Defending champion Aspen Valley Polo Club heads the six-team field for the sixth annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower Saturday at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

In last year’s event, Nic Roldan, Melissa Ganzi and Juan Bollini of Aspen Valley Polo Club knocked off two-time reigning champion Clogau Wales, with an impressive 9-5 victory in the featured 3-on-3 polo match.

Aspen Valley Polo Club returns with Ganzi, Roldan and Juancito Bollini, the 20-year-old son of Argentine great Juan Bollini.

Palm Beach Polo will make its’ debut with American 6-goaler Jason Crowder; Wales polo ambassador Ricky Cooper; and Ganzi’s husband, Marc, one of the world’s top amateur players.

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In a wild finish, White Birch knocked off defending champion Audi, 12-11, in overtime Sunday to capture the USPA East Coast Open.

In front of a sellout crowd of 4,000 at windswept Greenwich Polo Club and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, 15-year-old Santino Magrini scored the winning goal to complete a remarkable second-half comeback by White Birch.

The highly-anticipated rematch of the battle of the unbeatens more than lived up to expectations as White Birch (Santino Magrini, Hilario Ulloa, Mariano Aguerre, Peter Brant/Justin Daniels) avenged last year’s 14-13 overtime loss to Audi (Marc Ganzi, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan, Sebastian Merlos) to finish the 20-goal, eight-team tournament undefeated at 5-0.

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-In a highly-anticipated rematch, defending champion Audi will play White Birch in the championship final of the USPA East Coast Open Sunday at 3 p.m. at Greenwich Polo Club.

The big-hitting Audi foursome of Marc Ganzi, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan and Sebastian Merlos led Goose Creek (Maureen Brennan, Marcos Garcia del Rio, Tomas Garcia del Rio, Mariano Gonzalez) from wire-to-wire for a hardfought 11-6 victory in the opening semifinal game on Wednesday.

White Birch (Peter Brant, Mariano Aguerre, Hilario Ulloa, Santini Magrini) held off upset-minded Airstream (Agustin Bottaro, Guille Aguero, Matias Magrini, Kris Kampsen) in the other semifinal game.

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With the breathtaking Hotel del Coronado as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club made history by winning the inaugural Polo America Beach Polo Cup in front of a packed house.

The team of Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Argentine 9-goaler Agustin (Tincho) Merlos defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Julio Novillo Astrada), 10-7.

In the subsidiary game, Hoffman International Properties (Riley Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Carlitos Gracida) defeated Porsche San Diego (Bash Kazi, Tito Gaudenzi, Jason Crowder), 4-2.

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Defending champion Audi played its’ best game of the USPA East Coast Open to advance into Wednesday’s semifinals against Goose Creek at Greenwich Polo Club.

The Audi foursome of Marc Ganzi, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan and Sebastian Merlos finished its’ bracket play with a 3-0 record on Saturday after an impressive 16-8 victory over Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Gringo Colombres, Salvador Ulloa, Joao Paulo Ganon).

Goose Creek (Maureen Brennan, Marcos Garcia del Rio, Tomas Garcia del Rio, Mariano Gonzalez) advanced with a 6-5 win over Faraway (Hutton Goodman, Inaki Laprida, Julian Daniels, Pelon Escapite).

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With a “that’s more like it attitude,” defending champion Audi remained undefeated in the USPA East Coast Open Wednesday at Greenwich Polo Club.

The foursome of Marc Ganzi, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan and Sebastian Merlos played textbook polo to defeat Tupungato, 13-7, in front of a worldwide ChukkerTV audience.

After escaping with an 11-10 win over Airstreamon Sunday, Audi took charge early and dominated Tupungato in the first half with a strong offensive attack, building an 8-1 lead after three chukkers.

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Aspen Valley Polo Club, the nation’s fastest growing polo club, ended its’ most successful season in club history this past weekend.

Flexjet captured the season-finale Carbondale Classic on Sunday with wins over Tonkawa and NOH Foods of Hawaii, making its’ team sponsor debut.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi/Jeff Wood, Julio Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs) defeated Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Tincho Merlos, Jimmy Seward, Michael Payne), 4-3, and NOH Foods of Hawaii (Ray Noh, Carlitos Gracida, Lucas Lalor, Stewart Armstrong), 6-4. In the other round robin game, NOH Foods edged Tonkawa, 5-4.

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In a hotly-contested USPA East Coast Open game, Audi began its’ title defense with a thrilling 11-10 victory over Airstream Sunday at Greenwich Polo Club.

