Walsh
and Ferragamo lead top international polo players in charity match
By
Alex Webbe
Although
the Outback 40-goal Challenge might have taken the lion’s share of the polo
publicity in the Palm Beach area, the Windsor Charity Polo Tournament at
Windsor in Vero Beach had its share of celebrities and international polo
stars.
The Charity Polo Cup at Windsor resulted from
the discussions a number of friends who live at Windsor and their desire to
raise funds for some very worthwhile local and national charitable
organizations. And so, with the support of several polo aficionados, The
Charity Polo Cup at Windsor was born.
The
sold-out event to benefit national and local charities was co-chaired by Windsor,
Florida’s co-founder, The Honorable Hilary M. Weston and Vero Beach’s John
Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted.
For
years the polo-playing Walsh has donated his time and talent by appearing in
charity matches around the country. This
time he was offered the opportunity of appearing in a local event and he jumped
at the chance.
Proceeds from this charity event will
directly benefit three worthy causes including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian
River County and Saint Edward’s
School Financial Aid Program.
The match itself
featured John Walsh leading the Seasaw team of Lucas Monteverde (9), Tommy Biddle
(6) and Nick Manifold (5) against the Clemantines team of Salvatore Ferragamo (the
grandson of the esteemed Italian footwear designer and is currently expanding
the Ferragamo family brand portfolio into the wine industry with Il Borro winery and luxury boutique hotel located in the Tuscan
countryside), Julian Daniels (6), the legendary Memo Gracida (7) and American
star, Mike Azzaro (7).
John Walsh scored
the opening goal of the game, countered by a goal from Salvatore
Ferragamo. Nick Manifold closed out the
first chukker with a goal from the field and a 2-1 Seasaw lead.
Walsh extended the
lead to 3-1 with his second goal of the game in the second period, but
Ferragamo and Daniels responded with single goals to tie it up at 3-3. Gracida scored to open the third and
Ferragamo scored for the third time to extend the Clemantines lead to two goals,
5-3, to end the first half.
Daniels opened the
second half with a goal as Seasaw found themselves trailing by three goals, 6-3
before righting the ship. A score from
Monteverde and a pair of goals from Nick Manifold deadlocked the game at 6-6
after four chukkers of play.
An uneventful fifth
period was a showcase for the defensive abilities of the two teams as the
closest either team came to scoring was a missed penalty shot from
Clemantines. The period ended with the
score stalled at 6-6.
Ferragamo’s fourth
goal of the game put Clemantines ahead, 7-6, but Seasaw wasn’t ready to roll
over yet. A penalty conversion from Biddle
set the stage for Walsh’s game winning sixth chukker goal as Seasaw rode on to
the hard-fought 8-7 win.
Walsh and Manifold
led the Seasaw attack with three goals apiece.
Monteverde and Biddle added single goals in the victory.
Ferragamo led all
scoring with four goals. Daniels scored
twice and Gracida added a goal in the loss.
“I t was a
wonderful day,†offered Walsh, “ and as a resident of Vero Beach, I was
thrilled to see so many people turn out in support of the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children, the Humane Society of
Vero Beach & Indian River County and Saint Edward’s School Financial Aid Program.
Friends, polo and funds
being raised for worthy, charitable causes – – it doesn’t get much better than
that.