Orchard Hill Plays Millarville in Opening Game as Schedule Announced For 26-Goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (February 27, 2007) – Steve Van Andel’s Orchard Hill, led by 9-goaler Lucas Criado, plays Millarville, paced by legendary Memo Gracida, Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the opening game of the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
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 and is in first season at International Polo Club.
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, leaving a wide-open field in the quest for the title.
Teams were split into four divisions and will play within their group before the quarterfinals.
Criado and Van Andel are joined by 8-goaler Hector Galindo of Wellington and 8-goaler Jeff Hall of Houston. Gracida is joined by his son, Julio, a 5-goaler, 6-goaler Kris Kampsen of Wellington and 7-goaler Fred Mannix Jr. of Calgary.
Current 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre of White Birch 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.
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 schedule:
Tuesday
Orchard Hill vs. Millarville, 1 p.m.
Wednesday (March 7)
Bendabout vs. Black Watch, 10 a.m.
Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard, noon
Lechuza Caracas vs. Third-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup, 3 p.m.
Thursday (March 8)
Laurence-Wallace/ Paladin Rally vs. Pony Express, noon
Jedi vs. Fourth-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup, 3 p.m.
Friday (March 9)
Runner-up in C.V. Whitney Cup vs. Loser of Orchard Hill vs. Millarville, 3 p.m.
Saturday (March 10)
Winner of C.V. Whitney Cup vs. Loser of Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard, noon
Loser of (Bendabout vs. Black Watch) vs. Loser of (Lechuza Caracas vs. Third-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup), 3 p.m.
Sunday (March 11)
Winner of (Bendabout vs. Black Watch) vs. Winner of (Lechuza Caracas vs. Third-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup), TBA
Loser of (Laurence-Wallace/ Paladin Rally vs. Pony Express) vs. Winner of (Lechuza Caracas vs. Third-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup), TBA
Winner of (Laurence-Wallace/ Paladin Rally vs. Pony Express) vs. winner of (Jedi vs. fourth-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup), TBA
Tuesday (March 13)
Second-place finisher in C.V. Whitney Cup vs. winner of Orchard Hill vs. Millarville, noon
Winner of C.V. Whitney Cup vs. Winner of Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard, 3 p.m.
Wednesday (March 14)
TBA, noon
TBA, 3 p.m.
Saturday (March 17)
Quarterfinals, TBA
Sunday (March 18)
Quarterfinals, TBA
Wednesday (March 21)
Semifinals, TBA
Sunday (March 25)
Championship match, 3 p.m.
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