Polo players from USA, Canada, Peru, Columbia and Mexico came to Careyes, a beautiful private estate resort of 8 miles of protected coastline on the Pacific Ocean, to play for the coveted Agua Alta Cup and view the Equestrian Festival and jumping event during Easter Week. Careyes Polo Club has two mature polo fields which are considered the best in Mexico. Six teams of 4 players per team of 8 to 11 goals were organized by a simple draw into two zones for play offs. Scappino, high fashion clothiers of Mexico and Italy, was again the title sponsor for this world class event. Other sponsors for the tournament were BMW, Seguro Atlas, Milagro Tequila, leather goods company, PANYC, and Angelissima, a private company. Umpires for the matches were Fergus Gould from Australia, and Mike Kerley, California.
Many of the games were decided by a half goal. Some games were definitely upsets with Team Canada – Seguro Atlas lead by Federico Uribe , 5goals from Columbia and teammates, David Buller and brothers Chris and Will Falk, beating Angelissima – Careyes led by world reknown polo player, Carlos Gracida, with Giorgio Brignone, German Coppel and Jesus Solorzano, by one half goal in the semi finals. The Scappino team lead by brothers Miguel and Alejandro Gomez de Parada, young Mexican player, Carlos Fernandez, and Guillermo Steta, president of the Mexican Polo Association, defeated the previously unbeaten team from Monterrey – Milagro Tequila of the Fernandez family, Rodrigo and father Alberto, Imelda de Alba, the only woman player, and Valerio Aguilar to reach the finals on Saturday, April 7.
Before the largest crowd ever at the Careyes Polo Club – the action was fast paced and very close during the 5 chukkers of play. Scoring was even almost every chukker and going into the finals 30 seconds of play – Team Canada lead by the one half goal 7 to 7 ½ but it was not to be as Scappino was awarded a penalty 2 – 30 yards open goal. Alejandro Gomez de Parada put it thru the uprights for the final winning goal – 8 to 7 ½.
Scappino – l to r Giorgio Brignone, Miguel Gomez de Parada, Guillermo Steta, Alberto Ardissone, Alejandro Gomez de Parada and Carloa Fernandez.
Rodrigo Fernandez of the Monterrey – Milagro Tequila was awarded the high scoring trophy for the amateurs and Carlos Gracida of the Careyes –Angelissima won the trophy for the most goals scored by a professional – a record setting 37 goals in the 5 games played. Azuquitar, a beautiful grey mare owned by Miguel Gomez de Parada, was named the best playing polo pony.
Team Canada – runnersup – Giorgio Brignone and Anna, David Buller, Chris Falk, Will Falk, Fico Uribe and Alberto Ardissone.
The remaining teams played for the standings with Monterrey-Milagro Tequila finishing third, Cobra – PANYC with Isaac Sepulveda, Pancho Aguilar, Fernando Pliego and Diego Velarde, placed 4th. Angelissma finshing 5th and BMW-Italia included Manuel Matos, Diego Gonzalez, Guillermo Li and Alberico Ardissone were 6th.
Activites were planned throughout the week with special dinner parties at the Plaza de los Caballeros and beach side restaurant – Playa Rosa. A polo horse sale was organized by Alberto Ardissone, founder of the Agua Alta tournament, at the Los Negritos beach featuring 12 experienced horses.
Agua Alta 2012 was very successful. Careyes Polo Club and the Brignone family, Gian Franco and Giorgio, look forward to hosting this special event next year – always held the week before Easter. The polo season for Careyes is from November through April and maintains 30 head of very handy polo horses. During the six month polo season the temperatures are surprisingly moderate.