Brothers Lion and Sebastian Mandelbaum participate in the Pro Leadline. Photo by Scott Fisher
WELLINGTON, FL—Nov. 25, 2013—-The future of polo is in good hands if Sunday’s Turkey Trot Juniors Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club is any indication.
The eight-year-old club held its final juniors tournament of the 2013 season for players of all ages and skill level.
The tournament, hosted by the Polo School at Grand Champions, featured a Turkey Run Round-Robin, Turkey More Than Trot, Walk Alone and Pro Leadline.
Six-year-old Finn Secunda of Polo School Yellow (3) waits patiently while his grandfather, British polo great and former 9-goaler Julian Hipwood takes a photo. Photo by Scott Fisher
The three-hour event attracted three generations of polo players including British polo great and former 9-goaler Julian Hipwood watching his 6-year-old grandson Finn Secunda score four goals in the Walk Alone and American 7-goaler Jeff Hall introducing his 3-year-old son Luke to the game in the Pro Leadline.
Three chukkers of play pitting three teams were held in the Turkey Run Round-Robin on a regulation-size field.
Grand Champions’ Chase Schwartz (1) avoids the hook of Cipi Echezaretta of Polo School Green (2) while teammate Riley Ganzi (3) backs her up. Photo by Scott Fisher
The teams were:
Grand Champions: An all-girls team featuring Chase Schwartz, Riley Ganzi, Jacqui Casey and Rachel Kelly.
Polo School Blue: Maria Celis, Matt Cohen, Ignacio Loianno, Richard Gollel.
Polo School Green: Alyssa Tranchilla, Cipi Echezaretta, Grant Braden, Juanse Olivera.
Grand Champions defeated Polo School Blue, 3-1, in the opening chukker behind two goals by Kelly and one by Schwartz.
Elizabeth Fenner of Piaget (1) attempts to hook Joseph Schwartz (2) of Audi as he hits the ball. Photo by Scott Fisher
In the second chukker, Grand Champions and Polo School Green tied, 1-1, with Olivera and Schwartz each scoring a goal.
In the third chukker, Polo School Blue defeated Polo School Green, 2-1 with Gollel scoring the winning goal.
“I have been playing polo for about four years and riding since I was 3,” said Kelly, who travelled with her family from Vero Beach and coach Max Secunda, who introduced her to polo. “I love this sport with the big horses. I love the adrenaline and just getting to play.
Cipi Echezaretta of Polo School Green (2) backs the ball despite pressure defense from Matt Cohen of Polo School Blue (2). Photo by Scott Fisher
Grand Champions’ Jacqui Casey (2) tries to outrace Matt Cohen of Polo School Blue (2) for the ball. Photo by Scott Fisher
“The game was great today, being on the girls team and feeling the girl power,” Kelly said. “I wanted to play more. I want to play in every one of these tournaments as much as I can with kids my age. I was shocked it went by so fast. I love girls playing polo. I want to see more of them play in the U.S. Open.”
Juanse Olivera, son of Juan Olivera, polo manager at PB Polo, has been playing less than two years and is already showing tremendous potential.
Grand Champions’ Jacqui Casey (2) attempts to hit the ball while Cipi Echezaretta of Polo School Green (2) defends with help from teammate Grant Braden (3). Photo by Scott Fisher
“I like the sensation when you hit the ball,” said Olivera, a sixth grader. “I’ve been riding horses since I was little. I like playing polo with my friends. Today’s game was great because both teams were balanced and very equal. It was competitive and fun. I want to play in more tournaments.”
Two more chukkers of play on a shorter field was held during the Turkey More Than Trot three-on-three event. The teams were:
All eyes on the ball during the Walk Alone event. Photo by Scott Fisher
Audi: Javier Celis, Joseph Schwartz, Bryce Gardiner.
Piaget: Elizabeth Fenner, Zoey Echezaretta, Will Jacobs.
The Walk Alone event featured two teams. They were:
Umpire Scott Campbell leads Lorenzo Ramirez of Polo School Yellow and other Walk Alone participants out onto the field. Photo by Scott Fisher
Polo School Yellow: Solon Tamplin, Lorenzo Ramirez, Finn Secunda.
Polo School Purple: Able Tamplin, Nikko Ramirez, Avalon Nottingham, Luci Ramirez.
The final event of the day was the Pro Leadline with Lion and Sebastian Mandelbaum walking with their father and player Leo Mandelbaum; Luke Hall, Emmett Tamplin, Janie Barnett and Weston Mead.
