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La Herradura holds on for 2018 General Patton 8-goal Cup win

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Hall of Fame polo player Memo Gracida with his victorious La Herradura polo team at the Empire Polo Club in the 8-goal General George S. Patton Cup.

Former 10-goaler and Polo Hall of Fame legend Memo Gracida took center stage on Sunday afternoon at the Empire Polo Club and led his La Herradura team (Alvaro Fernandez, Rodrigo Fernandez, Isaac Sepulveda and Memo Gracida) to an 8-7 win over Granite Bay (Eric Hammon, Alvaro Tadeo, Marcos Llambias and Rhandy Heredia) in the second round of play in the 2018 General Patton 8-goal Cup.

In a well-orchestrated opening chukker La Herradura scored three straight goals while holding Granite Bay scoreless for the early lead. Isaac Sepulveda scored the first goal of the game followed by a 40-yard penalty conversion from Gracida, 2-0. Rodrigo Fernandez scored the closing goal of the period to move in front, 3-0.

The Las Herradura defense held solid again in the second. Sepulveda scored the only goal of the chukker, however, extending the La Herradura advantage to four goals, 4-0.

Gracida’s second goal of the match came on a 30-yard penalty shot in the third chukker, when the Granite Bay attack stirred. Alvaro Tadeo scored the first goal of the day for Granite Bay, followed by a goal from teammate Eric Hammon. The first half ended with Gracida and company in control of a 5-2 game.

Both defenses stiffened as the second half got underway. Rodrigo Fernandez scored to make it 6-2, with Marco Llambias responding with a goal for Granite Bay. After four periods of play, La Herradura continued to control the game behind a 6-3 advantage.

Goals continued to elude players on both sides in the fifth. Alvaro Fernandez scored for La Herradura with Tadeo countering with a goal from Granite Bay. After five periods of play, La Herradura continued to hold a three-goal advantage over Granite Bay, 7-4.

Gracida’s third goal of the day came from the field in sixth chukker action and put La Herradura up by four goals, 8-4, when the Granite Bay offense rallied. Two goals from Llambias and a goal from Tadeo brought Granite Bay to within a goal of the lead, but that would be as close as they would get as the La Herradura defenders held on to secure the 8-7 victory.

Gracida led the La Herradura attack with three goals (two on penalty conversions). Rodrigo Fernandez and Sepulveda each scored twice, and Alvaro Fernandez added a goal for the win. Tadeo and Llambias each scored three times for Granite Bay. Hammon was credited with a goal in the loss.

The win lifted the La Herradura tournament record to 1-1 while Granite Bay remained winless in two outings (0-2).

Spindrift 9, Cotterel 8

In morning 8-goal Patton Cup action, Spindrift (John Bickford, Luis Saracco, Juan Curbelo and Leslie Tims) won their second game of the tournament with a 9-8 nail-bitter over Cotterel (Jenny Luttrell, Ruben Coscia, Francisco Benardoni and Gaby Saccullo).

The 7-goal Cotterel team received one goal by handicap from Spindrift but watched as they were out-scored from the field in the opening minutes of the match. A goal from John Bickford and a pair of goals from Juan Curbelo gave the early lead to Spindrift, 3-1.

The two teams traded goals in the second with Cotterel getting single goals from Ruben Coscia and Jenny Luttrell. Spindrift matched them goal for goal with Curbelo scoring for the third time and Luis Saracco getting on the scoreboard for the first time on the day. Spindrift continued to lead, 5-3.

Saracco added two more goals in the third while a resolute Spindrift defense held Cotterel to a single penalty goal from Coscia. At the end of the first half, Spindrift had expanded its lead to three goals, 7-4.

Coscia struck first in the fourth, cutting the Spindrift lead back to two goals, 7-5, but the Spindrift attack was pressuring the Cotterel goal. Fouls proved to be costly for the Cotterel defenders as Bickford took advantage of the opportunity to convert two 30-ayrd penalty shots for goals. After four chukkers the Spindrift lead had grown to four goals, 9-5.

