Wed 26th Mar 2025U.S. Open Polo Championship Begins Today 12 teams competing across four leagues
Today, Wednesday 26 March, the third and final leg of The Gauntlet of Polo – The U.S. Open Polo Championship – gets underway. The U.S. Open was first played for in 1904 (with the current trophy introduced in 1910) and is the most prestigious tournament in the United States and the highlight of the Florida winter season.
Played as the third stage of the Gauntlet, the number of teams will increase to 12 with the addition of Melissa Ganzi’s The Setai, and the teams will be split into four leagues – this is an increase on last year which saw nine teams in the tournament.
2023 U.S. Open Polo Championship recent USPA Gold Cup winners, Park Place, will be looking to build on their Gauntlet success. Last year’s Final was a battle between the Cambiasos as La Dolfina beat Valiente and with both Adolfo and Poroto competing in separate teams again this year, La Dolfina/Tamera (2024 C.V. Whitney Cup winners) and La Dolfina/Catamount respectively, there is once again the potential for a family showdown in the Final on Sunday 20 April.
Today’s matches will see Globalport vs La Dolfina/Tamera and Clearwater vs BTA.
The U.S. Open Polo Championship Teams:
Bracket I
Globalport (22): Barto Castagnola (10), Beltrán Laulhé (6), Lucas Díaz Alberdi (6) & Michael Romero (0)
Clearwater (21): Chip Campbell (1), Joaquín Panelo (6), Paquito de Narvaez (7) & Raúl Colombres (7)
La Dolfina/Catamount (22): Jesse Bray (7), Poroto Cambiaso (10), Rufino Merlos (5) & Scott Devon (0)
Bracket II
La Dolfina/Tamera (22): Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Alejandro Poma (1), Diego Cavanagh (7) & Matt Coppola (4)
BTA (22): Ignacio Viana (7), Kelly Beal (0), Steve Krueger (5) & Tomás Panelo (10)
Park Place (22): Andrey Borodin (0), Hilario Ulloa (10), Peke Gonzalez (7) & Louis Hine (5)
Bracket III
Pilot (22): Cody Ellis (5), Curtis Pilot (0), Facundo Pieres (9) & Matías Torres Zavaleta (8)
La Fe Eastern Hay (21): Francisco Elizalde (9), Kristos Magrini (6), Louis Devaleix (1) & Robi Bilbao (5)
Brookshire (22): Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola (10), Toly Ulloa (7), Scott Wood (0) & Segundo Saravi (5)
Bracket IV
Coca-Cola (22): Gillian Johnston (0), Julián de Lusarreta (7), Lorenzo Chavanne (6) & Polito Pieres (9)
The Dutta Corp (22): Iñaki Laprida (7), Nicolás Díaz Alberdi (4), Timmy Dutta (4) & Tomás García del Río (7)
The Setai (22): Melissa Ganzi (0), Gonzalito Pieres (8), Nic Roldan (7) & Santiago Toccalino (7)
Photograph: The U.S. Open Polo Championship begins today and concludes on Sunday 20 April. By USPA
Mon 24th Mar 2025Park Place Win USPA Gold Cup Final Overtime thriller at NPC
On Sunday 23 March at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Coca-Cola and Park Place went head-to-head in The USPA Gold Cup Final – the second phase of the Gauntlet of Polo series.
Coca-Cola got off to a strong start leading 3-1 in the first chukka, but Park Place swiftly found their form in the second chukka and managed to narrowly maintain the lead throughout the match until an equalising goal from Coca-Cola in the sixth chukka pushed the match into a nerve-wracking over time chukka. As the players returned to NPC’s Field One, the packed grandstands were on the edge of the seats, as were viewers across the globe tuning in to watch the Final live on the USPA’s Polo Network; who would be the first to score and secure the title? As Louis Hine ran to goal, the whistle blew against Coca-Cola and a penalty hit taken by Hilario Ulloa was lined up. Ulloa, who has been on excellent penalty form throughout the Gauntlet with an impressive 100% accuracy scoring penalties goals converting 22 of 22, coolly lined up and struck the ball home to secure Park Place The USPA Gold Cup title 10 goals to 9.
Hine was chosen as the Most Valuable Player, despite being only 19-years-old and 5 goals the English player has impressed throughout the tournament especially with his nearside accuracy. 5, the memorable and lightening quick grey played and owned by Peke Gonzalez was deservedly awarded the Best Playing Pony honour.
The win was additionally special for Park Place as they played in memory of Rufino Laulhé who was about to begin his first season on Palm Beach with Park Place before the 15-year-old tragically lost his life in a car crash in January. Park Place’s Captain, Ulloa, spoke movingly after the match, “I want to honour Rufo Lauhlé today; we had a tough start of the season. I was much looking forward to playing with him, because he was supposed to be one of the biggest stars of the future, a future 10-goaler. It was very hard for all of us. Obviously, Louis (Hine) did an amazing job, but this final has been very emotional due to what happened in January, for whom we played for, Rufo… I know he worked hard for us, for this group of people. As a matter of fact, today, we were five guys – Louis did great on the field, but no doubts Rufo probably was around here, so he has a bit of this”.
A full report will be included in the next issue of Polo Times, click here to renew your subscription today.
The USPA Gold Cup Final Teams:
Coca-Cola (22): Gillian Johnston (0), Julián de Lusarreta (7), Lorenzo Chavanne (6) & Polito Pieres (9)
Park Place (22): Andrey Borodin (0), Hilario Ulloa (10), Peke Gonzalez (7) & Louis Hine (5)
Photograph: Park Place (L-R: Peke Gonzalez, Hilario Ulloa, Andrey Borodin & Louis Hine) winners of The USPA Gold Cup. By David Lominska
Fri 21st Mar 2025The NRG Podcast Live at Oxford Polo
On Friday 30 May, Oxford Polo will be hosting the third edition of the NRG Podcast Live event at 5pm. The evening will include a tack fitting and bitting masterclass by Ross Ainsley from Ainsley Saddlery, a tactics session by Glen Gilmore and Nick May providing his usual witticism, plus a bar and food available. Entry is £10 per person for pre-booking and £15 on the day, with proceeds going to Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Click here for tickets.
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