Fourteen Teams, led by White Birch, Enter the 26-Goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (February 26, 2007) – Fourteen teams, led by 12-time champion White Birch, have entered the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup, the second of the Big Three tournaments at International Polo Club Palm Beach. The USPA Piaget Gold Cup, which began in 1974, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States. This is its first season at International Polo Club.
The draw was held Monday at the club’s Mallet Grille. The complete schedule will be released in the next few days. However, the semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 and the final is set for Sunday, March 25 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.
Defending champion New Bridge La Dolfina did not enter the tournament, playing just the 22-goal season in 2007.
Teams were split into four divisions and will play within their group before the quarterfinals.
Division I looks to be the toughest group with 2006 Stanford U.S. Open champion Las Monjitas, Crab Orchard, led by superstar 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, and the eventual C.V. Whitney Cup champion. Division II is made up of 2006 Stanford U.S. Open runner-up Orchard Hill, Millarville, a new team led by the legendary Memo Gracida, and the C.V. Whitney Cup runners-up.
Bendabout, Black Watch, Lechuza Caracas and the third-place team from the C.V. Whitney Cup comprise Division III. Pony Express, Jedi, Laurence-Wallace/ and the fourth-place team from the C.V. Whitney Cup make up Division IV.
Peter Brant’s White Birch team has won this event a record 12 times. Current 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre has won the USPA Piaget Gold Cup eight times, more than any other professional player, all while playing for White Birch. The legendary Gonzalo Pieres has won the USPA Gold Cup seven times, also all with White Birch, and Alfonso Pieres has won it five times.
Brant and Aguerre will team up again for White Birch as they try to win the trophy they last hoisted in 2004.
Other top players expected to compete in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup include 10-goalers Miguel Novillo Astrada, Agustin Merlos, Sebastian Merlos and Facundo Pieres as well as 9-goalers Mike Azzaro, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Javier Novillo Astrada, Lucas Criado, Carlos Gracida, Gonzalito Pieres, Pablo MacDonough, Matias Magrini, Paco de Narvaez, Juan Martin Nero and Adam Snow.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
2007 USPA Piaget Gold Cup rosters:
Bendabout (26) – Gillian Johnston (2), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7), Miguel Novillo Astrada (10), Ignacio Toccalino (7)
Black Watch (25) – Neil Hirsch (0), Facundo Pieres (10), Gonzalito Pieres (9), Nacho Figueras (6)
Catamount (26) – Scott Devon (3), Adam Snow (9), Nicolas Roldan (8), Martin Zegers (6)
Crab Orchard (26) – George Rawlings (0), Matias Magrini (9), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David Stirling Jr. (7)
Jedi (26) – Torsten Koch (1), Pablo MacDonough (9), Juan Martin Nero (9), Magoo Laprida (7)
Las Monjitas (26) – Camilo Bautista (0), Sapo Caset (8), Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9), Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9)
Laurence-Wallace (26) – Elizabeth Iorio (0), Agustin Merlos (10), Mike Azzaro (9), Luis Escobar (7)
Lechuza Caracas (26) – Victor Vargas (1), Sebastian Merlos (10), Pite Merlos (9), Jeff Blake (6)
Millarville (26) – Fred Mannix Jr. (7), Memo Gracida (8), Julio Gracida (5), Kris Kampsen (6)
Orchard Hill (25) – Steve Van Andel (0), Hector Galindo (8), Lucas Criado (9), Jeff Hall (8)
Pony Express (26) – Bob Daniels (0), Pancho Bensadon (8), Carlos Gracida (9), TBA
San Saba (25) – Tommy Lee Jones (0), Toto Collardin (7), Javier Novillo Astrada (9), Paco de Narvaez (9)
Skeeterville (26) – Skeeter Johnston (2), Julio Arellano (8), Owen Rinehart (3), Marcos di Paola (8)
White Birch – Peter Brant (4), Lucas Monteverde (9), Mariano Aguerre (10), Ulysses Escapite (3)
Past Champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina
2005 – Millarville
2004 – White Birch
2003 – White Birch
2002 – White Birch
2001 – Boca Polo
2000 – Isla Carroll
1999 – Outback
1998 – White Birch
1997 – White Birch
1996 – White Birch
1995 – Ellerston White
1994 – Michelob
1993 – Cellular One
1992 – Revlon
1991 – Cellular One
1990 – Les Diables Bleus
1989 – White Birch
1988 – White Birch
1987 – White Birch
1986 – White Birch
1985 – Chasqui
1984 – White Birch
1983 – White Birch
1982 – Boehm
1981 – Boca Raton
1980 – Retama
1979 – Retama
1978 – Abercrombie & Kent
1977 – Lone Oak
1976 – Willow Bend
1975 – Tulsa-Dallas
1974 – Milwaukee