A determined Coscia took the field in the fifth and quickly scored two goals for Cotterel. A solid defensive effort shut down the Spindrift attack, cutting the lead to a manageable two goals, 9-7, with one chukker of play remaining in regulation time.

Cotterel continued to press the attack in the sixth, with Coscia converting a 60-yard penalty shot for a goal, when the Spindrift defense held firm. Time expired in the 9-8 Spindrift win with Cotterel pressuring the Spindrift goal.

Bickford, Curbelo and Saracco scored three goals apiece for the win. Coscia was high-scorer of the game with six goals. Luttrell added a goal and the team received one goal by handicap.

The win inflated the Spindrift record to 2-0 while Cotterel fell to 0-2.

STG 16, Lockton 10

In a noon 8-goal Patton Cup battle of the unbeatens, STG (Max Menini, John Ziegler, Tommy Costello and Francisco Guinazu) handed Lockton (Tim Kelly, Bryan Middleton, Jessica Bailey and Alejandro Gonzalez) their first loss of the tournament (1-1) while improving to 2-0 themselves.

Lockton received one goal by handicap from STG and went up, 2-0, with a goal from the field from Alejandro Gonzalez. John Ziegler responded with a 40-yard penalty conversion for STG followed by a 30-yard penalty goal from Max Menini and a goal from the field from Francisco Guinazu for the 3-2 lead. Gonzalez leveled the score at 3-3 with the final goal of the chukker.

A stubborn STG defense shut out Lockton in second chukker play. Single goals from Guinazu, Tommy Costello and Ziegler were supported by shutout defense, sending Lockton off the field at the end of the second period behind by three goals, 6-3.

Ziegler added a 40-goal penalty goal in the third followed by goals from teammates Menini and Costello, 9-3. Gonzalez and Bryan Middleton kept Lockton from getting blanked with goals to end the chukker trailing, 9-5.

Costello and Ziegler added goals in the fourth with Lockton responding with a 30-yard penalty goal from Middleton. The STG lead had grown to five goals, 11-6.

Gonzalez scored twice in the fifth for Lockton, scoring once from the field and once on a penalty shot. STG kept pace with goals from Menini and Guinazu (40-yard penalty goal). The STG lead held at five goals, 13-8.

Two penalty goals from Tim Kelly in the sixth was the extent of Lockton’s attempt to rally with STG adding three more goals to their total. Two goals from Guinazu and a goal from Ziegler had STG galloping off with the win, 16-10.

Guinazu and Ziegler led the STG attack with five goals apiece. Costello and Menini each scored three times for the win. Gonzalez set the offensive pace for Lockton with five goals. Middleton and Kelly each scored twice, and the team received one goal by handicap.

Play continues in 8-goal General Patton Cup tournament on Friday, February 23rd with STG (2-0) facing La Herradura (1-1); Spindrift (2-0) taking on Lockton (1-1) and Granite Bay (0-2) playing Cotterel (0-2). At the end of the day, the two teams with the top records will go to Sunday’s 2pm final.

The 2017-2018 Empire Polo season attracts players from across the country and around the world and offers fourteen weekends of fast-paced polo in the beautiful and relaxed setting of California’s winter playground.

The Empire Polo Club is located at 81-800 Avenue 51 in Indio, CA. For further information go to the club website at http://empirepolo.com or call 760-342-7755.

Two Sunday wins give World Gym league title

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The World Gym team of (L to R)- Tom Schuerman, Todd Randall, Claudia Uretz and Wiley Uretz finished two days of competition with an undefeated record for the title in the week’s 1-goal competition at the Empire Polo Club Sunday.

