March 1, 2020 | Empire Polo Club
8-Goal USPA Congressional Cup Finals
4-Goal Congressional Cup Results

 In Sunday’s Congressional Cup Finals, Ridgway Hemp (Beau Staley -1, Agustin Bottaro 0, Memo Gracida 5, Alonso Andrade 1) faced Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Nick Cifuni 3).

Nick Cifuni scored Evergreen’s first goal, followed by Ridgway Hemp’s score by Memo Gracida, which ended the first chukker with teams tied, 1 to 1. In spite of several long runs and big hits, the defense was so strong that chukker two was scoreless for both teams. Play intensified in the third time period. Carlitos Galindo pegged both of his penalty 3 shots and hit an amazing 70-yard missile, that soared high above and between the posts. Alonso Andrade carried the ball through heavy Evergreen traffic, and Memo tapped it in for Ridgway Hemp. The teams went to half time with Evergreen leading, 4 to 2. In the fourth time period Memo and Carlitos each converted a penalty 4, keeping the game close with the score 5 to 3. The momentum switched in the fifth chukker, as Ridgway Hemp’s Memo Gracida came out racing on “Ballet” and racked up 3 points, earning her the title of best playing pony. Nick Cifuni scored a penalty 3 for Evergreen. Alonso Andrade added one, and that put Ridgway Hemp in the lead by one at the end of the fifth chukker, 7 to 6. Memo started the final chukker’s scoring with a converted penalty 2, and one of his classic walk-the-ball through the goal, moving the scoreboard to a 9 to 6 ball game. Ridgway Hemp added two more goals, and Carlos Galindo added one for Evergreen. At the final bell, it was Ridgway Hemp celebrating a victory with a final score of 11 to 7.

The four-Goal Congressional Cup has six teams competing until March 15, when the top two teams will meet for the finals. The teams that drew to play in this Sunday’s match were Granite Bay/S4K (Jay Garnett -.5, Eric Hammon 0, Jim Wright 3, Topo Mendez 1.5) and Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy 0, Alexis Payan 0, Bautista Von Wernich 1, Diego Larregli 3).

The first to score was Jim Wright for Granite Bay/S4K. Luna Polo fired back with Alexis Payan, Bautista Von Wernich, and Diego Larregli each contributing one goal, ending the first time period with Luna Polo in the lead, 3 to 1. Granite Bay out-scored Luna Polo in the second chukker adding two points to Luna Polo’s one. The teams went to half-time with the advantage to Luna Polo, 4 to 3. Alexis Payan made two goals in the third chukker for Luna Polo. Jim Wright converted two penalty 3 shots and battled his way to score another, ending the fast and furious chukker with teams tied, 6 to 6. In the fourth and final chukker, Granite Bay/S4K was unable to score, while Luna Polo’s Diego Larregli scored twice. That ended the match with Luna Polo winning, 8 to 6.

February 23^rd , 2020 | Empire Polo Club

USPA General George Patton Tournament Finals
8-Goal and 4-Goal Leagues

The Sunday finals of the General George Patton Cup pitted last year’s winners, Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3) against Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2). Scapa and the Texans outscored the Evergreen team in the first chukker with Robert Payne and Rob Scapa each putting a point on the board. Carlos Galindo converted a penalty 2 shot, and the first time period ended with Empire leading 2 to 1. After an evenly matched second chukker, the score remained at 2 to 1. Russel Stimmel fired one through the posts for the only goal of the third chukker, ending the first half with Empire out in front, 3 to 1. Empire’s Rob Payne took control to begin the second half, scoring two back to back goals. Rob Scapa followed with a great run to goal for his second goal of the day. Carlitos Galindo sent a scoring bullet through for Evergreen. Stimmel answered for Empire. Carlos Galindo made a penalty 3 for Evergreen, ending the competitive fourth chukker in Empire’s favor, 7 to 3. The momentum continued for the Empire team, scoring the first two goals in the fifth chukker. Carlitos Galindo’s amazing, homegrown thirteen-year old gelding, Kahuna, got loose for a scoring run for Evergreen, and won the honors of Best Playing Pony. Robert Payne added one for Empire, extending their lead, with the score of 9 to 4 at the end of chukker five. Evergreen rallied in the last chukker, scoring two unanswered goals, but it was not enough to catch Empire, who went home victorious with the Roenisch  bronzes, defeating Evergreen 9 to 6.