In front of a worldwide ChukkerTV audience, Audi’s new-look lineup of Marc Ganzi, Leo Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan and Sebastian Merlos was pushed to the limit in the team’s opening bracket game of the eight-team tournament.

Merlos, a former 10-goaler making his ECO debut with Audi, ignited Audi’s sixth-chukker rally with three goals to break an 8-8 tie.

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Aspen Valley Polo Club winds down its’ most successful summer polo season in club history this weekend with the season-ender Carbondale Classic.

The three-day tournament begins Friday with a round robin game at High Mesa Ranch at 3 p.m. MST.

The final is Sunday at 11 a.m. MST along with the popular Grooms’ Race.

The family-owned company NOH Foods of Hawaii makes its’ debut as a team sponsor. NOH Foods carries a wide variety of food products including sauces, seasonings, drink mixes and its’ popular Hawaiian Iced Tea.

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Audi, with a new-look lineup, will open its’ title defense Sunday at the historic USPA East Coast Open 20-Goal Polo Championship Tournament.

Some of the world’s top players will compete at Greenwich Polo Club for the chance to have their names on the Perry Trophy, a coveted symbol of the tournament since 1905.

Audi will unveil its’ new lineup of Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Sebastian Merlos and Leo Mandelbaum on Sunday at 10 a.m. when it opens against Airstream.

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Los Amigos Red took advantage of cold shooting by Tonkawa to capture the Rocky Mountain Open Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Julio Novillo Astrada, Gabriel Gracida) broke open a deadlocked first half and scored five goals in the fourth chukker to pull away for the lopsided win against Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Alex Gooding, Nic Roldan, Jimmy Seward).

Argentine 7-goaler Julio Novillo Astrada Jr., 43, one of five brothers whose family’s polo tradition spans more than 60 years in Argentina, was named Most Valuable Player for the second time during the summer season.

Novillo Astrada scored a game-high five goals including three in the explosive fourth chukker and got his team untracked after a defensive first half.

 

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After trailing at halftime, Aspen Valley Polo Club rallied to win the prestigious USPA National Arena Chairman’s Cup.

The talented young trio of Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Lucas Lalor defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Carlitos Gracida), 13.5-12, Thursday at blustery Aspen Valley Polo Club.

“It means a lot to win,” Grant Ganzi said. “We hadn’t won anything all summer. We have played arena together for three years and play well together. We have great chemistry.

“We know how arena works,” Ganzi said. “We have been playing arena more than anyone in this tournament. We knew before the tournament started we had a good shot. Then we watched the games on Tuesday and said we got this.”

Argentine Lucas Lalor was named Most Valuable Player. Lalor was outstanding throughout the tournament. The all-around player scored six goals including a two-point, 25-yard penalty shot in the fourth chukker.

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The summer polo tournament is winding down with two tournaments remaining at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

Five teams will compete in this weekend’s Rocky Mountain Cup.

Two preliminary games are scheduled for Friday. Flexjet plays Los Amigos Red at 11 a.m. at Sopris Mountain Ranch. At 3 p.m., Tonkawa, ChukkerTV and Los Amigos White will play a round robin at High Mesa Ranch.

The final and subsidiary games along with a special Grooms’ Race are Sunday.

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Molly Mitchell and her Eagle River Pony Club teammates have been counting the days until their first polo lesson at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

“They are super excited about Saturday,” said Kim Mitchell, Molly’s mom. “The girls are beside themselves.”

The four-year-old club with fifteen members, ages 9-15, got their first exposure to polo at the July 24th Basalt Handicap final at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

The club members visited with ChukkerTV announcer Dale Schwetz during halftime and were awards presenters during the post-game ceremony where they got to meet the players.

“The girls were awestruck,” said Wendy Armstrong, the club’s secretary. “We were all blown away. They went above and beyond hosting us at the polo game and now they have invited us back. We feel privileged to ride their horses and learn polo.”

The Eagle River Pony Club members will take their first polo lesson during Saturday’s first-of-its-kind Pony Club Day that will feature a Kids Tournament and “Skill of the Game” Pony Club activities beginning at 11 a.m.

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Aspen Valley Polo Club and Flexjet advanced into the championship final of the USPA National Arena Chairman’s Cup.

Aspen Valley Polo Club’s trio of young up-and-coming players Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Lucas Lalor defeated La Karina, 12-2.5, and Sopris Mountain Ranch, 5.5-3, in the opening qualifier Tuesday at windswept Aspen Valley Polo Club.

