CARBONDALE, Colo., July 17, 2023--M.A.G. Polo held off NetJets to capture the Craig Sakin Memorial Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

M.A.G. Polo (Govinda Quish, Dominic State, 2, Nic Roldan 8, Jason Crowder, 5) defeated NetJets (Santos Bollini, 2, Marc Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras 5, Hilario Figueras, 5), 8-7, to win the two-day, five-team tournament.

American 8-goaler Nic Roldan scored a game-high four goals and came up with key defensive plays in the final minutes to earn Most Valuable Player.

"Honestly, it was one of the best games I've played at the club," Roldan said. "MVP is nice but for me you want to win games. You want to play well and you want the horses to go well. And today was one of those days."

Chancho Va., owned and played in the sixth chukker by Hilario Figueras, was Best Playing Pony.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., July 13, 2023--The third tournament of the summer polo season gets underway Friday at McClure River Ranch.

With the breath-taking 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, polo continues in the Roaring Fork Valley with the Craig Sakin Memorial, one of eleven tournaments the club is hosting in July and August with an exciting lineup of players.

The tournament is named in honor of Craig Sakin, who passed away on Feb. 11, 2014 at age 52. The former president of the Homeowners' Association of Sopris Mountain Ranch, was instrumental in helping Marc and Melissa Ganzi secure their first polo field. In 2015, some of Sakin's ashes were released over the polo field.

Five teams are entered: Mountain Chevrolet, Los Amigos, M.A.G. Polo, NetJets and Santa Rita.

Reto Gaudenzi, the godfather of snow polo and polo visionary, will make his Aspen Valley Polo Club debut on Saturday in the Just For The Love It Cup at 11 a.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club. Reto's Dream Team of Artemio Figueras, Fran Spinacci and Pablo Spinacci will play McClure River Ranch with Ubi Columbo, Melissa Ganzi, Sugar Erskine and Juan Bollini. Gaudenzi founded the Snow Polo World Cup on the frozen lake of St. Moritz in 1985. It was the first-ever polo game on snow.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., July 10, 2023--Santa Rita won the second tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In front of a good crowd, Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, Tito Gaudenzi, 2, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) defeated Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Martin Jauregui, 6), to win the six-team tournament with an exciting 9-7 victory at McClure River Ranch.

For the second consecutive week, Argentine 7-goaler Alejandro Novillo Astrada was named Most Valuable Player. Gismo, a Bay gelding owned and played by Jeff Hildebrand, was Best Playing Pony.

Santa Rita advanced to the final with wins over M.A.G, 6-3, and Los Amigos, 5-4. Tonkawa advanced with a 3-1 win over NetJets and 4-2 win against Mountain Chevrolet in round robin play on Friday.

The featured game was one of three games held during the fun day of polo.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., July 6, 2023--On a perfect day for polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club, Victory Polo captured the Independence Cup on Wednesday.

Victory Polo (Becky Schmeits, Grant Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Riley Ganzi/Santos Bollini, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Jimmy Seward), 4-3. Schmeits led scoring with two goals including the game-winner in the final two minutes of the nine-chukker round robin.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada, father of three sons ages 5, 3 and 3 months, was named Most Valuable Player. Petaca, a bay pony played by Schmeits, was Best Playing Pony.

"This is a very good way to start the season," said the Argentine 7-goaler. "The team was good. I have played with Grant and Juan before and we have good chemistry. I know them well and that's a good advantage. They are fun."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., July 4, 2023--Aspen Valley Polo Club, the summer destination for polo, opens the season Wednesday with the traditional Independence Cup.

With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop for the 15-acre facility nestled among Aspen's beautiful country side, polo returns to the Roaring Fork Valley when the club hosts eleven tournaments in July and August with an exciting lineup of players and tournaments.

The season opens with the Independence Cup on July 5th at 11 a.m. MST followed by the ChukkerTV Cup July 7-9. Preliminary games are Friday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. On Saturday, the Just For The Love Of It Cup is Saturday at 11 a.m. On Sunday at 11 a.m. the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup opens action followed by the ChkkerTV Cup final at McClure River Ranch.

