CARBONDALE, Colo., August 2, 2019---The ninth tournament of the summer polo season gets under way Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

The High Alpine Cup, featuring two teams, begins Friday with a six-chukker matchup at 11 a.m. MST. The Friday score will continue to Sunday's final set for 10 a.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

The teams competing are:

Los Amigos: Paul Foster, Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Juan Bollini.

Mountain Chevrolet: Michael Payne, Lauren Sherry, Alejandro Poma, Pablo Spinacci.

In last year's High Alpine Cup, Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan, Paul Foster) defeated Casablanca (Alex Gooding, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juancito Bollini), 9-7. Paul Foster, who scored three goals playing the back position, was named Most Valuable Player.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 31, 2019---Defending champion Flexjet will go for its third consecutive title Tuesday when it plays Casablanca in the final of the USPA National Arena Handicap Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 1, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Juan Bollini, 6) advanced with an impressive 18-11 victory over Audi (Kris Kampsen, 9, Lucas Lalor, 6, Marc Ganzi, 3) in the opening semifinal game of the four-team tournament.

In the second semifinal, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3/Hilario Figueras, 3T, Juancito Bollini, 4, Nic Roldan, 8) rallied in the second half for a 15-12 win over McClure River Ranch (Daren Tamplin, 2, Pablo Spinacci, 6T, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8).

The final is 5 p.m. and will be live streamed by USPA Polo Network.

In the opening game, Astrada took up where he left off in last year's arena tournament as leading scorer, scoring eight goals including a two-pointer in the fourth chukker.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 29, 2019---Defending champion Flexjet will be looking for the three-peat when the USPA National Arena Handicap Polo Championship begins Tuesday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

Several of the top players in the world including Argentine brothers Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada and American players Kris Kampsen, top-ranked arena player at 9 goals and Nic Roldan are among the four-team field.

The tournament gets underway Tuesday with the semifinal round. Flexjet will open up against Audi at 5 p.m. and Casablanca plays McClure River Ranch at 6:30 p.m. The final is Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The teams and sponsors are:

Audi: Marc Ganzi, Kris Kampsen, Lucas Lalor.

Casablanca: Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan.

Flexjet: Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini.

McClure River Ranch: Daren Tamplin, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Novillo Astrada.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 29, 2019---Los Amigos Blue, trailing going into final day action, won the Emma Challenge Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Poma, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini) defeated Los Amigos Red (Grant Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster), 12-9, in the final three chukkers of the championship round robin.

It was Alejandra Foster's second consecutive Emma Challenge title after winning last season with La Karina. She finished with four goals. Ganzi led Los Amigos Red with five goals.

Argentine 7-goaler Salvador Ulloa was named Most Valuable Player. Ulloa finished with four goals.

Moon Quartz, a 6-year-old, played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada was Best Playing Pony.

Cruella de Ville, a 4-year-old, played by Pablo Spinacci, was American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 28, 2019---On a historical day for Aspen Valley Polo Club, the 119th USPA Silver Cup opened Saturday with three action-packed games.

In front of a good local crowd and worldwide USPA Polo Network audience at McClure River Ranch, Audi, Tonkawa and Casablanca won bracket game openers.

With 30 seconds left, Sapo Caset stole the ball and scored the winning goal to lead Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, 0, Juan Martin Obregon, 5, Sapo Caset, 10, Mason Wroe, 4) to an 11-10 victory over Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Gussie Busch, 2, Hilario Ulloa, 10, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8) in the opening game.

In the second game, Hilario Figueras converted a clutch penalty shot in the final minute as Audi (Marc Ganzi, 2, Hilario Figueras, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Jared Zenni, 6) held off a late-charging La Karina (Brian Boyd, 0, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Sebastian Merlos, 8, Tincho Merlos, 8) for a 10-9 victory.

Trailing for most of the game, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Lucas Lalor, 5, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8, Juancito Bollini, 4) rallied in the final chukker for a 12-11 triumph over McClure River Ranch (Salvador Lockey, 2, Stewart Armstrong, 3, Kris Kampsen, 6, Alfredo Bigatti, 8) in the third and final game.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 27, 2019---Los Amigos Red took the early lead after the opening round of the Emma Challenge Cup Friday at balmy Sopris Mountain Ranch.

