To access the Friday night games enter the Empire Polo Club from Ave. 50 or from Monroe St. between Ave. 50 and Ave. 51. The Friday night game is held on field #3. Click here for directions and a map.
Empire Polo Club | January 26, 2020
4-Goal and 8-Goal USPA Sportsmanship Cup
The trophies were presented by Stella Artois
Empire’s two-week Sportsmanship Cups culminated with an amazing afternoon of polo. Teams were playing for Rich Roenisch Bronzes, “She Gave Her Best.”
The 8-Goal match pitted Empire, (Rob Scapa 0, Russell Stimmel 2, Robert Payne ll 3, Rob Payne lll 3) against BFBST Law, (Leigh Brecheen 0, Erin Brittin 0/Jemma Coutreras 0, Jimmy Wright 3, Tim Rudy 3).
Empire Polo Team won the 8-Goal USPA Sportsmanship Cup Finals. From left to right: Rob Scapa, Russell Stimmel, Rob Payne, III and Rob Payne, II. The life-sized bronze in the photo with the team is ‘She Gave Her Best.” The bronze trophies awarded to the players are replicas of the larger sculpture, created by artist Rich Roenisch.
The game started off with a 2 point advantage, by handicap, given to BFST Law. Empire came out smoking. Rob Payne and Russell Stimmel each scored a goal, and Robert Payne added 2 more, racking up a total of 4 points in chukker 1, and ending that period with the Empire team ahead, 4 to 2. BFBST Law shut Empire down in the second chukker and Tim Rudy added one goal for BFBST Law. The pace was full throttle in the third chukker with Jimmy Wright scoring first. Rob Payne answered with a goal, which Jimmy followed with two back to back shots through the posts. Russell Stimmel converted a penalty 2 shot, and that sent the teams to half-time with a tied score of 6 to 6. Leigh Brecheen carried the ball to goal for the first score of the second half for BFBST Law.
Jimmy Wright Won MVP.
Wright’s successful penalty 3 shot put BFBST Law in the lead by 2 goals, but Russell Stimmel came back with a goal for Empire, ending the fourth time period with BFBST leading, 8 to 7. In the fifth chukker Rob Payne made two goals from the field, and Stimmel added a point from the penalty three line, putting Empire out front, 10 to 8. In the last chukker both teams gave it all they had. Rudy scored first making it 10 to 9. Empire’s Robert Payne shot one through the post, followed by Stimmel’s penalty 2 score. BFBST was still game and MVP Jimmy Wright made the last goal, his fifth of the day, which made the score at the final horn Empire 12 to BFBST LAW 10.
8-Goal BPP was awarded to Renata, a mare owned and played by Rob Payne, III. Groom is Aron Gutierrez.
The 4-Goal was also a game of big runs and long hits. Lockton, (Tim Kelly 0, Audrey Persano .5, Chino Payan .5, Luis Saracco 3), went up against Archangel/Granite Bay, (Eric Hammon 0, German Coppel 0, Ashton Wolf 3, Alonso Andrade 1). The game started very defensively, with Luis scoring a penalty 2, and Alonso scoring a penalty 4, ending chukker one tied at 1 to 1. Alonso’s goal for Archangel/Granite Bay in the second chukker was answered by Saracco’s penalty 2 point, keeping the score tied, 2 to 2. It was MVP Audrey Persano that put Lockton ahead by one with her goal. Saracco added a point and the third chukker ended in Lockton’s favor, 4 to 2. Louis Saracco scored three times in the fourth chukker for Lockton. Alonso Andrade hit a penalty 3 shot through the posts for Archangel/Granite Bay, ending the fourth chukker in Lockton’s favor, 7 to 3. Andrade began the fifth and last chukker converting a penalty 4 and penalty 3 for Archangel/Granite Bay, closing Lockton’s lead , 7 to 5. The Lockton team fired back with Luis scoring a penalty 2, Chino Payanrunning one in for a goal, and Audrey Persanoended the game with a beautiful shot through the goal. Lockton took home the bronzes, with the game’s final score 10 to 5.
Lockton Polo Team won the 4-Goal USPA Sportsmanship Cup. From left to right. Tim Kelly, Audrey Persano, Luis Saracco and Chino Payan.Audrey Person Won MVP.4-Goal BPP was awarded to Diva, a mare owned and played by Luis Saracco. Grooms are Dario Muciño and Angela Russo.
XII FIP World Polo Championship Returns to the United States In 2021 After 23-Year Hiatus
The United States Polo Association (USPA), USPA Global Licensing and Empire Polo Club are pleased to host the XII Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship in 2021 with official apparel supplier U.S. Polo Assn.Welcoming the international contest to the United States for the second time in the history of the competition, the 2021 tournament will be held from October 22-31 at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, featuring eight countries representing the top 2-to 5-goalers from around the world.
