Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA
8-10 Goal Champions Cup Finals
22-Goal USPA Townend Cup Arena Challenge
By Alex Webbe
The teams lined-up for the national anthem to start the 22-Goal USPA Townsend Cup.
“You’ve got to hand it to Alex Haagen III, he knows how to close a place down”, at least that was the feeling following the season ending tournaments at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California this year.
The final week of the season lifted off with the arrival of the English arena polo team (Chris Hyde, Sebastian Dawnay and Ryan Pemble) that would compete for the John R. Townsend International Challenge Cup, a series that was making its first appearance on the West Coast. Add to that nearly $80,000 in prize money divided between ten different teams competing in the 10-goal Champions cup and the 4-goal Lion’s Cup.
The entire Empire polo community looked after the English team during the week, working up to the arrival of the USA’s John Gobin and Tommy Biddle from Wellington, Florida. Gobin and Biddle joined Poway’s own Shane Rice as preparations were being made for the international match.
On Saturday night, March 26th, a talented USA arena polo team manhandle England 15-9 before a crowd that reportedly exceeded 1,000 spectators for an exciting game that offered plenty of action and excitement under the lights. Tommy Biddle was named MVP while John Gobin led all players in scoring with seven goals.
USA & England: Billy Sheldon, Tommy Biddle, John Gobin, Shane Rice, Alex Haagen III, Denny Geiler, Alex Haagen IV, Ryan Pemble, Chris Hyde, Sebastian Dawnay and Tarquin Southwell.
The following day was the finals of the Lions Cup (4-goal) and the Champions Cup (10-goal), both with money on the line.
In the battle for third ($9,000) and fourth ($6,000) place, Barrossa defeated Santa Rosa Ranch 9-7 behind a five goal performance from Jared Sheldon.
Barrossa received two goals by handicap from the 10-goal Santa Rosa Ranch squad and added to it. Sheldon added a pair of goals from the field while Santa Rosa Ranch managed just a single goal in the opening chukker. Barrossa left the field at the end of the first period with a 4-1 lead.
Santa Rosa Ranch fought back with three unanswered goals in the second period with Nicolas Maciel scoring two of them and Yackley adding another. The game was all even at 4-4 at the end of the first half.
Both teams battled to put more goals on the scoreboard, but defenses prevailed. Erik Wright managed the only goal of the chukker, moving Barrossa ahead, 5-4.
Barrossa picked up three more goals with Sheldon scoring a pair of them and Wright complimenting them with a goal of his own. Yackley managed to keep Santa Rosa Ranch from getting blanked, scoring one goal from the field. Barrossa held an 8-5.
Sheldon scored to open the fifth chukker, but Yackley and Maciekl, followed with goals of their own. The fifth chukker ended with Barrossa holding on to a two goal lead, 9-7, with which they would finish the game after a scoreless sixth chukker of play.
Barrossa won 3rd place and $9,000 in the Champions' Cup Finals. Denny Geiler, Jerod Sheldon, Erik Wright and Santiago Trotz. Jef Graham not shown in photo.
Santa Rosa Ranch won 4th place and $6,000. Susan Stovall, Miguel Gutierrez, Nicolas Maciel, Rob Yackley and Scott Cunningham.
4-Goal Lion’s Cup Finals
The field of four had been pared down to just two, Cam Clark Ford (Dayelle Fargey, Cam Clark, Canelo Silvestre and Jared Sheldon) and Fair Hills (Graydon Britton, Ashton Wolf, Jimmy Wright and Ted Oakie).
Fair Hills got off to an early start with a pair of goals from Ashton Wolf. Jared Sheldon responded for Cam Clark Ford with a goal but the chukker ended with Fair Hills sitting on an early 2-1 lead. Wolf rang up his third goal of the match in the second, with Cam Clark Ford struggling to keep pace. A single goal from Dayelle Fargey closed out the scoring with a goal, and it was Fair Hills holding on to a narrow one goal lead, 3-2.
Cam Clark Ford came to life in the third as the Fair Hills offense disappeared. Sheldon went on a tear, scoring five more goals in the ensuing chukkers. Canelo Silvestre and Cam Clark added single goals in the fifth while a stifled Fair Hills attack was held to a single fifth chukker goal from Graydon Britten for the final 8-4 Cam Clark Ford victory.
