USA VS CANADA HEADLINES CAREYES POLO
Players from Yakima, Washington and Winnepeg, Canada played a match game on February 21, 2009, for the large crowd of resort spectators gathered at the field of the Costa Careyes Polo Club of the Costalegre in Mexico. Five chukker polo is the venue for the club as always the amount of available horses limits the number. A unique venue for Careyes was having a tequila divot stomp sponsored by Partida Distilleries rather than champagne which created a South of the Border atmosphere. In attendance was Major Hugh Dawnay of Ireland, reknown professor of the polo world.
Major Hugh Dawnay, polo professor extrordinanire, and his friend Louis Flower, friend of Nick Clark of the UK, enjoy the polo at Careyes.
Both teams were the same handicap (3 goals) which made the competition fair and fast paced even though most of the players were on the local polo ponies. First to score was Will Falk for the Canada team and quickly answered by Raul Ramirez for the Americans. Will Falk again scored twice in the second chukker and quickly answered for the Americans was Raul Ramirez, local professional for the Careyes club, and Scott Robertson – both with one goal each. The third chukker was not so successful for the Canadian team even though Will again scored 2 goals, however, Raul Ramirez came back with 3 quick goals and Trisha Johnston with one.
Scott Robertson of Team USA turns on the ball with Antonio Solarzano and Will Falk in hot pursuit. Manny Yerena prepares for the next play.
After the divot stomp play was continued with father-son combination Herbert and Will Falk each scoring a goal for Canada and Ramirez made 2 for the USA. The final fifth chukker again with high scorer for Canada, Will Falk got one more for his other teammates of Jimmy Giebeler and Antonio Solarzano and Manny Yerena put the final score for the Americans making the score 10-7.
Team USA , left to right, Raul Ramirez, Manny Yerena, Scott Robertson and Trisha Johnston, hold the Victory Cup presented by Sr Gian Franco, founder of the Costa Careyes Resort, while Team Canada, left to right, Antonio Solarzano, Herbert and Will Falk and Jimmy Giebeler applaud the winners.
Sr. Gian Carlo Brignone, founder of the beautiful Careyes Resort, presented trophies to all the players but the USA team held the Victory Cup. The next big tournament is in April when players come from all over the World to play in Alberto Ardissone´s Copa Agua Alta.
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Giorgio Brignone
Photos by Bea Jacobs