The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
July 19th, 2010
Santa Barbara Polo Club has been here for a century and I bet no one ever thought Lady’s Polo would be the biggest game of the day. Then again, women did not play in the polo during public games for about 80 of those years, but they do now. It is obvious they are here to stay.
Here is a little trivia …
Sunny Hale is the leading lady of polo. It was her mother, the late Sue Sally Hale, who is said to be the first lady to play a USPA event. Sunny was the first Lady to win a U.S. Open Polo Tournament and she is now the first lady of polo with a vast organization that is making women’s polo huge around the Planet. Even in Argentina and many Latin American countries women’s polo is getting bigger by the day.
This is not trivia a local Lady Player named Paige Beard took it on herself to bring women’s polo to Santa Barbara. This was a huge deal as Santa Barbara has been here for a 100 years and they seldom change their traditions and schedule. It is a Polo Club with some Tennis, that’s just the way it has always been. Tennis was not added for 50 years, now women’s polo has been added to their season schedule. I’m sure some graves must be moving.
The women’s polo tournament is going well and they draw the crowds and they do play the game quite well. The finals is tomorrow at 1 pm. I will be there to see it. There were 8 teams entered in the tournament and it is down to the Final two in each division. It should be a very exciting day to say the least.
At 1 pm it will be :
Tresor De Vintage
Paige Beard
Natascha Beecher
Sunny Hale
Claudia Uretz
Los Bandidos
Roxy Keyfauver
Erica Ganocar
Abby Riggs
Garla G.
And do not expect it to be slow or friendly. These ladies have one thing on their minds its called WINNING.
Bios …
Paige Beard is an advertising Guru, Sunny Hale is the best female player on the planet, Claudia Uretz is a star on her own … she lives with her husband Mike Uretz and has 4 Boys that are like Mike. Roxy Keyfauveris a Desert Rat gone east who trains horses and men. Abby Riggs is a gifted real estate investor and a top trainer of many great horses.
The consolation finals brings some Local flavor as :
Jaeger Le Coultre
Cybelle Jordan
Tiffany Busch
Karen Reese
Kate Weber
Eldorado Polo
Jessica Bailey
Gina Padilla
Angela York
Leigh Breechen
and their are no housewives in this group either!
In the Entry Level bracket finals it is Ashley Cone’s team, of mostly west coast players vs. players from Texas and East of Texas.
Cone Team
Ashley Cone
Gabby Questal
Daisy Gabbard
Daniele Travis
Blanco Texas /Film Finance
Chloe Bourgeious
Connell Erb
Kerstie Allen
Michelle Myers
Cone is all west coast players, even though Ashley hails from South Carolina and the hard-riding Danielle comes in a Hula from Hawaii. Blanco is in Texas and at one time was home of some of Americas best players … the Barrys and Uihliens and Wayne Brown .
We want to thank the many women’s tournament sponsors for being a part of this magnificent event and they are:
Tresor De Vintage
Cone Team
Jaeger LeCoultre
Blancotex/Film Fiance
Los Banditos
Oldman&Cooley
Eldorado Polo
Holiday Inn Express
Thanks!!!!!!!!
After all this at 3pm it will be Gentle Ben & Mansour taking on none other than Tom Barrack and Piocho Ranch. Be there!
Here is the first draw of the West Coast Triple Crown and in the UK it will be Cambiaso vs Lechuza in the semis so do not expect Adolfo Cambiaso on Friday.
2010 Robert Skene / 20-goal / 8 teams / July 16-25, 2010
Two brackets of 4, round-robin within bracket and final
Fri 16
10am Grants Farm vs. Audi Bracket I
Noon ERG vs. Valiente Bracket I
2pm Zacara vs. Lucchese Bracket II
4pm Piocho vs. Mansour Bracket II
Sun 18
10am Winner vs. Winner in Bracket I of 1st Round Games
10am Loser vs. Loser in Bracket I of 1st Round Games
1pm Winner vs. Winner in Bracket II of 1st Round Games
3pm Loser vs. Loser in Bracket II of 1st Round Games
Fri 23
10am Zacara vs. team not played in Bracket II
Noon Other Bracket II teams who have not played each other
2pm Grants Farm vs. team not played in Bracket I
4pm Other Bracket I teams who have not played each other
Sun 25 10am 3rd and 4th place Consolation games
1pm 2nd place Subsidiary
3pm FINAL: 1st place team in each bracket
see ya