LA Water Quarter Horses and Tootsies Win the 12th Annual Houston Ladies Tournament
LA Waters Quarter Horses defeated Pegasus 6-5 in overtime to win the WCT Qualifier bracket of the 12th Annual Houston Polo Club Ladies Tournament. The winning goal made by Kristy Outhier wrapped up a terrific week of fast polo and fantastic parties. This year marks Houston’s second year as a WCT Qualifier Event, with six WCT teams entered at the 2-4 goal level. With the addition of four teams competing in the 0-goal Invitational bracket, the event turned out over 40 women players from across the nation. Houston upheld its tradition in 2006 of attracting exceptional women players from across the nation and around the world, including Caroline Anier, Sunny Hale, Kristy Waters, Lesley Ann Masterton Fong Yee, Leigh Anne Hall, Kristine Hardwick, Theresa King, and many others. Some new faces at the event this year included Sherri-Lyn Hensman of Zimbabwe, Dayelle Fargey of Indio, Alina Carta of Palm Beach, and Tiffany Busch of Aiken.
The week kicked off on Wednesday with a polo clinic hosted by Sunny Hale. Women players of all levels were invited to improve their swing and get strategy and teamwork tips from one of the world’s most celebrated women players. That night, designers and divas ruled as the Calcutta Kickoff Party at Tootsies brought more than $14,000 in bids for the WCT teams. Proceeds from the evening benefited The Children’s Assessment Center of Houston.
During the first round of the Qualifier League on Thursday, held at ERG, Pegasus battled Sirius Solutions and took the win in overtime in the first match. The Lockton team came out strong and defeated Western Airways in the second match to earn an advance to Friday’s elimination round. LA Waters Quarter Horses and ZSweet drew a bye for Thursday’s matches.
Friday’s WCT elimination rounds were fast and furious on an outstanding field at Pecan Acres. Pegasus remained undefeated after a hard-fought match against Dayelle Bradley’s Zsweet team in the first game. The second match earned LA Waters Quarter Horses a slot in the Finals as they defeated the Lockton team by one goal.
On Saturday, the Invitational League began their elimination matches as Isla Carrol with a one-goal win over Catena USA by the Tootsies team. During the second match, Leyendecker’s Sherry Sheldon battled fellow Californian Jessica Bailey for the win in the second match. Leyendecker defeated Events of Houston and earned a trip to the Sunday finals.
The Sunday Finals and Texas Tailgate Festival was a full day of polo that began with Alina Carta taking the lead for Catena to defeat Events of Houston in the Invitational consolation match. In the first consolation match of the WCT league, Sherri-Lyn Hensman and the Western Airways ladies had a sweeter day than the ZSweet team with a 6-5 victory. In the second round, Sunny Hale made the winning goal for Sirius Solutions to defeat the Lockton team for the third place trophy.
Tailgaters and polo fans turned out for the afternoon Tournament Finals, hosted by ZSweet. The Invitational League finals was a fast running game on the Sunday field that ended with Tootsies defeating Leyendecker 5-3 for the Roenisch bronzes. Best Playing Pony San Miguel, owned by Wesley Sinor, was ridden by Jenny Vargas. Vargas also received the coveted Catena watch as MVP.
The WCT Qualifier League finals was a clash of some of the world’s best women players as LA Waters Quarter Horses’ powerful duo of Caroline Anier of France and native Texan Kristy Waters faced down Lesley Ann Master Fong-Yee of Jamaica and the Pegasus team. Playing for Pegasus with Fong-Yee were Anne Andras, Shelia Lequerica, and Canada’s Kristine Hardwick. Sarah Prinsloo and Cristi Payan completed the LA Waters team. Scoring was tight through the third chukker, where the 5-5 score survived the 4th and took the game into overtime. Outhier’s goal in overtime took the LA Waters team to the podium.
LA Waters team won the final. Cristi Payan, Caroline Anier, Sarah Prinsloo, Kristy Waters.
The BPP award went to Lola, ridden by Caroline Anier and owned by Sarah Prinsloo.
The MVP award, a Catena USA watch, went to Lesley Masterton Fong-Yee of Pegasus, who proved almost unstoppable on horses provided by David and Anne Andras in all three of her games during the tournament.
All women who competed in the WCT Qualifier league are now eligible to play in the WCT Finals, a national event held at Outback Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. The WCT Finals is held in April at the height of the high goal season and showcases some of the best women’s polo in the world. Two of the key supporters of the Houston event, La Martina and Catena USA, will also return as sponsors for the 2007 Florida Finals.
Houston’s winning team of Kristy Waters and Cristi Payan have announced plans to enter their team in the WCT Finals for the second year in a row, in hopes of bringing the WCT Finals trophy back to Texas for 2007.
The HPC Ladies Tournament would like to thank the corporate sponsors of this year’s event, including ZSweet, La Martina, Catena USA, Pologirlsclub.com, Tootsies, Leyedecker, Events of Houston, Sirius Solutions, LA Waters Quarter Horses, Western Airways, Lockton, Pegasus, and Leyendecker and Associates.
(Photos by LJ Lipke / Daxiom Photography)