The Empire Champions’ Cup is an 8-10 Goal Tournament that offers a $60,000 cash purse. This is the most competitive tournament of the winter season. The tournament runs March 15th – 31st, 2013. We expect to have a full tournament this year, so sign-up early and get your team on the list to play. There is an 8-team cap on this tournament, so don’t wait too long to sign-up. See the attached flier for details.
“Future Polo Players of Coachella Valley” at Empire Polo Club
Empire Polo Club’s Youth Polo
Summer Day Camp Program
Director, Connie Atkinson
In early July, six young polo players drove into Empire Polo Club to be welcomed to Empire’s first Summer Day Camp Program. The program was developed to promote the sport of polo to local residents and junior riders. The camp was hosted by Empire Polo Club. They provided a 12- stall barn, tack room, arena and grass playing fields, plus a continuous supply of ice and cold water for our players, parents and instructors. The barn was uniquely decorated with Independence Day American flags in recognition of the holiday weekend.
Each player was assigned a stall, a polo horse, polo tack and mallet. Hanging on the stall doors were brightly colored grain buckets containing a variety of grooming supplies to be used by the players for the purpose of taking care of their horses. The only condition to keeping their supplies was if any tools were discovered left abandoned at any time, the owner would have to buy it back before it was returned. The group of 6 to 12 year olds did an excellent job keeping their horse equipment together for the duration of the camp. Not one child had to buy back anything. However, a passing observation of their previous behavior in their daily lives might reflect a different story. Myself and their parents were quite impressed by their due diligence.
The Summer Camp schedule consisted of six sessions starting with Thursday evening and ending Sunday morning with a tournament game on Empire’s Rose Garden Field. Due to the daytime thermometer’s triple digit heat, evening sessions ran from 6 PM to 9PM and the morning sessions from 7 to 11 AM. The children would break for the afternoon and return to the club in the evening. The total cost per player was $300.00 with snacks and drinks provided.
The beginning session focused on how to properly bed down a horse and stall preparation in a polo barn. Players learned how to spread shavings, place water and grain buckets, how to handle a manure pitchfork and wheel barrel. Those of us who spend a lot of time working with horses can be quite surprised at how important the simplest information might register with a novice horse person. The first night a water bucket was used to deposit horse droppings in one of the player’s stalls. When I asked my young player where her horse’s water was, I got a look of bewilderment. The lesson for her that evening was horses need water. The lesson to the director was to double check everything and don’t take anything for granted.
Our first session focused on grooming techniques for a polo horse. Primo, Al Haagen’s polo groom, demonstrated to the players how to properly bathe a horse, clean out the hooves of the horse and roach the mane and tails of the horses. Each player then proceeded to use Primo’s techniques on their own horses. When the evening ended we tried to judge who had the prettiest polo pony, but they all looked equally good.
Friday’s lessons focused on tack maintenance and identifying and naming polo bits and bridle parts. They learned to wrap a horse’s legs with polo wraps and to tie their horse’s tail. They made bets during the practice game on who‘s tail will stay up the longest. The evening culminated in a “Groom’s Race” between the two teams. There was a lot of cheering and excitement on each side. The race was so close that one could say it was a draw. The players did a great job of putting their grooming knowledge to the test.
In our daily “chalk talk” sessions on Friday and Saturday, we went into detail about the rules of polo. After watching many polo games with kids swinging mallets and close calls, special emphasis was placed on knowing the right of way and what makes a dangerous play; understanding the phrase, Man-Line-Ball. Players learned the importance of each position on a polo team and what they were expected to do in the game. We also covered the polo rating system and referred to the 2012 USPA Rules Book as an important resource for knowing the rules of polo, the location and details about polo clubs in the U.S.
In our morning and evening polo practice sessions, the players put into action what they learned earlier from our discussions out on the playing field. Who has the right of way? What shot does the player have depending on the line of the ball and the direction the player is going? How do we manipulate our horses to prevent fouls?
On Saturday we worked mainly on playing technique. Players learned proper ride-off maneuvers, how to hook with the mallet, how to meet traffic and how to hit penalty shots. All the players know how to hit the polo ball on the off side, but this time they had to do it at speed … speed being a trot for some students and a canter for others.
One of our players demonstrated how important it is to have a tight grip with your upper leg in the saddle when you reach out to hit the ball, by tumbling over the horse’s neck. Being only six years old, it was a bit of a shock, but as she says, she feels as though she is a real polo player now that she has joined the “Crash and Burn Club.” We all fall off our horse at some point in our riding career.
On Sunday morning we played our final tournament game.
