BENSOLEIMANI.COM CASHES IN AT ELDORDADO’SROSSMORE CUP/SKINS GAME
BENSOLEIMANI.COM Jimmy Wright, Gustavo Usandizaga, Agustin Bottaro, Ben Soleimani
By winning five of six chukkers, Ben Soleimani and his Bensoleimani.com foursome won both the 2022 Rossmore Cup and the 27th Polo Skins Game over Ron Mathison and his Highwood group by a final score of 14 – 7.
With $5,000 awarded to the winners of each period, the dotcommers were victorious in numbers two through six by counts of 3 – 2, 4 – 1, 1 – 0, 2 – 1, and 3 – 1, to take home $25,000. Highwood won the first 2 – 1 to take the initial check.
By playing alert and opportunistic polo throughout, Agustin Bottaro earned the title of MVP and Valencia, played by Bottaro and owned by Ben Soleimani, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
BENSOLEIMANI.COM 12 – Ben Soleimani (4 goals), Augustin Bottaro 3 (2 goals), Gustavo Usandizaga 5 (3 goals), Jimmy Wright 4 (4 goals – 3 fouls, 1 a #4), 1 penalty # 1.
HIGHWOOD 12 – Ron Mathison, Marcelo Abbiati 3 (2 goals), Jared Sheldon 4 (5 goals – 3 fouls), Martin Tassara 5.
EVERGREEN WINS ELDORADO’S PACIFIC COAST GOVERNOR’S CUP
EVERGREEN Nicolai Galindo, Tom Sprung, Carlitos Galindo & Steven Paulson with Carlos & Ryder Galindo & Cindy Sprung
Tom Sprung won his second Pacific Coast Governor’s Cup in as many years as Evergreen defeated Grant Palmer and Antelope by a final count of 7 – 6 to take the 2022 victory in a very entertaining game.
Tied at halftime with three apiece, Evergreen barely hung on in the final 30 seconds as Antelope came within a ‘whisker’ of sending the game to overtime.
By playing a strong ‘two-way’ game, Antelope’s Charlie Caldwell was selected as the MVP and Nicolai Galindo’s Blue Moon was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
EVERGREEN 6 – Tom Sprung -1, Carlitos Galindo 4 (4 goals), Nicolai Galindo 3 (2 foul conversions, 1 a #4), Steven Paulson (1 goal).
ANTELOPE 6 – Grant Palmer 1 (2 goals), Charlie Caldwell 2 (3 goals – 1 foul), Tommy Costello 2 (1 goal), Ian Schnoebelen 1.
K2 HERON HILL WINS 2 GOAL AMATEUR CUP AT ELDORADO
K2/HERON HILL Gary Tondini, Kim Kelly, Dayelle Fargey, Bauti Von Wernich
K2 Heron Hill defeated Excellens Solutions by a score of 4 – 1.5 to win the 2022 USPA Amateur Cup played at the Eldorado Polo Club.
The win capped off an undefeated tournament for the winners.
Bautista Von Wernich was named the MVP and Smitten, played by Chulo Duggen and owned by Susie Dix was picked as the Best Playing Pony.
K2/HERON HILL 2 – Gary Tondini -1, Kim Kelly, Dayelle Fargey 1.5 (2 goals – 1 foul), Bautista Von Wernich 1.5 (2 goals).
EXCELLENS SOLUTIONS 1.5 – Lamar Rutherford -.5 (sub. -1), Joseph Mullens -1, Topo Mendez 1.5, Chulo Duggen 2 (1 goal).
BENSOLEIMANI.COM EASILY WINS SPRECKELS CUP 12 GOAL
BENSOLEIMANI.COM: Jimmy Wright, Gustavo Usandizaga, Agustin Bottaro & Ben Soleimani
Ben Soleimani and his Bensoleimani.com polo team appeared to have a rather easy time of it as they won the 2022 Spreckels Cup 12 Goal championship over Ron Mathison’s Highwood group by a final score of 14 – 8.
