Audi Wins Emma Challenge In Overtime Thriller; Grant Ganzi Sweeps MVP, BPP Honors
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 28, 2025---In a thrilling finish, Audi captured the Emma Challenge Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
In front of a good crowd, Audi (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) won the fifth tournament of the summer season with an 11-10 overtime victory over defending champion Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada).
For the second week in a row, Grant Ganzi, 27, swept Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony honors.
Pitkin, a 12-year-old played by Grant Ganzi, and owned and bred (Open Quarzo/Soufle) by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.
Catwoman, a 9-year-old gray mare, played by Nacho Novillo Astrada, owned and bred (Heckle/Juan) by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was selected the AVPC Best Playing Pony.
In a tightly contested game, it was anybody's guess who would win. The evenly-balanced teams exchanged the lead eleven times before Audi converted a 30-yard penalty conversion to clinch the win.
The biggest lead of the game came midway through the sixth chukker when Los Amigos took a 10-8 lead on Nacho Novillo Astrada's safety-60. Audi clawed its way back and took advantage of an uneven rideoff penalty conversion to tie the game 10-10 with five seconds left forcing an overtime where Audi converted another 30-yard penalty after a blocking call.
Grant Ganzi and Roldan each had three goals for Audi. Melissa Ganzi led Los Amigos Red with four goals, Nacho Novillo Astrada, three, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, two and Alejandra Foster with one.
In the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Santos Bollini, Tomacho Pieres, Jason Crowder) broke open a close game in the second half to defeat Sopris (Silver Novillo Astrada, Sugar Erskine, Hilario Figueras, Jimmy Seward), 9-7. Bollini scored a game-high six goals and was MVP.
The Christmas In July party and gift giving, Kidz Polo and Pizza Making on Saturday lived up to expectations with a picnic table overflowing with presents, kids face painting by elves and plenty of fun. In the Kidz Polo, World Polo League Yellow (Lorenzo Novillo Astrada, Benjamin Toccalino, Isidro Novillo Astrada, Gaston Dorignac Jr.) and Polo School Blue (Cande Toccalino, Lupe Pieres, Silvestre Novillo Astrada, Mia Pieres) played to a 2-2 tie. Toccalino scored both his team's goals. Lupe and Mia Pieres each scored a goal.
In Friday's semifinal qualfier, Los Amigos Red defeated Sopris (Silver Novillo Astrada, Sugar Erskine, Hilario Figueras, Jimmy Seward), 11-9. In the other semifinal, Audi edged Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Tomacho Pieres, Santos Bollini, Jason Crowder), 9-8.
Last year's Emma Challenge was won by Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) who defeated tournament favorite Tamera (Ale Poma, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 5, Nic Roldan, 8), 8-7, for its second win of the season. Toccalino swept MVP and BPP honors.
The Emma Challenge Cup is named after the town of Emma, Colo., located on Highway 82 between Carbondale and Aspen.
Among this season's highlights at the nation's fastest growing and innovative club are the new "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club on Sundays; Twilight Polo Nights and weekly Drone Shows featuring Tuesday Night Arena and Twilight Polo, an exclusive series through August 26; and Aug. 17th Summer Polo Charity Classic to benefit Aspen Valley Health Foundation.
The "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club is open every Sunday during the summer season from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. VIP Beach Club tickets are available at aspenvalleypoloclub.com. Ticket holders are treated to handcrafted cocktails, traditional Argentine asado with a variety of meats including steak and sausages and always entertaining live DJ music. The Beach Club showcases lounge spaces furnished by Arhaus on beach sand and also Cold Plunge pools by Crystal River Spas, beach chairs and umbrellas with great fieldside views.
Other highlights are the Aug. 21-24 Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational doubleheader and August 26 Aspen Arena Series Final.
The remaining summer tournaments are this week's July 31-August 3 High Alpine Cup, August 7-10 Mount Sopris Cup, August 7-17 Rocky Mountain Open, August 14-17 Carbondale Classic and Aug. 28-31 season-finale Maroon Bells Cup.
The club's 12th season kicked off the July Fourth weekend with world-class polo and unforgettable summer vibes.
To open the 2025 season, Wellington-based 3 Graces Polo, making its Aspen debut, won both the Independence Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) and ChukkerTV Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada). McClure River Ranch (Roberto Poma/Ale Poma, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) won the Craig Sakin Memorial. Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) won the Basalt Handicap.
With a vision for the community and surrounding areas, the Ganzi family resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, Twilight Polo Series, Kids Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand.
In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas.
Aspen Valley Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
