CARBONDALE, Colo., September 5, 2022----Victory knocked off Los Amigos to win its first major tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

Victory (Vinny Sangaline, Kevin Schmeits, Torito Ruiz, Pancho Bensadon) led from start to finish to defeat Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres), 11-9, to capture the second annual Silver Queen Invitational.

Los Amigos, the winningest team of the season, was going after its fourth tournament win. Victory, however, had other ideas.

Argentine 7-goaler Torito Ruiz, 24, making his final appearance in his third season in Aspen, was named Most Valuable Player for the second time this season. He was also MVP playing for La Karina in the Mount Sopris Cup. He left Monday to compete in Argentina.

"Torito played amazing," Sangaline said. "He definitely deserved MVP for this game. He turned on the jet engine and let it rip. That's what we told him to do and we would back him up just in case, but he really got the job done. He's been playing really well. We're excited for him to get out to Argentina and show those guys what he can do. It's always an honor playing with him."

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CARBONDALE, Colo., September 1, 2022----The second annual Silver Queen Invitational gets under way Friday at McClure River Ranch.

Five teams will compete Friday in the two-day tournament. The 12th tournament of the summer will feature a round robin and one game.

At 10 a.m. on Friday at McClure River Ranch Field 2, a round robin featuring Victory (15 goals), La Karina (14) and Casablanca (15) will be held followed immediately by Los Amigos (15), going for its fourth tournament win of the season, against Mountain Chevrolet (15).

Tournament action continues on Sunday Funday with the champion final at 11 a.m. on Field One, followed by Kidz Wheely Polo at 12:45 p.m. and Just For The Love Of It round robin at 1 p.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 30, 2022----For the second consecutive year, Sentebale, led by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, won the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club.

In another memorable moment in the club's nine-year history, Sentebale (Steve Cox, Prince Harry, Nacho Figueras, Grant Ganzi) won the special charity round robin tournament with a 3-1 win over Royal Salute (David Farache, Juan Bollini, Malcolm Borwick, Louis Devaleix) and 4-2 victory over U.S. Polo Assn (Ashley Van Metre, Saul Socca, Gonzalito Pieres, Collen Clark) on August 25th. In the opening match, Royal Salute defeated U.S. Polo Assn, 4-2.

Prince Harry scored four goals, including three against U.S. Polo Assn.

Prince Harry co-founded Sentebale in Lesotho in 2006 in memory of his late mother Princess Diana. The Duke of Sussex lives in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie Harrison, 3, and Lilibet Diana, 1, after stepping back from royal duties.

Each year, the Polo Cup raises awareness and funds to support Sentebale’s work with children and young people in Southern Africa whose lives have been affected by extreme poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS and recently COVID-19.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 29, 2022----In front of the largest crowd of the season, Los Amigos won its third and biggest tournament Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

In a hotly-contested defensive battle, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Jason Crowder, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan) defeated defending champion Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Martin Nero), 5-4, to win the coveted Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen.

Los Amigos also won the season-opening Independence Cup and High Alpine Cup, making the Texas-based team the winningest team this season.

Grant Ganzi, 24, was named Most Valuable Player. El Jebel, a 9-year-old homebred bay mare, was selected American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. The two have played together for two years including the 26-goal World Polo League season. "She doesn't miss a beat," Ganzi said.

"Any one of us could have been MVP," Ganzi said. "Jason was an animal working really hard against Juanma and Nic scored the winning goal. Paul was up front and always in position. He got better as the game went on and was always in the right spots and the plays came."

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 25, 2022----With the summer polo season winding down, Aspen Valley Polo Club will host its biggest weekend at McClure River Ranch.

A tournament doubleheader is scheduled for Friday and Sunday with the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Maroon Bells Cup.

The highlight of the weekend is Sunday's Summer Polo Charity Classic for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 after a year's hiatus because of the pandemic. It is the club's summer marquis event and one of the city's most anticipated social summer events.

Six teams will compete Friday in the two-day tournament. Preliminary round robin action for the ninth and tenth tournaments of the summer will be held at McClure River Ranch Fields 1 and 2.

