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Polo Gear Challenge Cup Begins Friday At Grand Champions Polo Club
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WELLINGTON, Fla., October 24, 2019---The 11th annual Polo Gear Challenge Cup, one of the oldest tournaments in club history, begins Friday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
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2018 champion Whitehall Ranch players Bill Lane, Sugar Erskine, Whistle Uys and Pablo Dorignac with award presenters and Polo Gear co-owners
Gary Fellers and Jeanette Sassoon.
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Sebucan will make its fall debut when the two-day tournament begins Friday with a round robin at 3 p.m. Sebucan, headed by Cornell alum Pablo Pulido, is a quiet neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela.
Sebucan will be joined by Flexjet and Audi. On Friday, Audi will play the last six chukkers, and on Sunday in the 10 a.m. championship final, Flexjet will play the last six chukkers.
Team rosters are:
Audi (17): Marc Ganzi/Javier Herrera, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan.
Flexjet (17): Melissa Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Jason Crowder, Juan Bollini.
Sebucan (16): Pablo Pulido, Sugar Erskine, Brandon Phillips, Sterling Giannico.
The 2018 champion was Whitehall Ranch, making its fall debut. The foursome of Bill Lane, Sugar Erskine, Whistle Uys and Pablo Dorignac knocked off Sebucan (Pablo Pulido, Mariano Gracida, Julio Gracida, Tito Gaudenzi) with a thrilling 11-10 victory. With 12 seconds left in regulation time, Erskine converted a 60-yard penalty to clinch the win and end Sebucan's hopes of winning its fourth consecutive tournament of the season. Dorignac scored five goals and was MVP.
Texas-based Whitehall Ranch escaped the heavy rains in Houston to compete at Grand Champions.
In 2017, Dutta Corp (Carlitos Gracida, Kris Kampsen, Carlucho Arellano,Tim Dutta) came from behind to defeat Sebucan (Pablo Pulido, Benjamin Avendano, Pablo Dorignac, Guille Aguero), 8-6. Avendano, playing above his handicap, was MVP after scoring four goals and seven total for the two-day tournament.
The winners of the first two tournaments at Grand Champions were: Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Kris Kampsen, Pablo Spinacci, Juan Bollini), Tackeria Invitational and Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Brandon Phillips, Jason Crowder), US Trust Cup.
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Brandon Phillips and Sterling Giannico
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During the 2019 fall season, the nation's largest polo club is hosting both medium and high goal polo featuring six medium goal tournaments and two 20-goal tournaments.
The fall season serves as a tuneup for the winter season for players and green horses. The winter season will feature the second season of the highly-successful 26-goal World Polo League at Grand Champions and Valiente Polo Farm with the best polo players in the world.
The 2019 fall season is highlighted by the International Cup featuring Team USA against France; Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial, inaugural Wellington Open 20 and USPA National 20.
The well-organized fall tournaments attract players from all over the United States and world including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, England, France, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Uruguay, Switzerland, Nigeria and South Africa.
Grand Champions had its finest fall season in club history last year. It was the only club in the nation to stage two USPA-sanctioned 20-goal fall tournaments and again is hosting 20-goal tournaments this season.
The Grand Champions Fall Invitational League is geared toward improving a player's polo skills at every level. Roster lineups change from tournament to tournament with evenly-matched teams featuring pro and amateur players.
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The Polo Gear Challenge Cup attracted one of the largest crowds of the fall season.
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Club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi, both accomplished players, take pride in teaching and sharing the exciting sport of polo with anyone interested in learning. The husband and wife team are coming off their most successful and historical summer season at Grand Champions' sister club Aspen Valley Polo Club.
The fall league features: stick-and-ball sessions during the week; two tournament games every weekend; ambulance and umpires for all tournament games; world-class polo fields; club-sponsored social events every weekend for all players; and top-of-the-line trophies for all teams every weekend. Food and refreshments are available for players and fans after the finals.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm cater 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 at the turnkey facility.
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Awards table for the 2018 Polo Gear Challenge Cup.
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The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its' mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
Wellington-based ChukkerTV will live stream the entire fall season. ChukkerTV's state-of-the art technology also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.
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2019 Grand Champions Fall Schedule
Polo Gear Challenge
Friday 10/25
3 p.m.
Flexjet vs Sebucan vs Audi
Sunday 10/27
10 a.m. Polo Gear Challenge Final
Medium Goal:
Nov. 1-3, Fall Classic
Nov. 8-10, Fall Plates
Nov. 15-17, Pedro Morrison Memorial
High Goal:
Nov. 16-23, Wellington Open 20
Nov. 18-27, USPA National 20
Nov. 30, Legends of Polo and Carlos Gracida Memorial
Nov. 30, 2019 International Cup, USA vs. France
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POLO GEAR
Polo Gear, one of the sport's top sponsors and supporters of polo established in
1993 and
incorporated in Florida, manufactures, distributes and sells polo products to players, teams and polo events worldwide. For more information on Polo Gear and to order products, visit
www.pologearusa.com .
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OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. The mission is to help those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services.
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THE POLO SCHOOL
The Polo School at Grand Champions and Director of Operations Juan Bollini are dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. The school's mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For lessons contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
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Chukker TV will live-streame the entire fall polo schedule.
ChukkerTV, featuring cutting-edge technology, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club. For advertising opportunities on ChukkerTV please contact Mike Ferreira at [email protected].
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GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.
INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.
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