Action for the US Open Polo Championship resumed through Thursday March 30 and Friday March 31, with Valiente and Scone victorious over Palm Beach Equine and Tamera, respectively. The most prestigious polo competition in the United States and the highlight of The Gauntlet of Polo, the US Open Polo Championship is currently underway at the USPA-owned National Polo Center Wellington, in Wellington, Florida. The culminating contest of the polo season in the United States sees thirteen teams up to 22 goals, split in five leagues, in participation
On Thursday March 30, Valiente defeated Palm Beach Equine 16-12. The three first chukkas were very leveled and by half time the scoreboard read a 6-all. But from the fourth chukka onwards, Bob Jornayvaz’s lineup seized the reins to take control of the match, widening their advantage which eventually led them to the victory. On the following day, Friday March 31, Scone, the recent winners of the USPA Gold Cup, had no trouble at all to claim a 13-8 win over Tamera. Again, Tomás Panelo subbed in for the injured Pelón Stirling in Scone.
The U.S. Open was originally conceived as a non-handicapped alternative to the Senior Championship tournament. The first U.S. Open, in 1904, had only two teams, the Wanderers and the Freebooters, and was held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx borough of New York City. Four 15-minute chukkers were played, with a seven-minute break between each chukker. After the inaugural U.S. Open in 1904, the tournament was not played again until 1910. It resumed at Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, where it was played for several years before relocating to what became its longtime home, Meadowbrook Polo Club in Old Westbury, New York. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oak Brook, where it remained for 22 years, followed by an eight year stint at Retama in San Antonio, Texas. In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the tournament circulated among several clubs throughout the United States, including Eldorado, Lexington, Palm Beach and Royal Palm. In 2004, marking one hundred years since the tournament’s inception, the U.S. Open relocated to Wellington, Florida where it has been held ever since. The U.S. Open Polo Championship trophy was first presented in 1910.
US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP
- THURSDAY MARCH 30
VALIENTE 16-12 PALM BEACH EQUINE
Valiente: Bob Jornayvaz 0, Peke Gonzalez 6, Lucas Criado Jr. 6, Adolfo Cambiaso 10. Total: 22.
Palm Beach Equine: Facundo Llosa 7, Jesse Bray 7, Raúl Colombres 8, Scott Swerdlin 0. Total: 22.
Score Valiente: 3-1, 3-3, 6-6, 10-7, 14-8, 16-12.
Umpires: Steve Dalton & Gastón Lucero. Third man: Martín Pascual.
- FRIDAY MARCH 31
SCONE 13-8 TAMERA
Scone: David Paradice 0, Poroto Cambiaso 9 (8 goals), Tomás Panelo 8* (2), Cody Ellis 4 (3). Total: 21.
*Subbed in for the injured Pelón Stirling, 9.
Tamera: Alejandro Poma 1 (2 goals), Segundo Saravi 5 (2), Diego Cavanagh 9 (2), Pedrinho Zacharias 7 (2). Total: 22.
Score Scone: 3-1, 7-2, 10-3, 10-6, 10-8, 13-8.
Umpires: Julian Appleby & Héctor Galindo. Third man: Martín Pascual.
The US Open Polo Championship will continue during the weekend, and the schedule is the following:
Saturday April 1:
4pm: Park Place vs. Two Trees by Jefferies
Sunday April 2:
4pm: La Fe vs. Dutta Corp Show+
The final of the US Open Polo Championship will take place on Sunday April 23.
US Open Polo Championship – Fixture & Teams
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.