ASPEN, Colo., December 21, 2024---Before a packed house, Casablanca won the Maroon Bells Cup Thursday at Rio Grande Park.
Casablanca (Miles Rich, Pierre Henri Ngoumou, Grant Ganzi) defeated Petrossian (Becky Schmeits, Kevin Schmeits, Sugar Erskine), 3-1.
Rich, the most improved player of the season and product of The Polo School at Wellington-based Grand Champions Polo Club, was Most Valuable Player. Rich scored all three goals in the final to add to his four-goals in the semifinals.
ASPEN, Colo., December 21, 2024---On a perfect day for snow polo, first-year team The Agency left a lasting impression at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Thursday at Rio Grande Park.
With a stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Colorado Rockies, The Agency (Grant Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Pierre Henri Ngoumou) knocked off hometown favorite St. Regis (Tony Calle, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), 9-7, for the coveted trophy.
Grant Ganzi, 26, was named Most Valuable Player for his outstanding play including "the goal of the tournament" with a 35-yard angled shot through the air and over a defender's mallet in the final chukker. He finished with a game-high seven goals including four penalty conversions.
ASPEN, Colo., December 19, 2024---The stage is set for one of the most competitive finals in the history of the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Thursday at Rio Grande Park.
At 12:30 p.m., The Agency will play hometown favorite St. Regis for the coveted trophy.
In Wednesday's qualifying action, The Agency, making its debut, (Grant Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Pierre Henri Ngoumou) held off Aspen Valley Polo Club (Sarah Siegel-Magness, Jesse Bray, Geronimo Obregon), 9-8, to advance to the final.
ASPEN, Colo., December 17, 2024---Let's get this party started.
Team sponsors and rosters were announced Monday night during the St. Regis Draw and traditional champagne sabering to kick off the 12th annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship.
On Wednesday, Aspen Valley Polo Club, The Agency, Edmiston and St. Regis will compete in the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship opener in the heart of Aspen at Rio Grande Park.
ASPEN, Colo., December 15, 2024---The highly-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship week begins Monday at the St. Regis Aspen Resort.
The world-class hotel will host the player and team sponsor introductions Monday night at 7 p.m. The event will be live streamed worldwide by ChukkerTV (CTV Sports).
The event is one of the world's top snow polo tournaments, only snow polo tournament in North America and final stop on the 2024 World Polo Tour.
CARBONDALE, Colo., September 13, 2024---In front of the largest crowd of the summer polo season, the August 18th Summer Polo Charity Classic raised the most money in a single-day polo event in the United States.
The club's summer marquis soldout event, hosted by owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi and Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation at McClure River Ranch Stadium, hit the $1 million mark with about $700,000 going to Aspen Valley Hospital operations. It was the second time the event hit the $1 million mark since it was created in 2016.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 26, 2024---Maltese Falcons won their first tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.
On the final day of the season in front of a good crowd, Maltese Falcons (Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7) won a three-team round robin to capture the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 26, 2024---Audi, one of the sport's top teams, saved its best for last Sunday in the final of the Rocky Mountain Open at rain-soaked McClure River Ranch Stadium.
In a fast-paced, physical matchup, Audi (Santos Bollini, 2, Martin Jauregui, 6, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Marc Ganzi, 1) dominated defending champion Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 5, Nic Roldan, 8) for a 10-6 victory to close out the most successful season in the 11-year history of Aspen Valley Polo Club. It was Audi's first tournament win of the season.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 24, 2024---Los Amigos' organization won its third tournament of the summer polo season Friday at McClure River Ranch.
Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Pablo Spinacci, 5, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Jason Crowder, 5) held off Maltese Falcons (Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7) for a 9-8 victory to capture the fourth annual Silver Queen Invitational.
Paul Foster, a Baylor University grad, was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a season and game-high seven goals.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 22, 2024---Aspen Valley Polo Club's most successful summer polo season comes to a close this weekend with a tournament tripleheader.
The Rocky Mountain Open, Silver Queen Invitational and Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen will highlight action on Friday with preliminary qualifiers at McClure River Ranch and High Mesa and finals on Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.
On Friday, two games are scheduled. The first is the Rocky Mountain Open at 10 a.m. at High Mesa. The top two teams play the final and third place team play in the Triple Crown of Polo.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 19, 2024---On a spectacular day of polo, Tonkawa defended its title Sunday in the Carbondale Classic at McClure River Ranch Stadium.
In front of the season's biggest crowd including a soldout Summer Polo Charity Classic VIP tent, defending champion Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Hilario Figueras, 5)broke open a close game in the fifth chukker to defeat Polo 4 Christ (Steve Cox/Silver Novillo Astrada, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8), 9-6.
