The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Polo in California has been a hard sell for many years, but maybe things are changing. Prince William and the Duchess Kate were here in Santa Barbara Polo Club and in it only took one visit to bring worldwide knowledge that there is a polo club in the state of California. We have to thank them as they did put us on the world map of polo. Will and Kate are spectacular in all ways … pleasant, fun and oh yes … “Royal.” It helps so much to gain this type of publicity for Santa Barbara Polo Club and for the sport of polo. We had a decent crowd in Santa Barbara and I am sure San Diego had their usual huge fan turnout as they use marketing the new way and it is growing like the Hampton’s.
On Saturday, July 9th, it was a special day. The Duke of Cambridge came to Santa Barbara Polo Club and he played well and won the charity match. The Duke of Cambridge played very well on the field and the exposure he brought with him helped us get the word out that we offer polo every Sunday through the summer at Santa Barbara Polo Club.
Back to our regular tournament games ….
This Friday is the finals of the first 20-goal tournament, the Robert Skene Beluga Cup. It is free to all who care to come to watch. All you have to do is get here and we will not send cabs or chauffeurs. you have to do that and their is a huge Party after the came put on by Beluga Vodka of Russia ” it will be spacial” SO COME AND SEE US .
As for the polo today … Mark Ganzi and Audi were on fire as they blew by Mansour on their way to the finals. They will meet Mrs. Ganzi and the Piaget team in the finals, who had a battle, but came storming back from 4 or 5 goals back to stop Grant’s Farm in the final 2 chukkars. My son Jason Crowder ( and I am not bragging) played very well in the last 2 chukkars and dominated the field and won. He was not alone as he had Paco Narvaez on loan from ERG and Scott Woods Mrs. Ganzi and Juan Bolleni helping too. It was fun to watch and they will be in the finals in a family affair on Friday. It is the first big one of the 2011 season for the 20 goal. Be there … it will be fun and best of all it is FREE !
Across the pond where the UK Open is being played, it is semi time as the quarter finals ran the last 2 days and several of these players will be headed here soon to Santa Barbara. The Merlos brothers, Sebe and Augi both working for ERG are in the semis as they stopped Loro Piana, a heavy favorite. They play Salked, a hard-riding group of young guns from the UK including Mark Tomilson and James Beim. In the other it will be the Monsters of the freeway the Pieres and Aceo taking on Zacara, which may or not be lucky as thy came from 5 down to stop Cambiaso by one. The rest of the story is Adolfo Cambiaso did not play in the 4th or 5th as he was injured just short of 1/2 time so we shall see if it or is it not a good Zacara team. With a Patron beat up and still flying (I hear a surgery on a shoulder, a broken thumb, wearing a cast and already scheduled for surgery on his hip). They make them tough in the UK as we know … how else could a country not as big as Texas rule the world for so many years. I have no resuts for NY as of now.
See ya.