Mount Sopris Cup Begins Friday At McClure River Ranch

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 12, 2022----Six teams will begin competition Friday in the Mount Sopris Cup at McClure River Ranch.

By Sharon Robb

Preliminary round robin action for the seventh tournament of the summer season will be held at McClure River Ranch Fields 1 and 2.

In the first round robin at 11 a.m. on Field 2, NetJets and Mountain Chevrolet will start and Los Amigos will play the final six chukkers.

In the second round robin at 1:15 p.m. on Field 1, Brookshire/Victory will take on La Karina followed by El Tiburon playing the last six chukkers.

Winners of each round robin, based on old rules, who beats whom, net goals and gross goals, advance to Sunday's championship final at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup, Just For The Fun Of It Cup and Mount Sopris Cup will keep fans entertained for 18 chukkers.

Argentine 6-goaler Pablo Spinacci will make his summer polo debut playing for Mountain Chevrolet. Spinacci was a member of last year's Mount Sopris Cup winner NetJets. Spinacci is coming off the 26-goal World Polo League season at sister club Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Fla.

Sponsors and team rosters entered in the Mount Sopris Cup are:

NetJets (10): Melissa Ganzi, Vinny Sangaline, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini.

Mountain Chevrolet (14): Michael Payne, Pablo Spinacci, Sugar Erskine, Stewart Armstrong.

Los Amigos (14): Paul Foster, Pancho Bensadon, Nacho Figueras, Alex Gooding.

Brookshire/Victory (14): Kevin Schmeits, Scott Wood, Gonzalito Pieres, Jason Crowder.

La Karina (13): Lauren Sherry, Brian Boyd, Torito Ruiz, Tomacho Pieres.

El Tiburon (12): Collen Clark, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi.

NetJets (Govinda Quish, Gussie Busch, Pablo Spinacci, Juan Bollini) won last year's Mount Sopris Cup with an 8-4 victory over Sopris Mountain Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Alex Gooding, Nacho Badiola, Tomacho Pieres). Busch was MVP.

The Mount Sopris Cup is named after the majestic 12,965-foot-tall, twin-summited Mount Sopris that dominates Aspen Glen’s southern skyline and offers spectacular hiking, picnicking and camping opportunities. Situated in the northwestern Elk Mountains Range of the Rockies, Aspen Glen residents enjoy views of this stunning mountain and have easy access to its many features.

Aspen Valley Polo Club kicked off its ninth season six weeks ago. So far, Los Amigos and Brookshire have each won two tournament titles.

In the season-opener Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres) won 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). Last weekend Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Nacho Figueras) won its second tournament of the season with a 6-4 victory over Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Brian Boyd, Nacho Novillo Astrada/Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Jason Crowder). Pieres was MVP.

Brookshire (Scott Wood, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) won its club debut in the ChukkerTV Cup with an 11-7 win over Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Gonzalito Pieres, Nacho Figueras). Brookshire (Scott Wood, Ale Poma, Nacho Figueras, Torito Ruiz) won its second tournament of the season in the Basalt Handicap with a 12-7 win over Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Stewart Armstrong, Nic Roldan, Alex Gooding).

McClure River Ranch (Marc Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Pancho Bensadon, Stewart Armstrong) won the Craig Sakin Memorial with a 9-8 victory over Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, Vinny Sangaline, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini).

Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi, Blas Bensadon) won the Emma Challenge with an 11-8 victory over defending champion Los Amigos(Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Nacho Figueras, Tomacho Pieres).

The world's destination spot for summer polo has attracted some of the world's top players, sponsors and 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 number thirteen tournaments.

Other summer tournaments are the 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.

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.

Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities and is the epicenter for polo in the valley. The club's offerings include various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Gymkhana, Kidz 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 club 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.

The family-friendly club welcomes spectators. All matches, food and refreshments are free and open to the public.

When not playing or watching polo, there's all kinds of outdoor activities in a true adventurer's playground including hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, water rafting, swimming, fly fishing and golf.