| Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s fastest-growing and most innovative polo club, will host six tournaments during its 2014 spring season that begins in April.
Tournament organizers will open the two-month medium goal season with the April 17-19 Grand Champions Cup.
The remainder of the schedule is: April 24-27, The USPA Spring Challenge; May 1-4, The USPA Sun Cup; May 8-11, The USPA Eastern Challenge; May 15-18 The Polo Gear Challenge Cup and May 22-26 The Memorial.
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| Leo Mandelbaum (2) and Gene Goldstein (1) competed in last year’s spring games including the USPA Spring Challenge. Photo by Scott Fisher. |
One of the newest and biggest highlights of the spring season will be the use of state-of-the-art technology featuring instant replay and team review.
In January, Grand Champions became the first polo club worldwide to offer instant replay and team review much to the delight of players and patrons in hopes of improving officiating and quality of play at all levels of polo.
PoloNow Network is providing unduplicated state-of-the-art technology to provide instant replay. In addition, the technical staff has also live-streamed games that have been viewed around the world on its website.
“I am all for instant replay,” said Las Monjitas player-patron Camilo Bautista, who has been competing at Grand Champions during the winter season. “In sports, I think it’s important.”
Said Argentine 10-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada of Flight Options: “In polo we need new things, we have been using the same rules for a long time. Instant replay is a very good idea.
“With the technology and polo becoming more professional and sponsors spending more money on horses, you don’t want to lose a game because of a silly mistake. It will also attract more players and sponsors to the sport at all levels.”
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| Avery Chapman (4) and Marc Ganzi (3) played in last year’s Polo Gear Challenge Cup. This year’s match takes place May 15-18. Photo by Scott Fisher. |
During the Grand Champions spring season, amateur polo players will have the opportunity to play with and against some of the world’s top pros.
Grand Champions, with its well-manicured fields and turnkey facility, expects to have its finest spring season in the nine-year history of the club. Its expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions.
Last year’s spring tournament winners included ELG/Psycho Bunny, Power Horse, Audi, Pony Express and Longfield Farm.
Registration is now open for teams to sign up. For information and to sign up call 561-644-5050.
For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go towww.grandchampionspoloclub.org.
Game video and live webcasts can also be seen at PoloNow Network at http://www.polonow.tv/.
2014 HIGH GOAL SEASON
MARCH 7-23: USPA Piaget Gold Cup: Thursday, Audi vs. Flight Options, 3 p.m.; MARCH 16, Orchard Hill vs. Flight Options, noon; Audi vs. Alegria, 3 p.m.; MARCH 19, Semifinals, 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 20, Butler Handicap Semifinals, 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 23, Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.
MARCH 26-APRIL 20: 110th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championships
GRAND CHAMPIONS @ PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)
MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (5-goal); The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series; The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; March 15-31, Santa Rita Abierto (16 goals); March 23-31, March 23-31, $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament.
APRIL: Las Acacias (5-goal); USPA Association Cup (8- goal); Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (12-goal); John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy (16-goal).
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
MARCH 17: Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament
APRIL 4-5: Fifth annual Gay Polo League International Tournament
APRIL 8-12: Women’s Championship Tournament
GRAND CHAMPIONS 2014 SPRING SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
APRIL 17-19: Grand Champions Cup
APRIL 24-27: The USPA Spring Challenge
MAY 1-4: The USPA Sun Cup
MAY 8-11: The USPA Eastern Challenge
MAY 15-18: The Polo Gear Challenge Cup
MAY 22-26: The Memorial
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April. |
