Sebucan Plays Santa Clara In Limited Edition 12-Goal Opener Thursday At Grand Champions

WELLINGTON, Fl., January 14, 2020--After a successful Metropolitan Cup 6-goal league opener on Sunday, 12-goal league play begins Thursday at Grand Champions Polo Club. 


Sebucan will play Santa Clara in the opening game of the January Limited Edition 12-Goal League Thursday at 3 p.m.

2019 Limited Edition winning Newport teammates Nick Manifold, MVP Michel Dorignac, Gene Goldstein and Tomas Schwencke.

Sebucan features living legend Horacio Heguy, a six-time Argentine Open winner. During post-game ceremonies at the inaugural Wellington Open this past fall, Heguy was awarded a first-of-its-kind Living Legend Award by Grand Champions Polo Club.

Four teams will compete in the 12-goal league. Beverly Equestrian plays Newport Friday at 3:30 p.m. Beverly Equestrian features up-and-coming sensation Poroto Cambiaso, son of 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso.

Smiles and congratulations all around for the January 2019 Limited Edition champion Newport.

Team rosters are:

Beverly Equestrian: (12) Bill Ballhaus, 0, Poroto Cambiaso, 4, Hilario Figueras, 3, Tolito Ocampo, 5.

Newport: (12) Gene Goldstein, 1, Lucas Escobar, 2, Nick Manifold, 3, Michel Dorignac, 6.

Santa Clara: (12) Francisco Escobar, 0, Nico Escobar, 4, Luis Escobar, 4, TBA.

Sebucan: (11) Santos Bollini, 1, Pablo Pulido, 2, Horacio Heguy, 6, Juanse Olivera, 2.

The Limited Edition 12-goal final and handicap final are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m. and noon respectively.

Poroto Cambiaso

Newport captured last year's January Limited Edition 12-Goal Tournament that featured eight teams. Trailing by as many as four goals in the first half, Newport (Gene Goldstein 1, Tomas Schwencke, 2, Michel Dorignac, 6, Nick Manifold, 3) rallied in the second half for a thrilling 9-8 victory over Colorado (Rob Jornayvaz, 2, Bautista Panelo, 3, Nick Johnson, 3, Robertito Zedda, 4) in the championship final. It was their first tournament win in two years. Newport finished with a 3-1 record. Dorignac was named Most Valuable Player after scoring five goals all on penalty conversions including a 60-yarder in the sixth chukker. 

Grand Champions is hosting 19 tournaments during the winter season, the most of any club in the U.S., including five in January.

Horacio Heguy
With 18 safe and well-manicured fields, including 11-tournament grade, the club will host every level of polo for men, women and children including the second season of the World Polo League, the only 26-goal polo held outside of Argentina featuring the best players in the world.

The club attracts a large international field of players from all corners of the world  including Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa and England. 

Grand Champions is coming off its finest fall season in the club's 13-year history. It was the only club in the nation to stage two 20-goal fall tournaments in addition to the International Cup and Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial. The club also hosted a full schedule of successful and highly-competitive medium goal tournaments.

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball and new parking lot.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm's 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, created by Melissa Ganzi when the club first opened.

Awards table for the Limited Edition 12-Goal Series January Final.
Photos by Grand Champions Polo Club

The Polo School, a stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club, is thriving at Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm. It 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. Headed by Director of Operations Juan Bollini, The Polo School has nurtured several men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception. 
2020 WINTER SCHEDULE

JANUARY
Metropolitan Cup
Wednesday 1/15 3:30 p.m. Altair vs CrossFit/El CID
Friday 1/17 3:30 p.m. CrossFit/El CID vs Amista 
Sunday 1/19 10 a.m. Amista vs Mayer Ranch
Monday 1/20 10 a.m. Altair vs Bushwood
Monday 1/20 11:30 a.m. Mayer Ranch vs CrossFit/El CID
Tuesday 1/21 3:30 p.m. Amista vs Bushwood
Thursday 1/23 3:30 p.m. CrossFit/El CID vs Bushwood
Friday 1/24 2 p.m. Altair vs Amista
Friday 1/24 3:30 p.m. Mayer Ranch vs Bushwood
Sunday 1/26 10 a.m. Metropolitan Cup Final

Aspen Valley Cup
Tuesday 1/21 1 p.m. SD Farms vs Flexjet
Tuesday 1/21 1 p.m. Savanna vs Casablanca
Thursday 1/23 1 p.m SD Farms vs Casablanca
Thursday 1/23 1 p.m. Flexjet vs Savanna
Saturday 1/25 3 p.m. Aspen Valley Cup Final

Limited Edition
Thursday 1/16 3 p.m Santa Clara vs Sebucan
Friday 1/17 3:30 p.m. Beverly Equestrian vs Newport
Sunday 1/19 10 a.m. Beverly Equestrian vs Santa Clara
Sunday 1/19 12 p.m. Newport vs Sebucan
Friday 1/24 11 a.m. Newport vs Santa Clara
Friday 1/24 4 p.m. Sebucan vs Beverly Equestrian
Sunday 1/26 10 a.m. The Limited Edition Final
Sunday 1/26 12 p.m. The Limited Edition Handicap Final


JAN 15-25         Sterling Cup, 18-22
JAN 26-Feb 9    $100,000 World Cup, 0-40
JAN-APR           WCT Ladies Wednesday League

FEBRUARY
FEB 1-29            Halo Polo Trophy, 6
FEB 1-29            Top Pony 8 Goal
FEB 1-29            Sieber Memorial Trophy
FEB 6-16            WPL All-Star Challenge
FEB 19-MAR 1    WPL Founders Cup
FEB 25-MAR 8    $50,000 National 12-Goal

MARCH
MAR 1-29             Madelon Bourdieu Memorial
MAR 1-29             Limited Edition 8-Goal Series    
MAR 1-28             Top Pony 12-Goal Series
MAR 4-22             WPL Palm Beach Open
MAR 28-APR 18  WPL Triple Crown of Polo
MAR 31-APR 4    WCT Finals

APRIL
APR 4-19            Las Acacias, 4-8
APR 6-12            U.S. National Mixed Doubles Polo Championship


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. 


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 mike@chukkertv.com. 


GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera,  561-644-5050, juan.olivera@ gcpolo.com; hotline   561-644-5050.

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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