106 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Debbie
and
Alan Nash
hosted a polo fundraiser on July 8
for
Wounded Warriors Family Support
at their farm outside
Warrenton, Virginia. The fundraiser attracted a good crowd for the
polo match, postponed by high winds and heavy rain; but the party
relocated to the barns for the pig roast and spirited socializing.
Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist, Ski Johnson performed.
American Polo player
Nic Roldan’s
stunning good looks
are being noticed. Sidelines did a story on Nic and his polo
accomplishments in the August issue (page 8) and now the
New
York Times
has followed suit. Nic is truly an ambassador for the
sport of polo!
Catherine Connor
(daughter of longtime
Gulfstream Polo
Club
manager
Marla Connor
) married
John Zacharidis.
Catherine recently wrote an article for Sidelines about the
Gracida
family. (August issue, page 52)
Rumor mill says
Zacara
polo manager
Matthew Gonzales
also
tied the knot in a small ceremony in California.
The United States Polo Association’s Team USPA
program
is making waves all over the country! From clinics in Sheridan,
Wyoming with Hall of Fame inductees to members playing (and
winning) tournaments in California, Texas and New York, seems
like the future of polo is in good hands! They are even entering a
Posing with the fashy 2012 Shelby Mustang GT-500 “Super
Snake” are three “drivers” with vested interested in the
Wounded Warriors Family Support “High Five Tour” that
is crisscrossing the country to raise funds for Wounded
Warriors Family Support: (l-r) Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields (ret),
Col. John Folsom (ret), president and founder of Wounded
Warriors Family Support (2003), and Lt. Gen. John Sylvester
(ret)
Photo by Lauren R Giannini
Team USPA team in the fall 8 goal series in Houston. For updates,
“like” the Team USPA page on Facebook
The only current 10 goal arena player,
TommyBiddle
, captained
his team to a win in the
National Arena Open Championship
held at Country Farms Polo Club on Long Island. Tommy faced
off against
Nacho Figueras
. Tommy’s horse
Mufasa
(previously
featured in Sidelines) took best playing pony honors at 20 years
old!
Tommy Biddle’s daughter,
Lauren,
was selected as part of the
USA 18 and under team which will travel to China to compete
against other nations.
New felds are under construction in
Houston
at both
Cristi
Payan
and
Chris Nevins’
farms in Texas, adding two more felds
to the Houston Polo Club; the nation’s largest recognized club
membership!
2012 is seeing the comeback of the
Pacifc Coast Arena
League
in California, a cooperative effort to boost summer polo
at arena clubs all over Southern California. One weekend hosted
two 12 hour days of polo!
San Diego Polo Club
hosted its frst ever Chukkers For Charity
event. For photos and results, visit www.sandiegopolo.com.
The summer 20 goal series is underway in
Santa Barbara
and
awaiting the arrival of superstars
Gonzalito Pieres
and
Adolfo
Cambiaso
, as well as American
Nic Roldan
, who are all fnishing
playing engagements in England.
Also,
Shane Winkler
, former feld’s manager and announcer
for IPC, is taking over as the 2013 Chairman for the
Sheridan
Wyoming Rodeo.
e
Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist, Ski Johnson
climbed aboard a parked tractor for a little improv at the polo
fundraiser for Wounded Warriors Family Support
Photo by Lauren R Giannini