In a thrilling game, La Fe swept Dundas and claimed the US Open Women’s Polo Championship, following the championship match that took place on Sunday March 19 at the brand new USPA-owned National Polo Center-Wellington, set in Wellington, Florida. The most prestigious ladies tournament in the US saw five teams, up to 24 goals (ladies handicap), partake.
La Fe remained in the lead thoroghout the six chukkas of play; but they took off in the third chukka, when they outscored Dundas 3-0 in order to take a 6-4 advantage by half time. While Dundas were unable to find the flags in the two next chukkas, La Fe dominated the match and the scoreboard, holding Dundas back and widening the gap, until they earned a 12-6 win and the title. La Fe’s Hope Arellano was presented with all the prizes – she was named MVP and her mare, Macumba, took BPP honors.
The US Open Women’s Polo Championship dates back to the 1930s in California. The first women’s U.S. Open tournament was presented by the United States Women’s Polo Association in 1937 at Golden Gate Field in San Francisco, California. The winners of that first ever tournament was Riviera, composed by Louise Tracey, Dorothy Rodgers, Audrey Scott and Ruth Cropp, who defeated Santa Barbara 9-4 in the final. Women were officially welcomed into the United States Polo Association (USPA) in 1972 with Sue Sally Hale, a pioneer of ladies polo and the mother of the beloved Sunny Hale, one of the most enthusiastic promoters of ladies polo, becoming one of the first woman members. The modern U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship competition did not resurface until the early 1990s. The US Open Women’s Polo Championship was officially recognized as a national tournament in 2011 and they landed in Florida, in 2018.
US OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL – SUNDAY MARCH 19
LA FE 12-6 DUNDAS
La Fe: Winifred Branscum 1, Pamela Flanagan 5, Hope Arellano 8, Hazel Jackson 10. Total: 24.
Dundas: Sarah Siegel Magness 1 *, Erica Gandomcar 3, Mia Cambiaso 8, Nina Clarkin 10. Total: 24.
*Subbed in by Ana de la Fuente.
Score La Fe: 2-1, 3-4, 6-4, 9-4, 10-5, 12-6.
Umpires: Kimo Huddleston & Brent Mirikitani. Third man: Julian Appleby.
MVP: Hope Arellano.
BPP: Macumba, ridden by Hope Arellano.
US OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAMS:
Dundas: Sarah Siegel Magness 1, Erica Gandomcar 3, Mia Cambiaso 8, Nina Clarkin 10. Total: 24.
La Fe: Winifred Branscum 1, Pamela Flanagan 5, Hope Arellano 8, Hazel Jackson 10. Total: 24.
El Cid Fitness: Cecilia Cochran 5, Heather Souto 5, Fatima Balzano 6, Milagros Sanchez 8. Total: 24.
San Saba: Dawn Jones 5, Kylie Sheehan 5, Isabelle Parsons 8, Gillian Johnston 6. Total: 24.
BTA: Sophie Grant 5, Maddie Grant 5, KC Krueger 6, Sarah Wiseman 7. Total: 23.
US OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FIXTURE (local time)
Friday, March 10:
10am: El Cid Fitness vs. Dundas
12pm: BTA vs. La Fe
Sunday, March 12:
12pm: Dundas vs. San Saba
Tuesday, March 14:
12pm: El Cid Fitness vs. La Fe
2pm: BTA vs. San Saba
Thursday, March 16:
12pm: Semifinal #1
2pm: Semifinal #2
Sunday, March 19:
3pm: Final US Open Women’s Polo Championship
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.