CARBONDALE, Colo., July 25, 2019---The seventh tournament of the summer polo season gets under way Friday with the Emma Challenge Cup at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

In another bustling week of activity at the club, the Emma Challenge Cup and Just For The Thrill Of Cup will share center stage with the prestigious 119th USPA Silver Cup which begins Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

The Emma Challenge Cup will be held Friday and Sunday. On Friday at 11:30 a.m. a unique format will feature Los Amigos Red, Los Amigos Blue and Mountain Chevrolet playing a round robin at Sopris Mountain Ranch. Los Amigos Red and Los Amigos Blue will play the first six chukkers. The winner sits and Mountain Chevrolet plays the last six chukkers.

On Sunday at McClure River Ranch Field One, the round robin scores will continue from Friday's action and the winner will be determined after another round robin. The final is 11 a.m. followed by the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 1 p.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 24, 2019---The highly-anticipated 119th USPA Silver Cup will make its debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club with three opening day games Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

The club's second USPA 20-goal tournament of the summer season will feature six teams and several of the world's top polo players.

The 119th USPA Silver Cup has a rich tradition in history. It is considered the oldest of all American tournaments. The event has been called several names throughout its hallowed history. Originally established by the USPA as the Junior Championship, it was first played in 1900 close to the New York City birthplace of American polo.

The Cup was later renamed in 1938 to the Twenty-Goal Championship and played until 1951. The Trophy went on hiatus from 1942 to 1947 because of the effects on polo during and immediately after World War II.

It was not until 1974 that the tournament took its present name and was hosted in Texas. The Cup winners have been a Who's Who in polo from J. Watson Webb and Tommy Hitchcock to Robert Skene, George Oliver, Memo Gracida, Carlos Gracida, Tommy Wayman, Red Armour, Harold Barry, Joe Barry, John Armstrong, Charles Smith, Cecil Smith, William Ylvisaker, Adam Snow, Mike Azzaro, Mariano Aguerre and Adolfo Cambiaso, who won in 2012.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 22, 2019---Piocho Ranch won its second tournament of the summer season Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tom Barrack) defeated Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini), 10-8.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a game-high eight goals. He joins Kris Kampsen and Salvador Ulloa for most goals in a single game this season.

Chevy, an 8-year-old bay mare owned and played by Barrack in the fourth chukker, and bred by Figueras' Cria Yatay breeding operation in Argentina, was Best Playing Pony.

Heroica , a 5-year-old chestnut mare owned by 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa and played by his brother Salvador Ulloa, was American Horse Polo Association Best Playing Pony.

The American Polo Horse Association was created in 2006 by the legendary Polo Hall of Famer Sunny Hale to recognize polo ponies in America and encourages events that showcase them and hard-working dedication of grooms.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 21, 2019---In one of the most exciting games in USPA North American Cup history, La Karina won its 20-goal tournament debut Saturday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Aspen-based La Karina (Brian Boyd, 0, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Sebastian Merlos, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6) led from start-to-finish to defeat McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 3) with a stunning 15-12 victory in front of a worldwide USPA Polo Network audience.

"The polo gods were with us today," said Boyd, the only amateur player in the championship final competing in his first 20-goal tournament. "Nobody gave anybody an inch. They were a strong team, not a weak link among them. If you made a mistake you paid for it. It was a war out there. We had a lot of heart in that sixth chukker."

Former 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos, 46, was named Most Valuable Player. The Argentine field general led his team on both ends of the field and shared in team-high scoring honors with four goals. Kampsen also had four goals.

"Sebe was the MVP today," Boyd said. "He was a great captain. He was very tactical. He still has the 10-goal brain. I learned a lot from him. He captained us so well and won a lot of balls in the middle of the field. Sebe fired us up and pulled us all together."

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 20, 2019---Piocho Ranch and Los Amigos Blue advanced into the championship final of the Basalt Handicap Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tom Barrack) defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Lauren Sherry, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen), 8-5, at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

In the other semifinal, Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini) topped Los Amigos Red (Marc Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster), 16-11.

