Players from South Africa, USA, Argentina, Portugal, Italy and Mexico opened the Careyes Polo Club at the private gated resort on the Mexican Pacific Coast for the 2016-2017 season with a 4 goal tournament. Teams were divided by handicap to play for the Thanksgiving event – November 25 and 26. Horses were fit, weather was beautiful and the fields were ready for the season.
Play started with Team Magness – Sarah Siegel-Magness playing in her first formal tournament, Joe Henderson, Manuel Rios and veteran Hans Giebeler against Piso 51 – a private business club in Mexico City with George Sandhu, owner of the Club, Will and Chris Falk and Nico Millan. Play was very close ending with a score of 7 to 6 ½ – Piso 51 winning the game. High scorers for the Magness team were Sarah Magness with 3 and Will Falk for the winners with 4 goals.
The 2nd game of the day was Guadalajara – first time tournament player Guillermo ¨Memo¨ Jimenez. Luis Perez, Diego Gonzalez and Daniel Cruz. Team Careyes Agua Alta was Giorgio Brignone, owner and founder of the Careyes Club, Alberico Ardissone, Manuel Matos and Mane Yrena. Again a close game – 6 ½ to 6 – Guadalajara the winner. Luis Perez scored 5 goals for the winning team and Matos had 3 for Careyes/Agua Alta
Finals day brought in a good local crowd with margaritas being served fieldside. The subsidiary match between Team Magness and Agua Alta with Alberico Ardissone leading the winning team with 4 goals. Agua Alta was the winner – 7 – 3 ½ . Katie Falk replaced Sarah Magness.
Piso 51 came to the field to play catching the Guadalajara team the first 2 chukkers almost scoreless and at halftime the score was 6 to 1 ½. Will Falk on fire with 3 goals – all on penalties. The 3rd chukker Guadalajara came to play scoring 3 quick goals to Guadalajara´s one. Two more for the Guadalajara team in the 4th was not enough with the final score 9 to 5 ½. After the game all players were treated to traditional shots of tequila and silver. Careyes polo season goes from November to April. The next event is Copa de Careyes starting December 27. Please contact Giorgio Brignone – giorgiobringone@yahoo.com.mx or Susan Stovall – susanstovall@careyes.com.mx – for polo information, polo lessons and tournament dates.