Team KIG wins Intra-Circuit 12 goal: L to R Santiago Trotz, Mubashir "Bash" Kazi, Jason Crowder, and Jared Sheldon. Photo by K. Kumpart.
By Wiley Uretz
This past week was a very busy and exciting one at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club. We had games on Wednesday and semi-finals on Friday all to determine who would get to play in the finals of the USPA Intra-Circuit Cup. Although all the teams made a valiant effort to get a spot in the finals three of them inevitably had to be in the 1230pm Consolation match. The teams that played in the 1230pm match were: Mansour, Long Beach/Blanco and Cotterel. It turned out to be a very exciting down to the wire match. The first leg of the round robin featured Long Beach/Blanco against Mansour, this portion was dominated by Mansour in the second and third chukkers although right before the horn Tom Sikes for Long Beach/Blanco was able to score to make it 5-3.
Mansour, Long Beach/ Blanco and Cotterel Polo teams celebrate a great season with a some champagne. Photo by K. Kumpart.
The next part of the round robin had Long Beach/Blanco against Cotterel, this game ended up being nearly the exact the same as the first except this time Long Beach/Blanco took over in the second and third chukkers ending with a score of 7-4 in favor of Long Beach/Blanco. Finally the last section of the round robin pitted Mansour against Cotterel, and although Masour was definitely the favorite to win the game and the round robin Cotterel had different ideas getting ahead by one in the first chukker and never looking back the game ended up 6-3 in favor of Cotterel. Since all the parts of the round robin had different winners the game came down to net goals which, thanks to Tom Sikes’ last second goal for Long Beach/ Blanco against Mansour, left Long Beach/ Blanco victorious.
Julio Gracida and BPP Joy. Photo by Kim Kumpart.
Next were the Finals of the USPA Intra-Circuit Cup which featured two undefeated teams: Team KIG and Cobra. The first half of this game proved to be all about horse power and momentum. In the first chukker Cobra came out on the horses that they would normally be playing in the fifth or sixth chukker and it paid off they ended the chukker up four to one. Then in the second chukker both teams brought out their latter chukker horses and they played to a draw, both scoring one penalty shot. However in the third chukker Team KIG decided it was time to change things bringing out their sixth chukker horses and going on a 5 to 1 run ending the half with a one goal lead.
Jason Crowder is presented the MVP award by his sister, Whitney.
The story of the second half was one of tired horses and intense back and forth action. The fourth chukker was a tight goal for goal race between Jason Crowder and Julio Gracida, Crowder ended up with 3 to Julio’s 2 expanding Team KIG’s lead to 2 goals. In the fifth chukker it was evident that neither team was going to hold anything back, this could be seen by all the sweaty horses coming back out for their second chukker. Jason Crowder got to a quick start in the fifth with help of his teammates scoring 3 quick goals however Cobra was not going to go down without a fight answering with 3 goals from Julio due to great team play. In the last chukker again all the horses were lathering in sweat to start the chukker but thanks to impeccable fitness and grooming they were able to give it their all and provide for a riveting last chukker. The last chukker featured incredible up and down action and thanks a goal from Cobra’s Alvaro Fernandez it looked as if it might go to sudden death as well, however Team KIG had different plans as they tightened down the defense and made sure that Cobra was not able to score the thirteenth goal and tie it up. The game ended by a score of Team KIG 13 Cobra 12, giving Team KIG patron Mubashir Kazi the USPA 12 Intra-Circuit Cup title in his very first SBPRC 12 goal tournament. Jason Crowder won the most valuable player award and Julio Gracida’s first and fifth chukker grey mare Joy won best playing pony.