Fall polo will take center stage in Wellington on October 24th
with the playing of the Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club as four to six teams are expected to compete in the 12-16 goal competition.
In the final phase of its second season, the Grand Champions Polo Club has established a home base on its two fields and has access to a number of other participating fields for competition for the series of fall tournaments.
The casual atmosphere at Grand Champions allows for patrons to drop in and out of tournaments that are structured around a pro pool that forms rotating team combinations.
The Pedro Morrison Memorial is slated to be played from October 21-26; will be followed by the Palm Restaurant Invitational, October 31-November 9; and the US Trust Cup, November 14-23.
The pro-pool is expected to consist of J. J. Celis (5), Brandon Phillips (5), Juan Bollini (6), Tommy Biddle (7), Carlucho Arellano (5), John Gobin (6), Brad Blake (5), Mauricio Devrient (5) and Hector Galindo (7). They will be joined by Marc and Melissa Ganzi, Gene Goldstein, Michael Liss, John Goodman, Leo Mandelbaum, Harm Schutte, Diego Arellano and Stevie Oethwein.
Wellington has been the capital of international high-goal polo for decades, but the spring and fall seasons offered by Grand Champions are something a little different.
“There are a number of top level players who call Wellington their home,” offered Canadian 5-goaler Brandon Phillips, “and the ability for them to continue working on their game without having to leave home is very attractive to them.”
“We’ve got four or five teams of players who’s compositions are constantly changing, giving pros and patrons an ever changing variety of teams and teammates.
“It’s a lot of fun,” offered University of Miami graduate student Michael Liss, “and everyone gets the opportunity to carry the ball and score. We have the opportunity to play with and against some of the game’s top players while honing our individual games.”
The formula seems to be a successful one as the Grand Champions Polo Club gallops into the final half of its second season.
Grand Champions has attracted a growing following of polo fans that are flushed with the warm welcome the club offers them.
“It’s a community polo club,” said Melissa Ganzi, “we’re excited to have an audience and want them to feel that this is their club. It’s heartening to see familiar faces of all ages appearing at game after game.”
Friday evenings will usually find the club sponsoring an asado at the International Polo Club or the Players Club, while it is not unusual for them to plan an event in Palm Beach.
“We enjoy the social side of the game almost as much as we enjoy the competition on the field,” said club p[resident Melissa Ganzi. “It’s more than just a game,” she added, “its having fun on horseback with friends and neighbors and then getting together for food and drinks afterwards.”
The doors are open at Grand Champions and the fall season is set to begin.