Los Amigos  (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres) won the coveted ChukkerTV Cup trophy for the first time in team history. Los Amigos defeated Casablanca (Alejandra Foster, Grant Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Nic Roldan), 6-2, after three competitive round robin games. Marc Ganzi was MVP.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., May 5, 2023--Aspen Valley Polo Club will celebrate another milestone when it opens its tenth season this summer.

With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, polo returns to the valley when the club hosts eleven tournaments in July and August. The season opens with the traditional Independence Cup on July 5th.

The world's destination spot for summer polo has attracted top players including Gonzalito Pieres, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tomacho Pieres and Jason Crowder among others, as well as world-class horses.

The highlight of the season is the August 27th Summer Polo Charity Classic, benefitting the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. It is the club's summer marquis event and one of the city's most anticipated social summer events. The event has raised $3 million since it began in 2016.

Read More

ASPEN, Colo., December 22, 2022---In a thrilling finish, Blade And Bow won its first St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Wednesday at Rio Grande Park.

Blade And Bow (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9) rallied from a four-goal deficit to defeat St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 9-8, in front of a soldout VIP tent and worldwide ChukkerTV audience. 

Biddle, making his fourth finals appearance, won the tournament for the first time and was named Most Valuable Player. "I am happy to finally win," Biddle said. "This makes it a very Merry Christmas. To be honest, I thought if we didn't win it they ought to kick me in the butt."

The former 10-goal rated arena player had the play of the day scoring a goal off a knock-in the length of the field with 16 seconds left in the second chukker.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 21, 2022---CK Shack rebounded from its two close losses on opening day to capture the High Alpine Cup Tuesday at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship.

In the battle for fifth and sixth place in the six-team tournament, CK Shack (Santos Bollini, 3, Martin Uranga, 7, Juan Bollini, 4) was unstoppable jumping out to quick lead and never relinquished it for a 9-5 victory over Edmiston (Cable Magness, 1, Jason Crowder, 7, Jeronimo Del Carril, 9) at Rio Grande Park.

In Monday's qualifying round at Aspen Valley Polo Club, CK Shack lost to defending champion Richard Mille, 9-7, and Blade & Bow, 7-6.

"We're always happy to win and play our best," Bollini said. "I'm always excited to play and Santos was on the field and that always gives me an extra push when I play with my kids.

"That team was a good team," Bollini said. "We started very strong in the beginning and everything went our way in the first two chukkers. Then they came back a bit. Then the fourth chukker we dominated again."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 20, 2022---Opening day action of the 10th annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship was one of the most competitive in tournament history.

In the biggest upset of the day, Blade & Bow (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9) knocked off three-time defending champion Richard Mille (Sarah Siegel Magness, 1, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10), 5-4, in overtime, to advance into the championship final Wednesday against St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7). 

Five of the six player finalists have already won the coveted cup at least once. Only Biddle, a former 10-goal rated arena player, has not won it. The final will pit father against son Nacho and Hilario Figueras and mother against son Melissa and Grant Ganzi.

"We got really lucky," Grant Ganzi said. "We beat two very, very strong teams. I think all the teams here are strong this year. We are very lucky to be in the final. 

"It was really tight (against Richard Mille) the whole time," Ganzi said. "We just knew that we needed to play super simple and open and keep moving the ball."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 19, 2022---The stage is set for the 10th anniversary of the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. 

On Sunday night, the draw party featuring player and sponsor introductions was held during a cocktail reception at St. Regis Aspen Resort in a fun and festive atmosphere highlighted by St. Regis' traditional champagne sabering. 

Several players were still celebrating Argentina's win in the World Cup with Nacho Figueras waving an Argentine jersey as he was introduced and Pablo MacDonough and Santos Bollini wearing Argentine jerseys.

"Ten years we have been doing this event with St. Regis and our good friends at Marriott," said tournament host and emcee Marc Ganzi. "It's really exciting because when you reach ten years in an event in this town it becomes institutional of sorts. 

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 17, 2022---A Who's Who in polo led by 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough, will compete in the much-anticipated 10th annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship this week.

One of the world's top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America, will feature six teams competing for the coveted winners' trophy.