Leading 8 – 3 at halftime, Soleimani and Co. outscored the Canadian foursome 6 – 5 in the second three to earn the win.
With ‘his nose in every play’, Gustavo Usandizaga undoubtedly earned the title of Most Valuable Player to his team and his mare, Vuida Negra, played in the second period, was selected as the Best Playing Pony.
BENSOLEIMANI.COM 12 – Ben Soleimani (1 goal), Augustin Bottaro 3 (2 goals), Gustavo Usandizaga 5 (3 goals – 1 # 5 from 85 yards left), Jimmy Wright 4 (6 goals – 5 fouls, 1 a #6), 2 penalty # 1.
HIGHWOOD 12 – Ron Mathison, Marcelo Abbiati 3, Jared Sheldon 4 (5 goals – 1 foul), Martin Tassara 5 (3 goals – 1 penalty #4).
Antelope Hacks Out Victory Over Highwood
ANTELOPE: Grant Palmer, Jimmy Wright, Tomas Obregon & Santi Trotz with Karlene Garber & Paul Von Gontard
The 2022 12 goal Carlton & Keleen Beal Cup final, played on a perfect ‘Eldorado afternoon’, turned out to be a somewhat choppy affair as over half the goals came via foul opportunities along with one penalty #1.
To get to the decider, both Ron Mathison’s Highwood and Grant Palmer’s Antelope had to survive a shootout to decide a three-way tie at the top - with Bensoleimani.com.
Antelope led early by a 2 – 1 count going into the second but Highwood scored the only goals of that frame to lead by one at 3 – 2.
The pronghorns outscored the Canadians by a count of 3 – 1 in the third - the only Highwood goal via a penalty #1 - to lead at the half with a tally of 5 – 4.
Antelope went on to lead in the fourth and fifth periods by counts of 6 – 4, 7 – 6, leading to a final result in their favor of 10 – 7. The win was the pronghorn’s second Beal 12 goal championship in as many years.
Polo Hall of Fame Member Karleen Beal Garber was on hand to bestow the winner’s spoils to Palmer and his group, and she also presented the Most Valuable Player award to Antelope’s Santiago Trotz and Grant Palmer’s Noche Salvaje - fifth chukker – as the Best Playing Pony.
ANTELOPE 12 – Grant Palmer 1, Santiago Trotz 3 (1 goal), Jim Wright 4 (6 goals - 5 fouls of which 2 #4) Tomas Obregon 4 (3 fouls).
HIGHWOOD 12 – Ron Mathison, Marcelo Rodriguez Abbiati 3, Jared Sheldon 4 (3 goals), Martin Tassara 5 (3 goals – 3 fouls of which 2 #4), 1 penalty #1.
Bush League organization was victorious in the Beal 8 goal Beal Cup final
BUSH LEAGUE Virgil Kyle, Ulysses Escapite, Alejandro Gonzalez, & Quinn Kyle with Eiza Escapite & Andrea Salas
Virgil Kyle’s Bush League organization was victorious in the Beal 8 goal final over Sy Zahedi and Leslie Tim’s Chogan/Wild Polo.
Tied at halftime and after the fourth period, Bush League went on to outscore Chogan/Wild by a count of 5 – 2 in the final two frames to take an 11 – 8 win.
Ale Gonzalez was chosen as the MVP and Sahara, played by Ulysses Escapite wore the BPP blanket.
BUSH LEAGUE 8 – Virgil Kyle, Quinn Kyle (4 goals – all fouls), Ulysses Escapite 4 (2 goals), Alejandro Gonzalez 4 (5 goals).
CHOGAN/WILD POLO 7 – Sy Zahedi (1 goal), Leslie Tims (4 goals), Tim Rudy 3, Mariano Gutierrez 4 (2 goals), 1 goal on handicap.
Lockton Continues to Win and Captures Third 2022
Lockton Tim Kelly, Mica Saracco, Maximiliano Menini, Bayne Bossom with Jorge & Reagen Ferrau, Felipe Saracco, Karlene Garber & Paul Von Gontard.
