McClure River Ranch Pink Triumphs, Captures Inaugural Battle of the Sexes At Aspen Valley Polo Club

CARBONDALE, Colo., September 3, 2019---On another historic day at Aspen Valley Polo Club, McClure River Ranch Pink stunned McClure River Ranch Cream to capture the inaugural Battle of the Sexes Monday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In a fun atmosphere, on and off the field, McClure River Ranch Pink (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Juan Bollini, Lauren Sherry) stole the show and defeated favorite McClure River Ranch Cream (Paul Foster, Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong), 8-6.

McClure River Ranch Pink rallied after trailing 4-3 at the half with a 3-0 third chukker and ended up outscoring McClure River Ranch Cream, 5-2, in the second half.

Melissa Ganzi and Lauren Sherry shared scoring honors for McClure River Ranch Pink each with three goals. Alejandra Foster added two goals.

Stewart Armstrong scored a team-high three goals for McClure River Ranch Cream. Marc Ganzi had two goals and Paul Foster added one.

Sherry earned Best Goal of the Day honors after she drove down center field, hitting the ball on the near side three times before scoring on a belly shot.

Armstrong's 7-year-old bay mare Junes Rudy was selected Best Playing Pony. Stewart owns and played her in the second chukker. The horse was discovered and purchased for Armstrong by Gabrielle Crespo.

Juan Bollini, also known as Juana, got in touch with his feminine side adding levity to the day when he donned a bright red wig and padded bra for the awards ceremony.

"I always have fun in polo," Bollini said. "And today was fun with good polo and good friends."

On Monday, Aspen Valley Polo Club fans, including legendary Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler Memo Gracida, and players helped celebrate Labor Day, a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women, that have helped provide the social, political and economic backbone of this country. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.

Coming off its most successful summer season, Aspen Valley Polo Club lined up a star-studded field of players including Hilario and Salvador Ulloa, Sapo Caset, Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada, Tincho and Sebastian Merlos and Nic Roldan for the summer to compete with and against patrons and amateur players. The season winds down this weekend with the final summer tournament.

The 2019 summer tournament champions so far are: Audi (Lauren Sherry, Salvador Ulloa, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi), Labor Day Challenge; Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juancito Bollini, Juan Bollini), Carbondale Classic; Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alfredo Bigatti, Pablo Spinacci, Juancito Bollini), Rocky Mountain Handicap; Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Ulloa, Salvador Ulloa), Rocky Mountain Open; La Karina (Brian Boyd, Lauren Sherry, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos), Mount Sopris Cup; Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Juan Martin Obregon, Sapo Caset, Mason Wroe), 119th USPA Silver Cup; Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Juan Bollini, Paul Foster), High Alpine Cup; Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Poma, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini), Emma Challenge; Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), Basalt Handicap; La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos, Kris Kampsen), USPA North American Cup; Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada), ChukkerTV Challenge; Los Amigos Red (Hilario Figueras, Paul Foster, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada), Craig Sakin Memorial; and Piocho Ranch (Gabriel Gracida, Nacho Figueras, Salvador Ulloa), the season-opening Independence Cup winners.

With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club is one of the busiest and fastest growing USPA-sanctioned clubs in the nation.

Since the Melissa and Marc Ganzi founded the club in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club’s offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Tuesday Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz 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.

Aspen Valley Polo Club has had a positive impact in the area hosting kids polo camps, teaching lessons and several charitable events at the club that have benefitted local charities.

Aspen Peak Magazine has featured the club and its polo and charity events several times and recently featured players Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Tony Calle and Nic Roldan in a cover story.

All ages are welcome to enjoy polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club. Admission, food and refreshments are free for fans in a relaxed, laidback atmosphere. An added feature is the club's Jumbotron which made its debut last summer for the fans' enjoyment, Aspen Valley Polo Club Boutique and new electronic scoreboard.