Flexjet will play Casablanca in the opening round robin action. Audi will play the last six chukkers. The final is Sunday at 10 a.m. The scores will be carried over into Sunday action. Flexjet will play the last six chukkers.
The team rosters are:
Audi (18): Marc Ganzi, Sugar Erskine, Nic Roldan, Pablo Pulido.
Casablanca (17): Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Jason Crowder, Brandon Phillips.
Flexjet (17): Melissa Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini.
During the 2019 fall season, the nation’s largest polo club will host both medium goal polo featuring six tournaments and 20-goal tournaments. The long-running Tackeria Invitational has a special place in club history as the inaugural tournament when the club first opened in 2007.
“We have some great players coming in for the 20-goal and medium goal tournaments,” said Juan Bollini, Director of the Operations at The Polo School. “It’s good, competitive polo and best time of the year with great weather and great fields in October and November after five months of rest.”
The fall season serves as tuneup for the winter season for players and green horses. The winter season will feature the second season of the highly-successful 26-goal World Polo League at Grand Champions and Valiente Polo Farm with the best polo players in the world.
The Tackeria Invitational has a history of exciting finishes.
In last year’s tournament final, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Julio Gracida, Mariano Gracida) won a hardfought 10-9 overtime game over Flexjet (Santos Bollini, Lucas Escobar, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini).
In 2017, Audi (Marc Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Brandon Phillips, Carlitos Gracida) rallied in the final chukker to defeat Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Andres LaPlacette, Pablo Dorignac, Juan Bollini), 11-10, in overtime at Santa Rita Polo Farm.
In 2016, Flexjet (Riley Ganzi, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Jason Crowder) defeated Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Jared Sheldon, Carlitos Gracida, Juancito Bollini), 7-6, on Melissa Ganzi’s winning goal just before the 30-second bell in the final chukker.
“The Tackeria Invitational is the perfect way to kick off the season,” said Tackeria owner Tony Coppola, legendary voice of polo and USPA President. “We are proud to be a returning sponsor with the Tackeria Invitational.”
The 2019 season is highlighted by the International Cup featuring Team USA against France; Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial, inaugural Wellington Open 20 and USPA National 20.
The well-organized fall tournaments attract players from all over the United States and world including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, England, France, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Uruguay, Switzerland, Nigeria and South Africa.
Grand Champions had its finest fall season in club history last year. It was the only club in the nation to stage two USPA-sanctioned 20-goal fall tournaments and again is hosting 20-goal tournaments this season.
The Grand Champions Fall Invitational League is geared toward improving a player’s polo skills at every level. Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams featuring pro and amateur players.
Club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi, both accomplished players, take pride in teaching and sharing the exciting sport of polo with anyone interested in learning. The husband and wife team are coming off their most successful and historical summer season at Grand Champions’ sister club Aspen Valley Polo Club.
The fall league features: stick-and-ball sessions during the week; two medium tournament games every weekend; ambulance and umpires for all tournament games; world-class polo fields; club-sponsored social events every weekend for all players; and top-of-the-line trophies for all teams every weekend.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm cater 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 at the turnkey facility.
The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its’ mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
Wellington-based ChukkerTV will live stream the entire fall season. ChukkerTV’s state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.
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2019 Grand Champions Fall Schedule
Oct. 11-13, Tackeria Invitational
Friday 10/11
4 p.m. Flexjet vs Casablanca vs Audi
Sunday 10/13
10 a.m. Tackeria Invitational Final
Medium Goal:
Oct. 18-20, US Trust Cup
Oct. 25-27, Polo Gear Challenge
Nov. 1-3, Fall Classic
Nov. 8-10, Fall Plates
Nov. 15-17, Pedro Morrison Memorial
High Goal:
Nov. 13-16, Wellington Open 20
Nov. 20-23, USPA National 20
Nov. 30, Legends of Polo and Carlos Gracida Memorial
Nov. 30, 2019 International Cup, USA vs. France
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