Windsor/Grant’s Farm did as expected and closed the door just one game later than we thought, but they did it in a graceful way. Windsor/Grant’s Farm smoked Silent Chris Maloney and Tri Tech ,who was in the game briefley in the 4th chukker. It was “Nick the Stick” (Nick Morrison) a new kid on the block who is saving a lot of patrons butts as he replaced the Governor (Pat Nesbitt) who suffered a knee injury while trying the downhill in the Olympic Trials in Aspen last week. He is doing very well. In other action around the place it was Hanalei Bay 1 surviving a scare as Long Beach took them to overtime, but Augi (Agustin Zavaleta) got lucky on the throw in and it was in the goal and it was over. Not that it mattered for the championship as WC/GF had beaten the Hawaiians twice this month already. It was Mr. Smooth (Curt Hughes) having a rough day, but a rewarding one. In the end I was talking to someone at the schedule board and heard Mr. Smooth ask “why are we playing on that field, its very slick?” The answer from the Polo Office was . . . “thats the way it is.” Well at about 10:40 or so I looked over to field 3 and there was Mr. Smooth on the field. I thought he had got it changed. About 10 minutes later I headed up to the International Field and I see him standing on the endline and pulled over to talk to him. He had a bloody nose, so I asked him “what happened.” Turns out in the first 20 seconds his horse slipped, fell and then got up and stepped on him. Well they moved the field and he finished a couple more chukkers and was too sore to continue, but “Nick the Stick” was there and finished for him. Friendly Chevy smoked Hanalei Bay 2. Mr. Smooth (Curt Hughes) and Friendly Chevy head for the bronze match against Fish Creek who beat Melody Oaks.
The finals are set in the 4-Goal/6-Chukker and I have not heard who is the winner of the 8-goal yet, but I think its between the Cowgirl (Cotterell Farms) and Big Ed Pope (Aspen Oaks). I also hear Danny S. from the PTF showed up with his armed suitcase to fill with West Coast cash from their fundraiser . We will never see it again. Maybe we will get some trinkets for the Jr. or Interscholastic players, but do not hold your breath.
Down south in Florida the 26-goal is off and running. Skeeterville, Bendabout, LeChuza and San Saba head to round 2 of the C.V. Whitney Cup. It should be quite a day as I think there are 4 games on Sunday. Like Adolfo Cambiaso, it was Tiger losing his first Tournament in a long time yesterday so its all in the month of Feb. See ya.