Sunday June 24th Results . . .
11am Lt Governors Cup Victors-Two Left Boots
Two Left Boots 12 vs. Ramirez Financial 5
These two teams played each other even in the first and last chukker, but Two Left Boots(Abe Stein, Billy Paternetti, Maxi Minnini, and Diego Ferreira) took every other chukker and the trophies. Maxi Minnini for TLB was hot stick with 6 scores. Ferreira slapped in three and Billy Paternetti added two. Nicholas Milan scored 3 goals for Ramirez Financial. Andres and Fuad each found the uprights once.
1pm USPA Governor’s Cup first semi-final
Smithfield/Hawk Hill 8 vs. Buena Vista 7
The story on this one is pretty straight forward. Julio Ezcurra had an awesome performance and scored all 8 goals for SHH. Julio was very ably assisted by the defensive hard riding of John Klopp and Ernie Ezcurra. However Julio was all about offense and he played the match masterfully. Julio’s counterpart, playing for Buena Vista, Gaston Lisioli was also more than impressive with his performance. In fact, Gaston almost had a open goal opportunity that would have tied the match, but after discussion by the officials, the decision was no foul and a throw-in. Gaston had five tallies and teammates Don Langlois and Manuel Grehan each put up one. This one couldnt have been any closer. Great performances by both teams.
3pm USPA Governor’s Cup second semi-final
Heathcote Farm 7 vs. Longfield Farm 5
The game started with a handicap goal to Heathcote. If Smithfield/Hawk Hill’s hero was Julio, then Ezequiel Zubiaurre would be that man for Heathcote. Ezequiel’s task was Augustine Zavaleta, which is a very tough assignment. However, Ezequiel started his homework early and kept at it every chukker until the final exam. Ezequiel held Augustine to just two goals, while scoring twice. Brother Tatin was able to find goal 4 times. Juan Olivera also rode hard and played well, scoring twice. The 5th goal for Longfield was off of Duke Buchan’s mallet as he picked up a great pass and fired one through. Duke’s score in the 5th tied up the game 5-5, but Heathcote saw Duke’s goal and raised him one in the sixth. Longfield had 4 shots on goal in the sixth, but it was one of those days…not a day for Longfield…a day for Heathcote. So without the handicap, we saw two semi-final games with one goal decisions today.
Guilli, Michel, and I were all very impressed with our new group of players at Mashomack and how well they are doing. They are not the source of multiple fouls which is so typical of new players in tournament. Philip Mactaggart, Oakleigh and Parker Thorne, Fuad Malik, and Mr P all played with great “Field Awareness” today. Well done !!
So our USPA Governors Cup Finals is decided….
Heathcote Farm will face Smithfield/Hawk Hill for the 2007 title.
Longfield Farm will face Buena Vista in the
Mashomack Cup Consolation Finals.
Lots of dust out on our fields today as we are in a draught cycle. We are scrambling to upgrade the irrigation and should be able to water 24/7 by Tuesday. This is only my 4th year here, but I have not experienced such a dry run. The good news is that we haven’t canceled or re-scheduled a single game. The bad news is exactly the same. We will only schedule one practice this week on Wed at 5pm on the Briarcliff Field, so that we can get as much water as possible on the tournament fields in preparation for next weekend.
June 6 Goal Saturday League
11am Hawk Hill 7 def. Heathcote Farm 5
The Mactaggarts continue their soaring ways with an undefeated run in the 6 goal league, boasting a perfect record 6/0. Heathjcote played them tough. The two teams tied in both the first and second chukker to be 3-3 at half. Then Hawk Hills middle mallets, Maxi Minnini and Ernie Ezcurra overpowered Tatin’s Zubiaurre by a score of 2-1 in both the 3rd and 4th chukker to give Hawk Hill the win. Hawk Hill’s Ernie Ezcurra and Heathcote’s Tatin Zubiaurre shared high scoring honors with 4 goals apiece. Heathcotes Conor Mahoney found goal once and Parker almost brought them within one in chukker six with a near miss.