4-Goal USPA Gen. Patton Tournament

It was Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3) and Grand Prairie Buffaloes (Ross Adams 0, Cheryl Schindel -.5, Garret Smith 1.5, Joe Henderson 3) battling for the bronzes in the General George Patton Cup 4-Goal finals. Dayelle Fargey was the first to score for Zahedi Chogan. Garrett Smith answered for the Buffaloes. Sy Zahedi joined in, adding another goal, ending the first chukker with Zahedi Chogan in the lead, 2.5 to 1. The second time period was dominated by Zahedi Chogan, adding three unanswered points. The trend continued in the third chukker. Meghan Gracida had a nice carry to goal that Francisco tapped in. Then Meghan sent a 40-yard shot through the posts. Dayelle Fargey, who closely marked Big Joe Henderson all day, made a wide-open run to score for Zahedi Chogan. That ended the first half with Zahedi Chogan pulling away, 8.5 to 1. Grand Prairie Buffaloes were unable to score in the fourth time period, while Meghan Gracida and Francisco Guinazu each added a goal for Zahedi Chogan, ending the fourth chukker with the score 10.5 to 1. The Buffaloes rallied in the fifth and last chukker. Garrett Smith scored twice. Ross Adams and Cheryl Schindel scored one apiece. It was a valiant effort, but not enough to catch Zahedi Chogan. As the clock wound down Francisco took a booming 150-yard shot at goal, which was air-born as the horn sounded, and then soared through the posts! Although his megahit was too late to count, the Zahedi Chogan team earned the bronzes, with a triumphant score of 10.5 to 5.

Sunday, February 16th, 2020 | Empire Polo Club
General George Patton 4- and 8-Goal Results and Standings

At the end of the first week of these two-week tournaments the team standings are as follows:

8-Goal:

Win=2, Bye=1, Loss=0. Two teams with the most points go to finals February 23.

1 win, 1 bye=3
Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2)

1 win, 1 loss=2
Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3)

1 win, 1 loss=2
Spindrift (Torrey Ripinsky 0, John Bickford 1, Jason Crowder 6, Catlin Dix 0)

1 win, 1 loss=2
Santa Ynez (Gina Padilla -1, Mariano Gracida 4, Julio Gracida 4, Meghan Gracida 0)

1 loss, 1 bye=1
Ridgway Hemp (Beau Staley -1, Agustin Bottaro 0, Dayelle Fargey 1, Memo Gracida 5)

4-goal Win-loss

2-0 Zahedi Chogan
(Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3)

2-0 Grand Prairie
(Ross Adams 0, Cheryl Schindel -.5, Garret Smith 1.5, Joe Henderson 3)

1-1 Lockton
(Tim Kelly 0, Audrey Persano .5, Luis Saracco 3, Chino Payan .5)

1-1 Hanalei Bay
(Krista Bonaguidi -1, Alejandro Gonzalez 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Ryan Kerley -.5)

0-2 Granite Bay/Archangel
(Eric Hammon 0, German Coppel 0, Ashton Wolf 3, Alonso Andrade 1)

0-2 Zephyr
(Elizabeth Humphreys -.5, Lesley Tims -.5, Valentino Echezarreta 2, Ignacio Saenz 3)

Sunday’s matches were fast and furious, in front of a full house on a gorgeous, sunny desert day!

