The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
What a game! They even had a crowd bigger than San Diego, but it was only enough to level the field for a chukkar. They said the crowd was 15 thousand and it looked like it. I know a lot of them did not stomp divots, but there was a huge crowd on the field during 1/2 time and thank goodness it was so wet. They showed pictures of water running over sandals and shoes with people treading in. Congratulations to the ground crew. I did not see one horse slip and it was different than last years finals, which was also very wet. . Regardless both games were safe for horses and they were moving on. Storm Clouds were very much in the picture which was well done by Hurlingham Polo as well as Pololine.tv. It was great to see it 9,000 miles away and you can do it at breakfast time in CA. MAYBE THE BEST THING FOR ME WAS THE GOLDEN VOICE OF POLO TERRY HANLIN … WELL DONE OLD FELLER.
THE GAME
1st chukkar included some very tight play and a missed penalty 2 prevented El Remanso from being up 3 to 1. It may cost them later and it did. They still finished the 1st up 2 to 1. Cortium with superstar Polito Pieres came back hard in the second and they were able to outscore ER 2 to 0 and take a point lead, but it did not hold up very long. In the Chukkar 3 Stirling tied it up in the first 20 seconds with a penalty 2 that just crossed the line, but it was a goal. The 1/2 time was a huge event as both teams needed a rest as the ground was heavy and no doubt extra work to move the ball. The 3 Amateurs on the field were making themselves felt making tons of plays on whoever needed and moving the ball.
In the 4th chukkar it was Cortium that started with a penalty 3 right away but it took Pelon 20 seconds to tie it. The Hanbury’s Brothers, Charles and George, went to work and El Remanso and the Hanbury’s started to fire as they jumped out to a two goal lead, but a last moment goal closed gap again to 6 to 5 finish of 4th. There were 3 goals scored in the 5th with brilliant moves and 1 penalty shot. The teams ended with El Ramanso up 8 to 7. A tied chukkar was averted just seconds before the first bell when Adrian Kirby Cort a Patron had backed the ball out of goal quickly, followed his teammate then losing ball and Kirby grabbed it charged full speed the length of the field with it just missing the goal, but saving one as well.
The Final chukkar of the finals should go down as Black Horse Polito Pieres came to the sixth with a Black horse mare or gelding, do not know which. Pelon was also on a brilliant Gray, which stood out earlier and as well early in the 6th. They went up by two but Poltio got going and he got there because of pure speed of the Black horse and how he handled it as well. He scored two amazing goals in the last 2 minutes to become The BRITISH OPEN CHAMPS of 2012. Polito Pieres was awarded MVP as well as Best Playing Pony.
Next Sunday you can see Polito in Santa Barbara as he joins Andy Busch’s Grants Farm team in the 20 goal here in SBPC. I do not think he will have this Black horse however . This Horse reminds me of a couple of Dark Brown Black horses years ago in the UK one was a gelding of Tom Wayman named Sweet William and another belonged to David Jamieson came also from US Bart Evans called Cool Breeze.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH TEAMS AND THEY WERE :
RUNNER UP 2012 CHAMPS
GEORGE HANBURY FRANCISCO ELIZADE
CHARLES HANBURY POLITO PIERES
DAVID (PELON ) STIRLING JAMIE HUIDOBRO
GUILLERRMO TERRERA ADRIAN KIRBY
OUT WEST IN SB
MANSOUR WELCOMES BACK THE SMOWMAN and quite quickly does something else in the 20 goal WINS as they capture the 2012 Mayor’s Trophy Cup. They blew by Dan Walker’s return to the finals after a big fall a month ago. Big Ben is happy as well as Danny I am sure to be back in the saddle again. Next Friday starts the Second 20 goal so tune in for schedule at 684 5819 or sbpcpolo
see ya