“This is where it all starts,” said entertaining announcer Dale Schwetz, a full-time USPA umpire and polo player.
Professional polo player Jeff Hall helping son Luke with his mallet strap before the start of the Pro Leadline. Photo by Scott Fisher
Luke Hall, 3, with his dad, professional polo player Jeff Hall, participating in the Pro Leadline in his debut. Photo by Scott Fisher
Said Hall about his very relaxed son, “He is comatose right now, I think he’s ready for a nap.”
The junior tournaments are not only attracting sons and daughters of polo players but beginning to see more boys and girls coming out for the sport with no history of polo in their family.
Nine-year-old Bryce Gardiner of Wellington has been playing polo for two years. His mother, Shauna Gardiner, is thrilled watching her son play.
“The memories I am building with my son through this sport is everything, it’s been an amazing bonding thing,” Shauna Gardiner said. “I really appreciate what Melissa is trying to do, she is truly amazing for what she does. I always wanted to tell her how much I appreciate it.
Nikko Ramirez of Polo School Purple defends Finn Secunda of Polo School Yellow as he tries to score during the Walk Alone event. Photo by Scott Fisher
“It started with lessons and it’s been wonderful watching him progress. It’s nice for my husband and I to have this outlet,” Gardiner said. “We have friends who are polo people and they are always talking about how great it is. It’s hard when you don’t know about polo. Grand Champions has been so helpful.”
Tournament director Robin Sanchez would like to see the consistency of monthly junior tournaments continue. The PTF is hosting the next juniors event in late December.
“Skills are learned well in game-type situations,” Sanchez said. “That’s how you learn tactical skills. You can learn tactics stick-and-balling and doing lessons all day long but it’s a game where you learn tactical skills.
“These kids are at a level that they are starting to learn how the game works. The game-type situation helps so much in their progression and plus they get to be with their friends, have a good time and spend an afternoon outside in the fresh air doing good stuff.
“It’s great to see a new generation and it’s great to see kids having a good time,” Sanchez said. “It’s such a good family-thing. To see Julian, Max and Finn, three generations right there is phenomenal. And then kids whose parents didn’t play polo coming out here and enjoying a whole new sport is really nice to see, too.”
Grand Champions provided Miami-based food truck CheGrill serving Argentine food and refreshments for players, coaches, parents and spectators throughout the afternoon. As an added treat, gymnasts from Epic Gymnastics of Palm Beach performed for the crowd after the polo competition and before the awards presentation.
Miami-based popular food truck Che Grill is a familiar and welcome sight at Grand Champions. Argentine food and refreshments for everyone is provided by the club. Photo by Scott Fisher
The Turkey Trot Juniors Tournament came just one month after the successful debut of the ProKidz Tournament, an inaugural event created and hosted by Grand Champions Polo Club where a pro played alongside three players on each team.
Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s fastest growing polo club, has played a key role in helping develop and promote youth polo year-round by sponsoring and hosting several tournaments along with the Polo Training Foundation.
Participants in the Turkey Trot Juniors Polo Tournament showing off their trophies. Photo by Scott Fisher
Grand Champions Polo Club owners and players Marc and Melissa Ganzi along with the PTF have been instrumental in the growth of junior and youth polo and will resume hosting more junior events in 2014 at Grand Champions.
Melissa Ganzi was thrilled to see so many new faces out on Sunday.
“It is amazing to see all the new kids in the leadline,” Ganzi said. “It was nice to see all the kids who were in leadline graduate to Walk Alone. It was also nice to see that improvement and to see all the kids enjoy themselves and to watch players like Chase Schwartz anchor her team and be responsible for the win and improve so much in the last few years playing in tournaments like this.”
Parents and kids shopping at the Grand Champions Boutique. Photo by Scott Fisher
Ganzi, secretary-treasurer of the PTF, is a selfless supporter of the PTF which is orchestrating the growth and success of the juniors and youth programs across the nation.
“Tournaments like this are important for the growth of polo,” Ganzi said. “You can’t just focus on one thing and expect it to grow. It’s important for these kids to have opportunities and Grand Champions is committed to doing it. It is a year-round commitment that we have.”
Gymnasts from Epic Gymnastics of Palm Beach perform for the crowd. Photo by Scott Fisher
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Nov. 30, Saturday, The Legends of Polo, 1 p.m. and International Cup, Team USA vs. Chile, 3 p.m.
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro team Audi. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
