Saturday, July 30 4pm Meeker Field
presented by Polo Training Center Santa Barbara and the Caset Family
By Robin Sanchez | Photos by David Lominska
Saturday, July 30 the Valetin Caset Memorial kids tournament was played in Santa Barbara, California at Meeker’s Field. Hosted by the Caset Family and Polo Training Center Santa Barbara, the tournament coincided with Robin Sanchez’s PTF/PTC summer polo camp and included some happy campers.
2011 winners: Juancito Bollini, Connel Erb, Grant Ganzi, Segundo Merlos
Great turnout with 38 young players. Four divisions of play followed by an asado. 37 goals were on foot in the Lead Line division. Santos Merlos was named MVP.
Sapo Caset and Augustin Merlos each played on a team in the Walk Trot division with the kids – what a treat! As Franky Hall pointed out, “We’re all minus twos but with them playing it makes our game a four goal!” Dane Wright was MVP as it turned into the Walk/Trot/Canter division.
The canter group had a close round robin with each game within two points or less. The victory went to – Andreane Leblanc, Camilo Castagnola, Hollie Boggess, and Adolfito Cambiaso. Adolfito Cambiaso, with his break away goals on “Tobi”, was given the MVP award.
The winning team in the “Rock and Roll” division whose names will go on the perpetual trophy – Juan Bollini, Connel Erb, Grant Ganzi and Segundo Merlos. With four teams in the division, play was tight including a three-round, tie-breaking shoot-out to decide one of the finals teams. The winnning goal of the finals was scored in the last 22 seconds of the chukker by MVP Juan Bollini.
Thanks to Celina, Nicole, and Sapo Caset, Geannie and Mike Sheller, umpire Carlos Galindo, Ambassador Glen and Gloria Holden, Santa Barbara Polo Club, Wiley and Claudia Uretz, Melanja Jones, Augustin Merlos, Corky & Kathy Linfoot, and all the others who helped to make this tournament happen in the place where Valentin had spent many years.