"This game was everything," Grant Ganzi said. "We talked about going into the game Friday how we wanted to win the whole thing. I knew we had the team to do it. It was good fun.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 15, 2024---Aspen Valley Polo Club will host one of its biggest weekends featuring exciting polo and charity event.
The Summer Polo Charity Classic, the highlight of the summer polo season, is Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The ticketed event benefits the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.
Last year AVPC celebrated its tenth anniversary and enjoyed its best season, highlighted by the Summer Polo Charity Classic. A sellout crowd of 1,200 enjoyed the food, caviar, champagne, music, polo, live auction and paddle raise, and vendors during a five-hour tripleheader.
Since 2016, the event has netted $3.5 million for the hospital. It is a fantastic way to support the important mission of the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and vital services the hospital provides to the Roaring Fork Valley community.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 8, 2024— With six tournaments already in the books, Aspen Valley Polo Club reaches the midway point of the summer season this weekend with the Mount Sopris cup.
The seventh of 14 season tournaments features six teams and begins Friday at McClure River Ranch Field Two.
On Friday, two preliminary round robin games are schedule. The first is at 10 a.m. and second game is 12:30 p.m.
Read MoreCARBONDALE, Colo., August 5, 2024---Mountain Chevrolet won its summer polo debut Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch Stadium.
Mountain Chevrolet (Fran Spinacci, 1, Michael Payne, 1, Pablo Spinacci, 5, Gonzalito Pieres, 9) won the sixth tournament of the season defending its title in the High Alpine Cup with a thrilling 9-8 victory over Casablanca (Michael Calle, 1, Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8).
Michael Payne and Pablo Spinacci are repeat tournament champions.
Argentine 9-goaler Gonzalito Pieres was named Most Valuable Player. The field general scored a game-high seven goals.
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.
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.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 29, 2024---In a thrilling finish, Los Amigos Red won the Emma Challenge Cup on Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium Field.
Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) defeated tournament favorite Tamera (Ale Poma, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 5, Nic Roldan, 8), 8-7, in front of a good crowd.
It was the second summer tournament victory for the Los Amigos organization.
Argentine Santi Toccalino, making his Aspen Valley Polo Club debut, swept the Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony honors.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 26, 2024---The fifth tournament of the summer polo season begins Friday with the Emma Challenge Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
Former 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres and Ale Poma will make their summer polo debut in Aspen. Pieres is playing for last weekend's Basalt Handicap champion Los Amigos Red.
Pieres, 41, was born into a family of polo players. He is the eldest son of polo legend Gonzalo Pieres. His brothers Facundo and Nico Pieres are also among the world's best. His sister, Tatiana, married former 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre. The former 10-goaler is now rated 9 goals.
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 22, 2024---Los Amigos Red was red hot Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch Stadium.
Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Hilario Figueras, 5) took off in the second chukker and never looked back for an impressive 15-8 victory over Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Martin Jauregui, 6, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Jimmy Seward, 3) for its first win of the summer season.
Grant Ganzi, 26, was named Most Valuable Player after playing well at both ends of the field. Ganzi shared leading scorer honors with Nic Roldan with five goals and was four-for-four from the penalty line.
"It's been a while getting MVP," Ganzi said. "I'm happy about it. I'm just grateful to be recognized. I'm having fun out there. I am more happy to get another blanket for my mares. I'm really happy with the way my horses are playing. They are all from my mom's breed."
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 19, 2024---The fourth tournament of the summer polo season begins Friday with the Basalt Handicap at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
The fun begins Friday with two preliminary games at McClure River Ranch on Field 2.
The opening game at 10 a.m. is a three-team round robin game between Los Amigos Blue (16) (Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Hilario Figueras, 5) vs. Maltese Falcons (16) (Melissa Ganzi, Vinny Sangaline, 1, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8) vs. Santa Rita (14) (Fran Spinacci, 1, Jason Crowder, 5, Pablo Spinacci, 5, Juan Bollini, 3).
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 15, 2024---Casablanca won its second tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch Stadium.
In front of a good crowd, Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, 1, Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8) led from start to finish to defeat Maltese Falcons (Alejandra Foster, Melissa Ganzi, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 8-6.
Nic Roldan, the second highest ranked American, was named Most Valuable Player. Roldan has won the most MVP titles at both Aspen Valley Polo Club and its sister club Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Fla.
Amiga, a bay mare owned and played by Alejandra Foster, was AVPC Best Playing Pony. Moon Quartz, a dark bay mare played by Grant Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.
