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.
