Stage 3 of the Argentina Polo Tour is being hosted by the polo clubs, La Picaza and La Aguada, both located in the area of Open Door approximately one hour west of the city of Buenos Aires. This stage has 6 new teams competing at a 16 goal level, the most recognized players in the tournament being Eduardo “Ruso” Heguy (8 goals) and David “Pelon” Sterling (9 goals) both of which closed 2010 competing in the Argentine Open. The first 2 games of this stage were hosted at La Picaza, a beautiful polo club with a simple yet stunning clubhouse surrounded by 6 spectacular polo fields, a perfect place to hold a polo tournament. Each of the games on this first day were to be featuring one of the best players in the tournament, Ruso Heguy playing for La Picaza and Pelon Sterling for Altimira.
The first game of the day was La Picaza (16 goals) vs REI (15 goals). I arrived a few moment after the game began with both teams having scored once and the score at 2-1 for REI (one on handicap).
As I settled in to a place along the boards and took stock of the situation both teams scored again, REI with a converted penalty and La Picaza quickly answered from the field ending the first chukka at 3-2 for REI. Heguy, leading his team from the #4 position, took control of the ball deep in their own end, turned it and ran the field to goal tying the game at 3. Manuel Elizalde then put La Picaza up by one before REI answered back with two penalty conversions to end the chukka up by one, 5-4. La Picaza took the field for the 3rd chukka meaning business, first with Francisco Elizalde scoring from the field, then one from patron C. Reyes Terrabussi and two from Heguy (one penalty conversion) before Tomas Guiñazu answered for REI. Heguy wasn’t finished, taking the ball from the throw in and tapping in for another goal and then running the field again before getting hooked and looking back to see his patron, Terrabussi, following him up and scoring to end the chukka 9-6. REI began the 2nd half looking to mount a comeback with Guiñazu scoring quickly but La Picaza traded blows with them, Heguy scored, then Solari for REI, then Heguy again, then again Heguy with the ball, passing long to Terrabussi who carried and finished the chukka with a goal and his team, La Picaza, leading 12-8. Gamely, REI kept at it with Solari scoring two more goals in the 5th chukka but Eduardo Heguy had his team well organized, Manuel Elizalde scored and La Picaza was still in control of the match leading 13-10 going into the last chukka. Paul Burrus, the patron of REI, came out for the 6th determined to make a charge and scored with a nice neck shot from the field, Heguy answered back and undeterred Burrus went to goal again scoring to keep his team within 2. 
Heguy stretched the lead back to 3 and La Picaza held off REI until Solari scored a final goal to close the gap back to 2 just before time ran out for REI with La Picaza winning by a score of 15-13.
The second match of the day was between the 16 goal squads of Altamira and Anaconda. The highest rated player in the tournament, 9 goaler David Sterling, opened the scoring by converting a penalty three for the only goal of the first chukka giving Altamira the 1-0 lead. The second chukka began as the first ended, the Anaconda team working hard and throwing all they had at the Sterling led Altamira squad. This hard work finally paid off as Anaconda tallied their first goal of the match to tie it up. Sterling answered back by converting a penalty four and Anaconda redoubled their efforts, scoring again to end the chukka tied at 2. I do not know the name of the auburn brown mare that Sterling came out on to open the 3rd chukka but she was spectacular! He was absolutely everywhere. Pressuring, drawing a foul and converting for a 3-2 lead…then from the field, 4-2…another from the field, 5-2…what a horse, so quick, so fast, so handy, effortlessly working through the other team. 
Switching horses near the end of the chukka Sterling continued his incredible chukka and finished it with another goal to make it 6-2 for Altamira. The game had been intense and hard fought, equal until Sterling had ripped it open in the 3rd chukka, would Anaconda be able to recover and rally? Anaconda, working hard get a penalty three attempt only to have Sterling block it on the run and head to goal yet again, Anaconda managing to hold him off and turn towards goal themselves only to have Sterling again gain control and attack, again Anaconda managed to hold off the Altamira attack and finally managed a goal of their own to close the gap to 6-3. Anaconda had to work so hard to hold off Sterling and score their own goals against the Altamira squad. It must have been disheartening when Sterling scored to close the 4th chukka and regain the Altamira 4 goal lead, 7-3. Sterling wasn’t finished for the day, he converted a penalty three for the 8-3 lead…then showing fantastic stick-work and equine agility scored again from the field, 9-3…and yet again, 10-3…I have never seen one player so dominate a match, incredible! Finally, with Anaconda pressuring, through a crowd of horses and players there is a red flag waving, 10-4. Sterling responds by converting another penalty, 11-4. Anaconda shows it’s mental toughness by continuing to fight and finish the chukka with their 5th goal and by getting the only goal of the 6th to finish a tough match. Altamira winning behind a dominant David Sterling performance 11-6.
Thanks for reading!
Chau for now.
Dylan Foster