Photo: Winners of the Annual Copa de Careyes – Benito Hernández, Nico Millan, Gianfranco Brignone, founder of Careyes,Jaime Rincón-Gallardo and Hans Giebeler
Careyes Polo Club and Giorgio Brignone hosted the Annual Copa de Careyes over the holiday season at the private gated community located on the Pacific Ocean. Three teams this year were in the Copa as well as 3 teams for our first ever Junior Copa which included young players as well as beginners who wanted to learn the Sport of Kings.
Copa de Careyes
Agua Alta Chamela Careyes
Alberico Ardissone Hans(Jimmy) Giebeler Giorgio Brignone
Manuel Matos Gil Benito Hernandez Luis Perez
Milo Ardissone Nico Millan Diego Gonzalez
Carlitos Hernandez Jaime Rincon-Gallardo Sebastien Phillipot
Junior Copa
Agua Alta 2 Team Magness Toronto
Alberico Ardissone Gary Magness Angela Colterjohn
Maime Moelhausen Cable Magness Anabel Colterjohn
Gatsby Moellhausen Galgo Hernandez Sebastien Phillipot
Lulu Ardissone Giancarlo Brignone Sebastian Williamson
The number of players for the holidays was fewer than normal – however, more than seven countries were represented – Portugal, Mexico, Canada, France, Italy, Germany and Argentina. Play for the Copa was played over 8 days with all team playing each other twice – giving the teams 4 tournament games. The finals as it was scheduled was the Agua Alta team playing Chamela. Either team had a chance to be the winner or place third.
The players fr the Copa de Careyes l to r – Team Agua Alta – Manuel Matos Gil, Carlitos Hernández, Milo and Alberico Ardissone, Team Chamela – Benito Hernández, Nico Millas, Jaime Rincón-Gallardo, Hans Giebeler and Team Careyes – Giorgio Brignone, Sebastien Phillipot, Diego Gonzalez and Luis Perez
Play was back and forth – the first two chukkers was back and forth and ended with Chamela ahead 3 to 2 1 /2 as the Chamela team was rated 6 goals and the Agua Alta team 5. Third chukker – each team scored 2 goals but Nico Millan – 3 goaler from Argentina in the 4th chukkers scored on a penalty and Jimmy Giebeler had one. Ardissone socred in the final chukker and Carlitos Hernandez had one – the final score 8 for Chamela – 6 ½ for Agua Alta. Nico Millan was the high scoring professional and Alberico Ardissone led the amateurs.
Throughout the tournament the scores were very close and one game between Agua Alta and the Careyes foursome had to go three shootouts before the winner was determined – Careyes.
Players in the Jr Copa – l to r
Team Magness – Gary and Cable Magness, Galgo Hernández, Giancarlo Brignone – Team Agua Alta 2 – Alberico and Lulu Ardissone, Gatsby and Maxime Moellhausen and Team Toronto – Angela Cotlerjohn, Sebatian Phillipot and Sebastian Williamson- not pictures Anabel Colterjohn
The Junior Copa had the team play one practice game and then two days of tournaments – with round robin venue. The scores from the first day carried over to the second – Agua Alta 2 was the winner. In the tournaments – there were brother and brother combination, mother and daughter – Angela and Anabel Colterjohn, Father Gary and son Cable Magness as well as the Hernandez brother against each other in the finals – truly a family affair for the holiday tournament.
Careyes Polo Club season is November through April – please see www.careyes.com