Tim Kelly and his Lockton polo team have had a perfect 2022 season in the Eldorado 6 Goal series.
Their third championship win, in as many tries, and played in front of a very large and boisterous Cantina lunchtime crowd, came in the February 12th Carlton and Keleen Beal Cup by a final tally of 11 – 6 over Elise Bigelow and Sukey Forbe’s La Fortuna/Mother Chukker.
Trailing only once – 2 – 1 in the early first chukker – Lockton ran easily to a ‘halftime’ lead at 8 – 3 after the third in the five period contest.
The count was 10 – 4 after the penultimate frame and the Kelly group moved on to easily earn the podium trifecta.
Polo Hall of Fame member Karleen Beal Garber – daughter of Carlton and Keleen Beal – was on hand to present the awards.
Showing a maturity beyond her years and continuously being able to make plays to help her teammates, Micaela Saracco was tabbed as the Most Valuable Player to her team, and Max Menini’s Barquito earned the title of Best Playing Pony.
LOCKTON 6 – Tim Kelly, Micaela Saracco (1 goal), Max Menini 4 (4 goals) Bayne Bossom 2 (6 goals – 3 fouls).
LA FORTUNA/MOTHER CHUKKER 6 – Elise Bigelow -1, Sukey Forbes -1 (1 goal), Luis Saracco 4 (4 goals – 1 foul), Ignacio Deltour 4 (1 goal).
Persyst/K2 Wins 2022 Four Goal Beal Cup
The 4 Goal title in the Carlton and Keleen Beal Cup was earned with a rather easy win for the Nicolas Nierenberg group Persyst/K2 over Excellens/Dungar by a final score of 9 – 4.
Peryst/K2 Tim Rudy, Dayelle Fargey, Kim Kelly, Nico Nierenberg
The 4 Goal title in the Carlton and Keleen Beal Cup was earned with a rather easy win for the Nicolas Nierenberg group Persyst/K2 over Excellens/Dungar by a final score of 9 – 4.
The winners never trailed on their trip to the presentation ceremony.
The be everywhere and get it done style of Tim Rudy earned him the title of Most Valuable Player and Tangerine, played by Rodrigo Salinas, was selected as the Best Playing Pony.
PERSYST/K2 3.5 - Nicolas Nierenberg -1, Kim Kelly (2 goals), Tim Rudy 3 (6 goals – 2 fouls), Dayelle Fargey 1.5 (1 goal).
EXCELLENS/DUNGAR 3.5 - Lamar Rutherford -.5, Greg Hanson, Rodrigo Salinas 3 (2 goals), Catlin Dix 1. 2 goals on #1’s.
Antelope rides to victory in the 2022 8 Goal Coachella Valley Officer’s Cup.
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
ANTELOPE Grant Palmer, Ian Schnoebelen, Bayne Bossom, Santi Trotz
The 8 goal tournament final featured Antelope facing off against Virgil Kyle and Bush League. As was the case in the 4 goal decider, the winner of the eight never trailed en-route to an 11 – 8 win.
Antelope started strong and led 4 – 1, 7 – 2, and 9 – 3 in the first half.
Bush League was able to hold the pronghorns scoreless in the fourth and fifth periods to narrow the count to 9 – 5 and 9 – 6. Scoring was split at a pair each in the final chukker, resulting in the victory for Antelope.
With strong and aggressive play both offensively and defensively, Palmer was deemed to be the Most Valuable Player and Sorpressa, owned and played by Santiago Trotz wore the Best Playing Pony blanket.
ANTELOPE 7 – Grant Palmer 1 (3 goals), Ian Schnoebelen 1, Bayne Bossom 2 (4 goals – 2 fouls), Santiago Trotz 3 (3 goals), 1 goal by handicap.
BUSH LEAGUE 8 – Virgil Kyle, Quin Kyle (4 goals – 3 fouls), Ulysses Escapite 4 (1 goal), Alejandro Gonzalez 4 (2 goals), 1 penalty #1.
