CARBONDALE, Colo., August 19, 2018---Tonkawa, making its summer polo debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club, wasted no time winning its first tournament of the season.
The talented foursome of Jeff Hildebrand, Wesley Uys, Sapo Caset and Mason Wroe defeated Mandarina (Alejandra de la Vega, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 13-11, to capture the Mount Sopris Cup sponsored by Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club.
Argentine 10-goaler Guillermo "Sapo" Caset, 32, the team's playmaker who scored three goals, was named Most Valuable Player in the tenth tournament of the summer polo season.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 18, 2018---Two teams making their debut will play for the Mount Sopris Cup, sponsored by the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Wesley Uys, Sapo Caset, Mason Wroe), at 17 goals the highest ranked team in the six-team field, will play Mandarina Dark (Alejandra De La Vega, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada) at 16 goals.
The much-anticipated final will be the first of three games at 10 a.m.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 16, 2018---Aspen Valley Polo Club and Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club have formed a partnership to benefit both clubs' growing membership.
Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, located along the Riviera Nayarit, a nearly 200-mile stretch of coastline in the Western Mexican state of Nayarit, offers residents and guests of One&Only Mandarina world-class facilities for riders of all ages and abilities to learn, practice and compete, featuring two open-air arenas, two state-of-the-art regulation-size polo fields, horse boarding and club house and restaurant overlooking the polo fields.
Located less than an hour north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Mandarina is home to One&Only Mandarina, One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, Rosewood Mandarina, the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, world-class restaurants and jungle adventure outpost all situated along a one-mile stretch of beach.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 16, 2018---The summer polo season is winding down with the eighth grass tournament this weekend at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
A season-record six teams will compete in the Mount Sopris Cup, sponsored by the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, Friday and Sunday.
Argentine 10-goaler Sapo Caset will make his summer debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club along with his 17-goal team Tonkawa that also features Jeff Hildebrand, Mason Wroe, Jimmy Seward and alternate Whistle Uys.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 15, 2018---The Chukkers, Champagne & Caviar fundraiser at Aspen Valley Polo Club topped last year's total for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.
The club's summer marquis charity event, hosted by club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi and Aspen Valley Hospital, raised $537,200, more than last year's total of $366,000.
The day-long event, held during the August 12 Rocky Mountain Open, was a winning combination of polo, sponsors and donors raising much-needed funding for facilities, new technology and programs. The funds raised will support the hospital's construction project, state-of-the-art technology such as new women's imaging technology and hospital's ongoing operations.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 12, 2018---La Karina won its third tournament of the summer polo season on Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
In front of a soldout VIP tent, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong) took the lead in the third chukker and never trailed for a thrilling 8-5 victory over Aspen Valley Polo Club (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Eloy Vallina/David Vallina, Juan Bollini) to capture the Rocky Mountain Open.
La Karina, last year's Rocky Mountain Open runner-up, is now the club's winningest team after capturing the Basalt Handicap, Emma Challenge and Rocky Mountain Open. Last season La Karina won two tournaments.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 11, 2018---The Sopris Mountain Challenge Cup came down to an exciting penalty shootout Saturday at Sopris Mountain Ranch.
Mountain Chevrolet (Santos Bollini/Riley Ganzi, Aiden Meeker, Michael Payne, Lucas Lalor) defeated Sopris Mountain Ranch (Courtney Callahan, Caroline Lile, Santos Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 8-7.
In the second round of the penalty shootout, Georgetown-bound Riley Ganzi converted a 30-yard penalty to clinch the win. Ganzi finished with a team-high three goals and was named Most Valuable Player.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 10, 2018---La Karina, last year's runner-up, will return to the final of the Rocky Mountain Open Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
La Karina (Harrison Azzaro, Marc Ganzi/T.J. Barrack, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong) defeated defending champion Casablanca (Alejandra de la Vega, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 9-7, Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch to advance into the final.
Standing in their way will be Aspen Valley Polo Club (Melissa Ganzi, Eloy Vallinna, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) which knocked off Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Alex Gooding, Pablo Dorignac, Kris Kampsen/Carlitos Gracida), 10-9, in the other qualifying game.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 9, 2018---Defending champion Flexjet made it two in a row Thursday in the United States Arena Handicap Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
On a perfect day for polo, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 1, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Juan Bollini, 6) rallied in the second half to defeat The Polo School (Aiden Meeker, A, Carlitos Gracida, 5, Nic Roldan, 8), 14-10, in front of a good crowd and worldwide USPA Polo Network audience.
Fourteen-year-old Aiden Meeker of Fort Worth, Tex., playing well above his "A" handicap in his arena championship debut, was named Most Valuable Player. Meeker, a freshman at Culver Academy, scored two goals in the semifinals and one in the final while defending some of the sport's top players including Argentine brothers Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 8, 2018---The world-class indoor and outdoor arenas took center stage with the ChukkerTV Arena Challenge Cup on Tuesday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
The tripleheader was kicked off with the ChukkerTV Kidz Arena Challenge Cup held in the outdoor arena where three youth players competed with a professional.
Flexjet Grey (Santos Novillo Astrada, Aiden Meeker, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Samantha Payne) defeated Flexjet Red (Courtney Callahan, Caroline Lile, Juan Bollini, Stella Payne), 4-1.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 8, 2018---Flexjet will return to defend its title Thursday in the United States Arena Handicap Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
Several of the top players in the world including Argentine brothers Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada and top American player Nic Roldan will compete among the four-team field.
The teams are:
Casablanca: Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada.
Flexjet: Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini.
Mountain Chevrolet: Michael Payne, Lucas Lalor, Kris Kampsen.
