CHOGAN/K2 -Dayelle Fargey, Tim Rudy, Kim Kelly, Sy Zahedi

The final game of the Eldorado Polo Club’s 2021 World Gym Tournament – sponsored by the Mike Uretz Family – matched up two teams who came out of bracket play unscathed.

La Fortuna (Elise Bigelow -1, Carlos Rivas .5, Caroline Anier 1.5, Luis Saracco 3) qualified for the 2020 final but lost. This year they would face Chogan/K2 (Sy Zahedi -1, Kim Kelly, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Tim Rudy 3).

With Chogan/K2 awarded a handicap of one-half goal, play was quick and very fast from the start and Rudy put the combination up early with his first goal. Saracco converted an open goal effort to tie and Bigelow then scored to give La Fortuna a lead of one. Rudy tied the count with an open goal conversion of his own and then scored a field goal to go to the second with a lead of one at 3.5 – 2.

In the second Chogan/K2 was granted a goal via a penalty one to increase the lead to 4.5 – 2 but Anier later scored to reduce the deficit. A goal by Kelly returned the difference to 2.5 with the score 5.5 – 3 at halftime.

Chukker number three featured four goals. Rudy with three for Chogan/K2 and a Rivas counter for La Fortuna to produce a tally of 8.5 – 4 going to the final.

Needing goals, La Fortuna came out with very strong offensive pressure in the fourth that Chogan/K2 had trouble adjusting to. As a result, Saracco converted a penalty number 3 and a penalty number 4 to get closer at 8.5 – 6. La Fortuna was then awarded a penalty number one goal and Saracco scored his first from the field after the free hit from center to come within a half goal at 8.5 – 8. With Chogan/K2 on the ropes, La Fortuna continued to press and with less than a minute left, Saracco had a chance to win with a penalty 4 opportunity that was just wide. The result was the 2021 World Gym Tournament victory for Chogan/K2 who controlled the first three chukkers – if not the last.

Mike and Claudia Uretz were on hand as always to present the World Gym Trophy to the winners and the MVP honor to Tim Rudy.

Dalma, owned by Igor Seyranov and played by Saracco in the fourth was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.

Tony Gregg