USPA Fall Classic Gets Under Way Friday At Grand Champions Polo Club |
By Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Grand Champions Polo ClubThe USPA Fall Classic begins Friday with a doubleheader at Grand Champions Polo Club. Four teams are entered in the two-day tournament. Two games are scheduled for Friday. Audi plays US Trust at 3:30 p.m. on Field 9 and Postage Stamp Farm takes on Dutta Corp at 5 p.m. on Field 10. On Sunday, the consolation final is 10 a.m. followed by the final at noon. Team rosters are: Audi: Riley Ganzi, Martin Estrada, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan Dutta Corp.: Timmy Dutta, Guille Aguero, JJ Celis, Carlitos Gracida Postage Stamp Farm: Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Julio Ezcurra, Wes Finlayson US Trust: Nico Escobar, Santos Bollini, Jesse Bray, Luis Escobar
The tournament will mark the fall debut of up-and-coming player Nico Escobar, coming off an impressive performance at the NTYS National Championships in Colorado this past summer. Escobar will play alongside his father Luis Escobar on US Trust. Last year’s USPA Fall Classic champion was Flight Options (Gene Goldstein, Wes Finlayson, Guille Aguero, Juan Bollini) a 7-6 winner over CT Energia/Audi (Marc Ganzi, Alessandro Bazzoni, Carlitos Gracida, Kris Kampsen). Aguero was named MVP. ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting, is live streaming the entire fall schedule worldwide with entertaining polo broadcasters Toby Wayman and Dale Schwetz. ChukkerTV’s state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014. 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.
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 remaining medium goal tournaments are this weekend’s USPA Fall Classic; Oct. 20-25 USPA Kay Colee Memorial; Oct. 27-Nov. 1 Pedro Morrison Memorial and Nov. 3-8 USPA Fall Plates. The first two tournament winners were Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Leo Mandelbaum, Guille Aguero, Brandon Phillips) in the Tackeria Invitational and US Trust (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Luis Escobar, Jesse Bray) in the US Trust Cup. Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams to help improve player skills and performance. The 2015 fall 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.
This year’s U.S. team features Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hal, Julio Arellano and Nic Roldan. South Africa’s lineup is Selby Williamson, Chris MacKenzie, Gareth Evans and Tom de Bruin. In the opening doubleheader 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: 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. |