The veteran team of Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini and Carlitos Gracida knocked off Grand Champions Polo Club, 6-2.5, and Audi, 5-3, in the other qualifier.

The final is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday and will be live streamed by ChukkerTV. The game will pit mother against son (Melissa and Grant Ganzi) and father against son (Juan and Juancito Bollini) in what promises to be a highly competitive game.

Grant Ganzi, 18, a freshman at Lynn University, led scorers with six goals in the opening game against La Karina. Lalor added four goals including a two-pointer. Ganzi added another goal to finish with seven and Lalor had two in the win against Sopris Mountain Ranch.

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Aspen Valley Polo Club will host the prestigious USPA National Arena Chairman’s Cup that gets under way Tuesday.

The two-day, 8-12-goal outdoor arena tournament features several top players including arena-ranked 9-goalers Nic Roldan and Agustin (Tincho) Merlos, 8-goaler Julio Novillo Astrada and 7-goalers Tomacho Pieres and Juan Bollini.

It is the first time the nation’s fastest-growing USPA polo club has hosted the event.

The action begins Tuesday with two round robin games at 5 and 6:30 p.m. followed by a Lamb Roast Asado. The winners will advance into Thursday’s championship final at 5:30 p.m.

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In front of a record crowd at Aspen Valley Polo Club, Steta Polo Team held on for a thrilling 12-11 victory over Flexjet Sunday in the final of the Mount Sopris Cup.

Steta Polo Team (Guillermo Steta, Brian Boyd/Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Carlitos Gracida) built a 9-3 halftime lead and then turned back a second-half rally by Flexjet (Alejandra Foster, Marc Ganzi, Alex Gooding, Julio Novillo Astrada) to win its’ summer polo debut.

Carlitos Gracida scored a team-high five goals and was named Most Valuable Player.

“We changed the lineup,” Gracida said. “The other day Nic was playing back. Today I played back, that way Nic could receive it and hit it hard and score.”

Kismet, a 5-year-old mare owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm and ridden by Julio Novillo Astrada was selected Best Playing Pony.

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On a picture-perfect day for polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club, St. Regis won the inaugural Family Traditions St. Regis Polo Cup in thrilling fashion.

Juan Bollini scored the game-winner through a crowd in front of the goal posts with less than thirty seconds remaining in the game to give St. Regis a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over Aspen Valley Polo Club.

The unique format featured fathers and sons bonded by their passion for horses and polo, competing in a four-chukker game.

St. Regis (Hilario Figueras, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Figueras, Juan Bollini) and Aspen Valley (Secundo Merlos, Grant Ganzi, Marc Ganzi, Sebastian Merlos) were evenly matched.

Figueras, polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur, was named Most Valuable Player.

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Guillermo Steta, president of the Mexican Polo Federation, returns to Aspen Valley Polo Club for this weekend’s Mount Sopris Cup.

Steta, a frequent visitor to Aspen Valley Polo Club and its Wellington, Fla.-based sister club Grand Champions Polo Club, is spearheading the drive to get polo into the Pan American Games, the first step expected to pave the way for the sport’s return to the Olympic Games.

The Pan Am Games is a major international Olympic-style sporting event that features 41 countries from North, Central and South Americas every four years.

Steta will head the Steta Polo Team in the eighth tournament of the summer polo season. Steta will be joined by fellow Mexican Carlitos Gracida, son of polo legend Carlos Gracida; Brian Boyd and Nic Roldan, America’s top-rated player at eight goals.

The four-team tournament also features Flexjet, Los Amigos and Tonkawa.

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In a fast-paced, hardfought round-robin tournament, ChukkerTV defeated La Karina, 9-6, to win the ChukkerTV Arena Challenge Cup Tuesday at windswept Aspen Valley Polo Club.

The unique format of continuous play, win-or-go home and two-point goals from outside the 25-yard mark, produced one of the most competitive polo tournaments of the summer season.

“This was great,” said Gabriel Gracida, a member of the Aspen Valley team that dropped a 7-5 decision to La Karina (Brian Boyd, Julio Novillo Astrada, Tincho Merlos) in the opening two-chukker game.

In the second game, ChukkerTV (Lucas Lalor, Carlitos Gracida, Juan Bollini) edged Casablanca (Tomas Pieres, Sebastian Merlos, Grant Ganzi), 6-4, to advance to the final against La Karina (Brian Boyd, Tincho Merlos, Julio Novillo Astrada).

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