The Pacific Coast Arena League (PCAL) continued its summer season at Lakeside Polo Club (Lakeside, California). Held from Friday, May 16, to Sunday, May 18, competitive spirit was evident, complemented by sportsmanship that defined the weekend. From new players in the C-Flight, to seasoned veterans in the 7- to 10-goal, the action was fast-paced and filled with unforgettable moments.
Sponsored by Patton Legacy Sports, eight teams continued to battle for the Pacific Coast Circuit Arena General George S. Patton Jr. B-Flight competitor Erica Chapman noted, “PCAL is a terrific platform to gain valuable tournament experience in a safe and fun environment. Last year I challenged myself, playing above my weight class in A-Flight to help accelerate my game. This year I’ve chosen to play B-Flight with my fellow [Orange County Polo Club] members and build on the foundation of skills I gained last year. Additionally, I’m loving playing my three new Argentinian ponies who are new to the arena but performing amazingly!”
La Luna Polo’s Jared Sheldon launches a booming knock-in.
The marquee 7- to 10-goal event pitted Sermus (Garrett Bankhead, Rehan Kumble, Sean Cornell) against La Luna Polo (Oscar Chacon, Chuck Stanislawski, Jared Sheldon*). Fast transitions, accurate passes and strong defensive play helped Sermus take a 9-7 lead into halftime. Maintaining composure, La Luna Polo mounted a fierce comeback to secure a 23-16 win.
“PCAL was a blast—we are always lucky to play at clubs across Southern California and reconnect with friends who play at different clubs. I rode some amazing ponies from Jared Sheldon, including Bacci, who [earned] BPP on Sunday. My team is Blackwood Wines and is sponsored by the winery that my husband and I started. The Lakeside weekend was special in that our first bottles were labeled right before and I was able to share them during the tournament.” – PCAL competitor Emma Blackwood
G2 Polo’s Luca Abboud on a breakaway.
In the A-Flight 3- to 6-goal competition, Sermus (Sierrah Gonzalez, Rehan Kumble, Garrett Bankhead) took on the youthful yet determined Mallet Masters (Ava Abboud, Luca Abboud, Ethan Bankhead). Featuring strong family ties and friendly rivalries, the Abboud siblings showed growing confidence and teamwork, while the Mallet Masters relied on smart rotations and clean execution. Sermus ultimately finished off the match 17-13 to wrap up the weekend.
Sharing his experience with Mallet Masters, Ethan Bankhead stated, “This year, I teamed up with the Abboud siblings and we already kicked off the first game doing pretty well together as a team. I’ve played a lot against Luca during PCAL and occasionally against Ava, so it’s great to play with them this year. All three of us have been through the Lakeside [Intercollegiate/Interscholastic] program, so it’s pretty neat that we are playing together. It has been a great experience so far playing with them.”
Sermus’ Garrett Bankhead races for possession against Mallet Masters’ Ethan Bankhead.
The C-Flight, sponsored by the Polo Training Foundation (PTF), provided an encouraging environment for developing arena polo talent. Critical in fostering the next generation of competitive polo players, support from PTF ensures the sport’s future is in capable hands. Fielding eight teams in the C-Flight, PCAL continues to provide opportunities for up-and-coming competitors. New players stepped into the arena, showcasing determination, horsemanship and a willingness to learn.
Lisa Gonzalez expressed her appreciation for the weekend’s events, “PCAL is always the best experience, Lakeside was incredibly well organized and the atmosphere was both competitive and supportive. A special shout out to Lakeside—the rain nearly took away another day, but thanks to their hard [work], we were able to keep playing with just a small delay. Thank you again for hosting this incredible event at your facility.”
Lakeside Polo Club’s Rehan Kumble drives towards the goal.
As PCAL continues to roll through the summer, fans and players can expect memorable performances and well-deserved awards that honor the best in arena polo.
Each game in PCAL awards a Most Valuable Player, Best Playing Pony and Sportsmanship honors. These awards combined with points earned from wins, ties and losses, accumulate throughout the season to determine recipients of the End-of League Awards.
C-Flight’s Hattrick Polo – Shelby Kokjohn, Danielle Sheldon, Brittany Post.
WEEK 2 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Most Valuable Player
Toolkits were awarded to players who demonstrated exceptional skill, strategic prowess and teamwork.
Rehan Kumble
Lisa Gonzalez
Darin Bankhead
Garrett Bankhead (x2)
Ethan Bankhead
Clay Reed
Joseph Miner
Woody Dunham
Kat Greenbaum
Josh Hemedes
Summer Miner
Luca Abboud
Zoey Tornillo
Fawn Rinalduzzi
Most Valuable Player recipient Woody Dunham.
Jackson Hole Horse Emporium Best Playing Pony
Recipients received a bag of premium horse cookies and gift certificate to Jackson Hole Horse Emporium.
Fifty Shades, played and owned by Jonas Pettersson.
Sole, played by Fawn Rinalduzzi/Erica Chapman and owned by Erica Chapman.
Happy, played by Summer Miner and owned by Christina Cantu.
Caviar, played by Jared Sheldon and owned by George Dill.
Cinderella, played by Garrett Bankhead and owned by George Dill.
Bonita, played and owned by Abigail Purdy.
Zambezi, played by Rehan Kumble and owned by George Dill.
Ghost Faced Killah, played and owned by Ajay Clark.
Sylvie, played and owned by Whitney Messens.
Brandy, played by Alex Chisholm and owned by Nicole Bankhead.
Lovely, played by Katie Moore and owned by Orange County Polo Club.
Bacci, played by Emma Blackwood and owned by JGMP Equestrian.
Lobo, played and owned by Josie Geiler Allen.
31, played by Cinderella Von Falkenhausen and owned by George Dill.
Callie, played and owned by Ethan Bankhead.
Jackson Hole Horse Emporium Best Playing Pony Happy, played by Summer Miner and owned by Christina Cantu.
Polo Training Foundation (PTF) Sportsmanship Award
Recipients took home a Henry Koehler lithograph honoring the spirit and artistry of the game.
Chuck Stanislawski
Kelsey Galarza
Shelby Kokjohn
Oscar Chacon
Luca Abboud
Zoey Tornillo
Leigh Bertea
Jonas Pettersson
Brittany Post
Suzette Culp
Emily Cardinale
Yiyi DeWar
Shira Engel
Katty Wong
Rehan Kumble
*Jared Sheldon is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.
All photos courtesy of ©Callan Harrison.