In the second day of 1-goal league competition at the Empire Polo Club, World Gym (Claudia Uretz, Sydney Jordan, Tom Schuerman and Wiley Uretz) recorded wins over the Flaming Chickens (Joey Gallemore, Devon Gallemore, Victor Soto and Hayward Pardue) and Grande Prairie (Ross Adam, Lolo Payan, Craig Nelson and Suki Piper) to take first place in the six-team field Sunday afternoon.

The Flaming chickens opened the noon round-robin scoring a narrow 3½-3 win over Grande Prairie behind the offensive push of Victor Soto.

Soto and Grande Prairie’s Lolo Payan exchanged goals in the opening chukker of the four-period mini-match with Soto giving the lead to the Flaming Chickens with the final goal of the chukker for a 2½-1 lead (Flaming Chickens received one-half goal by handicap).

Soto’s third goal of the match had the Flaming chickens on top, 3½-1 before Grande Prairie responded.  Consecutive goals from Payan ended the game with the Flaming Chickens riding off with the win, 3½-3.

World Gym 5, Grande Prairie 2

World Gym exploded for four first chukker goals against a shell-shocked Grande Prairie lineup.  Two goals apiece from Wiley Uretz and Tom Schuerman were complimented by shutout defense as World Gym went up, 4-0.

Tod Randell’s first goal of the day made it 5-0, World Gym with Grande Prairie struggling for an answer.
Grande Prairie got single goals from Craig Nelson and Payan in the final period, but it was World Gym riding off the field at the end of the contest with a 5-2 victory.

World Gym 4, Flaming Chickens 2½

It was Wiley Uretz with the hot hand as the final two chukkers of the round-robin got underway.  He former college All-American scored the first three goals of the chukker while the World Gym defenders held the Flaming Chickens scoreless.

Soto and Devin Gallemore scored the first two goal of the final chukker, cutting the World Gym lead to one -half goal, 3-2½.  Tom Schuerman scored the final goal of the game for a 4-2½ win.

Club Polo Cabo takes consolation

Earlier in the day, Club Polo Cabo (Tony Yahyai, Scott Walker, Domingo Questel and Alyssa/Ella/Clair) defeated Gold Rush (David Barnett, Manny Rodriguez, Jeffrey Rewald and Zinta Rewald) and Vashon (Stephanie Davidson,  Kim Bergman and Jessica Bailey) to win the consolation 1-goal round-robin.

Club Polo Cabo got first chukker goals from veteran Domingo Questel and Club Polo Cabo team captain Tony Yahyai while Gold Rush had to settle for a 30-yard penalty conversion.  After the first seven minutes of play Club Polo Cabo held a narrow 2-1½ advantage (Gold Rush received one-half goal by handicap).

Questel’s second goal of the match extended the Club Polo Cabo lead to 2-1½, with Gold Rush in hot pursuit.  Disciplined defense held Gold Rush to another penalty goal that had Club Polo Cabo escaping with the 3-2½ victory.

Vashon 4, Gold Rush 2½

In the second mini-match of the morning, Vashon handed Gold Rush their second defeat of the day in a 4-2½ bout.

Vashon rattled off the first three goals of the opening chukker with JMG coring twice and Kim Bergman adding a goal, 3-½ (Gold Rush received one-half goal by handicap). Jeffrey Rewald got Gold Rush on the scoreboard with his first score, 3-1½.

Jeffrey Rewald cut into the Vashon lead with his second goal of the match, 3-2½, but it wasn’t to be. JMG scored the final goal of the match for the 4-2½ win.

Club Polo Cabo 4, Vashon 3

The final two chukkers of the round-robin pitted Club Polo Cabo against Vashon, with the winner capturing the consolation round-robin.

Club Polo Cabo picked up goals from Yahyai and Questel while Vashon countered with a pair of goals from Gutierrez.  After their first chukker the two teams remained tied at 2-2.

Bergman’s second goal of the day and first of the game had Vashon on top, 3-2, but Club Polo Cabo wasn’t through.  Two goals from Questel (one on a penalty conversion) ended the game with Club Polo Cabo riding of with the win, 4-3.

