Oak Brook Polo hosted its second completed match of the season at Prince of Wales Field with the rescheduling of the July 15th Butler Challenge Cup, which was rained out after the second chukker. On Sunday, July 29th, in front of 300 spectators, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse defeated Oak Brook 10-9 in a highly anticipated match-up which Gibsons lead throughout all 6-chukkers.
Oak Brook’s team included Horacio Onetto (handicap-4), Tomas “Toto” Obregon (handicap-4), Mariano Gutierrez (handicap-4) and guest player -15 year old Grace Mudra (handicap-0) who replaced Jim Drury for the afternoon match. Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse was captained by Chris Vangel (handicap-1) and comprised of Matias Obregon (handicap-4) Lindor Novillo Corvalan (handicap-4), and Billy Mudra (handicap-3), also Grace’s father.
Singer/songwriter Thair Thompson kicked off the pre-match program by singing the national anthem followed by the ceremonial ball roll-in by Brooke McDonald, editor of Make It Better magazine.
The match was immediately underway at a quick 12-goal pace with both teams on the flat 0-0. Onetto was first to put a point on the board for Oak Brook via a penalty two, but Corvalan shot back for Gibsons with two goals closing the first chukker with Gibsons leading 2-1. Onetto was quick to answer back with two more goals in the second chukker before a penalty against Corvalan tied the score at 3-3. The Gibsons team would go on a three goal streak with Obregon (Matias), Corvalan and Mudra each putting up a point on the board while out defending Oak Brook who remained goalless to end the third chukker and first half of the match at 6-3.
As the fourth chukker got underway, Obregon (Matias), was the first to put a point on the board for Gibsons before Oak Brook’s Onetto rallied back with two goals. Obregon snuck another goal shortly after, followed by goals from Onetto and Grace Mudra to end the fourth chukker 8-7 in favor of Gibsons. In the fifth chukker, Oak Brook was held scoreless, while Mudra and Corvalan each contributed a goal advancing Gibsons three goals ahead of Oak Brook 10-7.
For the last chukker, Oak Brook held Gibsons scoreless and made every effort to put points on the board. Gutierrez and Onetto were successful but fell short by two goals in the final minutes leaving Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse to claim the Butler Challenge Cup 10-9.
“MVP honors” went to Corvalan for his five goals for Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse and “Best Playing Pony” was given to Hula, ridden by Horacio Onetto and owned by Blackberg Ranch. The Drake Challenge Cup’s presenting sponsors included Friends of Conservation, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Continental AutoSports and Make It Better Magazine.
Oak Brook Polo Club’s next match is the Caribbean Cup on Sunday, August 5th at 3:00 p.m. with gates opening at 1:00 p.m.
Oak Brook Polo Club is located at 2606 York Road, just seventeen miles from Chicago’s Loop. A variety of ticket options are available at www.oakbrookpoloclub.com. For general information, event scheduling, and parking directions, please call 630.368.5095.
Photos by Time Stops Photography