Centennial Cup Finals
by Wiley Uretz
Photos by Kim Kumpart
This past weekend the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club hosted the WCT women’s Tournament and thanks to Paige Beard and many volunteers, horse lenders, sponsors and SBPRC staff it was a great success. Although amidst all the excitement and chatter the women’s tournament brought there was also a 12 goal tournament that was being held. This tournament was the Centennial Cup was the last hurrah of the 12 goal season. The two teams that made it to the finals of this tournament were Long Beach/Blanco and Mansour.
Tom Sikes, Henry Walker, Georgette Escobar, Luis Escobar, Matt Walker, win the Centennial Challenge 12 goal
Both of these teams were looking to win their first tournament of the season so it was expected to be a hard fought battle. Thanks to announcers Dan Walker and Andy Smith it was clear that both teams came out in the first chukker looking to take control of the game because as the announcers made aware the majority of the players were on their best horses. Due to this the first chukker was a tug of war. Long Beach/Blanco pulled out in front by two goals off the mallet of Matt Walker only to be jolted back by goals from Justin Klentner and Ben Soleimani. The chukker ended with a goal from Henry Walker to put Long Beach/Blanco up three to two. In the second chukker Long Beach again brought out their best horses with the idea of taking over the game and then if need be bringing them back in the last chukker to finish it off. This strategy paid off for Long Beach/Blanco giving them a six to three goak lead going into the third. However you only have so many best horses as any player/person knows and due to this in the third Mansour was able match Long Beach/Blanco goal for goal keeping it a 3 goal deficit going into the half. This looked to be a good position for Mansour because they were still within striking distance and they had not used up their best horses yet.
Georgette Escobar, Tatu, Luis Escobar and BPP Americana
In the fourth Long Beach/Blanco got the first goal making sure to prevent any comeback that Mansour may have staged right after half time. Mansour ended up answering only to be answered again by Long Beach with the chukker ending nine to five. In the fifth chukker Long Beach, determined to not let their lead slip away, came back on their best horses that they had played in the first chukker. This proved to be a wise decision with two open goal penalty conversions from Luis Escobar Long Beach/Blanco saw themselves with a eleven to 5 lead going into the last chukker. Even though most people would say that this game was all but over at the end of the fifth Long Beach took no chances coming back out on the horses they played in the second chukker. This would normal seem like overkill to most polo players with the score so lopsided, however. considering the number of comebacks that there have been during this 12 goal season it was definitely the wise choice.
Long Beach/Blanco ended up scoring three more times ensuring their first tournament win of the season. The Most Valuable Player was Matt Walker of Long Beach/Blanco and the Best Playing Pony was Americana owned by Luis Escobar.