Persyst/K2 Win Eldorado’s 4 Goal Coachella Valley Officer’s Cup
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
PERSYST/K2 Nico Nierenberg, Kim Kelly, Tim Rudy, Dayelle Fargey
On an absolutely perfect Sunday, January 30th in Southern California, Nicolas Nierenberg and Kim Kelly’s Persyst/K2 rode to victories in the 2022 4 Goal Coachella Valley Officer’s Cup.
In the 4 goal, Persyst/K2 never trailed enroute to a 7 – 6 win over Lisa Slaughter and her Breva Farms foursome.
The game featured nine goals in the first half with the eventual winners leading 5 -4, but just just four (including a penalty #1) in the second half.
Persyst/K2 led 6 – 4 after the third and went up by three early in the fourth. Breva came back to within one but couldn’t close it out and the Roenisch Bronzes were in the hands of the Nierenburg/Kelly combination.
By being everywhere he needed to be to get the job done, Tim Rudy was chosen as the Most Valuable Player to his team and Ula played by Breva’s Francisco Guinazu in the third earned the title of Best Playing Pony.
PERSYST/K2 3.5 – Nicolas Nierenburg -1, Kim Kelly (1 goal), Dayelle Fargey 1.5 (3 goals), Tim Rudy 3 (3 goals – 2 fouls of which one was a #4).
BREVA FARMS 3.5 – Lisa Slaughter -1, Piers Bossom .5 (1 goal), Jessica Bailey 1, Francisco Guinazu 3 (4 goals – 2 fouls of which one was a #6). 1 penalty #1.
Lockton Continues to Win With Lockton Cup Victory
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
LOCKTON Tim Kelly, Micaela Saracco, Maxi Menini, Bayne Bossom
Tim Kelly and his Lockton polo team continued their winning ways with a 13 – 6.5 triumph over Jennifer Alexy and Krista Bonaguidi’s Luna/Hanalei Bay combination in the January 29th Lockton Cup final.
While the Emerald Cup win over the same opponents was close, this one was not as Lockton led by counts of 4 - .5, 6 – 1.5, 8 – 4.5, and 10 – 5.5 through the first four periods.
By maintaining control throughout, Max Menini earned the title of Most Valuable Player, and his mare Chacolata was chosen as the Best Playing Pony,
LOCKTON 6 – Tim Kelly, Max Menini 4 (4 goals), Baine Bossom 2 (7 goals – 6 foul conversions of which one was a #4), Micaela Saracco (1 goal). One goal awarded on a Penalty #1.
LUNA/HANALEI BAY 5.5 – Jennifer Alexy .5, Krista Bonaguidi -1, Jimmy Wright 4 (5 goals – 3 foul conversions of which two were #4’s ), Diego Laregli 2 (1 foul conversion).
Evergreen Needs Overtime to Win Jason Memorial
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
EVERGREEN Carlitos Galindo, Tommy Costello, Nicolai Galindo, Tom Sprung
Tom Sprung and his Evergreen polo team won the 2022 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial polo tournament with an impressive come from behind overtime effort over Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni and her Cotterel Farms foursome by a final tally of 12 – 11.
Trailing by a count of 8 – 4 at halftime and 10 – 7 and 11 – 8 after the fourth and fifth periods, the Colorado group scored three unanswered goals in the sixth chukker to take the contest to an additional frame.
With his seventh goal of the game, Nicolai Galindo grabbed the championship for Evergreen.
Tommy Costello was deemed to be the Most Valuable Player to his team and Rango, owned and played by Carlitos Galindo, was awarded the title of Best Playing Pony.
EVERGREEN 8 – Tom Sprung -1, Carlitos Galindo 4 (5 goals – 3 fouls), Nicolai Galindo 3 (7 goals), Tom Costello 2.
COTTEREL 8 – Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni (2 goals), Francisco Benardoni 2 (2 goals), Santiago Von Wernich 5 (5 goals), Gabriel Saccullo 1 (2 goals).