Empire’s White Team
Sofia Reyes (6 years old)
Ella Bonilla (7 years old)
Sydney Jordan (13 years old ) She substituted for Stacy Mauchati (12 years old)
Empire’s Black Team
Alyssa Garcia (9 years old)
Eleanore Smith (10 years old)
Cameron M. Smith (12 years old)
The game was very fast compared to the practice games previously played. Two chukkers were played with Sydney Jordan scoring the first goal for Empire White. Cameron Smith followed up with the next goal for Empire Black. At the end of the first chukker Sydney Jordan had scored another goal, making it 2 to 1 in favor of Empire White. In the second Chukker, using their ride-off strategy to take out Sydney Jordan, Empire Black was able to score 2 goals, one by Eleanore Smith and the other by Cameron Smith. Just as the horn blew, Sydney was able to hit the ball through the goal post for overtime, which was played in a penalty shot shoot out. Ella Bonilla was able to put it in the goal to win a tied score in the second shoot off, giving the win to Empire White.
During the awards presentation, each player received a scrolled parchment Certificate of Completion for their participation in Empire’s Youth Polo Summer Camp Program. It itemized the areas of proficiency each player achieved in the sport of Polo all of which our camp activities addressed.
In summary I would say that our Summer Camp Program was a huge success. We received positive feedback from parents, who were so amazed by what their children were able to accomplish in such a short period of time. The eagerness and laughter of the children themselves, their willingness to help each other and to get along so beautifully with every task set out before them underlined how the program was a positive experience for the kids. Through my own observation I was amazed at how quickly these players learned the importance of caring for polo horses, about the game of polo and their desire to learn more.
Empire Polo Club has done such a fabulous job allowing these young players the opportunity to use their beautiful facility and in making them feel so welcome. It gives each player great pride and motivation to excel in their polo talents and we all know it takes practice, practice, and more practice. Thank You Empire for all you do for these young players. We look forward to having a great season in the Fall and Winter this next year, and perhaps maybe a continued Camp Program reaching out to more future polo players this Winter.
Empire Polo Team USA Wins 1st International Women’s Polo Match at Palermo
Claudia Pistarini, founder of POLOGLAM, and Mr. Alex Haagen, owner of Empire Polo Club in California, created a one-of-a kind event and first ever International Ladies polo match at the prestigious Palermo polo field in the center of Buenos Aires on April 30, 2012. The San Jorge Polo Club and President Jorge Apa hosted the polo team of Sunny Hale, Kristy Outhier, Kate Weber and Malia McCoy for the week prior to the test match.
The ladies tried horses all week at the 9 field club which is one of the oldest military polo clubs and is adjacent to the Hurlingham Polo Club about 40 minutes from Buenos Aires. After each game, the San Jorge hosted a traditional tea for the ladies in their 50’s built formal clubhouse. Horses are as always an issue and a few phone calls to friends including Santiago Trotz – the ladies were ready for their special day.
Before the final match , Miss Pistarini toured them around the beautiful city of Buenos Aires including lunch in the Soho district, shopping in Recoleta area where they stayed, a night at a “Bomba”, a drums only festival, and tango lessons. Mike Outhier, husband of Kristy and world class bronc rider, was by far the star the night.
A day at Pilar area was a special treat. Julio Zavaleta was the tour guide at Ellerstina – by chance running into him at the Chapa Bar. A few stops at the local tack shops and mallet factories were a must. The ladies and the entourage also saw a match between Brazil and Argentina at Palermo with 2 of the Pieres 10 goalers on the team. Luis Lalor, president of the Argentine Polo Association, was the host at a cocktail party at the Palermo facility and the Cesar Palace Hotel for the ladies and the visiting Brazilian team.
With a rain delay of one day – the ladies were ready to play. Photographers were ready to take many pictures of the ladies since this was an inaugural event even though the 20,000 capacity stadium was far from full. The ladies had their horses in order and coach Susan Stovall gave them a pep talk. The Empire Polo-USA team was rated at 21 goals (a system that Argentina has organized for ladies completion) and the Team Argentina was rated at 18. The players for the home team were Maria Bellende (2), Annabelle Winterhalder (1), Guadalupe Strade, (A) and Emilia Malviccion (A). The Argentine team had a few fouls at the beginning of the match and enabled the Empire Polo-USA team to even the match at halftime 6 to 6. Hale making the fouls shots for the USA team including a penalty 4 soaring through the uprights. Halftime was only 5 mintues , part of the Argentine rules, which kept the Empire ladies looking for their grooms and horses as some of the ponies had only been stick and balled. Outhier kept Bellande, their best player, under control giving both McCoy and Weber a chance to each make a goal. Sunny Hale came through with a couple from the field ending the game 11-7.
The PoloGlam trophy – especially designed by Miss Pistarini – was a sterling silver cup including real stones of diamonds and emeralds. The trophy will be played for world-wide under the guidance of Pistarini and Sunny Hale, founder of the Womens Championship Tournament (WCT) series. As tradition at Palermo, both teams were presented to the spectators by the Chairman of the San Jorge Polo Club, Sr. Jorge Apa and given trophies by PoloGlam and Claudia Pistarini. Miss Hale had the opportunity to thank the hosts in Spanish which certainly was enjoyed and appreciated by all.