The Polo School: Aiden Meeker, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 5, 2018---It took only one chukker for Los Amigos Red to get the chemistry going in the final of the High Alpine Cup.
After falling behind 3-1 in the opening chukker, Los Amigos Red (Alejandra de la Vega, Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan, Paul Foster) shut out Casablanca (Alex Gooding, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juancito Bollini) in the next two chukkers and controlled most of the game for an impressive 9-7 victory in front of a good crowd Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
The tournament victory marked the summer polo debut of Kris Kampsen, coming off the Greenwich, Conn. season, and Roldan, coming off the British season and Westchester Cup. It was also the second tournament victory for the El Paso, Tex.-based Los Amigos organization.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 4, 2018---The stage is set for a showdown between Casablanca and Los Amigos in the final of the High Alpine Cup Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
Casablanca (Alex Golding, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juancito Bollini) knocked off La Karina (Brian Boyd, Pablo Dorignac, Stewart Armstrong, Carlitos Gracida), 10-8, Saturday at windswept Sopris Mountain Ranch.
La Karina, winner of its last two tournaments, went flat offensively unable to score in the fourth and fifth chukkers. Casablanca led 9-6 going into the final chukker and maintained control of the game despite La Karina trying to rally with a 2-1 sixth chukker.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 2, 2018---The sixth tournament and midway point of the summer polo season gets under way Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch.
The High Alpine Cup, featuring four teams and AVPC summer season debut of Kris Kampsen and Nic Roldan, begins Friday with two games at Sopris Mountain Ranch.
The opening game at 10 a.m. features Los Amigos with husband and wife Paul Foster and Alejandra de la Vega, Kampsen and Roldan playing Aspen Valley Polo Club with Melissa Ganzi, Riley Ganzi, Nacho Novillo Astrada and Juan Bollini. Both teams are rated at 14 goals.
In the second game at 11 a.m., Casablanca with Alex Gooding, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor and Juancito Bollini will play La Karina with Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Pablo Dorignac and Stewart Armstrong.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 29, 2018---With Riley Ganzi, Nacho Figueras, Malcolm Borwick and Ashley Van Metre Busch playing, Aspen Valley and Grand Champions Polo Clubs were well-represented at the recent Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.
The Sentebale St. Regis team of Busch, Prince Harry, Figueras and Miguel Mendoza won 5-4 over Royal Salute that featured team captain Malcolm Borwick, Chet Lott and Ganzi, at 18, the youngest player on the field.
"I was unbelievably honored to have played in the Sentebale Polo Cup, which raises funds for Prince Harry's charity to support the mental and physical health of children affected by HIV in southern Africa," said Ganzi, headed to Georgetown in the fall.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 29, 2018---On an emotionally-charged day, the Emma Challenge Cup final lived up to expectations in front of a packed house Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
Argentine 9-goaler Nacho Novillo Astrada scored the winning goal with four minutes left in overtime to lead defending champion La Karina (Alejandra de la Vega, Brian Boyd, Stewart Armstrong, Nacho Novillo Astrada) to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack).
The day was dedicated to longtime player and groom Jesus "Chuy" Baez who died in an accident earlier in the week at age 60. Photographs of Baez, who worked at Aspen Valley and Grand Champions Polo Clubs, during his career were shown on the club's Jumbo-tron throughout the day and were on display at the club. A moment of silence was held before each game and awards ceremony. A memorial service was held after the final.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 28, 2018---Defending champion La Karina will try and make it two in a row Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
After winning the Basalt Handicap last weekend, La Karina will try and add another title to its resume when it meets Piocho Ranch in the final of the Emma Challenge Cup at 1 p.m. MST.
It will be a rematch of last Sunday's Basalt Handicap final which La Karina won, 8-5. La Karina is defending champion of the Emma Challenge Cup, 12-8 winners over Tonkawa last season.
On Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch, La Karina (Alejandra de la Vega, Brian Boyd, Stewart Armstrong, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated Los Amigos Red, 7-5, (Pablo Dorignac, Carlitos Gracida, Paul Foster, Gabriel Gracida) to advance into the championship.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 19, 2018---The fifth tournament of the summer polo season begins Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch.
The Emma Challenge Cup, featuring five teams, gets under way Friday with one game at 11 a.m. MST. La Karina, (Brian Boyd, Alejandra de la Vega, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong) winners of last weekend's Basalt Challenge, plays Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Pablo Dorignac, Gabriel Gracida).
The second game will feature three teams in a round robin: Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack); Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Melissa Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juan Bollini); and Sopris Mountain Ranch (Jeff Desich, Rich Desich, Pablo Spinacci, Kiko Belastegui) is Saturday at 11 a.m.
The polo world is mourning the tragic sudden death of Jesus "Chuy" Baez.
The well-liked polo player and groom at Grand Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Clubs was killed in an accident at the Aspen club earlier this week.
Baez, 60, born in Mexico City of hard-working parents Jose and Petra, was part of a large, loving family. Baez will be remembered for his infectious smile, gift for working with horses and humility that set him apart from others.
He grew up around horses and started working with them when he was 8 years old. He played polo for 25 years and groomed for two of the nation's top polo clubs until his death.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 22, 2018---For the second time in three years, La Karina captured the Basalt Handicap Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
In a hardfought, physical contest La Karina (Brian Boyd, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor) led 4-3 at the half and never relinquished its lead for a stunning 8-5 victory over Piocho Ranch (Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) in La Karina's season debut.
It was the first time Piocho Ranch, winners of the Independence Cup and Craig Sakin Memorial, lost a championship final this season.
Grant Ganzi, a member of Team USPA, was named the game's Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. Ganzi had a game-high four goals including two penalty conversions.
