The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
July 1st was trailer day in Santa Barbara. It is still in the dark for a week, but the “Big Boys” are landing … Mike Azzaro, Lucas Criado, Jeff Hall, Paco De Navarez. The race starts next Friday on 7/10/15 at 10 a.m.
It looks like a decent season for the high-goal league and it should be very competitive. Almost all of the teams have one big stick with some balance throughout, so it should be fun to watch. In the UK the season is moving fast with the British Open entering the 2nd round. Big Ben Solemani had a win today and his team goes to 1-1. Lyndon Lea goes to 1 – 1 , Cambiaso came to life in the big one as he thrashed one of the King Power teams to go to 2 – 0. The big one, however, has still not been touched with Superstar Gonzalo Pieres and Facundo. It will be interesting. There are 4 rounds and 8 teams qualify for the Quarters, so they have a long way to go.
Down south in Party Town San Diego they are coming off another huge weekend. They had The Face of Polo in house, Nacho Figueras, who made it a star studded day. A lot of people went to meet the man who puts polo on the map. He won the game, but his son, Hilario, was the hero scoring 3 goals to put Dad on the trophy stand. Faster than a horse, Wild Bill Allen, son of The Father of San Diego Polo Willis Allen, brought his own string to town. He flew in a string of Stermans Biplanes. They flew out after game in a beautiful way …UP.
San Diego Polo Club does it right for the public and they love it. WHY ? PR and Lindsey Chronert could make a goat race a huge event. They average 3,000 people at 4-goal polo and it is good polo but …? We are in a new world that some understand, but most do not. I am sure I do not, but seeing is believing. There are no better facts. It is what you see and it is not just polo. Event planners need to catch up. Did you see Pomona last Sunday 1/2 the stands from 100 thousand 2 years ago. Women’s World Cup was worse some games. The world is changing, so if you are on the train ok, if not get, aboard now. Just my opinion.
In the polo it was Kuna Polo led by Jennifer Alexy and Ryan Robertson helping ther big gun Instructor, Topo Mendez, to a big win over Knights Watch with Mel Kurtulus and Bernie Diaz to a big win and a shot at the finals.
San Diego Polo is putting on a Huge 4 th of July weekend with indoor polo on the 4th. Topo Mendez will leading a View of Polo from a horse for newcomers and fans, so do not miss a chance to enjoy the King of Sports live. You will have so much fun you may take the class. You will be an addict after 2 days, so if you cannot afford it or if you are scared, run like heck the other way. You can come back on Sunday and have a fabulous time just being a “wanna-a-be” as you may see so many pretty faces you forget there are horses out there. Like Kentucky, home of fast horses, but faster women and so PRETTY to look at! Be there for the real fireworks!
see ya