1pm Smithfield Farm 9 def. Supersize 4
The two Klopp brothers, Adam and Jake, teamed up to find the goal six times to help downsize the Supersize squad. Adam hit a couple of beautiful near-side goals which is rarely seen in amateur levels of play. Smithfield’s Quarterback Julio pumped in three and dad John kept the back door pretty well locked up. For Supersize, Michael :Levin scored twice in his first time up in the saddle this season. Teammates Felix Martinez and Abhay Singh also slapped in a goal apiece. Special guest and friend of Bruce Colley, Zach Bacon filled out the supersize squad and put in a solid performance. Smithfield has one last game against Buena Vista to have the opportunity to tie Hawk Hills record which would then force a playoff. However, if Buena Vista was to win that match up, Hawk Hill will take home the trophies.
Six Goal League June Standings
Hawk Hill 6/0
Smithfield Farm 5/0
Buena Vista 3/2
Supersize 3/2
Heathcote Farm 2/3
Ramirez Financial 1/5
Longfield Farm * 0/6
Longfield withdrew from League due to player injury
Sunday Gov Cup Games
11am
Lt Governor’s Cup Finals
Ramirez Financial vs Two Left Boots
1pm
USPA Gov’s Cup semi-finals
Buena Vista vs Smithfield/Hawk Hill
3pm
USPA Gov’s Cup semi-finals
Heathcote Farm vs Longfield Farm
Thursday June 22nd ’07: Results
2007 USPA Governor’s Cup Action – Two great games were played today on one of the windiest coldest days on record for a summer day at mashomack. The 7th Chukker Bar was more about hot drinks and scotch then the typical tropical drinks to help cool one down at field-side. There were a few moments that a rain out appeared imminent, but the storn just cut across our southwest corner of the fields.
Game #1
Buena Vista 11 def.Ramirez Financial 6
RF’s Nicholas Milan, Sam Ramirez, and Andres Erbetti combined efforts for six tallies in the match, but Buena Vista’s Gaston Lisioli pumped in 8 bullets to Ramirez Financial’s hopes with a decisive victory. Don Langlois added one and Manuel Grehan two to get Buena Vista to their total of 11. So Buena Vista gallops forward to face off against Smithfield Farm/Hawk Hill on Sunday at 1pmin the semi-finals. Smithfield/Hawk Hill is still flying high with the June 8 goal league victory last Sunday. Can Buena Vista ground the high flying Smithfield/Hawk Hill foursome or will SFHH get a step closer to a second trophy for their shelves. Ramirez Financial will now play the LT Governor’s Cup Consolation this Sunday at 11am.
Game #2
Heathcote Farm 11 def. Two Left Boots 6
Tatin Zubiaurre, Heathcote’s maestro, found goal seven times to bring his foursome into the start of the sixth chukker with a 9-6 lead. Then brother Ezequiel added two geico goals in chukker 6. It was great to have both Abe Stein and Billy Paternitti back at Mashomack. They put up a serious battle, as they were only trailing by a single goal after 4 chukkers, 7-6. Then the Zubiaurre brothers combined for 4 goals in chukkers 5 and 6, while holding Two Left Boots scoreless. Heathcote’s Parker Thorne was not able to make it back in time from England, so Conor Mahoney filled in and contribute to the win with a goal in the second chukker. Maxi Minnini had 4 goals in TLB’s performance and Billy added one. So Oakleigh’s Heathcote Farm advances to the semi-final round on Sunday against Longfield Farm at 3pm. Two Left Boots will face Ramirez Financial for the Lt Governor’s Cup Finals at 11am.
Saturday’s Play
11am
Hawk Hill (5/0) vs Heathcote Farm (2/2)
Can Heathcote put Hawk Hill in the loss column? Smithfiield sure hopes so.
1pm
Smithfield Farm (4/0) vs Supersize (3/1)
Michael Levin and Felix Martinez team up for a restructured Supersize with both Colley and McBride travelling. A win for Supersize would move them into a tie position for second place, whereas Smithfield could move into a first place tie with Hawk Hill….that is if Hawk Hill wins their game.
3pm Chukkers
Crash and Burn Roster . . .
