The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
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On a great day for polo it was the hard-riding Juniors who came out smoking. Mr. Cecils jumped all over Earth Polo, but at 4.37 in the 3 rd chukkar it all changed. Papa Gracida, the legend, came flying back and won the 3rd chukker 3 to 0 and it was a 1 goal game at the 1/2. The game was tied in the 4th and finished tied in the 5th, but youth came back in the 6th as Cecils once again jumped out to a 3 goal lead. Then came Memo and he had closed the gap by 1, but the Polo Gods were looking after Cecils and it ended just that way. Cecil’s won by 1 in a very good game. The game was a bit physical, but that was expected with 3 relatives playing each other in the finals. The players flew up and down the field with a couple of hundred fans watching on a perfect day for polo. Everybody in the barns relaxed as the football game (Soccer) was history and Argentina was the winner of that. I am sure the mood would have been a little better if Mexico had won as the majority of the polo trainers are of Mexican decent.
The final game of the 12-goal season was a crowd pleaser as well as the consolation finals. In the Consolation Finals it was Long Beach Polo Team, who got the best of Lakirina/Mansour once again. It was a similar game to the last one when they knocked Lakirina/Mansour out of the finals Friday. Mr. Cecil’s is buying them dinner soon or at least I hope because the Long Beach team put them there where they could have a chance to be Champions of the USPA Intra Circuit Cup.
The young Gracida boys Julio and Mariano proved that there is another generation on the trail of their fathers. Now it all becomes dark for a while and when we will return to 20-goal polo. Santa Barbara Polo Club now has 8 teams for last 3 and 4 or so for first, but look for real action on JULY 16th when the real show begins. I promise they will have name signs with real pros doing the work. I HOPE!! It was a pleasure to have Mr. Benitoz and Mr. Boyd come in for the action from far away. We hope they come back.
Congratulations to 2010 Champs
Johnathan Burrows
Mariano Gracida
Julio Gracida
Santiago Trotz
See ya in 2 weeks!