Piocho Ranch is going after its second tournament title after winning the season-opening Independence Cup. Los Amigos Blue is seeking its first tournament win of the summer season.

The final is Sunday at 11 a.m. followed by the Just For The Love Of It Cup at 1 p.m., featuring the USPA North American Cup and Basalt Handicap runners-up team players at McClure River Ranch Field One. Both games will be live streamed by ChukkerTV.

On Saturday, all eyes will be on the USPA North American Cup final at McClure River Ranch Field One at 11 a.m. La Karina (Brian Boyd, 1, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Kris Kampsen, 6, Sebastian Merlos, 8) will play McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Nacho Badiola, 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 3) in the final. It will be live streamed by USPA Polo Network on uspolo.org.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 19, 2019---La Karina and McClure River Ranch will play for the coveted USPA North American Cup Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

In Aspen Valley Polo Club's first 20-goal tournament game in club history, McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Nacho Badiola, 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 3) knocked off Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Salvador Ulloa, 7, Juan Bollini, 5), 11-10, in Thursday's opening semifinal.

In the second semifinal, La Karina (Brian Boyd, 1, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Kris Kampsen, 6, Sebastian Merlos, 8) defeated Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8, Lucas Lalor, 5), 15-11.

The championship game, scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. MST (1 p.m. EST), will be live streamed by USPA Polo Network on uspolo.org with Dale Schwetz calling the action.

The club's first 20-goal tournament of the summer season, previously held at Wellington, Fla.-based sister club Grand Champions Polo Club since 2011, did not disappoint fans in its debut.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 18, 2019---In one of the busiest weeks of summer polo, the Basalt Handicap begins Friday at Aspen Valley Polo Club and Sopris Mountain Ranch.

The Basalt Handicap will be held Friday and Sunday. Two semifinal games are scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

On Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Aspen Valley Polo Club barn field, Los Amigos Blue plays Los Amigos Red. At 11 a.m. at Sopris Mountain Ranch, Mountain Chevrolet plays Piocho Ranch.

The final is Sunday at 11 a.m. followed by the Just For The Love Of It Cup at 1 p.m., featuring the USPA North American Cup runners-up and Basalt Handicap teams.

Team rosters are:

Los Amigos Blue (15): Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini.

Los Amigos Red (16): Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Novillo Astrada.

Mountain Chevrolet (15): Michael Payne, Lauren Sherry, Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen.

Piocho Ranch (16): Tom Barrack, Nacho Figueras, Gussie Busch, Alejandro Novillo Astrada.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 17, 2019---The coveted USPA North American Cup will make its debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club this week.

The club's first 20-goal tournament of the summer season moves from Wellington, Fla.-based Grand Champions Polo Club, where it has been held since 2011.

The USPA North American Cup has a rich tradition in history dating back to 1974. The tournament has been a mainstay in American and Canadian polo for decades at the 16 and 20-goal level.

The first winner was Tulsa with Hall of Famers John T. Oxley and Billy Linfoot, Corky Linfoot and Jim MacGinley. During the late 1990s and early 2000s Calgary Polo Club hosted the tournament before moving to Grand Champions.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 15, 2019---Mountain Chevrolet won its first major tournament in club history Sunday in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Making its championship final debut, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Gussie Busch, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini), 8-7, to win the six-team tournament.

Payne, playing well above his A-goal rating, was named Most Valuable Player. Payne scored three goals including the game-winner and was relentless on defense.

"Last year I played in the Thursday-Saturday league and this year I stepped it up to the Friday-Sunday league," Payne said. "It's much more competitive with great pros, great players and great fields. I love it."

