The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
THE BOLT IS BACK
It is the semis of the Ylvisaker 20-goal in Palm Beach and “the Bolt” aka Fred Mannix is back in the semis. He brings the Mini Mac (Julian Mannix) with him. They are the Canadian dual sons of the Big Mac . . . Fred Mannix ,Sr. and they are making plenty of noise in the Polo capital in their first season playing together.
Mini Mac, Julian Mannix, just one year ago was playing in the finals at Eldorado Polo in the 8- and 12- goal. In February ‘10, 12 months later he steps up to
the 20-goal with his Big Bro the Bolt . . . Fred Mannix, Jr. They are trying to reach their second finals as they take on Zacara in the semis, who they lost to in the finals of the JOE BARRY just a couple of weeks ago in a close game. It is a bit of history that happened in the Joe Barry finals as these same two teams competed for a trophy in honor of the man they started under “Joe Barry.” Fred Mannix, Jr. and Jeff Hall, the big gun of Zacara, both started in the Pee Wee Polo Program at Eldorado that Joe Barry was one of the founders of. Now, they are
competing for the Ylvisaker Cup, that is named after “Wild Bill Ylvisaker” who just passed away a couple of days ago.
On the other side it is Luchesse against the Isla Carroll team in what has become the biggest tournament of the year to date . . . there are 10 teams competing in this 20-goal tournament.
What brings this to my attention so much is that these are all people who have helped make Eldorado what it was and now they have flown the coup. They have found, greener pastures. WHY? Look around Eldorado . . . there is a reason that two or three teams have gone to Florida that should be enjoying the desert air. Maybe some do not think we need these teams, but I don’t agree. Someday, soon I hope, the magic of the desert will return. We could use a BOLT!!
See ya.