The 2016 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial was played at Southern California’s Eldorado Polo Club on the warmest day of the current season and in front of a very big opening day crowd. Madelyn Cobb, a grand-daughter of Mack and Madelyn, brought her M3 group (Cobb, Jared Sheldon 4, Peter Blake 3, Alonso Cruz) to the field to face Suzanne Figi’s Gypsy foursome (Figi, Graham Bray 3, remy du Celliee Muller 3, Taylor Freeman 2).
Like the 75 degree weather, M3 was warm early as Blake took a perfect pass from Sheldon to score and lead by one. Gypsy came back quickly as Freeman scored from the field to even the count. Not to be one to sit back and watch, Sheldon notched a field goal of his own and the lead was once again one for Cobb and Co. but Freeman changed that with his second and the count was tied at two after the first.
Gypsy took the lead early in the second frame as du Celliee Muller grabbed his first of the day but Sheldon nailed a safety from 70 yards and it was even once again. Cobb, on a very alert pick-up and run, scored, and the lead, once again, belonged to M3 at 4 – 3. However, du Celiee Muller converted a 40 yard free throw and Bray counted from the field and the chukker ended with Gypsy ahead by one at 5 – 4.
The third was all M3 as Blake scored twice and Sheldon supplied one and the Cobb group went to the half with a lead of two at 7 – 5.
Sheldon continued the M3 push in the early fourth by converting a great set-up by Cobb and it was now 8 – 5 M3. Many thought that would be it and M3 would coast to the win. Not so, as Bray took charge and pushed du Celliee Muller and Freeman to score one each – bringing Gypsy to within one at 8 – 7.
A successful 60 yard free shot by Sheldon and a counter from the field by Blake put M3 in front by three at 10 – 7 but du Celliee Muller pulled Gypsy back with a penalty three conversion to end the fifth at 10 – 8 in favor of M3.
To start the sixth, Blake grabbed his fifth of the day and it appeared, once again, that M3 had the silver. Not quite as Gypsy pressed back with Freeman counting his fourth to narrow the lead to a pair at 11 – 9. A strong run by Bray ended with a du Celliee Muller open goal conversion and the lead was again just one with little time on the clock – not enough time as it turned out and Cobb and her Madelyn Three Team won the Mack and Madelyn Jason Trophy by a count of 11 – 10.
Sheldon was selected as the MVP and Geisha, owned and played by Blake, was awarded the Best Playing Pony blanket.
Tony Gregg