Craig Sakin Memorial Begins Friday At Aspen Valley Polo Club

CARBONDALE, Colo., July 11, 2024---The third tournament of the summer polo season at Aspen Valley Polo Club begins Friday with the Craig Sakin Memorial.

By Sharon Robb

The fun begins Friday with two preliminary games at the AVPC Barn Field at 10 a.m. and Tonkawa Farm at 12:30 p.m.

The opening game features Los Amigos, 16 (Paul Foster, Sugar Erskine, 6, Jason Crowder, 5, Hilario Figueras, 5) against Maltese Falcons, 14 (Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7).

In Game Two, Casablanca, 14 (Santos Bollini, 2, Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8) plays Tonkawa, 15 (Jeff Hildebrand, Martin Jauregui, 6, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Jimmy Seward, 3).

Winners advance to the championship final on Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium Field at 11 a.m. The Just For The Love Of It Cup follows at 12:30 p.m.
 
On Saturday, the Just For The Fun Of It Cup at the AVPC Barn at 10:15 a.m. features Santa Rita, 13 (Haley Schaufeld, Grant Ganzi, 3, Santi Toccalino, 7, Juan Bollini) against Los Amigos, 12 (Fran Spinacci, 1, Pablo Spinacci, 5, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Ryan Shank).

The tournament is named in honor of Craig Sakin, who passed away on Feb. 11, 2014 at age 52. The former president of the Homeowners' Association of Sopris Mountain Ranch, was instrumental in helping Marc and Melissa Ganzi secure their first polo field. In 2015, some of Sakin's ashes were released over the polo field.

Last season M.A.G. Polo held off NetJets to capture the Craig Sakin Memorial. M.A.G. Polo (Govinda Quish, Dominic State, 2, Nic Roldan 8, Jason Crowder, 5) defeated NetJets (Santos Bollini, 2, Marc Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras 5, Hilario Figueras, 5), 8-7, to win the two-day, five-team tournament. American 8-goaler Nic Roldan scored a game-high four goals and came up with key defensive plays in the final minutes to earn Most Valuable Player.

So far the season-opening tournaments have been won by Santa Rita (Haley Schaufeld, Grant Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Bollini) in the Independence Cup and Casablanca  (Marc Ganzi, 1, Martin Jauregui, 6, Nic Roldan, 8, Grant Ganzi, 3) in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup.

The 11th season of polo features a record 14 grass and arena tournaments in July and August. With the breath-taking 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, some of the world's top players and horses are competing.

Season highlights include the August 18th Summer Polo Charity Classic, benefitting the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. Last year AVPC celebrated its tenth anniversary and enjoyed its best season, highlighted by the Summer Polo Charity Classic, benefitting the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. A sellout crowd of 1,200 enjoyed the food, music, polo, auction and vendors during a five-hour tripleheader. Since 2016, the event has netted $3.5 million for the hospital.

Other season highlights are the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational doubleheader, inaugural Twilight Polo Series and Aspen Arena Series Final.

Nestled in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, Aspen Valley Polo Club has become the summer destination for polo and top players and sponsors from around the world.

Other summer tournaments are Basalt Handicap, Emma Challenge Cup, High Alpine Cup, Mount Sopris Cup, Rocky Mountain Open, Carbondale Classic and Maroon Bells Cup.

The family-friendly club on 15 acres of pristine land welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free (with the exception of special catered events) and open to the public.

Unlike any other summer polo destination in the world, the local culture offers shops, incredible culinary scene, art, music and nightlife in addition to hiking trails, mountain biking, river rafting, golf and fly fishing.

If you can't make it to the games in person, Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV (CTV sports) is live streaming the entire 2024 polo summer season Mountain Standard Time with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action. Aspen Valley Polo Club is the only USPA club to live stream its entire summer schedule.

With a vision for the community and surrounding areas, Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then 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 Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC 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.

The Polo School is for all ages and ability levels and operates in Carbondale. For more information on tournaments or Polo School Director 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.