Flaming Chicken, Grande Prairie and World Gym record Saturday wins

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Club Polo Cabo’s Tony Yahyai made his 2018 debut in league play at the Empire Polo Club Saturday afternoon.

Six teams lined up for the second 1-goal league of the season at the Empire Polo Club Saturday, with the competition getting started with a 10:15AM game on Field 9.

Grand Prairie (Ross Adam, Lolo Payan, Craig Nelson and Suki Piper), Gold Rush (David Barnett, Manny Rodriguez, Jeffrey Rewald and Zinta Rewald) and Club Polo Cabo (Tony Yahyai, Scott Walker, Domingo Questel and Alyssa/Ella/Clair) joined last week’s World Gym (Claudia Uretz, Sydney Jordan, Tom Schuerman and Wiley Uretz), Vashon (Stephanie Davidson, JMG, Kim Bergman and Jessica Bailey) and Flaming Chicken lineup (Joey Gallemore, Devon Gallemore, Victor Soto and Hayward Pardue) as the Empire Polo Club kicks off the season with its official Opening Day.

Flaming Chicken 11, Gold Rush 6

Flaming Chicken got the ball rolling as they scored the first three goals of the game on their way to an 11-6 win over Gold Rush in the morning match.

Consecutive goals from Joey Gallemore, Hayward Pardue and Victor Soto were answered by a single goal from Gold Rush’s Zinta Rewald as Flaming Chicken took the early 3-2 lead.

Soto added two more goals in the second.  Goals from Joey and Devin Gallemore expanding the Flaming Chicken advantage to four goals, 7-3.  Jeffrey Rewald scored the only goal of the chukker for Gold Rush.

Both defenses stepped it up in the third and goals were scarce.  Zinta Rewald added her second goal of the game, 7-4 with Soto recording the only other goal of the period.  With one period left to play, Flaming Chicken continued to lead by four goals, 8-4.

Two more goals from Joey Gallemore and a single goal from Pardue boosted Flaming Chicken to an 11-6 win in spite of goals from Gold Rush’s Jeffrey Rewald and David Barnett.

Soto and Joey Gallemore led the Flaming Chicken attack with four goals apiece.  Pardue added two goals and Devin Gallemore added a goal for the win.  Jeffrey Rewald and Zinta Rewald each scored twice for gold Rush.  Barnett added a goal in the losing effort.

Grande Prairie 8, Club Polo Cabo 7

Lolo Payan scored four first chukker goals, giving Grande Prairie built an early 4-1 lead over Club Polo Cabo in first period play.  Club Polo Cabo came up with a single goal from veteran Domingo Questel in the chukker.

Club Polo Cabo fought their way back into the game in the second.  Club Polo Cabo scored consecutive goals from Questel, Scott Walker and team captain, tony Yahyai to level the score at 4-4.  Payan scored the final goal of the first half for Grande Prairie for a narrow 5-4 halftime lead for Grande Prairie.

Questel tied the game at 5-5 with the opening goal of the third, but back-to-back goals from Payan gave the lead back to Grande Prairie, 7-5.  Questel closed out the period with his fourth goal of the day, but trailed Grande Prairie, 7-6.

Craig Nelson’s first goal of the afternoon had Grande Prairie in front by two goals, with Club Polo Cabo struggling to stay alive.  Questel scored the final goal of the match to bring Club Polo Cabo to within a goal of the lead, but that was where it ended as Grande Prairie held on for the 8-7 victory.

Payan was top scorer in the game with seven goals.  Nelson added a goal for the Grande Prairie win.  Questel cored a team-high five goals for Club Polo Cabo.  Yahyai and Walker each added goals in the loss.

World Gym 4, Vashon 3

World Gym and Vashon fought to a 2-2 halftime tie before World Gym managed to eke out a 4-3 victory in the final 1-goal game of the day.