Bossom Leads Lockton to Emerald Cup Win
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
LOCKTON Tim Kelly, Mica Saracco, Maxi Menini, Bayne Bossom
With 10 goals on the afternoon, Bayne Bossom, in a MVP performance, showed Lockton the way to a 13 – 10 ½ victory over Luna/Hanalei Bay in the Emerald Cup 6 Goal final.
Luna/Hanalei Bay, (with a handicap award of ½) for the most part kept it close and actually led for a time near the end but ultimately was no match for the young Californian and his Lockton teammates.
As well as Bossom’s MVP selection, Max Menini’s Harakiri was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
Lockton 6 – Tim Kelly, 1 goal, Micaela Saracco, Max Menini 4, 2 goals, Bayne Bossom 2, 10 goals (3 fouls).
Luna/Hanalei Bay 5.5 – Krista Bonaguidi -1, Jennifer Alexy .5, Jimmy Wright 4, 8 goals (2 fouls), Hamish Bray 2, 2 goals.
Plank Co takes 2021 USPA Women’s Pacific Coast Open
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
PLANK CO Taylor Olcott, Micaela Saracco, Dayelle Fargey, Kendall Plank
The 2021 USPA Women’s Pacific Coast Open Championship, played at the Eldorado Polo Club, was won by Kendal Plank and her Plank Co polo team.
Played in a round-robin format over two days – December 31 and January 2 – the tournament featured three teams;
PLANK CO 16 – Kendal Plank 4, Dayelle Fargey 7, Taylor Olcott 2, Micaela Saracco 3.
CHEVAL ATHLETICS 15 – Catlin Dix 5, Malia McCoy 4, Sierra Dunbar 3, Kaile Roos 3.
SANTA BARBARA POLO & RACQUET CLUB 16 – Melanja Jones 3, Jennifer Alexy 4, Jessica Bailey 5, Cory Williams 4.
Starting on day one (Friday), Cheval, with a handicap award of ½, faced off against Santa Barbara. With the scoring even at three each, Cheval led by a count of 3 ½ – 3 going to day two.
Plank Co came onto the field for the middle set to face Santa Barbara and after the two chukkers, led by one goal at 3 – 2.
The Kendal Group stayed up as Cheval, with another handicap of ½, came back out for the final two periods, and Plank Co rode to a lead at 3 – 2 ½.
Once again, in front of a large Cantina crowd, the first Sunday action was the same as Friday’s with Cheval and Santa Barbara meeting. While the first-day scoring was even, Sunday’s was not as Cheval counted three to none for Santa Barbara, leading to a win by Cheval at 6 ½ to 3.
Goals were tough to find in the middle chukkers, with just one scored by Plank Co. The result was a Plank Co victory at 4 to 2 over Santa Barbara.
The final two periods of the round-robin format – and certainly the most exciting - saw Plank Co and Cheval play for the championship. With an early goal, Plank Co increased their lead at 4 – 2 ½, but Cheval came back with a pair to take the lead away at 4 ½ – 4. Plank scored another, and they now led again at 5 – 4 ½. Making it very interesting, Cheval counted another, and they now led 5 ½ – 5. With little time left, MVP Taylor Olcott converted a penalty three to secure the victory for Plank Co at 6 – 5 ½.
Plank Co 2 0 +2 ½
Cheval Athletics 1 1 +3
Santa Barbara 0 2 -5 ½
Olcott led scoring for the winners with five goals (one foul), Fargey had three (one foul), and Saracco scored two (one foul).
Dix led cheval, scoring with seven goals (three fouls), Dunbar with three (one foul), and Roos contributed one.
Alexy led Santa Barbara, scoring three goals (one foul), while Jones and Williams counted one each.
As mentioned earlier, Olcott was selected as the Most Valuable Player to her team, and Sorpresa, played by Saracco in her second chukker and owned by Luis Saracco, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
The Sunny Hale Memorial Horsemanship Award was presented to Malia McCoy.
