Antelope Junior Takes Third Title With Constitution 8 Win

To say that Grant Palmer's foray into competitive polo at Eldorado - beyond the Pro Pool and NYTS competition - was successful would be a gross understatement. With a win in the very competitive January Officer's Cup and victories in February's equally difficult Beal Cup and Sunday's Fish Creek Constitution Cup, Palmer and his Antelope Junior team (Grant Palmer, Patrick Uretz 4, Carolyn Anier 1, Jimmy Wright 3) 'ran the table' in the 2018 8 Goal events. With the first pair of wins in hand, the Constitution Final opposition would be Chris Maloney and his Twin Palms crew (Chris Maloney 1 (Mike Kerley 1 sub ch 2.5 - 6), Graham Bray 3, Mason Wroe 4, Mia Bray -1).Scoring in the first was even at two apiece but a handicap grant to Twin Palms gave the Maloney group a lead of one at 3 - 2.The only goal of the second frame went to Twin Palms and their lead became a pair (4 - 2) going to the third chukker.The Twin Palms lead remained two after the third period as both teams scored a goal leading to the half (5 - 3).With equal scoring in the fourth period the difference remained at two to favor the Maloney crew (7 - 5) and at this point they had led after each chukker - a situation that was unusual for Antelope Junior.However, the youngsters tightened the defensive screws in the fifth as they allowed nothing and, at the same time, counted two to tie the game at seven with one to go in regulation.A strike from the field in the final frame to - once again - nothing for Twin Palms gave Palmer his third tournament championship of the season by a final tally of 8 - 7.With the Constitution awards in hand, Scott Niwa, Area Manager, presented the winners with bottles of Don Julio Tequila - save Palmer himself who will have to wait several years before he can collect.Scoring for the winners was led by Uretz with four (2 fouls), Anier with two, and Palmer and Wright with one each.The Twin Palms reply came from Wroe with four (2 fouls) and Graham Bray with two. The handicap award completed the count.Because of her very shrewd, precise, and quick play 'inside the game', the ever present veteran Carolyn Anier was selected as the Most Valuable Player to her team.Sydney, owned by Mia Bray and played in the fifth chukker by her father, Graham Bray, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.Tony Gregg