ChukkerTV Cup Kicks Off Busy Weekend Of Polo Friday At Aspen Valley Polo Club
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 7, 2022----It will be a busy weekend of polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club with five teams competing in the ChukkerTV Cup.
By Sharon Robb
Preliminary action begins Friday with Brookshire playing La Karina at 10:30 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 1. A round robin between Mt. Chevrolet, Victory and Los Amigos will follow at 11:45 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 2.
On Satuday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's barn field, Victory and NetJets play in the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 10 a.m. followed by Kidz Polo at 11 a.m.
On Sunday, the Just For The Love Of It round robin begins the day at 10:30 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 2. The ChukkerTV Cup final is noon on McClure River Ranch Field 1.
Four of the five teams in the field are making their summer debut. The lineups are:
Brookshire (14): Scott Wood, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini.
Mt. Chevrolet (15): Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Alex Gooding.
Victory (15): Kevin Schmeits, Alejandra Foster, Pancho Bensadon, Nacho Novillo Astrada.
La Karina (14): Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Tomacho Pieres.
Los Amigos (15): Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Nacho Figueras, Gonzalito Pieres.
The winner of last year's ChukkerTV Cup was NetJets (Michael Payne, Alex Gooding, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Figueras). The foursome defeated Victory Polo (Alejandra Foster, Kevin Schmeits, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan), 7-5, in the final. Michael Payne was MVP and Figueras' ManRay was Best Playing Pony.
Aspen Valley Polo Club opened its ninth season last weekend with Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres) winning the Independence Cup with a round robin victory over Casablanca (Alejandra Foster, Grant Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Nic Roldan) and NetJets (Melissa Ganzi, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini).
The world's destination spot for summer polo has attracted some of the world's top players as well as world-class horses.
With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop under a bright summer sky, polo has returned to the valley July through September with a record thirteen tournaments.
Other summer tournaments are Craig Sakin Memorial, Basalt Handicap, Emma Challenge Cup, High Alpine Cup, Mount Sopris Cup, Rocky Mountain Open, Carbondale Classic, Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen, Silver Queen Invitational, Maroon Bells Cup and Ute Challenge.
The highlight of the season is the Aug. 28th Summer Polo Benefit for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 after a year's hiatus because of the pandemic. It is the club's summer marquis event and one of the city's most anticipated social summer events.
Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV will live stream the entire 2022 polo season Mountain Standard Time with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action.
The family-friendly club welcomes spectators. All matches, food and refreshments are free and open to the public.
Last summer Aspen Valley Polo Club finished a successful and historic season in club and Rocky Mountain Circuit history and hopes to top that this season.
The 2021 tournament champions were: Independence Cup, La Karina (Sugar Erskine, Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan); ChukkerTV Challenge, NetJets (Michael Payne, Alex Gooding, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Figueras); Craig Sakin Memorial, Casablanca (Lauren Sherry, Alex Gooding, Torito Ruiz, Grant Ganzi); Basalt Handicap Cup, Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Grant Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Jimmy Seward); Emma Challenge, Rancho Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Gussie Busch); High Alpine Cup, Santa Rita (Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Alejandra Foster, Lauren Sherry, Tomacho Pieres); Mount Sopris Cup, NetJets (Juan Bollini, Gussie Busch, Govinda Quish, Pablo Spinacci); Rocky Mountain Open, Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Torito Ruiz); Carbondale Classic, White Claw (Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Vinny Sangaline, Gonzalito Pieres, Nacho Badiola); WPL Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen, Tonkawa (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hildebrand, Gonzalito Pieres, Juan Bollini); and Silver Queen Invtational, NetJets (Brian Boyd, Juan Bollini, Nacho Figueras, Pablo Spinacci).
Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Kids Wheely Polo, The Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas.
Aspen was founded as a silver mining town in the 1800s and was named for the abundance of aspen trees growing in the area and famous for their tall, thin trunks and golden leaves. Conde Nast Traveler's Reader's Choice Awards recognized Aspen as the No. 1 Small City in the U.S.
The Polo School for all ages and ability levels operates in Carbondale July through September. For more information on tournaments or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or General Manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
Aspen Valley Polo Club caters 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.
When not playing or watching polo, there's all kinds of outdoor activities in a true adventurer's playground including hiking, mountain biking, water rafting, swimming, fly fishing and golf.