Oringina, an 8-year-old Chestnut mare, was selected Best Playing Pony. Oringina was played by Nacho Novillo Astrada and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 13, 2019---Flexjet and Mountain Chevrolet will meet in the championship final Sunday in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Gussie Busch, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini) advanced with a 6-3 victory over Sopris Mountain Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Lucas Lalor, Gabriel Gracida, Tommy Collingwood) and 5-3 upset over Piocho Ranch (Hilario Figueras, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack).

Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated La Karina, 5-4, and tied Los Amigos Red, 6-6, to advance by one net goal.

Flexjet and Mountain Chevrolet will play Sunday at 11 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field One. It will be Flexjet's second final appearance, after playing in the season-opening Independence Cup and Mountain Chevrolet's championship debut.

At 12:30 p.m., the Just For The Fun Of It subsidiary will feature La Karina and Piocho Ranch playing for third place, also at McClure River Ranch.

And, at 2 p.m., the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary will have Los Amigos Red playing Sopris Mountain Ranch for fifth place at Aspen Valley Polo Club to end a full, fun, competitive day of polo.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 11, 2019---Action continues this weekend with the ChukkerTV Challenge, the third tournament of the summer polo season at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

Six teams will compete Friday and Sunday. Two round robin games are scheduled for Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

At 11 a.m. (MST) Piocho Ranch plays Sopris Mountain Ranch. The winner sits and Flexjet plays the last six chukkers. At 1 p.m., La Karina faces Mountain Chevrolet. The winner sits and Los Amigos plays the last six chukkers.

The winners of both games advance into Sunday's championship at 1 p.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club. The Just For The "Fun" Of It and Just For The "Love" Of It subsidiary games begin 11 a.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 8, 2019---Redemption was sweet for Los Amigos Red, winners of the sixth annual Craig Sakin Memorial.

After losing in last year's final by one goal, Los Amigos Red (Hilario Figueras, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) won a hardfought 16-14 decision over defending champion Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) to win the five-team tournament in front of a good crowd Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club. It was one of the highest scoring games in club history.

Argentine 8-goaler Nacho Novillo Astrada was named Most Valuable Player. Astrada finished with a team-high six goals, matching last year's final, including a 100-yarder in the sixth chukker, selected ChukkerTV Goal of the Day.

Milonga, a 10-year-old Chestnut mare, was selected the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. Milonga, owned and played by Barrack in the fifth chukker, was bred by Cria Yatay, Figueras' breeding operation in Argentina.

In one of the club's most exciting games in tournament history, Piocho Ranch grabbed the momentum early for a 6-2 lead midway through the second chukker with three goals each from Nacho Figueras and Ulloa.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 6, 2019---The stage is set for another showdown between Piocho Ranch and Los Amigos Red Sunday in the final of the sixth annual Craig Sakin Memorial.

In a rematch of last year's championship, Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) will play Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi/Hilario Figueras, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada) Sunday at 1 p.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In Friday's qualifying games at Sopris Mountain Ranch, Piocho Ranch defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini), 10-9, in overtime when Figueras converted a 60-yard penalty.

In Friday's round robin play, Los Amigos Red defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Pablo Spinacci, Kris Kampsen, Gussie Busch), 5-3, and La Karina (Brian Boyd, Lauren Sherry, Sebastian Merlos, Carlitos Gracida), 6-5. In the other game, La Karina defeated Mountain Chevrolet, 4-2.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 2, 2019---Aspen Valley Polo Club, the summer destination for polo, opens the season Wednesday with the Independence Cup.

A round-robin between defending champion Piocho Ranch, Flexjet and Los Amigos gets under way at 1 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) at AVPC's new Field One at McClure Ranch.

Team rosters are:

Piocho Ranch (16): Tom Barrack, 0, Gabriel Gracida, 4, Nacho Figueras, 6, Salvador Ulloa, 6.

Flexjet (12): Melissa Ganzi, 0, Brian Boyd, 0, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8.

