Tackeria Invitational Kicks Off Grand Champions Polo Club Fall Season this Weekend |
Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Grand Champions Polo ClubThe much-anticipated fall season at Grand Champions Polo Club gets under way Friday with the Tackeria Invitational. A doubleheader is scheduled on opening day and Sunday. Audi will play Dutta Corp. at 3 p.m. followed by Casablanca against Postage Stamp Farm at 5 p.m. on Friday. Sunday games are 10 a.m. and noon. Team rosters are: Audi: Santos Bollini, Marc Ganzi, Luis Escobar, Juan Bollini Casablanca: Grant Ganzi, Wes Finlayson, JJ Celis, Julio Escurra Dutta Corp.: Timmy Dutta, Tim Dutta, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan Postage Stamp Farm: Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Guille Aguero, Leo Mandelbaum
The tournament features several top sponsors and players including Escobar, a former 8-goaler from Costa Rica who returns to action in Wellington after being sidelined last season after a serious fall during a 20-goal game at International Polo Club Palm Beach. ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting, will live stream the entire fall schedule worldwide with entertaining polo broadcasters Toby Wayman and Dale Schwetz. ChukkerTV’s state-of-the art technology will also feature team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014. Aspen Valley Polo Club won last year’s Tackeria Invitational with Wes Finlayson, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Guille Aguero.
The Tackeria, a longtime supporter of polo, is a complete equestrian shop located in the heart of Wellington horse country. It carries one of the most complete selections of equestrian equipment in the world. Grand Champions, with five well-manicured fields and turnkey facility, expects to have its finest fall season in the nine-year history of the club. The Tackeria Invitational is the first of eight tournaments during the fall. The club will host six medium goal and two 20-goal tournaments. Grand Champions is one of only four clubs in the nation to stage 20-goal tournaments. The club will host the Nov. 1-15 USPA North American Cup and Nov. 11-22 USPA National 20-Goal tournaments. The medium goal tournaments are this weekend’s Tackeria Invitational; Oct. 6-11 US Trust Cup; Oct. 13-18 USPA Fall Classic; Oct. 20-25 USPA Kay Colee Memorial; Oct. 27-Nov. 1 Pedro Morrison Memorial and Nov. 3-8 USPA Fall Plates.
Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament. Evenly-matched teams compete to help improve player skills and performance. The schedule also features a world-class doubleheader on November 28th featuring the fourth annual International Cup which has become a holiday weekend tradition marking the end of the fall season. Team USA, which has won the first three International Cups against England, Chile and Mexico, will host South Africa in the featured game. In the first game, the legacy of polo great Carlos Gracida continues with the Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo game, featuring some of the sport’s greats.
Grand Champions is one of the busiest and most innovative clubs in North America catering 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. The Polo School, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, 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. 2015 FALL SCHEDULE Friday-Sunday: Tackeria Invitational; Oct. 6-11: US Trust Cup; Oct. 13-18, USPA Fall Classic; Oct. 20-25: USPA Kay Colee Memorial; Oct. 27-Nov. 1: Pedro Morrison Memorial; Nov. 1-15: USPA North American 20-Goal Cup; Nov. 3-8, USPA Fall Plates; Nov. 11-22: USPA National 20-Goal Tournament; Nov. 28: Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo Memorial and International Cup, Team USA vs. South Africa. |
