The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder

Leigh Brecheen and Sara Rotman, the two patrons of Film Fiance (Brecheen)  and Dark Horse (Rotman) have gotten to know each other well in the last 10 days on the polo field.  Ten days ago, in a barn burner, Sara’s Dark Horse trailing by 3 in the end of 5 stormed back to score 3 in the 6th chukker to knot it up and send the game into overtime. This was just the beginning. They played a seventh chukkar too and still no winner.  This game had something you do not see very often … 4 ladies on the field, two on each team, and all doing a very good job. In the eighth, with just over 2 minutes to go, the rookie on the field, a little Lady named Emma, did what no one else could do … SCORE!  Film Fiance came out on top. Well after finishing round robin play they were to meet again in the Final of the Harry East Memorial and they did on Sunday afternoon at Santa Barbara Polo Club. Sara’s Dark Horse squad seemed primed to take control early and did for a while, but the Wolf Gang of Leigh’s was not going away. They came roaring back and seemed to completely dominate the middle chukkers and go out to a 4 goal lead.

Last week they may have felt like they were fine, but as we know it  in polo, is not over until the Fat Lady sings. It was a very thin Lady named Dayelle Fargey who started the run of 4 unanswered goal.  It was as last week, all tied up, when the 6th ended. Replay … well almost,  but this time the Star of last weeks marathon was setting in the stands as Emma was exchanged for Mike Shellac.

Leigh and Film Fiance jumped on the ball and headed to the condos. It looked like Wulfgang had got it done, but a dropped shot and in swoops Jesse Bray.  He spun around and Leigh barely missed getting the ball and Jesse took one hit and then sent a monster shot down the field and it never stopped going until it passed the line and the Flag flew as well as the tears of joy and some not. DARK HORSE AND SARA ROTMAN WIN THEIR FIRST TIME AT SBPC. WELL DONE !

THE HARRY EAST Memorial Tournament provided some interesting facts . In a * goal tournament near the end of the year there were 4 teams  playing 12 games + finals and I think there were 6 overtime games and only 1 was by more than 2 goals. Maybe DW is doing the job well as the PCO also ended in OT and I believe 3 other games went to overtime as well.

Down in Party town @ San Diego Polo it was Hanalei  Bay and Ron “Bones” Bonaquidi mashing Tri Tech /Star Meadows combo for the title. A new star is showing up down there and his name is Colin Bancroft, much like young gun Conrad Kissling we do have a future in U.S. POLO.

Good work
see ya