Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club is pleased to announce the following teams are committed to play in the 2010 20 goal series in July and August: Audi, ERG, Grants Farm, Lucchese, Mansour, Piocho, Valiente, and Zacara. The competition will be intense, as this lineup features the defending Bombardier Pacific Coast Open champion Grants Farm and the defending USPA America Cup champion Audi. Seven of these teams played in Santa Barbara last year, and Tom Barrack’s Piocho team returns to high goal competition after a year’s hiatus.
The schedule kicks off with Mayors Cup (July 7-11), and then the Robert Skene Cup (July 16-25). The USPA America Cup (July 30- August 8) is once again sponsored by Lucchese. The grand finale of the 20 goal season is the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open. Besides Lucchese and Bombardier, the club welcomes back corporate sponsors Western Badge and Trophy, Montecito Journal and Custom Media.
It has proven extremely difficult in recent years to defend the PCO title, no doubt Andy Busch’s Grants Farm polo team will be fighting hard to keep their title but with seven other strong teams out to take it away from them they have their work cut out for them. In addition to the winning the usual trophies and the glory of victory, the winner of this year’s PCO as well as the other SBPRC tournament champions will be honored by inclusion in a commemorative book to be released in 2011 in celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary.
The team rosters are a who’s who of high goal polo players. Grants Farm has Jeff Blake, Sugar Erskine, and Cachi Garcia- Velez helping patron Andy Busch to defend the PCO title. It will be a family affair for Piocho Ranch, as brothers Memo and Carlos Gracida back up team captain Tom Barrack. Scott Wood’s ERG team returns with Paco de Narvaez and young gun Santi Torres. Ben Soleimani’s Mansour team has an international flavor with American Luis Escobar (originally from Costa Rica), Chilean Martin Zegers, and Argentine Santiago Toccalino. Lyndon Lea’s Zacara has Jeff Hall and Gonzalo del Tour, this trio did very well together in the Florida season. Valiente is bringing Nacho Astrada, Santo Bottaro and Kris Kampsen to run with patron Bob Jornayvaz. As well as sponsoring the USPA America Cup, Lucchese fields a polo team captained by patron John Muse, playing with Andres Weisz and two mystery players. Marc and Melissa Ganzi’s Audi Polo roster is TBA at this time.
12 goal tournament polo is back on the menu this year in Santa Barbara. The 12 goal season runs May and June, which is a prefect time to take advantage of the idyllic Santa Barbara weather. California locals Danny and Matt Walker (Long Beach), Geoff Palmer (Antelope), and Ben Soleimani (Mansour) are all fielding 12 goal teams. They are joined by New Mexican Brian Boyd, Canadian Ron Mathison, and Jon Benitz’s Albarrobos from Florida. The club is still accepting teams in the 12 goal so if you are looking for some fast paced polo in May and June played next to the best beaches in the country the club has space for you.
The 12 goal season begins with the Lisle Nixon (May 5-16), then the Pope Challenge (May 19-30), the Vic Graber Cup (June 16- June 27), and culminates with the USPA Intra-Circuit (June 16- June 27).
2010 promises to be an exciting season leading up to the club’s 100th year anniversary in 2011! With fast paced polo and beautiful beaches, Santa Barbara is the place to be this summer.