At 10 a.m. on Field 1, Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Gonzalito Pieres, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) will play Victory (Kevin Schmeits, Vinny Sangaline, Torito Ruiz, Nacho Novillo Astrada) in the Maroon Bells Cup. It will be a continuous game with Friday's score carrying into Sunday.

Also on Friday, four teams will compete in the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen on Field 2. Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Jason Crowder, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan) plays McClure River Ranch (Lauren Sherry, Pablo Spinacci, Pancho Bensadon, Stewart Armstrong) at 11:30 a.m. followed by La Karina (Brian Boyd, Michael Payne, Gonzalito Pieres, Sugar Erskine) playing Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Martin Nero) at 1 p.m.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 23, 2022----NetJets won the NetJets Rocky Mountain Open in an overtime thriller Monday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

NetJets (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) knocked off Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Marc Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres), 7-6, in overtime.

Nic Roldan scored the winning goal with 5:51 remaining in overtime and was named Most Valuable Player for the third time during the summer polo season. He was also MVP for the Emma Challenge and ChukkerTV Cup.

"That was a lot of fun," Roldan said. "I'm happy we won it. It was a really tough game. This was one of the toughest tournaments. All the teams were evenly balanced and very competitive.

"Today was tough. I don't think we played our best game. I think we got a little lucky in the end."

Florencia, played by Gonzalito Pieres, was selected Best Playing Pony.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 18, 2022----Argentine great Juan Martin Nero makes his summer polo debut as the NetJets Rocky Mountain Open begins Friday at McClure River Ranch.

Six teams will compete Friday in the two-day tournament. Preliminary round robin action for the eighth tournament of the summer will be held at McClure River Ranch Fields 1 and 2 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The winners advance into the NetJets Rocky Mountain Open and runners-up play for third place and the Carbondale Classic trophy.

On Sunday Funday, the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 10 a.m., Carbondale Classic at 11:45 a.m. and NetJets Rocky Mountain Open at 1:15 p.m. will keep polo fans entertained for 18 chukkers.

Argentine great Juan Martin Nero, 41, rated at 10 goals in the U.S. and Argentina and 9 goals in Great Britain, joins the star-studded field of pros competing this summer in Aspen. Nero is coming off the British season where he played the Prince of Wales Trophy final and British Open semifinal.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 15, 2022----In front of a good crowd, La Karina won its first tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

The foursome of Lauren Sherry, Brian Boyd, Torito Ruiz and Tomacho Pieres led from start to finish for a thrilling 9-8 victory over NetJets (Melissa Ganzi, Vinny Sangaline, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini). Sherry and Pieres were tournament runners-up last year with Sopris Mountain Ranch.

Ruiz, 24, playing his third season in Aspen, was named Most Valuable Player. Ruiz scored a game-high six goals and was relentless on defense. He scored a total of 13 goals in the tournament.

"Torito just played so well," said sponsor-player Brian Boyd. "He is such a strong, young player and great teammate. He is a phenomenal young star. We are going to see a lot more of him in the high goal and Argentina."

Fiesta, owned by Juan Martin Nero and played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada, was selected Best Playing Pony.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 12, 2022----Six teams will begin competition Friday in the Mount Sopris Cup at McClure River Ranch.

Preliminary round robin action for the seventh tournament of the summer season will be held at McClure River Ranch Fields 1 and 2.

In the first round robin at 11 a.m. on Field 2, NetJets and Mountain Chevrolet will start and Los Amigos will play the final six chukkers.

In the second round robin at 1:15 p.m. on Field 1, Brookshire/Victory will take on La Karina followed by El Tiburon playing the last six chukkers.

Winners of each round robin, based on old rules, who beats whom, net goals and gross goals, advance to Sunday's championship final at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup, Just For The Fun Of It Cup and Mount Sopris Cup will keep fans entertained for 18 chukkers.

Argentine 6-goaler Pablo Spinacci will make his summer polo debut playing for Mountain Chevrolet. Spinacci was a member of last year's Mount Sopris Cup winner NetJets. Spinacci is coming off the 26-goal World Polo League season at sister club Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Fla.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 8, 2022----Los Amigos won its second tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

On a perfect day for polo, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Nacho Figueras) led from start to finish to win a hardfought 6-4 decision over Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Brian Boyd, Nacho Novillo Astrada/Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Jason Crowder).

