The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
March 27th, 2011

The spring season at Empire Polo ends with a BANG!   It was the home team and one old Smokin’ Joe Henderson who took the Silver Home in a big way. They blew by Mansour in a game played on a day of magic … the desert weather was awesome. Being at Empire Empire Polo on Sunday was like being at the British Gold Cup or the finals of the U.S. OPEN. It was spectacular … from the magical setting of palm trees, bright white cabanas and peaked tents to the dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped mountains.  As the national anthem began a huge, 60′ American Flag towered over the east side of the field, while spectators rose to their feet. The only polo event close to this level ever seen in Ca. was the Opening of the 1998 World Cup and it may not have been better.

Thousands of fans from all over, as well as many big celebrities, who roared quite often as the plays were made.  It was the red and white jerseys of Empire/Shanghai vs. the blue and white ones of Mansour. It started with Empire/Shanghai getting a goal to start and late in the 1st chukker Mansour scored he first from the field.  It was a Red Day from there on out as a hard-charging Abby Riggs, playing with a broken hand,  flew down the field followed by the “Stick ” as in Nick Morrision. He  put them back in front of Mansour.  They may have tied it at 2, but I’m not sure.It was the last time they were in the game and it could not have been tied as at the end of 3 it was 4 to 1.

Early on the Patron of Mansour was carted off to the Hospital after taking a hard fall and maybe a short nap.  I talked to him tonight and he is in fine shape with a broken thumb, but not a problem as it was on his left hand.

Mansour started with 4 players as expected, but two were replaced early.   Santi Von Wernich was replaced by Gaston, his brother “the Doctor,” but he had no surgery for Ashton Wolf and “Nick the Stick.”  He needed a gun to slow that flow, as no matter who he covered or his main man Marcos Bignoli there was still another.   The back door was Smokin’ Joe Henderson, who hammered them all and won MVP of the tournament.  Tiamo Hudspeth, who took Ben’s place, played hard and tough, but it was simply a very good team they were up against.  Empire/Shanghai played well through the first annual Tournament of Empire Champions’ Cup and they were rewarded with a check for $30,000 for their efforts. Both Teams played hard with cash on the line and both were happy when it was over.
The Red may have been the happiest out of all the teams.

Congratulations to both teams and they were :

EMPIRE(10)/SHANGHAI  (1st place won $30,000)

Ashton Wolf
Abby Riggs
Nick Morrison
Joe Henderson

MANSOUR ( 2nd place won $15,000)

Santiago Von Wernich/Gaston Von Wernich
Marcos Bignoli
Patrick Uretz
Ben Soleimani  (Tiamo Hudspeth substituted after Soleimani was injured in 1^st chukker)

Earlier in the day, in a game at high noon, it was the 4-goal finals for cash as well. The High Country team of CAM CLARK FORD OF CALGARY, ALBERTA stormed away with this victory. They blistered the plastic hard and often with the speed of Dayelle Fargy, the determination of young rocket Jared Sheldon and a constant warrior Canelo Silvestre. Cam Clark slammed the back door shared with Trish Fitzgerald. Togther they were just too much for Graydon Brittan’s Fair Hills Farm. They must have been driving Chevys as Ashton Wolf had to take second place in this one and  Ted Okie and Young Gun James Wright were just out hustled in this one. It was a very good game and they never said quit. Jerod Sheldon took home the MVP and THE BIG CHECK. Graydon’s mare won Best Playing Pony. This game really got the crowd going and they were ready for the big one.

Cam Clark Ford won 1st place $6,000
Dayelle Fargey
Cam Clark?/Trish Fitzgerald
Canelo Silvestre
Jared Sheldon

FAIR HILLS won 2nd place $2,000
Graydon Britton
Ashton Wolf
Jimmy Wright
Ted Oakie

HATS OFF TO SOME VIP’S OF THIS ALL

DAVID NOBLASCO ————— FIELDS WERE AWESOME
SIRI KENNEDY ————— COMMUNICATION AND ALWAYS A HELP THROUGH ANYTIME
LYNN BREMNER AND TONY SCHIEFFER— GREAT MEDIA COVERAGE AND WHAT A CROWD
VICKI OWENS, SUSAN STOVALL AND GRACIA BROWN — IT HAPPENED AND IT WAS SOOO GOOOOOD!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHY IT HAPPENED: GUESS???

ALEX HAAGEN IV ALEX HAGGEN III OF EMPIRE POLO AND CHRIS MALONEY OF TWIN PALMS
{{{ THANKS FOR A HELL OF A SHOW THE LIONS DID ROAR}}}

SEE YA IN 2012 As Big Al said it is going to get BETTTTER!

Down South where it was not as fancy, but still the U.S. OPEN it was a very busy weekend as Sat. it was …
AUDI SWATTING PONY EXPRESS
BENDABOUT STOPPING ORCHARD HILL
LAS MONJTIAS SLIPPING BY VALIENTE
LECHUZA BAGGING FARAWAY
HAWKS BURYING PIAGET
CRAB ORCHARD JUST AHEAD OF ZACARA

see ya