JMG scored the first goal of the game, giving Vashon the 1-0 lead when the World Gym defense clamped down.  Tom Schuerman countered with a goal for World Gym in a hotly-contested opening chukker that ended in a defensively-dominated first chukker, 1-1.

JMG and Wiley Uretz exchanged goals in the second period as both sides struggled to generate an effective attack, but the defenders won out.  At the end of the first half the score remained tied at two goals apiece.

Goals continued to be elusive in third period play, with the only scoring coming from penalty conversions from Wiley Uretz and Sydney Jordan.  Vashon was unable to score, and fell behind, 4-2.

Both defenses continued to set the pace for fourth chukker play.  A single goal from the field from Jessica Bailey was the only score of the period as World Gym held the lead in a 4-3 victory.

Wiley Uretz scored twice for world Gym with teammates Jordan and Schuerman each adding a goal.  JMG was credited with two goals for Vashon with Bailey accounting for the team’s only other goal in the loss.

The 1-goal competition will field two round-robin matches on Sunday with Gold Rush, Club Polo Cabo and Vashon meeting at 10AM followed by a noon contest featuring Flaming Chicken, Grande Prairie and World Gym.  Both round-robins will take place on Empire Polo Club’s Field 9.

Arizona wins first 1-goal league of the season

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The Arizona polo team of David Barnet, Dan Faherty, Manny Rodriguez and Benito Andrade scored a come-from-behind win over Vashon to capture the first 1-goal League title of the season at the Empire Polo Club on Sunday afternoon.

In a final match that centered more on defense than offense, Arizona (David Barnet, Dan Faherty, Manny Rodriguez and Benito Andrade) rallied for three unanswered goals in the fourth and final chukker to defeat Vashon (Stephanie Davidson, JMG Jeffrey Rewald and Zinta Rewald) in the opening 1-goal league f the Empire Polo Club season.

A first chukker goal from JMG gave Vashon the early 1½ -0 lead (Vashon received one-half goal by handicap), but that was where the offenses of both teams dried up.  Despite aggressive efforts by both sides, their respective defenses remained impenetrable for the next two periods.  After three periods of play, Vashon retained the delicate 1½-0 advantage.

Dan Faherty scored the opening goal of the fourth period with Manny Rodriguez adding another Arizona goal for a 2-1½ lead.  Flaherty’s second goal of the game was supported by Arizona’s third straight defensive shutout as they cruised to the 3-1½ victory.

Faherty led the field with two goals.  Rodriguez scored once. JMG accounted for Vashon’s only goal of the day, and the team received one-half goal by handicap.

Flaming Chicken 8½, World Gym 8

World Gym (Claudia Uretz, Todd Randall, Tom Schuerman and Wiley Uretz) looked like odds-on favorites in the opening half of play in the consolation round of action in 1-goal league play, but a plucky Flaming Chicken lineup (Joey Gallemore, Devon Gallemore, Victor Soto and Jose Quiroz) turned the tables on them in the second half to sneak off with the 8½ to 8 win.

Flaming Chicken received one-half goal by handicap but were forced to watch World Gym score four straight goals to take a 4-½ lead after the first seven minutes of play. Three goals from Tom Schuerman and a single goal from Wiley Uretz accounted for all of the scoring from the field in the opening chukker.

Single goals from Schuerman and Claudia Uretz were countered by a single goal from Joey Gallemore as World Gym left the field at the end of the first half on top of a 6 to 1½ lead.

Whatever it was that the Flaming Chicken discussed at halftime, it got them going n the right direction.  Victor Soto scored twice while Joey Gallemore and Devin Gallemore each scored.  World Gym responded with goals from Schuerman and Wiley Uretz to maintain the advantage, 8 to 5½.

Flaming Chicken took control of the final chukker, picking up goals from Soto and the two Gallemores.  World Gym was unable to mount an effect attack in the final frame of the game and fell, 8½ t0 8.