The Emma Challenge Cup got under way with a nine-chukker round robin featuring Los Amigos Red, Los Amigos Blue and Mountain Chevrolet.

Los Amigos Red (Nico Harriot, Pablo Spinacci, Nic Roldan, Paul Foster) opened with a 5-4 victory over Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Poma, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini). Los Amigos Blue defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Lauren Sherry, Michael Payne, Tincho Merlos, Carlitos Gracida), 6-3. Los Amigos Red edged Mountain Chevrolet, 5-3, in the final game.

In the first game, Spinacci and Roldan scored back-to-back goals to break a 3-3 tie in the third chukker to clinch the win. Spinacci and Roldan each had two goals for Los Amigos Red and Alejandra Foster and Bollini each had two goals for Los Amigos Blue.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 25, 2019---The seventh tournament of the summer polo season gets under way Friday with the Emma Challenge Cup at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

In another bustling week of activity at the club, the Emma Challenge Cup and Just For The Thrill Of Cup will share center stage with the prestigious 119th USPA Silver Cup which begins Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

The Emma Challenge Cup will be held Friday and Sunday. On Friday at 11:30 a.m. a unique format will feature Los Amigos Red, Los Amigos Blue and Mountain Chevrolet playing a round robin at Sopris Mountain Ranch. Los Amigos Red and Los Amigos Blue will play the first six chukkers. The winner sits and Mountain Chevrolet plays the last six chukkers.

On Sunday at McClure River Ranch Field One, the round robin scores will continue from Friday's action and the winner will be determined after another round robin. The final is 11 a.m. followed by the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 1 p.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 24, 2019---The highly-anticipated 119th USPA Silver Cup will make its debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club with three opening day games Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

The club's second USPA 20-goal tournament of the summer season will feature six teams and several of the world's top polo players.

The 119th USPA Silver Cup has a rich tradition in history. It is considered the oldest of all American tournaments. The event has been called several names throughout its hallowed history. Originally established by the USPA as the Junior Championship, it was first played in 1900 close to the New York City birthplace of American polo.

The Cup was later renamed in 1938 to the Twenty-Goal Championship and played until 1951. The Trophy went on hiatus from 1942 to 1947 because of the effects on polo during and immediately after World War II.

It was not until 1974 that the tournament took its present name and was hosted in Texas. The Cup winners have been a Who's Who in polo from J. Watson Webb and Tommy Hitchcock to Robert Skene, George Oliver, Memo Gracida, Carlos Gracida, Tommy Wayman, Red Armour, Harold Barry, Joe Barry, John Armstrong, Charles Smith, Cecil Smith, William Ylvisaker, Adam Snow, Mike Azzaro, Mariano Aguerre and Adolfo Cambiaso, who won in 2012.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 22, 2019---Piocho Ranch won its second tournament of the summer season Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tom Barrack) defeated Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini), 10-8.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a game-high eight goals. He joins Kris Kampsen and Salvador Ulloa for most goals in a single game this season.

Chevy, an 8-year-old bay mare owned and played by Barrack in the fourth chukker, and bred by Figueras' Cria Yatay breeding operation in Argentina, was Best Playing Pony.

Heroica , a 5-year-old chestnut mare owned by 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa and played by his brother Salvador Ulloa, was American Horse Polo Association Best Playing Pony.

The American Polo Horse Association was created in 2006 by the legendary Polo Hall of Famer Sunny Hale to recognize polo ponies in America and encourages events that showcase them and hard-working dedication of grooms.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 21, 2019---In one of the most exciting games in USPA North American Cup history, La Karina won its 20-goal tournament debut Saturday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Aspen-based La Karina (Brian Boyd, 0, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Sebastian Merlos, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6) led from start-to-finish to defeat McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 3) with a stunning 15-12 victory in front of a worldwide USPA Polo Network audience.

"The polo gods were with us today," said Boyd, the only amateur player in the championship final competing in his first 20-goal tournament. "Nobody gave anybody an inch. They were a strong team, not a weak link among them. If you made a mistake you paid for it. It was a war out there. We had a lot of heart in that sixth chukker."

