U.S. Trust Team Wins Inaugural U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge
at The Central Park Horse Show Presented By Rolex
Highlights of first-ever polo match in Central Park to be telecast nationwide
on NBC Sports Network on October 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET
The U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge served as the finale for The Central Park Horse Show, presented by Rolex. These first-ever polo matches in New York’s Central Park were played at Trump Rink, which was transformed into an equestrian sports arena, providing many spectators their first exposure to the sport. In the finals of the three-team, round robin arena polo tournament, U.S. Trust, which featured players Kris Kampsen, Marc Ganzi and Wes Finlayson defeated FlexJet’s Melissa Ganzi, Charlie Muldoon and Juan Bollini 9-6 to win the inaugural trophy.
The Central Park Polo Challenge was sponsored by JRA Trademark Co, Ltd., the North American Licensee for the U.S. Polo Assn. brand, in collaboration with the Chronicle of the Horse United States Polo Association, and Grand Champions Polo Club. Polo operations, including players, horses, grooms, veterinary care and umpiring were provided by Grand Champions Polo Club Events.
In the opening round of the challenge, The US Trust team took on the U.S. Polo Assn. team of Juancito Bollini (who is one of the faces of the “Live Authentically” campaign), Grant Ganzi and Nic Roldan, defeating them 7-2, and the FlexJet team earned a close 6-5 victory over U.S. Polo Assn., with the teams exchanging goals throughout the match until its final moments when FlexJet scored the winning goal.
In the finals, FlexJet took on U.S. Trust in a high-scoring battle that saw several hard hits sending the ball over the arena walls. Charlie Muldoon got the scoring started for FlexJet, but Wes Finlayson soon put U.S. Trust on the board. Marc Ganzi gave U.S. Trust the lead with a Penalty 2 conversion, then a goal from the field. Kris Kampsen added another while FlexJet struggled to reach the goal. With less than 10 seconds left in the period, Melissa Ganzi necked in a goal to put FlexJet closer at 4-2. U.S. Trust seemed to have the momentum going into the final chukker but FlexJet kept up the pressure on its opponent. Kris Kampsen added three goals, while Marc Ganzi and Wes Finlayson each added one. FlexJet’s Melissa Ganzi and Juan Bollini added two each in response, but U. S. Trust earned the victory by a score of 9-6.
With wins in both of its match-ups, U.S. Trust won the inaugural U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge, with FlexJet taking second place honors and U.S. Polo Assn. third. Kris Kampsen, who led the scoring with seven goals, was named MVP. Open Quarzo was named Best Playing Pony.
This weekend’s U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge was the first time polo matches were played in Central Park, and not far from the site of where the former Dickel’s Riding Academy once stood – the place where polo was first played in the United States. The polo challenge was part of the return of a major equestrian sports competition to New York City after a lengthy absence, and also included showjumping, eventing, and dressage eventsLive, among others. Consistent with the United States Polo Association’s objective to engage more people with the sport, the New York City event also included four polo exhibitions by some of the country’s top young polo players, for audiences that included inner-city youth groups as well as equestrian enthusiasts and general spectators.
As part of the United States Polo Association’s ongoing program to expose sports fans nationwide to the sport of polo, match highlights from the U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge will be telecast on the NBC Sports Network (NBC SN) on October 4 at 3:30 p.m. eastern. It will be the first-ever nationwide telecast of an arena polo match.
“As the United States Polo Association enters its 125th anniversary year, being able to stage an event like this in the city where polo began in the United States was a great achievement and we look forward to bringing polo to more and more people in the United States through great eventsLive like this and our wide range of programs,” said Peter Rizzo, CEO of the United States Polo Association. “On behalf of the United States Polo Association I would like to thank the organizers, sponsors and players who made the inaugural U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge possible, and also congratulate Team US Trust on its victory.”
“To see polo being played in heart of New York City, back to where it originated, was truly a unique experience,” commented Jackie Harrigan, VP Marketing of USPA Properties, Inc. “It was a natural choice for U.S. Polo Assn. and the USPA to be presenting sponsors, so as to increase visibility and educate the public on the game of polo. As the officially licensed brand of polo in the United States, our mission is to generate revenue for the sport, and support the growth of young players, to continue to keep polo passed down through generations.”