Plans are for the next tournament to be at the San Jorge Polo Club the last week of August 2012– first at the San Jorge Polo Club with the finals again at Palermo. Claudia Pistarini has opened many venues for women’s polo in Argentina and plans for many events both at home and world-wide. Please contact claudiapistarini@uolsinectis.com.ar and vickyowens@empirepolo.com for Empire Polo Club for their events throughout the season.
Barrossa takes Champions Cup; Rocky Mountain High wins Lions Cup in OT
By Alex Webbe
Jesse Bray, substituting for an injured Ernie Ezcurra, scored ten goals as Barrossa (Erik Wright, Jef Graham, Santiago Trotz and Jesse Bray) smothered Trinity (Rick Paicius, Robin Paicius, Clemente Zavaleta and Agustin Zavaleta) in the finals of the 2012 Champions Cup finals at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California Sunday afternoon.
Bray scored three goals from the field in the opening chukker while the Barrossa defense limited Trinity to a single penalty goal from Clemente Zavaleta. Barrossa looked strong as they took the early 3-1 lead.
Second chukker goals from Bray and Graham had Barrossa ahead, 5-1 before Trinity could respond. A pair of goals from Clemente Zavaleta kept them close, trailing Barrossa by two goals, 5-3.
Bray put Barrossa in the lead, 6-3 in third chukker play, but a penalty conversion and a goal from the field by Clemente Zavaleta had Trinity within a goal at 6-5, but that would be as close as they would get for the balance of the afternoon. Another goal from the field from Bray was complimented by a penalty goal from Santiago Trotz. Barrossa left the field after the first half with an 8-5 lead.
Action settled down in the second half, with Trotz scoring the only goal of the fourth chukker. Trinity was blanked and Barrossa moved further in front, 9-5.
Bray exploded in the fifth period, picking up three more goals from the field and a penalty goal. Trinity was unable to get on the scoreboard for the second consecutive chukker, falling behind 13-5.
Clemente Zavaleta scored the first goal of the sixth chukker on a penalty conversion and added another goal from the field, but the Trinity rally stalled. Trotz scored the final goal of the game from the field as Barrossa rolled over Trinity 14-7 for the 2012 Champions Cup title and the tournament’s top prize money.
Bray’s ten goals were a game high. Barrossa teammate Trotz scored three times and Graham added a goal in the win.
Clemente Zavaleta scored all seven of the Trinity goals. To no one’s surprise, Bray was named MVP while Ernie Ezcurra’s mare, Sharapova, ridden by Bray, was honored as Best Playing Pony.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH 9, CASA SOMBRES 8 OT
Rocky Mountain High (Noah Sprung, Roxy Keyfauver, Kimo Huddleston and Cybele Jordan) needed an overtime goal to score its hard-fought 9-8 win over Casa Sombres (Bolko Kissling, Conrad Kissling, Ernesto Bautista and Ashton Wolf) in the finals of the Empire Polo Club’s Lions Cup 4-goal tournament earlier in the day.
In a defensive-minded first period, Casa Sombres scored the only goal of the chukker with Ernie Bautista scoring from the field. Rocky Mountain High trailed early, 1-0.
Second chukker goals from Bautista and Bolko Kissling went unanswered as Casa Sombres extended its lead to three goals, 3-0 as Rocky Mountain High was having difficulties in organizing an effective attack. Ashton Wolf scored the first goal of the third chukker to put Casa Sombres on top, 4-0 when Rocky Mountain High found its offense. Consecutive goals from Noah Sprung, Roxy Keyfauver and Kimo Huddleston had them back in the game, trailing Casa Sombres by a single goal, 4-3, at the end of the first three chukkers.
Casa Sombres rallied in the fourth, picking up single goals from Bolko Kissling, Bautista and Wolf. Huddleston scored twice (once on a penalty shot) to keep it close, but Casa Sombres left the field with a 7-5 edge with one chukker left in regulation play.
Penalty goals from Huddleston and Jordan were topped off by a go-ahead goal from the field from Keyfauver for an 8-7 Rocky Mountain High advantage, but Bolko Kissling kept the Casa Sombres hopes alive with his third goal of the game to tie it up at 8-8, forcing a sudden-death overtime chukker.
A goal from the field from Huddleston made short work of the extra period as Rocky Mountain High rode away with the 9-8 first place finish.
Huddleston led all scoring with five goals. Keyfauver added two goals and Sprung and Jordan each scored a goal in the victory.
Bolko Kissling and Bautista scored three goals apiece for Casa Sombres. Wolf was credited with two goals in the loss.
This is the final weekend of polo at Empire Polo Club
Sunday Polo
General Admission and tailgating is FREE during Sunday Polo. Sunday games are at 12 PM and 2 PM. VIP seating is also available and requires a reservation. The Closing Day of polo is our busiest Sunday of the season and the VIP seating sells out early. If you plan to tailgate, you will need to arrive early to get a spot. Bleacher seating is also available in the tailgate area on the east side of the field.
The entrance to Field #1 for Sunday Polo is on Ave. 50. The gates are located on Ave. 50 near the intersection of Ave. 50 and Monroe St.
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