Former 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos, 46, was named Most Valuable Player. The Argentine field general led his team on both ends of the field and shared in team-high scoring honors with four goals. Kampsen also had four goals.

"Sebe was the MVP today," Boyd said. "He was a great captain. He was very tactical. He still has the 10-goal brain. I learned a lot from him. He captained us so well and won a lot of balls in the middle of the field. Sebe fired us up and pulled us all together."

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 20, 2019---Piocho Ranch and Los Amigos Blue advanced into the championship final of the Basalt Handicap Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tom Barrack) defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Lauren Sherry, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen), 8-5, at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

In the other semifinal, Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini) topped Los Amigos Red (Marc Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster), 16-11.

Piocho Ranch is going after its second tournament title after winning the season-opening Independence Cup. Los Amigos Blue is seeking its first tournament win of the summer season.

The final is Sunday at 11 a.m. followed by the Just For The Love Of It Cup at 1 p.m., featuring the USPA North American Cup and Basalt Handicap runners-up team players at McClure River Ranch Field One. Both games will be live streamed by ChukkerTV.

On Saturday, all eyes will be on the USPA North American Cup final at McClure River Ranch Field One at 11 a.m. La Karina (Brian Boyd, 1, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Kris Kampsen, 6, Sebastian Merlos, 8) will play McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Nacho Badiola, 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 3) in the final. It will be live streamed by USPA Polo Network on uspolo.org.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 19, 2019---La Karina and McClure River Ranch will play for the coveted USPA North American Cup Saturday at McClure River Ranch.

In Aspen Valley Polo Club's first 20-goal tournament game in club history, McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, 3, Nacho Badiola, 5, Nic Roldan, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 3) knocked off Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Salvador Ulloa, 7, Juan Bollini, 5), 11-10, in Thursday's opening semifinal.

In the second semifinal, La Karina (Brian Boyd, 1, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Kris Kampsen, 6, Sebastian Merlos, 8) defeated Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8, Lucas Lalor, 5), 15-11.

The championship game, scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. MST (1 p.m. EST), will be live streamed by USPA Polo Network on uspolo.org with Dale Schwetz calling the action.

The club's first 20-goal tournament of the summer season, previously held at Wellington, Fla.-based sister club Grand Champions Polo Club since 2011, did not disappoint fans in its debut.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 18, 2019---In one of the busiest weeks of summer polo, the Basalt Handicap begins Friday at Aspen Valley Polo Club and Sopris Mountain Ranch.

The Basalt Handicap will be held Friday and Sunday. Two semifinal games are scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

On Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Aspen Valley Polo Club barn field, Los Amigos Blue plays Los Amigos Red. At 11 a.m. at Sopris Mountain Ranch, Mountain Chevrolet plays Piocho Ranch.

The final is Sunday at 11 a.m. followed by the Just For The Love Of It Cup at 1 p.m., featuring the USPA North American Cup runners-up and Basalt Handicap teams.

Team rosters are:

Los Amigos Blue (15): Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini.

Los Amigos Red (16): Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Novillo Astrada.

Mountain Chevrolet (15): Michael Payne, Lauren Sherry, Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen.

Piocho Ranch (16): Tom Barrack, Nacho Figueras, Gussie Busch, Alejandro Novillo Astrada.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 17, 2019---The coveted USPA North American Cup will make its debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club this week.

The club's first 20-goal tournament of the summer season moves from Wellington, Fla.-based Grand Champions Polo Club, where it has been held since 2011.

The USPA North American Cup has a rich tradition in history dating back to 1974. The tournament has been a mainstay in American and Canadian polo for decades at the 16 and 20-goal level.

The first winner was Tulsa with Hall of Famers John T. Oxley and Billy Linfoot, Corky Linfoot and Jim MacGinley. During the late 1990s and early 2000s Calgary Polo Club hosted the tournament before moving to Grand Champions.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 15, 2019---Mountain Chevrolet won its first major tournament in club history Sunday in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Making its championship final debut, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Gussie Busch, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini), 8-7, to win the six-team tournament.

Payne, playing well above his A-goal rating, was named Most Valuable Player. Payne scored three goals including the game-winner and was relentless on defense.

"Last year I played in the Thursday-Saturday league and this year I stepped it up to the Friday-Sunday league," Payne said. "It's much more competitive with great pros, great players and great fields. I love it."