In the 8-Goal Patton Cup, Spindrift went to battle against Santa Ynez. Julio Gracida scored 2 penalty shots to start off the scoring for Santa Ynez. Torrey Ripinsky knocked one in for Spindrift, ending the first time period with Santa Ynez in front 2 to 1. Julio converted 2 more penalty shots in the second chukker. Catlin Dix, Torrey Ripinsky, and Jason Crowder each scored once for Spindrift. Add two penalty 1 fouls that were awarded to Spindrift, and chukker two ended 6 to 4. Chukker three started off with a bang, as Julio grabbed the ball out of the mouth of the goal, ran the length of the field and pegged a neck shot through the posts to dazzle the crowd. Ripinsky scored his third of the day, ending the first half with Spindrift leading 7 to 5. Mariano started the second half with a goal for Santa Ynez. Catlin Dix took out an opponent, clearing the way for Jason Crowder to score for Spindrift. Julio converted two penalty shots, and the fourth chukker ended in a tie, 8 to 8. Spindrift picked up the pace in the fifth chukker, scoring three unanswered goals to take the lead, 11 to 8. In the sixth chukker, Julio Gracida’s penalty 4 shot went airborne, flying high to add one for Santa Ynez. John Bickford, who had many long carries throughout the game, put one through the posts to put Spindrift up by 3. Ripinsky made his fifth goal of the day, and as the time ran out, Spindrift’s Julio Gracida pegged a penalty 2, (his 9^th goal of the day). As the final horn sounded, it was Spindrift that headed to the winner’s circle, with a final score of 13 to 10.

Teams Zephyr and Zahedi Chogan put on a crowd-pleasing show in the 4-Goal match. Sy Zahedi was the first to score, followed by teammate Francisco Guinazu, ending chukker one with Zahedi Chogan in the lead, 2.5(+.5 by handicap) to 0. Dayelle Fargey’s goal made it 3.5 to 0. Ignacio Saenz joined the scoring, putting 1 point for Zephyr on the board. Guinazu also scored and the second time period ended 4.5 to 1. Ignacio came alive in the third chukker, putting 3 unanswered points on the board for Zephyr. That ended the first half with the close score of 4.5 to 4, a half point advantage to Zahedi Chogan. Scoring went back and forth in chukker four which ended with Zahedi Chogan ahead, 7.5 to 6. Fargey increased the lead to 8.5 to 6 early in the fifth and last chukker. Tension mounted as Zephyr came close, with Ignacio converting two penalty 2 shots, but Zahedi Chogan persevered, winning by a nose, 8.5 to 8.

February 14th, 2020
Debii $$ Conant Ladies Tournament
Empire Polo Club

Empire Polo Club’s Friday Night Polo Under the Lights” was a Valentine’s Day celebration, on a gorgeous evening, with fabulous polo entertainment. Polo Pro, Mike Conant, founded the Debii Dollar Memorial Tournament competition for his late wife, Debii Dollar Conant (1950-1989). Debii was a tough competitor credited with advancing and promoting polo for women. Women were allowed to compete in USPA polo in 1972.

Finalists Parker Polo (Grace Parker 1, Carly Persano 3, Audrey Persano 4, Madelyn Cobb 4), and Palomar Pools (Elise Pardue 2, Cybel Jordan 3, Karen Reese 5, Bonnie Magill 2) met at the line-up under the lights. The scoring started with a converted penalty 2 shot by Karen Reese. Grace Parker answer with a scoring run and the first chukker ended in a tie, 1 to 1. Parker Pool outscored the Palomar Pool team in the second chukker, and the ladies went to half time with Parker Pool leading 4 to 2. Bonnie Magill got loose in the third chukker and scored for Palomar Pools. Parker Polo added one to the score board making it a 5 to 3 game. The fourth and final chukker continued to be a close, hard-fought match with both teams scoring once. The Parker Pool team was triumphant, with a final score of 6 to 4.

Susan Guggenheim was chosen as the Inaugural recipient of the Women’s Longevity Award. Susan became a USPA member in 1985, and is an active sponsor and player. Her team, Ponytail Polo, has competed in the Debii Dollar Polo Tournament for over 10 years. This new, perpetual award was given by Tania Paneno and Lynni Hutton in Memory and in honor of our dear friend, Kit Neacy, who passed away on February 2, 2020. She will be remembered for her passion for polo and her horses, her competitive nature, and her comradery with polo teammates. Kit began playing polo in the early 1980s, joined the USPA in 1983, and remained a player until last April.