Los Amigos (14): Paul Foster, 0, Grant Ganzi, 3, Stewart Armstrong, 3, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., June 14, 2019---Tickets are now on sale for the August 11 Chukkers, Champagne & Caviar  fundraiser at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

The club's summer marquis charity event, hosted by club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi and Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, has raised nearly $1 million dollars in the last two years to benefit Aspen Valley Hospital.

Last year the fun, day-long event raised $537,200, more than the 2017 event's total of $366,000.

Held 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and highlighted by the prestigious 119th USPA Silver Cup final on the club's two newest fields, the fundraiser is a winning combination of polo, sponsors and donors raising much-needed funding for facilities, new technology and programs. 

There will be a lavish fieldside VIP tent and menu prepared by Caribou Club Catering of Aspen with white-glove service and impeccable attention to detail. There will also be a roving Beverly Hills Caviar cart, champagne and other refreshments.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., June 5, 2019--Aspen Valley Polo Club, the nation's fastest growing club, announced its summer schedule that features the prestigious 119-year-old USPA Silver Cup.

With a breathtaking mountain backdrop, the club will host a record fourteen tournaments including the July 14-20 USPA North American Cup; July 24-Aug. 7 USPA National Arena Handicap Tournament; and July 24-Aug. 11 USPA Silver Cup.

The club, with an additional two new polo fields this season, will offer eleven grass tournaments and three arena tournaments from July 3 with the season-opening Independence Cup to the Sept. 1-8 Triple Crown of Polo in what is expected to be its most successful season.

The July 14-20 USPA North American Cup, held in past years during the fall season at AVPC's sister polo club Grand Champions in Wellington, Fla., will make its debut in Aspen. Last year's winner was Travieso in overtime in the 20-goal tournament.

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ASPEN, Colo., December 22, 2018--In an exciting finish, first-year team Richard Mille won the coveted St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Thursday at Rio Grande Park.

In front of a record crowd including a sold out VIP tent and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Pablo MacDonough), making its debut in the prestigious six-team tournament, defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini), 6-5.

Argentine 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough was named Most Valuable Player for the tournament final. It was his second major tournament win in two weeks after capturing the 125th Argentine Open with La Dolfina Sancor Seguros for the sixth consecutive year with Juan Martin Nero, Pelon Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso. 

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ASPEN, Colo., December 19, 2018--After the most exciting opening round in the history of the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, the stage is set for what promises to be an exciting final.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), the 2016 snow polo champion, will meet first-year team Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Pablo MacDonough) in Thursday's championship final.

On Tuesday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's indoor arena, Flexjet advanced into the final with an impressive 10-6 victory over Aspen Valley Polo Club (Sarah Magness, Jason Crowder, Jesse Bray). Flexjet defeated Blade & Bow (Brian Boyd, Gonzalito Pieres, Carlitos Gracida), 6-5, in their opening two-chukker round robin and Aspen Valley Polo Club defeated Blade & Bow, 6-5, in their matchup.

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ASPEN, Colo., December 18, 2018--The atmosphere at the St. Regis Aspen Resort was fun and festive Monday night for the St. Regis Snow Polo World Championship draw party.

Six teams including defending champion U.S. Polo Assn. were introduced during the cocktail party for players, sponsors, family, friends and media. 

The draw determined bracket pairings for Tuesday's round robin qualification games at Aspen Valley Polo Club's indoor arena in Carbondale. Players also received their team jerseys.

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ASPEN, Colo., December 17, 2018--The highly-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship gets under way Monday at St. Regis Aspen Resort with the draw party featuring player and sponsor introductions.

The six team sponsors: Richard Mille, Flexjet, St. Regis, U.S. Polo Assn., Aspen Valley Polo Club and Blade & Bow, players and VIPs will be introduced during a cocktail party at 8 p.m. MT in a fun and festive atmosphere at St. Regis.

The draw and entire tournament will be live streamed by ChukkerTV to a worldwide audience.

In a holiday setting against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, the five-day tournament is a major attraction for the local community and fans from all over the world. One of the social events of the season is a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas.

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