High Alpine Cup Gets Under Way Friday At McClure River Ranch

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 1, 2024---The sixth tournament of the summer polo season featuring six teams begins Friday with the High Alpine Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

By Sharon Robb

Defending champion Mountain Chevrolet heads the field that also features Casablanca, Los Amigos, Maltese Falcons, Tamera and Tonkawa.

On Friday, two round robins will be contested. The first at 10 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field Two, Los Amigos, 13, (Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, 1, Martin Jauregui, 6, Sugar Erskine 6), Maltese Falcons, 15, (Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8) and Mountain Chevrolet, 14, (Fran Spinacci, 1, Michael Payne, 1, Pablo Spinacci, 5, Gonzalito Pieres, 9) will play.

In Game 2 at 1 p.m., also at McClure River Ranch, Casablanca, 14, (Michael Calle, 1, Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8), Tonkawa, 14, (Jeff Hildebrand, Jason Crowder, 5, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Juan Bollini, 3) and Tamera, 14, (Ale Poma, Marc Ganzi, 1, Hilario Figueras, 5, Santi Toccalino) will compete.

Michael Payne of Mountain Chevrolet and Michael Calle of Casablanca are making their summer polo debut in Aspen.

Winners advance to the championship final on Sunday for an exciting day of polo complete with music and great food at McClure River Ranch Stadium at 11:30 a.m. after the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 10:15 a.m. The Just For The Love Of It Cup follows at 12:45 p.m.
 
On Saturday, the Just For The Fun Of It is 10:15 a.m. at the AVPC Barn Field.

Last season Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, 1, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Hilario Figueras, 5, Martin Jauregui, 6) defeated NetJets (Santos Bollini, 2/Marc Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras, 5, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Stewart Armstrong, 2), 12-9, to win the High Alpine Cup. Jauregui was MVP.
 
The High Alpine Cup is named after a Snowmass ski area/lift and legacy of Gwyn’s, a longtime Snowmass favorite located mid-mountain where diners experience some of the tradition and favorites from years past, in addition to a newly-envisioned take on mountain dining.

So far the season-opening tournaments have been won by:

Santa Rita (Haley Schaufeld, Grant Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Bollini) in the Independence Cup.

Casablanca  (Marc Ganzi, Martin Jauregui, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup.

Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Santos Bollini, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) in the Craig Sakin Memorial

Los Amigos Red (Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras, Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi) in the Basalt Handicap.

Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Santi Toccalino, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) in the Emma Challenge Cup.