Each of the four teams paid $1,000 entry fees with Empire Polo Club’s Alex Haagen III matching the funds for a total purse of $8,000. The first place team, Cam Clark Ford, received $6,000 for their win while runner-up, Fair Hills, took home $2,000.
Jared Sheldon led all scoring with six goals, and was named MVP for his efforts. Graydon Britten’s 9-year-old Chestnut gelding, Serrano, received Best Playing Pony honors.
Cam Clark Polo Team wins the 4-Goal Lion's Cup Finals and takes home $6,000. Denny Geiler, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Haagen III, Cam Clark, Canelo Silvestre, Dayelle Fargey, Jerod Sheldon and Trish Fitzgerald.
8-10 Goal Champions’ Cup Finals
The final match of the day/season was the finals of the 8-10 goal Champions Cup. A bit headier than the Lions Cup competition both in handicap and financial rewards as a field of six teams battled it out for $70,000 in prize money. Each of the teams paid $5,000 entry fees with Alex Haagen III and Twin Palms Polo Club’s Chris Maloney matching funds. Alex Haagen III sweetened the pot even more with an additional $5,000 each for Best Playing Pony and Most Valuable Player awards.
The six teams competing for the Champions Cup had been whittled down to a final two, with Empire/Shanghai (Ashton Wolf, Abby Riggs, Nick Morrison and Joe Henderson) facing Ben Soleimani’s Mansour team (Ben Soleimani, Patrick Uretz, Marcos Bignoli and Gaston Von Wernich).
Spectators filled the field for the halftime champagne divot stomp sponsored by Korbel California Champagne.
First chukker action resulted in a tumble by Mansour patron Soleimani that left him briefly unconscious and with a broken left thumb. He was taken off to the hospital and replaced by Tiamo Hudspeth.
Empire/Shanghai received one goal by handicap from the 10-goal Mansour team, with Von Wernich scoring the only goal of the opening period for a 1-1 tie.
Empire/Shanghai picked up the only goal of the second chukker with Nick Morrison weaving through the Mansour defense for the goal. Both teams mounted impressive attacks, but goals were at a premium, and the Empire/Shanghai defense, led by former US Open MVP Joe Henderson, closed the door on a number of Mansour efforts. Empire/Shanghai snuck out to a 2-1 lead after the first two chukkers of play.
Mansour continued to have difficulties breaking through the Empire/Shanghai defense in the third chukker, getting shut out for the second consecutive period. Henderson’s offensive efforts emerged in the form of a 60-yard penalty conversion and a goal from the field. At the end of the first half Empire/Shanghai left the field with a comfortable 4-1 lead.
Fans watched the finals from VIP cabanas and couches.
Von Wernich finally broke the scoring drought for Mansour with a goal in the fourth, but Ashton Wolf responded with his first goal of the game and the chukker ended with Empire/Shanghai holding on to its three goal lead, 5-2.
Mansour tightened its defense in the fifth, shutting down the Empire/Shanghai offense, and picking up a goal from Patrick Uretz, but they weren’t able to gain much ground.
The period ended with Empire/Shanghai leading by two goals with one chukker left to play.
With seven-and-a-half minutes to play, the Empire/Shanghai team decided to put an end to it. Abby Riggs scored her first goal of the afternoon and Henderson converted a pair of penalty shots. Mansour managed to tack on a goal on a penalty shot from Von Wernich, but it was Empire/Shanghai who rode off with the 8-4 win and $30,000 in first place prize money. Mansour was compensated for its second place finish with $15,000 with a generous crowd cheering the efforts of both teams.
Empire/Shanghai won the 8-10 Goal Champions' Cup Finals and were awarded a check for $30,000, 50% of the purse. Alex Haagen IV, Mr. and Mrs. Haagen III, Joe Henderson, Ashton Wolf, Nick Morrison, Abby Riggs, Steve Armour and Denny Geiler.
Joe Henderson led all scoring with four goals and received $5,000 in prize money for being named tournament MVP. Marcos Bignoli’s chestnut gelding Diesel, was named Best Playing Pony and also received $5,000.
And with participants and spectators warming up for a night of celebration after an action-packed weekend, the 2011 season ended at the Empire Polo Club with promises of similar activities in the future.