Hitchcock Woods Foundation big winner of Aiken Equine Charities Cup!
Aiken, SC – Mercedes-Benz of Augusta and Maverick Communications two teams made up of some of polo’s top talent in a 30 goal contest staged to benefit the Hitchcock Woods Foundation was every polo aficionados’ idea of excitement with a capital “E” with a game that from the first bowl in could have belonged to either team and ended with a 7-7 draw.
Mercedes-Benz of Augusta’s Adam Snow (9) playing a text book perfect #2 position opened up the scoring with an explosive run resulting in a beautiful goal. Teammates Julian Daniels (6) at #1, Jeff Hall (8) in the quarter back #3 position and Martin Zegers (6) closing the back door at #4 exhibited classic team play. On the other side of the ball the equally talented roster of Frankie Bilbao (6) at #1, Tiger Kneece (6) at #2, Carlos Gracida (9) at #3 and Owen Rinehart (7) at back answered Snow’s game opener with a beautifully executed goal by Bilbao to end the first chukker. Bilbao scored once again in the second to briefly take the lead for Maverick. Martin Zeger’s well executed penalty #2 evened the score at 2-2, only to be changed by a gorgeous goal by Carlos Gracida to end the chukker with Maverick ahead 3-2. Evenly traded goals by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta’s Jeff Hall and Maverick’s Carlos Gracida ended the half with Maverick in the lead 4-3.
In the fourth Maverick continued to extend their lead to 6-4 with goals by Aiken’s own homegrown Tiger Kneece and Gracida, with only one stroke for Mercedes-Benz by the talented Mr. Zegers of Santiago, Chile. In the fifth chukker Mercedes-Benz of Augusta then stormed back with two unanswered goals by Zegers and Snow to tie the score 6-6 at the end of the 5th. Mercedes-Benz of Augusta’s Julian Daniels then scored the go ahead goal on a beautifully executed play with passes from #4 Zegers to #3 Hall to #2 Snow to #1 Daniels-classic polo at its finest! It looked as if the day was going to end with Mercedes-Benz of Augusta as the winner until in the LAST second of the game Bilbao fired one through the uprights for a tying goal to end the match 7-7.
There was a brief discussion of a “foot race” or relay between the two teams to determine the winner but then both teams decided that the ultimate winner, Hitchcock Woods Foundation, had already been crowned. According to Mercedes-Benz of Augusta’s Snow who was presented with the Most Valuable Player award, “it was a great day, a great game and a lot of fun and it’s so rewarding to be able to do something we love to give back to our community.” Aiken resident and horse trainer Jill Diaz’s “Noel” played by Julian Daniels was the Best Playing Pony.
“302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta is delighted to be a part of such a wonderful event that benefits such a worthy cause” said board member Tom Uskup. “We have our guests from team Barbados in town competing in our international series presented by Hotel Aiken and it’s terrific to be able to give them the opportunity to see such a great level of polo played AND to be able to support our community.” With a picture perfect day under Carolina blue skies, the sidelines lined with excited and happy spectators and the VIP tent a great time was had by all who attended.
“This one is “a don’t miss” for next year” said one happy spectator!
302 Polo (www.302polo.com), Mercedes-Benz of Augusta, Maverick Communications, Prisa Sportswear and all of the participating corporate sponsors were delighted to host this prestigious event in Aiken.