Bonnie Magill was honored as the recipient of the Dorrie Forstmann Sportsmanship Award. Bonnie is an inspiration to everyone around her. After the tragic loss of her daughter, Margery, last August, she has not only rallied, but has thrown herself into her passion for polo. Helping the kid’s polo program here in the desert, teaching riding, announcing, timing, scoring and umpiring polo games are ways that Bonnie exhibits her enthusiasm and love of polo, horses and people. Bonnie is a competitive force to be reckoned with on the field, as a passionate player that continues to play actively in Empire’s 1-Goal league this year. Dorrie Forstmann (1947-2015), took up polo in 1985, and was a top female player and patron in the country. She played passionately with her team, Risky Business, until her catastrophic accident in 2002, which left unable to walk. Her strength and willpower were an inspiration to all.
Congratulations LADIES!!!!

8-Goal USPA National President’s Cup
4-Goal USPA National Amateur Cup
Empire Polo Club | Feb. 9th, 2020
Sunday Polo Presented by The United State Polo Association (USPA)

After two weeks of competition in the USPA 8-Goal President’s Cup, the finalists were Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3), and Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2).

Evergreen’s Carlos Galindo started the scoring with a converted penalty 2. Empire fired back with Rob Scapa, Rob Payne, and Robert Payne all contributing a goal for Empire, ending the first chukker with Empire leading 3 to 1. Scoring went back and forth in chukker two. Robert Payne scored twice for Empire. Juan Jo Gonzalez and Carlitos Galindo each put a point on the board for Evergreen. Empire pulled ahead in the third time period with Stimmel’s two successful penalty shots, and Rob Payne scoring twice. Carlos Galindo pegged a penalty 3 conversion for Evergreen and the teams went to half-time with Empire leading, 9 to 4. Rob Scapa’s neck-shot sailed through the posts in the fourth chukker, and was answered by Carlos and Carlitos scoring for Evergreen. Evergreen closed the lead slightly, but the chukker ended with Empire ahead, 10 to 6. In chukker 5, Evergreen’s Carlos Galindo converted a penalty 3 and a penalty 2. Russel Stimmel came back with successful penalty 3 and penalty 4 goals. Add Rob Payne’s score and the fifth chukker ended with Empire leading 13 to 8. In the sixth chukker, Juan Jo Gonzalez made his way through a crowded goal mouth for an Evergreen goal. Carlos Galindo hit two booming shots through the posts, making him the high scorer of the game with a total of 7 goals. Rob Payne scored Empire’s only goal in the last chukker, which ended with Empire victorious, 14 to 11.

The final match of the USPA 4-Goal Amateur Cup pitted Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3), against Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi -1, Alejandro Gonzalez 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Ryan Kerley -.5). The crowd was dazzled, as the lead changed each chukker. Zahedi Chogan’s Francisco Guinazu and Hanalei Bay’s Alejandro Gonzalez each scored twice to start off the game. Zahedi Chogan was awarded a .5 advantage by handicap, which put them up at the end of the first chukker 2.5 to 2. Guinazu made the only goal for Zahedi Chogan in the second time period. Hanalei Bay’s Gonzalez sent two through the posts, putting Hanalei Bay ahead at the end of chukker two, 4 to 3.5. Guinazu came out running in the third chukker with a penalty 3 conversion, and a powerful shot through the posts. Zahedi Chogan battled back with a team effort, as each team member on the Zahedi Chogan team scored a goal, putting Zahedi Chogan back in front by 1.5 points. Taylor Freeman joined the scoring for Hanalei Bay making 2 goals, and ending the first half with Hanalei Bay back on top with a narrow lead of 8 to 7.5. The fourth chukker started with Dayelle Fargey, a fierce competitor all day, putting Zahedi Chogan back in front by a half point with her second goal of the game. Then Hanalei Bay’s Krista Bonaguidi got loose for a long scoring run which gave Hanalei Bay the lead by a half point. Zahedi Chogan’s Guinazu rallied, scoring once from the field and twice from the penalty line, ending the fourth chukker with Zahedi Chogan back on top 11.5 to 9. In the fifth and last chukker of the match, Hanalei Bay won the game from the penalty line with Gonzalez scoring three penalty shots, and Krista Bonaguidi converting a penalty 2. Hanalei Bay took home the silver with a winning score of Hanalei Bay 13 to Zahedi Chogan 11.5.