The 2016 POPE Challenge was just another feather in the Cap of Silent Chris Maloney’s cap as he does what he does win and he does it his way with friends and his People as Graham Bray double tough and never says no just go takes a big crash 23 seconds into the first chukkar and comes up ticking maybe harder and does the push for TWIN PALMS as they go the route and stop Geof Palmer’s ANTELOPE in the very end to win it all. It was a very good finals today and it was sad the weather was so ugly and may have hurt the crowd as it was to say the best sparse. With a ton of speed and a team effort with one young gun Remy Muller pulling the team all day and 2 seniors who were in it for the battle Chris and Graham with the pedal to the metal and Santi Wolf it was in the end just a little to much for Antelope who seldom see this place 2nd. Hats off to MR Palmer he was on fire today taking on Graham often and sometimes successful and I guess he showed Grant what he has to do and why he seldom has to take second place .
The game started on a very cool May Gray day at about 63 degrees so horses felt good and were on the run. Graham went down before the first 30 second but was soon back board and on the run . Antelope held the lead for a moment but soon were tied up and after 2 it was all Twin Palms for 4 chukkars and in the fifth Antelope took control but never totally but closing the gap. In the sixth they actually tied it up but a foul late in the sixth was there doom as TP sent it home and on to the Podium . We want to thank Ron Mathison for bringing his Calgary based team High Wood to Town for the month of May and hope he comes back soon and welcome a new Texas Team for next month with Kevin Makarrow here in town and I am sure I spelled his name wrong .
Across the pond in the UK its down to final 16 and some past local talent is still in there Big Ben Solemoni and his RH Team survived and Lyndon Lea’s Zacara move on as well as Valiente who were here last year with Robert Jornayvaz in the 16 goal . The ten goalers continue to rule the roost but it is not over yet. Action where the surf meets the turf starts next week in San Diego in party town and Will Rogers resumes after a Memorial Day off weekend . Polo around the US gets underway almost anywhere you go next week so join the crowd and head out to some real time excitement for the family and watch those Ponies runnnnn.
see ya @ polo