Tony Gregg
SAPA WINS NATIONAL ROSSMORE AND $24,000 IN SKINS MONEY
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that
SAPA POLO Igor Seyranov, Bayne Bossom, Marcos Alberdi, Jesse Bray
It’s been a long time since a team won all of the money available in the Eldorado Polo Club’s Polo Skins Game. In the 2021 event, the 25th renewal, and the fourth Rossmore at Eldorado, Sapa Polo came within 120 seconds of doing exactly that, while at the same time, winning the USPA Rossmore Cup in the process.
With a game time temperature of 77 degrees, the day was perfect weather wise, and for the first time allowed all season, a polo members only crowd lined both sides of the field and filled the allowable 30% in the clubhouse as Igor Seyranov’s Sapa Polo (Igor Seyranov, Jesse Bray 6, Marcos Alberdi 4, Bayne Bossom 2) lined up against Ben Soleimani’s Bensoleimani.com (Ben Soleimani, Juan Curbelo 5, Tomas Alberdi 4, Remy Du Celliee Muller 3) in a game in which each chukker was worth $6,000.
The start wasn’t at all suggestive of what would transpire during the afternoon as Bensoleimani.com pushed the very early play that allowed Tomas Alberdi a free shot from 30 yards to lead by one. However, Sapa got that back with a Marcos Alberdi penalty two conversion of his own and the first period ended in a tie at one forcing the game’s first money carryover and the Rossmore count at 1 – 1.
If the first frame wasn’t indicative of what would occur, the second period - for $12,000 – was. With Sapa controlling most of the play, Marcos Alberdi counted two goals – one from the field and another penalty two conversion to win the carryover Skin by a count of 2 – 0 and putting Sapa up 3 – 1 in the Rossmore.
The third period – for $6,000 – was pretty much all Sapa. Marcos Alberdi scored one from the field and Bray had a pair to nothing for Bensoleimani.com. Sapa won the money to up their count to $18,000 and they led the Rossmore at 6 – 1.
The intensive Sapa control continued in the fourth as unrelenting pressure led to four unanswered goals – Marcos Alberdi with a pair of penalty two conversions along with a field goal and Bossom with his first of the day. Sapa had now collected $24,000 and led in the Rossmore at 10 – 1.
Scoring was rather low in the fifth with each team counting one. Bossom from the field for Sapa and Tomas Alberdi with a field goal of his own for Bensoleimani.com. Like the first period, the penultimate frame ended with the count a one each, creating the second carryover of the game and the Rossmore tally at 11 – 2 to favor Sapa.
Sapa stretched the Rossmore lead to 11 goals at 13 – 2 in the sixth as Marcos Alberdi and Bossom each struck once and with the Rossmore victory assured, appeared to be in control to win the carryover $12,000 as well. However, with pride on the line – not to mention a lot of money - Bensoleimani.com pushed and Soleimani himself capped off a drive with a great effort from the right side to trail in the chukker count by just one. At this point the designers weren’t about to go away and from the ensuing throw-in at center, pushed the play the other way to force Sapa into a safety. Tomas Alberdi made no mistake as he pounded the 70 yard opportunity dead center to tie the chukker count at two and ultimately create a third carryover. The Rossmore count was now final to favor Sapa, but an overtime chukker would be needed to decide the fate of the remaining $12,000.
The extra frame didn’t last very long as Bensoleimani.com won the throw-in – deep in their own end – and pushed the play to the Sapa goal where Du Celliee Muller scored to grab the $12,000.
The final tally allowed that Sapa Polo had won the 2021 USPA Rossmore Cup at 13 - 4 and led the Polo Skins Game money count at $24,000 - $12,000.
Eldorado Polo Club President Mike Ward was on hand to present the trophies and the $6,000 checks to the winners and runners-up as well as $1,500 checks to the MVP and the Best Playing Pony.
With his very strong and supportive play in all aspects of the game, Marcos Alberdi was considered to be the MVP and I Know, owned by Bray and played in the 3rd and 6th periods, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg