It’s a little sad what is happening to polo, but that’s the way it is. September has always been the month of the Spreckels Cup at San Diego Polo Club. It has always been the best polo on the West Coast during the Fall with levels of play ranging over the years between 14- to 20-goals.
Today was the finals of the Spreckles Cup and it was still a game. The only difference from previous years was that is was just 8-goals, but they knew what they were playing for and they played hard. The names of the winners will go on the oldest trophy played for on the West Coast. There names will be will be there forever.
A polo player very new to polo, Mrs. Joy Bancroft, will have the line on first timers for a long time to come. She played very well and was totally on game throughout the game. Joy is the first, first year player to win it. She only been playing for about a year, maybe less time than that. Joy is also the only -1 to ever win it. Of course, normally -1’s are not allowed to participate because the level of play is usually 14-goals or above.
Joy was one happy and proud lady at the end of the day and she should be. Her team, Star Meadow/Tritech, in the end was too much for Ohana/Surfer, which was just a little bit family. Miss Ohana, a.k.a. Kelly Maloney, was playing in her first high-goal Spreckels Cup against her brother, Chris Maloney. I think she may have been in the finals of the low-goal Spreckels Cup as well. Pretty Lady Lisa Bosstick won the low-goal Spreckels Cup finals.
The game was tied in the last chukker. Gaston Von Wernich, the Doc, sent a bullet to Silent Chris Maloney, who was very silent for 3 chukkers, but came to life in the last 3. He took the bullet 160 yards down the field with the real Doc (Scott Dlugos) trying to stop him in a race of two Gray horses. One was a little fresher and faster than the other. It was the final goal of the 2008 Spreckels Cup and Chris now has a three-peat on his mind. He and the Doc (Gaston Von Wernich) won it last year too. It was a little different last year as the level of play was 14-goals and with 6 teams competing in it. It was, however, the Spreckels Cup.
Now saddle up. It’s time for the Triple Crown and it’s a brand new affair. So be there. It all starts with a party Friday night and it keeps on going.
See ya.