Joey Gallemore and Soto led the Flaming Chicken attack with three goals apiece.  Devon Gallemore scored twice and the team received one-half goal by handicap.  Schuerman led the field with five goals on the day, Wiley Uretz added two goals and Claudia Uretz was credited with a goal in the loss.

Wins by Vashon and Arizona set up 1-goal Sunday final

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World Gym’s Tom Schuerman scored three times in a hard-fought loss to Arizona in Saturday 1-goal competition at the Empire Polo Club.

Wins by Vashon (Stephanie Davidson, JMG, Jeffrey Rewald and Zinta Rewald) and Arizona (David Barnet, Dan Faherty, Manny Rodriguez and Benito Andrade) set up the first 1-goal final of the season at the Empire Polo Club in Saturday afternoon action.

In a noon battle, Vashon edged the Flaming Chicken (Joey Gallemore, Devon Gallemore, Victor Soto and Jose Quiroz) by the narrowest of margins, 5½ to 5 top earn a spot in Sunday’s final.

Vashon received one-half goal by handicap in the opening chukker and quickly added to it with a air of goals from JMG (one on a 40-yard penalty conversion.  The Vashon defenders held the Flaming Chickens scoreless for the early 2½ to 0 lead.

Zinta Rewald’s first goal of the day stretched the Vashon lead to 3½ to 0 before the Flaming Chickens got on the scoreboard.  A goal from the field from Victor Soto kept them from being shutout in the first half of the four-chukker match, with Vashon’s JMG scoring the final goal of the period for a 4½ to 1 advantage.

Soto got the second half started with back-to-back goals for the Flaming Chickens, bringing them to within striking distance, 4½ to 3.  JMG scored on a 30-yard penalty shot to end the chukker with Vashon sitting on top of a 5½ to 3 score.

The Flaming Chickens fought their way back into the game in the fourth on the strength of goals from Jose Quiroz and Joey Gallemore and a shutout defensive effort, but t was Vashon who rode off the field with the 5½ to 5 victory.

JMG led the field with four goals (two on penalty shots).  Ainta Rewald added a goal for the win.  Soto set the pace for the Flaming Chickens, scoring three times.  Quiroz and Joey Gallemore each added a goal in the loss.

Arizona 6½, World Gym 6

In the second league game of the day, Arizona bounced back from a halftime deficit to slip past a talented World Gym entry (Claudia Uretz, Todd Randall, Tom Schuerman and Wiley Uretz), 6½ to 6.

Wiley Uretz scored the first goal of the game followed by a 40-yard penalty conversion from Dan Faherty that gave Arizona the led, 1½-1 (Arizona was awarded one-half goal on handicap). World Gym took control of the game as Wiley Uretz converted a 40-yard penalty shot and teammate Tom Schuerman added two more goals from the field.  After the first seven minutes of play, World Gym was in front, 4-1½.

Goals from David Barnet and Faherty had Arizona within a half-goal of World Gym in the second period, 4-3½.  Todd Randall scored the final goal of the first half to keep World Gym in the lead, 5-3½.

Goals were hard to come by in the third.  Disciplined defense work by both sides held the scoring to a minimum.   Schuerman and Wiley Uretz) scored the only goal of the period, extending the World Gym lead to 6 to 3½.

Arizona had been batted around by World Gym throughout much of the first three chukkers, but the fourth and final period of the gam was all Arizona.  Supported by a defense that held World Gym scoreless, Faherty scored for the third time on the day and Manny Rodriguez added two goals of his own for a 6½ to 6 win.

Faherty led the Arizona attack with three goals (one on a penalty conversion).  Rodriguez scored twice, Barnet added a goal and the team received one-half goal by handicap.  Schuerman scored a team-high three goals for World Gym.  Wiley Uretz was credited with two goals with Randall adding a goal in the loss.

The 1-goal League final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 31st at noon on Field 4, with Arizona facing Vashon.  The consolation match between World Gym and the Flaming Chickens is set for 10AM, also on Field 4.