The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
July 11th, 2010

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria-Santa Barbara was the big winner, but the WCT, which is Womens Challenge Tournament, was far and beyond the best Polo of the day as the ladies kept it close. They had several hard-fought games while in the men’s 20-goal league,  lets just call it Wipe Outs.

They started early as they had a lot of games and only a few fields to play lots of polo on. The Santa Barbara Girls, Inc. Ladies Tournament games got up and running about half past 9 a.m. In the consolation finals,, in the entry level, HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CARPINTERIA, one of the 8 fabulous sponsors of the Girls, Inc event, came flying through in a very tough battle. They outlasted OLDMAN & COOLEY to take home the silver.  In the consolation for the high level of the women’s tournament it was the Law Lady Leigh Breechen scoring the final goal to put JAEGER LeCourte in the winners circle over ELDORADO POLO.

In the finals of the entry level it was Ms. Ashley Cone, best sportslady and her CONE team winning over BLANCO/ FIANCE.  It was a thriller as young Chloe Bourgeois, the MVP, could not stop them in the final minutes with her Texas Tribe of Kerstie Allen and Michelle Myers and the youngest player, the hard-riding Connel Erb of Texas /Nashville area. It was a great game for the spectators.

The finals of the high level ladies tournament was awesome. It was the ABBY & SUNNY show. Abby Riggs and the LOS BANDITOS team came out flying and it was as fast as the 20-goal at times.   They rolled out to a 3 goal lead, but the game is 4 chukkers in the ladies games and it was not over. In the third, just after ½ time, it all looked well for Los Bandidos,  but just seconds before the final bell of the third chukker, the real first Lady of this tournament, Paige Beard, made an incredible run down the field cutting the score to 1 goal. I say this because with out Paige,  it would have not happened period!! She organized this ladies tournament and did an amazing job with it!  Anyway, the 4th chukker started and Sunny Hale was in control. They rolled to a 2 point lead, but Abby was not done and came roaring bac . It was not enough as TRESOR De VINTAGE were the winners over Los Bandidos in a vey exciting game. These chicks pack some mean Sticks … I guarantee it!!!  Abby did not go home forgotten as she received the MVP for her division.

We want to thank the many horse suppliers who helped mount the ladies for this tournament and all they have done.   I am not sure I know who they all are, but here are a few … Pat Nesbitt, Andy Busch, Jason Crowder, Joel Ladin & Tom Barrack and Glen Holden, Tom Sikes and  Mellisia Ganzi were some of them, but thanks to everyone who helped! A special thanks to Paige Beard for making this ladies tournament happen!

On to the high goal … it was PIOCHO RANCH just beating the heck out of MANSOUR in a a game which had a 20-goal team vs. a 16-goal team.  The trouble was Tom Barrack and Memo Gracida mount the 16-goal team and people have always said polo players are 25 % of the game and horses 75%.  It was obvious today as Picho Ranch killed Mansour by 8 goals.  Even with the handicap, its still 4 on the flat (which means without the handicap).

Across the pond it was similar as both quarter finals ended up by several goals as they finished down by 5 and 4, so maybe it was in the air today.

IN THE END IT WAS;

WCT Finals

Paige Beard
Natascha Baecher
Claudia Uretz
Sunny Hale

Entry Level

Ashley Cone
Gabby Questal
Dasy Gabbard
Daniel Travis

And the consolation winners were ;

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

Stephanie Preston
Rosanda Elordi
Karen/Kelly Shaw
Madelyn Shaw

Jaeger LeCoultrre

Leigh Breechen
Tiffany Busch
Karen Reese
Cybele Jordan

The real world starts Friday as it will be the first game of the WEST COAST Triple CROWN and it is like this :

2010 Robert Skene / 20- goal / 8 teams / July 16-25, 2010
Two brackets of 4, round-robin within bracket and final

Fri 16th,
10am Grants Farm vs. Audi Bracket I
Noon ERG vs. Valiente Bracket I
2pm Zacara vs. Lucchese Bracket II
4pm Piocho vs. Mansour Bracket II

Sun 18
10am Winner vs. Winner in Bracket I of 1st Round Games
10am Loser vs. Loser in Bracket I of 1st Round Games
1pm Winner vs. Winner in Bracket II of 1st Round Games
3pm Loser vs. Loser in Bracket II of 1st Round Games

Fri 23
10am Zacara vs. team not played in Bracket II
Noon Other Bracket II teams who have not played each other
2pm Grants Farm vs. team not played in Bracket I
4pm Other Bracket I teams who have not played each other

Sun 25
10am 3rd and 4th place Consolation games
1pm 2nd place Subsidiary
3pm FINAL: 1st place team in each bracket

See ya … just be there!
Steve Crowder