Twelve Teams, Led by White Birch and Crab Orchard, Enter
the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (February 3, 2007) – Perennial powerhouse White Birch, with more high-goal titles than any other team in the U.S., and Crab Orchard, led by superstar Adolfo Cambiaso, highlight the 12 teams that entered the C.V. Whitney Cup, the first 26-goal tournament of the season at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
The draw for the single-elimination tourney was held Saturday at the club’s Mallet Grille. The complete schedule will be released in about 10 days. However, the semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, February 28 and the final is set for Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.
Defending champion Jedi did not enter the tournament, opting to play in the next two 26-goal events, the USPA Gold Cup and the Stanford U.S. Open Championships.
White Birch, Laurence-Wallace, Catamount and Black Watch all received first-round byes.
First-round games include Lechuza Caracas against Pony Express and defending Stanford U.S. Open champion Las Monjitas against San Saba in the top bracket. The opening-round games in the bottom half of the draw include Orchard Hill against Bendabout and Crab Orchard against Skeeterville.
Twenty-seven of the 36 non-sponsors are rated 8 goals or higher with six 10-goalers, 13 9-goalers and eight 8-goalers. The 10-goalers are Mariano Aguerre (White Birch), Miguel Novillo Astrada (Bendabout), Adolfo Cambiaso (Crab Orchard), Agustin Merlos (Laurence-Wallace), Sebastian Merlos (Lechuza Caracas) and Facundo Pieres (Black Watch).
Peter Brant’s White Birch, the most dominant team over the last 15 years in the U.S., has won the C.V. Whitney Cup five times among its 31 titles in tournaments of 26 goals or higher.
The tournament, first held in 1979, is named in memory of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930’s. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whitney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his brother), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.
The polo matches at International Polo Club 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.
2007 C.V. Whitney Cup rosters:
Bendabout (26) – Gillian Johnston (2), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7), Miguel Novillo Astrada (10), Ignacio Toccalino (7)
Black Watch (25) – Neil Hirsch (0), Facundo Pieres (10), Gonzalito Pieres (9), Nacho Figueras (6)
Catamount (26) – Scott Devon (3), Adam Snow (9), Nicolas Roldan (8), Martin Zegers (6)
Crab Orchard (26) – George Rawlings (0), Matias Magrini (9), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David Stirling Jr. (7)
Las Monjitas (26) – Camilo Bautista (0), Sapo Caset (8), Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9), Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9)
Laurence-Wallace (26) – Elizabeth Iorio (0), Agustin Merlos (10), Mike Azzaro (9), Luis Escobar (7)
Lechuza Caracas (26) – Victor Vargas (1), Sebastian Merlos (10), Pite Merlos (9), Jeff Blake (6)
Orchard Hill (25) – Steve Van Andel (0), Hector Galindo (8), Lucas Criado (9), Jeff Hall (8)
Pony Express (26) – Bob Daniels (0), Pancho Bensadon (8), Carlos Gracida (9), TBA
San Saba (25) – Tommy Lee Jones (0), Toto Collardin (7), Javier Novillo Astrada (9), Paco de Narvaez (9)
Skeeterville (26) – Skeeter Johnston (2), Julio Arellano (8), Owen Rinehart (3), Marcos di Paola (8)
White Birch – Peter Brant (4), Lucas Monteverde (9), Mariano Aguerre (10), Ulysses Escapite (3)
Past Champions
2006 – Jedi
2005 – White Birch
2004 – Catamount
2003 – Las Monjitas
2202 – Lechuza Caracas
2001 – White Birch
2000 – White Birch
1999 – Lechuza Caracas
1998 – Pony Express
1997 – Bud Light
1996 – White Birch
1995 – White Birch
1994 – Calumet Farm
1993 – BTA
1992 – Millarville
1991 – Fort Lauderdale
1990 – Michelob
1989 – Fort Lauderdale
1988 – Fort Lauderdale
1987 – Maui
1986 – Carter Ranch
1985 – Texas Lone Star
1984 – San Antonio
1983 – San Antonio
1982 – Southern Hills
1981 – Fort Lauderdale
1980 – Tulsa
1979 – Tulsa