QUESTELS SET FIRE TO WILL ROGERS FIELD
By Rob Gallagher
Will Rogers Polo Club in Los Angeles, California was the site of the annual Atlant Shipping Cup Tournament hosted by Bolko Kissling on August 15 & 16th, 2009. Contending for the cup were players from Team Palisades, Team Malibu, and Team Santa Monica.
Dominating the contest was a fiercely fought dynasty mêlée between posses led by professional player Domingo Questel & his daughter Gabby Questel, on Team Palisades, and a gripping challenge from Domingo Questel’s son, professional player Manny Questel on Team Malibu.
Saturday commenced with a three squad round-robin tournament opening with Team Palisades drawing with Team Malibu, 5-5. Subsequently Team Malibu tied Team Santa Monica 4-4. To finish, Team Palisades subjugated Team Santa Monica 5-1. Leading in scoring were Domingo Questel with 9 goals, Manny Questel with 8 goals, and Graydon Brittan with 4 goals.
Team Palisades consisted of Captain Domingo Questel, Sunny Sassoon with alternate Gabby Questel, Leigh Brecheen, and Alex Rabida with alternates Kimberly Garsed & Grainger Hines (2 chukkers each).
Team Malibu comprised Captain Manny Questel, John Waybill, Soheil Goel, and Richie Merluza with alternate Paul Martinez.
Team Santa Monica included Captain Andrew Bossom, Graydon Brittan, Chuck Stanislawski, and Hannah Taylor.
Convening on Sunday’s championship match was Team Palisades and Team Malibu in a much anticipated and heavily spectated bout for what did not disappoint as a fervent fight to the finish. Both squads fought passionately as indicated by a near record 23 fouls (Will Rogers Polo Club record is 27 fouls in a single game).
Team Palisades galloped to a 4-1 advance by the 2nd chukker, only to see Team Malibu counter-attack to tie the match in the 3rd chukker at 4-4. Team Palisades rallied to lead 5-4 into the 4th chukker and widened their command to 7-4, with Team Santa Monica scoring late, for the decisive score of 7-5.
When the smoke had settled the final tally for Team Palisades was Domingo Questel with 4 goals/ 6 saves, Sunny Sassoon with 2 goals, and Leigh Brecheen with 1 goal. Team Mailbu retaliated with Manny Questel’s 4 goals/ 5 saves, and Richie Merluza’s 1 goal.
Domingo Questel was awarded Most Valuable Player and Manny Questel’s horse “Romance” was awarded Best Playing Pony.
Photo by Rob Gallagher Left to right: Gabby Questel, Leigh Brecheen, Griffin Dellaverson, Domingo Questel, Kimberly Garsed, Grainger Hines, Sunny Sassoon.