The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
From Palm Springs to Palm Beach the wind is blowing that way …east. A triple header is taking place in the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Tournament, which has 3 games today. “The Bolt” out of Canada under the team name of Alegria, with young Gun Julian Mannix, makes his solo 26-goal debut against Melissa Ganzi and her Piaget Squad. Both of these teams have a little Desert Rat in them. Julian, the younger brother of North America’s highest-rated player in Argentina, Fred Mannix 2, started playing polo here in the desert. Mannix has Facundo Obergon with him, who also started here in the desert. Across the isle will be Sapo “10-goal” Cassett, who was a familar face here for his first 14 years.
Ordhard Hill starts today with the “Brazilian Bomber” Rodrigo Andrade and the Macdonough Brothers. They take on the Owls of Lechuza and Victor Vargas. Last but not least the two Premier Patrons in America. The First Lady of Coke as in Gillian Johnston takes on Mr. Ganzi as in Marc Ganzi and Audi. They are playing with another “Desert Rat” Jeff Hall . These two will get plenty of each other as they also meet Sunday in the biggest 20-goal Tournament of them all, the YLVISACKER CUP. Gillian and Danica have a chance to make history on Sunday just about 200 miles apart as being the first Ladies to win these events. One is a little faster than the other. So if you need a polo fix, there is plenty of it in South Florida.
Out West women are also in the picture. Very high-up at Empire Polo Club it will be the runnin’ gunnin’ Lynn Cobb and Suzi Dix of the Steel Magnolias making holes for Josey (Joseph Stuart) as they deal with the Wolf (Ashton Wolf) and Emma of Casa Sombres. Also in the high-goal at Empire is a couple of all male squads pounding each other as Tim Kelly and Houston-based Lockton continue to roll as they take on Eric Hammon and Empire 8 with AH4 (Alex Haagen, IV) and the Wolf Man (Ashton Wolf). On the other field it will be the “Pain Doctor” Rick Paicius and crew trying to stop Jeff Graham and Barrossa.
Next door at Eldorado, it is The Colorado Cowgirl (Jenny Luttrell) and Cotterell Farms trying to stay unbeaten as they take on “No Name” and Mansour tries to do the same taking on Tritech with Silent Chris Maloney and the Doctor of Triangle. Canadian Rooney is setting the Northern Blizzard to stop Mr. Palmer and Antelope. All this is just TODAY, so lots to do all over the USA in terms of polo. It is Party time at Empire as usual this Friday night with Polo Under The Lights and add Sat. with their Rhythm, Wine & Brews Festival and then Sunday Polo.
see ya @ POLO