A 20 year Tradition at the Costa Careyes Resort, a private gated community on the Pacific Ocean south of Puerto Vallarta, is to celebrate Chinese New Year – this Year of the Firey Rooster. A polo tournament has been organized at that same time as the party is an over-the-top experience. Players from USA, Argentina, Portugal, Italy, France and Mexico came to play in the 4 team tournament over the weekend of January 26 – 29th.
Team Magness/Agua Alta was the team to beat with Nico Milan, Sarah Magness, Alberico Ardissone and Manuel Matos as all had played together in many games. Cabinet Connection was a family affair – Brothers Chris and Will Falk, cousin David Buller and their professional, Raul Ramirez. The Home team, Careyes, of Giorgio Brignone, founder of the Careyes club, Juan Galan, Jesus¨Chucho¨Solorzano and long time resident of Careyes, Hans Giebeler, have been polo friends for many years. The final team in the tournament was Ameyalco/Piso51 – Diego Aguilar, formidable team sponsor in Mexico, George Sandhu and Luis Perez and Diego Gonzalez – both from Guadalajara.
Play was over 2 days – the Magness/Agua Alta team defeated the Ameyalco/Piso 51 – 6 to 3 ½ – Milan leading the scoring 4 goals for the winners. Cabinet Connection came out fired up against the home team of Careyes but no one scored the first chukker. Second chukker Cabinet Connection got 2 goals to Careyes team zero. A defensive game all the way ending a score of 3 ½ to 2 with Cabinet Connection on top. Will Falk high scorer for the winners and Galan had the 2 for Careyes.
Finalists for the tournament – Cabinet Connection – David Buller,
Will and Chris Falk and Raul Ramírez with Team Magness/Agua Alta Alberico
Ardissone, Manual Matos, Nico Milan and Sarah Magness
The consolation round for the Chinese New Year tournament was Team Careyes versus Ameyalco/Piso51. A hard fought game with Careyes coming on top 5 to 2 ½. Solorzano leading the scoring for the winners with 3 goals. Again Team Magness/Agua Alta was the team to beat but Cabinet Connection had a game plan that stopped the foursome with Chris Falk playing the number 4 and rarely letting Milan or Ardissone letting them come through. At halftime the score was 6 ½ to 4 – Cabinet Connection in the lead. – Falk continued to block the backdoor and still was able to score 3 goals with brother, Will, 3 goals and Cousin Buller with one. Final score 8 ½ to 6. For the Magness/Agua Alta Milan lead the team with 4 goals and Matos and Ardissone each with one.
A toast with tequila was given to all players at the end of the game as well as one-of-a kind hand crafted trophies for everyone.
Chris Falk of the Cabinet Connection team backing the ball to teammate
Raul Ramírez. Hans Giebeler in red helmet in the action.
Careyes will be hosting the 18th Annual Agua Alta Polo Festival for the week of Semana Santa – April 8 through the 15thwith players from around the World. Careyes Polo season is November to April. Please see www.careyes.com and contact Giorgio Brignone – giorgiobrignone@yahoo.com.mx or susanstovall@careyes.com.mx. Next year is Year of the Dog – if you are born in 1946, 1958, 1970,1982,1994 – it is a special week.