Cambiaso Leads Defending Champion New Bridge La Dolfina
in Ultra-Competitive Ylvisaker Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (January 20, 2007) – Defending champion New Bridge La Dolfina, led by superstar 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, headlines the 13 teams that have entered the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier, the second tournament of the 2007 season at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
The draw was held Saturday morning and teams were placed in four divisions. New Bridge La Dolfina heads up Division IV, with Pony Express, Audi and Broncos. Division I is made up of Laurence-Wallace, Bendabout and BTA. Division II is composed of Skeeterville, Privilege/Gracida International and Black Watch. Division III is San Saba, Patagones and Lechuza Caracas.
The tournament begins in late January with the first featured match on Sunday, February 4 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field. The Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier final is scheduled for Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field.
This is also the first tournament for the sport’s newest 10-goaler, 20-year-old Facundo Pieres.
If superstar Adolfo Cambiaso is the king of polo, the crown prince is Pieres, the second son of the legendary Gonzalo Pieres. It is Facundo’s first season as a 10-goaler in the United States. At 20, Facundo is the second youngest 10-goaler in the history of the sport.
Pieres and younger brother, Nicolas, a 5-goaler, form the nucleus of Black Watch for patron Neil Hirsch, who splits his time between Wellington and the Hamptons. They will be joined by Nacho Figueras, who moonlights as the spokesman for the Ralph Lauren Polo Black fragrance, to shape the youngest and best-looking teams.
In addition to Cambiaso and Pieres, one more 10-goaler will be competing in the Ylvisaker Cup – Miguel Novillo Astrada for Bendabout.
Two teams will make their high-goal debut at IPC, Elizabeth Iorio’s Laurence- Wallace, featuring American 9-goaler Mike Azzaro, and Lord Milford-Haven’s Broncos, led by 9-goaler Lucas Monteverde of Argentina.
In addition to Black Watch and Bendabout, two other teams are making their season debut during the Ylvisaker Cup – Tommy Lee Jones’ San Saba, led by 9-goaler Javier Novillo Astrada, and Kelly Beal’s BTA, led by American 8-goaler Jeff Hall and Canadian 7-goaler Fred Mannix Jr.
The Ylvisaker Cup in named in honor of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who founded Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in the late 1970s, bringing the sport to the forefront in Palm Beach County. A former Chairman of the USPA, Ylvisaker was elected into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1996. Ylvisaker has won numerous major polo tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Open in 1972.
The polo matches are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Past champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina defeated Skeeterville 15-14
2005 – Pony Express defeated Airstream 11-6
2004 – Crab Orchard defeated Black Watch 13-8
2003 – C Spear defeated Outback 11-9
Ylvisaker Cup rosters:
Audi – Marc Ganzi (1), Juan Bollini (7), Gonzalito Pieres (9), Brandon Phillips (5)
Bendabout – Gillian Johnston (2), Miguel Novillo Astrada (10), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7), Will Johnston (2)
Black Watch – Neil Hirsch (0), Nacho Figueras (6), Facundo Pieres (10), Nicolas Pieres (5)
Broncos – George Milford Haven (1), Naco Taverna (5), Lucas Monteverde (9), Silvestre Donovan (7)
BTA – Kelly Beal (1), Daniel Roenisch (5), Jeff Hall (8), Fred Mannix Jr. (7)
Laurence-Wallace – Elizabeth Iorio (0), Mike Azzaro (9), Pelon Escapite (5), Luis Escobar (7)
Lechuza Caracas – Victor Vargas (1), Pite Merlos (9), Piki Alberdi (8), Santiago Allaria (4)
New Bridge La Dolfina – Russ McCall (0), Matias Magrini (9), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Martin Valent (3)
Patagones – Gonzalo Avendano (2), Carlos Avendano (6), Michel Dorignac (7),
Guille Aguero (7)
Pony Express – Bob Daniels (0), Nicolas Roldan (8), Gonzalo Von Wernich (7), Tomas Goti (6)
Privilege/Gracida International – Carlitos Gracida (0), Julio Gracida (5), Carlos Gracida (9), Roberto Gonzales (6)
San Saba – Tommy Lee Jones (0), Toto Collardin (7), Javier Novillo Astrada (9), TBA
Skeeterville – Skeeter Johnston (2), Julio Arellano (8), Owen Rinehart (8), Stevie Orthwein Jr. (4)