2008 MARKS 97 YEARS OF POLO HERE IN SANTA BARBARA
THE BALL IS IN PLAY AND THE GAMES ARE UNDER WAY
Polo got under way here in Santa Barbara with the Dean Mullin Trophy played on the first two weeks of April. A very strong Klentner Ranch/Nicoma Team won the finals on 13 April. Pictured below on the winning team are Wes Ru, Joel Ladin, Matt Ladin and Justin Klentner.
Joel Ladin took home the honors as high scorer for the match with seven goals for the winners. Spring polo here at the club is really the best as all the players are enjoying the perfect fields at the club. Sergio Jaramillo and his great grounds crew have the field in tip top shape for the upcoming year. As one spectator put it “these fields are better than the greens at my golf club”.
Zacara will be back to defend their 2007 Bombardier Pacific Coast Open (PCO) Trophy championship. After a busy winter in Wellington, Florida playing in the prestigious U S Open Championships, Lyndon Lea will return with two new players in his 20 Goal team. Added are local favorite Santi Torres and the great nine goal player from Argentina Javier Novillo Astrada. Currently there are six teams that are committed for the PCO, and no less than four other teams that are negotiating to come out west for the summer season. Piocho Ranch also participated during the winter season in Florida, as T J Barrack played at the new Port Mayaca Polo Club and won the big 18 goal tournament played in early April.
The polo club will once again have the use of the two fields on the Meeker property on Lambert Road. We are currently upgrading these two fields and by next year have both fields up to tournament grade.
Pictured below are our two most recent full time polo members- and Bowen Farrell. They live here in Montecito, so when you see them give both a warm welcome. Bowen has played for several years in Florida but has moved his polo operation to here in Santa Barbara.