Oringina, an 8-year-old Chestnut mare, was selected Best Playing Pony. Oringina was played by Nacho Novillo Astrada and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 13, 2019---Flexjet and Mountain Chevrolet will meet in the championship final Sunday in the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club's McClure River Ranch.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Gussie Busch, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini) advanced with a 6-3 victory over Sopris Mountain Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Lucas Lalor, Gabriel Gracida, Tommy Collingwood) and 5-3 upset over Piocho Ranch (Hilario Figueras, Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack).

Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated La Karina, 5-4, and tied Los Amigos Red, 6-6, to advance by one net goal.

Flexjet and Mountain Chevrolet will play Sunday at 11 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field One. It will be Flexjet's second final appearance, after playing in the season-opening Independence Cup and Mountain Chevrolet's championship debut.

At 12:30 p.m., the Just For The Fun Of It subsidiary will feature La Karina and Piocho Ranch playing for third place, also at McClure River Ranch.

And, at 2 p.m., the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary will have Los Amigos Red playing Sopris Mountain Ranch for fifth place at Aspen Valley Polo Club to end a full, fun, competitive day of polo.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 11, 2019---Action continues this weekend with the ChukkerTV Challenge, the third tournament of the summer polo season at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

Six teams will compete Friday and Sunday. Two round robin games are scheduled for Friday at Sopris Mountain Ranch.

At 11 a.m. (MST) Piocho Ranch plays Sopris Mountain Ranch. The winner sits and Flexjet plays the last six chukkers. At 1 p.m., La Karina faces Mountain Chevrolet. The winner sits and Los Amigos plays the last six chukkers.

The winners of both games advance into Sunday's championship at 1 p.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club. The Just For The "Fun" Of It and Just For The "Love" Of It subsidiary games begin 11 a.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 8, 2019---Redemption was sweet for Los Amigos Red, winners of the sixth annual Craig Sakin Memorial.

After losing in last year's final by one goal, Los Amigos Red (Hilario Figueras, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) won a hardfought 16-14 decision over defending champion Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) to win the five-team tournament in front of a good crowd Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club. It was one of the highest scoring games in club history.

Argentine 8-goaler Nacho Novillo Astrada was named Most Valuable Player. Astrada finished with a team-high six goals, matching last year's final, including a 100-yarder in the sixth chukker, selected ChukkerTV Goal of the Day.

Milonga, a 10-year-old Chestnut mare, was selected the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. Milonga, owned and played by Barrack in the fifth chukker, was bred by Cria Yatay, Figueras' breeding operation in Argentina.

In one of the club's most exciting games in tournament history, Piocho Ranch grabbed the momentum early for a 6-2 lead midway through the second chukker with three goals each from Nacho Figueras and Ulloa.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 6, 2019---The stage is set for another showdown between Piocho Ranch and Los Amigos Red Sunday in the final of the sixth annual Craig Sakin Memorial.

In a rematch of last year's championship, Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) will play Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi/Hilario Figueras, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada) Sunday at 1 p.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In Friday's qualifying games at Sopris Mountain Ranch, Piocho Ranch defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini), 10-9, in overtime when Figueras converted a 60-yard penalty.

In Friday's round robin play, Los Amigos Red defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Pablo Spinacci, Kris Kampsen, Gussie Busch), 5-3, and La Karina (Brian Boyd, Lauren Sherry, Sebastian Merlos, Carlitos Gracida), 6-5. In the other game, La Karina defeated Mountain Chevrolet, 4-2.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 2, 2019---Aspen Valley Polo Club, the summer destination for polo, opens the season Wednesday with the Independence Cup.

A round-robin between defending champion Piocho Ranch, Flexjet and Los Amigos gets under way at 1 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) at AVPC's new Field One at McClure Ranch.

Team rosters are:

Piocho Ranch (16): Tom Barrack, 0, Gabriel Gracida, 4, Nacho Figueras, 6, Salvador Ulloa, 6.

Flexjet (12): Melissa Ganzi, 0, Brian Boyd, 0, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8.

Los Amigos (14): Paul Foster, 0, Grant Ganzi, 3, Stewart Armstrong, 3, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8.

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