You owe a case for every time you fall off in a season. Then there is customarily a party at the end of the season where everyone brings their beer. I think the quantity normally puts the party in the “beerfest” category. All we need is some elk sausage and we can look forward to one heck of a “Octpolofest” this fall.
Amy Wisehart-1 case
A metal plate and eight screws later, Amy is through her surgery and doing well. The recovery is 6-10 weeks so her summer is pretty well shot and she is very unhappy not to be with Woody’s horses. When the ambulance attendant asked her the standard “do you know where you are?” question, Amy’s reply was….yeah, Heaven. Amy does love it here at Mashomack. Amy, everyone sends their warm wishes for a speedy recovery, especially Woody and Alex.
Enrique Zavaleta-no beer owed
Enrique has a pinched nerve haunting him from a previous fall that he thought he had recovered from. He will return to Argentina to give it some more rest and decide what the best course of action will be. We will miss him being here with us. We wish him well.
Don Langlois-1 case
As you can see, Don is back in the saddle and is sporting a smile as opposed to the grimmace from his previously ailing tennis elbow. In addition, Don is now wearing a real shiner that he rcd in this last game. Don was sharing with me that after all these years of poio, he finally decided to try goggles. The very first game he was struck in the eye by the ball. He may have a shiner, but thank God he still has his eye. Good decision Don. Don owes the beer for being put down as he described it after mounting one of his trusted steeds.
Woody Keesee-1 case
Woody was participating in the spring tune up chukkers in the arena when he was tuned out for the first month of the summer by one of the rodeo broncs that Woody maintains to help him develop a better seat. Was it the same horse that launched Amy? No, that horse doesnt buck, that one props, which is another training tool to help develop stronger riding skills.
Fuad Malik-2 cases…a good jump on title… Mr Crash and Burn, 2007
Fuad was also launched into the arena wall during spring tune-up. It has now been confirmed that Dana’s construction design of the arena can withstand a fairly good hit. Then Fuad disappeared for an entire chukker one of our earlier games. We thought he was late for the chukker, turns out that one of his trusted mounts launched him before they made the back line.
Mr. P-no beer, but close decision….the judges gave this one to the horse
Mr P suffered a near knock out punch in one of his contests by his mount, but also was fortunately wearing goggles, but the blow gave him a shiner and some abrasions from the rim of the goggles.
Conor Mahoney-1 case
Conor was concerned that the horse in front of him may have had some lint or something on their hocks so he leaned way down to get a closer look and his horse tripped over the back legs of that horse so that Conor could get even a closer look. Picture a head stand between the back legs of the pony in front of you and you sort of get the picture on this one. Then Conor’s horse stepped on him as the mess cleared. Luckily, it was that smaller horse that Conor has, so it was only probably seven hundred pounds instead of the usual nine hundred.
Tom Goodspeed-1 case
wait………me………..thats hardly possible, did Julio bring out his kids horse again? No…let me tell you about this hair raising experience. There was this mounting block…do you know how high those are for those of us that are afraid of heights. Well….there I am on the very top step of the two step mounting block. I throw my leg over this horse that is full out, at a stand-still. Well…you can just imagine what happened next. The horse first swung his head around and knocked me in the head, then it balked to the side and threw me on the slab of cement outside of Duke’s barn where I landed on my back and elbow. I feel like I was first hit in the side of my head by a baseball bat, then thrown into the street and rolled over by a cement mixer. And this was all at a standstill, off a mounting block. I never realized how dangerous those mounting blocks can be. I may owe a case, but I plan to sue and get reimbursed for the case by the manufacturer of those mounting blocks. Duke? Can you get me the brand off of that block for me, my vision is a bit blurry…of course, all of you know that already from my umpiring
Alex Langlois-1 case, being a minor, a case of soda is sufficient..might I boldly suggest diet-mountain dew, for all the ones you and your brother have taken from my cooler?
Alex had a school report he was doing on the support system of goal posts. he now has completed that report and should be getting a fairly high grade. His parents are sending him to camp for a few weeks to forget the terrifying experience.
Please submit any that I may have overlooked.