The Rainbow Riders Drill Team hailed the red, white, and blue for the America’s Cup Finals on July 5th. Often referred to as the “Blue Angels” on horseback, Darci Beauchamp, Cindy Helms, Lynnette Hamilton, Janet Stallman, Christine Harries performed an amazing presentation of the flag before the first ball throw in.
Hanalei Bay/Star Meadow played hard in a lengthy America’s Cup Finals at San Diego Polo Club. Dirk Wray (0), Krista Bonaguidi (-1), Graham Bray (5) and Mariano Fasetta (6) raised their America’s Cup trophies after winning over Jaybird/Ohana’s Kelly Maloney (0), Jay Thornton (0), Matias Obregon (4), and Danny Juarez (4).
It was 5 to 5 when halftime was called with 1:06 on the clock. Dirk Wray substituted in for Star Meadow’s Joy Bancroft, starting the fourth chukker 5 to 6. Hanalei Bay/Star Meadow promptly tied it 6 to 6. Wray knocked in a penalty shot moving them further ahead 7 to 6. A serious crowd erupted in cheers watching Matias Obregon and Graham Bray horse race and cane fight with fierce sychronicity. Fasetta scored at the end of the fourth to bring Hanalei Bay/Star Meadow higher 8 to 6.
At the top of the fifth chukker Fassetta scored again to make it 9 to 6. With penalty shots Hanalei Bay/Star Meadow went up 11 to 6 at the end of the fifth. Hanalei Bay’s own Krista Bonaguidi scored a penalty giving her team 12. Jaybird/Ohana’s Danny Juarez answered with a huge cut shot to goal helping them reach 7. Juarez hit three consecutive penalty shots from center and all three launched clear over the back line, but a gusty Del Mar breeze influenced high and long shots wide. It was Jaybird/Ohana’s own Jay Thornton taking an open goal penalty shot to move his team to 8. The final score was Hanalei Bay/Star Meadow 12 to 8 to win.
Earlier in the day, La Pasion won over Princeps in the 0 – 4 goal. Ashton Wolf (2), Tracee Brunetti (-1), Alvaro Tadeo (3), and Dirk Wray (0) beat Ben Oppenheimer [-1], Scott Dlugos (1), Kimo Huddleston (4) and Ellen Greenhill (0).
See all the incredible tournament and social shots by Dominick Lemarie, San Diego Polo Club’s official photographer. Just click here.
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