Empire Polo Club trophy table.
As the United States has only raised the trophy once,in 1989, the United States Polo Association is thrilled for the opportunity to welcome the competition back to California for the first time in over two decades. Selecting the best playersto represent the American team on an international stage, the strengths of the United States lie in both high-quality horses and a prime location featuring world-class fields and facilities. Home of the world-famous Coachella Music Festival and located just two hours from Los Angeles, Empire Polo Club is the ideal venue, attracting global exposure for both the sport and the U.S. Polo Assn. brand. Seeking to elevate the experience of the FIP World Polo Championship for players, sponsors and spectators, the United States is proud to accept the challenge and prepared to deliver an unrivaled experience in 2021.
Field 1 at Empire Polo Club.
Featuring more than 200 exceptional horses from J5 Equestrian, top rated polo fields, VIP experiences for both fans and players, and corporate hospitality, the XII FIP World Polo Championship promisesto be an unforgettable global event. Providing access to the best bloodlines in the world, the Jornayvaz family’s J5 Equestrian organization will feature an in-house horse management teamfor the eventwithall tack, feed, shavings, and farrierservices provided. Additionally, players will have access to 10 world-class fields,including three dedicated tournament fieldsand seven practice fieldsat Empire Polo Club.
Halftime divot stomp on Field 1 at Empire Polo Club.
“When it comes to horses, J5 Equestrian is the top organization in America and one of the most important in the world,” said Robert Puetz, the United States Polo Association’s Chief Executive Officer. “USPA has committed to partner with J5to provide over 200 horses and we are ecstatic that they are able to support this significant international event. We know the quality of the horses—it willbe above and beyond. I believe that many of the young competitors are going to play on horses that have a skill level and talent that they haven’t had the pleasure of playing before. It will be a highly competitive tournament on an international stage.”
Empire Polo Club January 10-26, 2020 8-Goal and 4-Goal Sportsmanship Cup
The 8-goal tournament has four teams competing over two weeks. Sunday’s match was between Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Nick Cifuni 3, Carlitos Galindo 4) and Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne 3, Rob Payne 3, Russell Stimmel 2).
It was an amazing match in the 8-Goal, as these two All-American teams went to battle. Stimmel put the first two points on the board for Empire. That ended the first time period, 2 to 0. Nick Cifuni turned it on in the second chukker with a 60 yard cut-shot from the field and three successful penalty shots. Robert Payne Senior wiggled through a crowded goal mouth to add one for Empire, which ended the second time period with a close score of 4 to 3. The only goal in the third chukker was made by Carlos Galindo, sending the players to half time with Evergreen leading, 5 to 3. The second half kicked off when Rob Payne converted a long penalty 5A. Evergreen was awarded a penalty 1. Stimmel added a point for Empire, cutting Evergreen’s lead to one point at the end of the fourth chukker, with the score 6 to 5. In the fifth time period Empire added two points to Evergreen’s one, making it a tied ball game, 7 to 7. Both teams came out firing in the final chukker. Stimmel was the first to score, followed by Carlitos Galindo scoring a penalty 3, keeping this intense match tied at 8 to 8. Carlitos then wowed the crowd with a wide-open run the length of the entire field and through thegoal on his mare, Pistola. It was Rob Scapa that rallied back with his shot through the posts that tied the game again, 9 to 9. Russell Stimmel’s successful penalty 2 put Empire ahead at the final horn, 10 to 9.
There are six teams in the 4-Goal Sportsmanship Cup, 2-week tournament. On Sunday afternoon Archangel/Granite Bay, (Eric Hammon 0, Jeffery Rewald 0, Ashton Wolf 3, Alonso Andrade 1) faced Sawyer Aviation, (David Barnett 0, Olivier Climaud 0, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3, Cameron Smith 1). Eric Hammon started the scoring, with two unanswered goals in the first chukker. Alonso’s penalty 3 conversion was the only score in the second time period. In the third chukker Ashton Wolf scored twice and Alonso Andrade scored twice, ending the first half of this 5 chukker game with Archangel/Granite Bay ahead, 7 to 0. The fourth time period started with Alonso increased the lead with two more goals, followed by Eric Hammon scoring one. Then Olivier Climaud put Sawyer Aviation on the board with two goals. The fifth and final chukker started with a 10 to 2 score. Juan Jo Gonzalez, who played an amazing game, put another point on the board for Sawyer Aviation. Olivier added a goal, but Archangel/Granite Bay answered with two goals and won the game 12 to 4.
XII FIP World Polo Championship
