WELLINGTON, Fla., February 17, 2022–After a successful Limited Edition 12-Goal series league opener, the second 12-goal tournament begins Friday.
By Sharon Robb
The Sieber Memorial opens with Beverly Polo taking on Mayer Ranch at noon.
The tournament is named in honor of polo player Robert J. Sieber, Jr., who died in a polo-related accident August 22, 1984 at Oak Brook, Ill. He was 29.
“I knew him and I played against Rob years ago at Oak Brook,” said Catamount patron Scott Devon, whose team won the 2014 event with a 12-11 overtime win over Palm Beach Equine. “This tournament does mean something to me. He was a Midwest player and the Siebers are a great polo family. It’s nice his legacy continues with this tournament.”
Defending champion is Dundas (Cable Magness, Juan Cruz Marcos, Hugo Taylor, Tatu Gomez Romero), 12-10 winners over Newport (Gene Goldstein, Milo Dorignac, Michel Dorignac Nick Manifold). Romero was Most Valuable Player. Leona, played by Magness, was Best Playing Pony.
Four women are competing in the tournament including Sarah Siegel-Magness, Hope Arellano, Petra Sobotova and Alecia Seidler.
Eight teams have entered the two-week tournament. Twelve games are scheduled to determine four semifinal teams for the March 3 doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The championship and subsidiary final are Sunday, March 6 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Team sponsors and rosters are:
Dundas (11): Sarah Siegel-Magness 0, Hope Arellano 2, Geronimo Obregon, 5, Roberto Zedda, 4.
Orea Polo (12): Petra Sobotova, -1, Justin Daniels, 2, Santi Torres, 7, Carlitos Gracida, 4.
Excalibor (12): Robert Mashaal, 0, Matias MacDonough, 3, Pedro Falabella, 6, TBA, 3.
Casablanca (11): Grant Ganzi, 3, Santos Bollini, 2, Paquito de Narvaez, 2, Juancito Bollini, 4.
Novo Polo (12): Baljit Sierra, -1, Santi Llavallol, 3, Facundo Obregon, 6, Brandon Phillips, 4.
Quite on Z (12): Alecia Seidler, -1, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Juan Bollini 4.
Beverly Polo (11): Bill Ballhaus, 0, Wil Ballhaus, -1, Tolito Ocampo, 7, Hilario Figueras, 5.
Mayer Ranch (12): Ken Mayer, 0, Brendon Stenzel, 2, Juan Monteverde, 5, Matt Coppola, 5.
Grand Champions, the nation’s largest and busiest polo club celebrating its 15th anniversary, is coming off its most successful fall season. Club officials hope to build off that success when it hosts 23 tournaments from January through April.
Already under way with the All-Star Challenge is the World Polo League, the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina co-founded by Marc and Melissa Ganzi. The next game is Friday at 2 p.m. with Alegria playing White Birch.
The world-class league will run through April 16. In addition to the All-Star Challenge, the remaining WPL events are the inaugural Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial, Feb. 27; Founders Cup, Feb. 23-March 13; Palm Beach Open, March 9-27; Triple Crown of Polo, March 23-April 16 and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach, April 29-May 1.
Grand Champions has also added Sunset Chukkers and Cocktails, presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek held Tuesday late afternoon on Field One for players and guests.
The high goal club tournaments feature the Sterling Cup, $100,000 World Cup and Santa Rita Abierto.
The 16-goal league play includes the Grand Champions Cup, Power Horse Invitational and Pedro Morrison Memorial.
The 12-goal league continues with the Sieber Memorial Trophy, Feb. 16-27 $50,000 National 12-Goal and Mar. 8-26 Top Pony 12-Goal.
After January’s successful Aspen Valley Cup, the 8-goal tournament schedule continues with the 5 Top Pony 8-Goal and Limited Edition 8-Goal.
The 6-goal schedule features the Metropolitan Cup, also underway; Halo Polo Trophy and Madelon Bourdieu Memorial.
There is also the Polo School Grand Champions Women’s League, co-founded by Melissa Ganzi and Alina Carta, for all ages and playing ability held Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Santa Rita Polo Farm.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 100-acre polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in several self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and stick-and-ball fields.
During fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s largest club with 13 well-manicured, world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita Polo Farm, hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal including the 26-goal World Polo League in addition to special events.
The Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility owned by Melissa and Marc Ganzi, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or General Manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its’ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its’ Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.