The tournament teams and rosters are:
Blade & Bow (18): Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9.
Richard Mille (18): Sarah Siegel Magness, 1, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10.
Edmiston (17): Cable Magness, 1, Jason Crowder, 7, Jeronimo Del Carril, 9.
NetJets (18): Scott Wood, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Sugar Erskine, 7.
St. Regis (14): Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7.
CK Shack (14): Juancito Bollini, 4, Nito Uranga, 7, Santos Bollini, 3.

Read More

ASPEN, Colo., November 28, 2022---The countdown begins for the highly-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, one of the world's top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America.

In front of an expected sellout crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, action begins Monday, Dec. 19, with qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club and continues Tuesday and Wednesday at Rio Grande Park.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, the always entertaining draw and team introduction will be held during a cocktail reception at St. Regis Aspen Resort where team pairings and sponsors will be announced. On Monday, the qualifying matches will be held at the club's indoor arena in Carbondale. On Tuesday and Wednesday from noon-4 p.m., action moves to Rio Grande Park in downtown Aspen where the semifinals and celebrity matches are Tuesday and final and trophy presentation are Wednesday.

For the tenth consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, will host the star-studded event along with polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., September 29, 2022----In front of the largest crowd of the summer season, the August 28th Summer Polo Charity Classic raised the most money ever in a single-day polo event in the United States.

The club's summer marquis event, hosted by owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi and Aspen Valley Hospital at McClure River Ranch, raised more than $2 million for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.

The soldout event raised $1 million and was matched by a generous anonymous donor. It is the highest total raised since the event was created in 2016. The previous high was $604,000 in 2019.

The funds will support independent healthcare in the Roaring Fork Valley and is earmarked for the final phase of the Master Facilities Plan Capital Campaign at Aspen Valley Hospital.

"This year people came and they showed up and we hit the one million dollar mark for funds raised," said Deborah Breen, outgoing Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation President and CEO. "It was an unbelievable year. People came out and they were super generous. We just blew it out of the water. It was incredible."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., September 13, 2022----NetJets won its second tournament of the season Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

In the season finale, NetJets (Marc Ganzi, Brian Boyd, Nic Roldan, Jason Crowder) held on for a thrilling 9-8 win over Victory (Kevin Schmeits, Sugar Erskine, Grant Ganzi, Pancho Bensadon) to win the Ute Challenge at McClure River Ranch.

Jason Crowder, playing his first summer season in Aspen, was named Most Valuable Player. Crowder won six tournaments during the summer including the coveted Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen.

"It's great to get an MVP award," Crowder said. "It shows all your work paid off and all the horses are playing well. It goes to the whole barn. It lifts the whole barn up, all their hard work paid off.

"It was a great season, very fun. The horses played very well. I had never been to Aspen before in the summer. It was a new experience. It was awesome. I loved the outdoors. Every day it was either hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking or paddle boarding. This place is easy to be healthy and do your best. It was very stress-free."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., September 9, 2022----The summer polo season comes to a close Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

The 13th and final tournament of the summer will feature the Ute Challenge at 1 p.m. with NetJets (Marc Ganzi, Brian Boyd, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan) playing Victory (Kevin Schmeits, Sugar Erskine, Pancho Bensadon, Grant Ganzi).

In the opening game at 11 a.m., Victory (Becky Schmeits, Lauren Sherry, Melissa Ganzi, Nic Roldan) will play Mountain Chevrolet (Vinny Sangaline, Michael Payne, Fran Spinacci, Pablo Spinacci) in the Birthday Bash. The game will be a birthday celebration for Becky Schmeits.

Last year Catamount (Scott Devon, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) won the Ute Challenge with a 9-6 victory over Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Gonzalito Pieres, Stewart Armstrong). Roldan was MVP. Nothing Hidden, played by Hildebrand, was Best Playing Pony.

The Ute Challenge is named after the famous Ute Trail Hike, one of Aspen's many challenging trails that trace a steep, 6.2-mile path once used by indigenous peoples for hunting.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., September 5, 2022----Victory knocked off Los Amigos to win its first major tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

Victory (Vinny Sangaline, Kevin Schmeits, Torito Ruiz, Pancho Bensadon) led from start to finish to defeat Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres), 11-9, to capture the second annual Silver Queen Invitational.

Los Amigos, the winningest team of the season, was going after its fourth tournament win. Victory, however, had other ideas.

