80 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
P
O
L
O
By Danika Rice
For the 2011 Lucchese Polo Team, the Centennial
season at Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club started
out with great expectations, as team owner John Muse
and 10 goal superstar Adolfo Cambiaso were coming off
a 2010 undefeated season. Although the team made both
the fnals of the preceding 20 goal tournaments, they fell
short in their efforts and could not retain a 2011 title. This
set the stage for what was to be a highly competitive and
anticipated Pacifc Coast Open Tournament. In a highly
defensive battle, Jeff Blake and Adolfo Cambiaso proved
that they once again are a lethal combination (Cambiaso
and Blake won the 2009 US Open Title together with Crab
Orchard) as they captured California’s most coveted title
with an 11-9 win over Melissa Ganzi’s Piaget team of
Juan Bollini, Miguel Novillo-Astrada and Jason Crowder.
Best Playing Pony was Miguel Novillo Astrada’s Chaleco,
the handy chestnut that played almost two full chukkers.
MVP of the game was Adolfo Cambiaso, and the Robert
Skene MVP for the season was Santa Barbara native son
Jason Crowder of Piaget. In an interesting twist, last year
those same two players were holding the MVP trophies
as well, but in 2010 the roles were reversed MVP of the
game was Crowder, and the Skene MVP of the season
was Cambiaso.
Hugs! Victory is sweet for Julio Gracida and John Muse
John Muse’s Lucchese wins PCO
Miguel Novillo-Astrada on BPP “Chelado”
Jason Crowder was the winner of the 2011 Skene Award and
Elizabeth Skene did the presentation honors
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