Argentine 7-goaler Torito Ruiz, 24, making his final appearance in his third season in Aspen, was named Most Valuable Player for the second time this season. He was also MVP playing for La Karina in the Mount Sopris Cup. He left Monday to compete in Argentina.

"Torito played amazing," Sangaline said. "He definitely deserved MVP for this game. He turned on the jet engine and let it rip. That's what we told him to do and we would back him up just in case, but he really got the job done. He's been playing really well. We're excited for him to get out to Argentina and show those guys what he can do. It's always an honor playing with him."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., September 1, 2022----The second annual Silver Queen Invitational gets under way Friday at McClure River Ranch.

Five teams will compete Friday in the two-day tournament. The 12th tournament of the summer will feature a round robin and one game.

At 10 a.m. on Friday at McClure River Ranch Field 2, a round robin featuring Victory (15 goals), La Karina (14) and Casablanca (15) will be held followed immediately by Los Amigos (15), going for its fourth tournament win of the season, against Mountain Chevrolet (15).

Tournament action continues on Sunday Funday with the champion final at 11 a.m. on Field One, followed by Kidz Wheely Polo at 12:45 p.m. and Just For The Love Of It round robin at 1 p.m.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 30, 2022----For the second consecutive year, Sentebale, led by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, won the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In another memorable moment in the club's nine-year history, Sentebale (Steve Cox, Prince Harry, Nacho Figueras, Grant Ganzi) won the special charity round robin tournament with a 3-1 win over Royal Salute (David Farache, Juan Bollini, Malcolm Borwick, Louis Devaleix) and 4-2 victory over U.S. Polo Assn (Ashley Van Metre, Saul Socca, Gonzalito Pieres, Collen Clark) on August 25th. In the opening match, Royal Salute defeated U.S. Polo Assn, 4-2.

Prince Harry scored four goals, including three against U.S. Polo Assn.

Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 in memory of his late mother Princess Diana. The Duke of Sussex lives in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie Harrison, 3, and Lilibet Diana, 1, after stepping back from royal duties.

Each year, the Polo Cup raises awareness and funds to support Sentebale’s work with children and young people in Southern Africa whose lives have been affected by extreme poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS and recently COVID-19.

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 29, 2022----In front of the largest crowd of the season, Los Amigos won its third and biggest tournament Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

In a hotly-contested defensive battle, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Jason Crowder, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan) defeated defending champion Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Martin Nero), 5-4, to win the coveted Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen.

Los Amigos also won the season-opening Independence Cup and High Alpine Cup, making the Texas-based team the winningest team this season.

Grant Ganzi, 24, was named Most Valuable Player. El Jebel, a 9-year-old homebred bay mare, was selected American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. The two have played together for two years including the 26-goal World Polo League season. "She doesn't miss a beat," Ganzi said.

"Any one of us could have been MVP," Ganzi said. "Jason was an animal working really hard against Juanma and Nic scored the winning goal. Paul was up front and always in position. He got better as the game went on and was always in the right spots and the plays came."

Read More

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 25, 2022----With the summer polo season winding down, Aspen Valley Polo Club will host its biggest weekend at McClure River Ranch.

A tournament doubleheader is scheduled for Friday and Sunday with the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Maroon Bells Cup.

The highlight of the weekend is Sunday's Summer Polo Charity Classic for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 after a year's hiatus because of the pandemic. It is the club's summer marquis event and one of the city's most anticipated social summer events.

Six teams will compete Friday in the two-day tournament. Preliminary round robin action for the ninth and tenth tournaments of the summer will be held at McClure River Ranch Fields 1 and 2.

At 10 a.m. on Field 1, Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Gonzalito Pieres, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) will play Victory (Kevin Schmeits, Vinny Sangaline, Torito Ruiz, Nacho Novillo Astrada) in the Maroon Bells Cup. It will be a continuous game with Friday's score carrying into Sunday.

Also on Friday, four teams will compete in the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen on Field 2. Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Jason Crowder, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan) plays McClure River Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Pablo Spinacci, Pancho Bensadon, Stewart Armstrong) at 11:30 a.m. followed by La Karina (Brian Boyd, Michael Payne, Gonzalito Pieres, Sugar Erskine) playing Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Martin Nero) at 1 p.m.

Read More