Argentine great Gonzalito Pieres was named Most Valuable Player.

Open Conga, a 9-year-old bay mare, owned and played by Pieres in the second chukker and second half of the fifth chukker, was selected Best Playing Pony. She played in England the last two years.

Rated at 10 goals in Great Britain and 9 in the U.S. and Argentina, Pieres, 39, made his debut in the 1999 Argentine Open. Since then the son of former 10-goaler Gonzalo Pieres Sr. has followed in his historic polo family's footsteps competing and winning every major tournament in the sport. He is currently ranked 12th in the world.

Pieres, coming off the 26-goal World Polo League season at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Fla., has won ten Tortugas Opens, seven Hurlingham Opens, four British Opens, three Argentine Opens and two U.S. Opens including 2009 with Audi's Marc Ganzi and bothers Facundo and Nico Pieres, and two Sotogrande Gold Cups.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., August 1, 2022----Tonkawa won its Aspen Valley Polo Club summer debut Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

In front of a good crowd, Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi, Blas Bensadon) rallied in the second half for an 11-8 victory over defending champion Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Nacho Figueras, Tomacho Pieres).

For the second time this season, Nic Roldan was named Most Valuable Player. He was also the ChukkerTV Cup MVP for Brookshire. Alejandra Foster of Brookshire earned the Sportsmanship Award.

"Nic is playing outstanding," Ganzi praised. "I would always rather be playing with him than against him. He is taking that extra second to pause and think about the next play. Taking a little bit of time and not rushing it gives him such an advantage over the rest."

Aspen, owned by Halo Polo and played by Tomacho Pieres in the sixth chukker, was selected Best Playing Pony. Aspen is a 7-year-old Argentine dark bay mare bred by Pablo Spinacci.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 28, 2022----Tonkawa will make its Aspen Valley Polo Club summer polo debut in the Emma Challenge that begins Friday.

Tonkawa heads a seven-team field for the fifth tournament of the season.

Preliminary action gets under way at McClure River Ranch and Tonkawa.

In two games on Friday at 10 a.m. at McClure River Ranch, La Karina plays two-time tournament winner Brookshire on Field One and El Tiburon plays Los Amigos on Field Two.

Also on Friday at Tonkawa's home field at 2 p.m., Tonkawa, Victory and McClure River Ranch will play a round robin. Tonkawa and Victory will play first and McClure River Ranch last.

For the four-team Bracket One, winners of each game will play off one chukker immediately following the games on Field 2. The winner of the one-chukker playoff advances to the final against the three-team Bracket Two round robin winner.

On another bustling Sunday, 18 chukkers will take place with the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup, Emma Challenge final and Just For The Fun Of It Cup at start times to be determined.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 25, 2022----Brookshire won its second tournament of the summer polo season Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

Brookshire (Scott Wood, Ale Poma, Nacho Figueras, Torito Ruiz) led from start to finish to defeat Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Stewart Armstrong, Nic Roldan, Alex Gooding), 12-7, in the championship final of the Basalt Handicap.

Figueras was named Most Valuable Player. Chancho Va, owned and played by Figueras in the second and sixth chukkers, was selected Best Playing Pony. Chancho Va, named after a card game, is part of Figueras' Cria Yatay world-class horse breeding operation he started in 2004 outside Buenos Aires.

"I think we all played very well as a team, there was good chemistry," Figueras said. "We all did what we said we would do. Things just really jelled. It felt like things were always coming our way because we were in the right place."

Figueras started playing polo at age 9 and turned pro at 17 and is known as polo's ambassador around the world. Like many of the summer players, Figueras is playing very well early in the season.

"I think what helps is that I never stopped playing," Figueras said. "I played in Florida to Santa Barbara and to here. I have been competing for the last six months. I think that obviously has helped, not taking off any time. I've been prepared, focused and fit for a few months.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 22, 2022----Brookshire will be looking for its second win of the season when the Basalt Handicap begins Friday at McClure River Ranch.

Six teams will compete over two days. Two preliminary round robins on Friday will determine the two championship finalists.

At 10:30 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 1, La Karina will play Brookshire, winners of the ChukkerTV Cup, followed by Santa Rita playing last in the round robin.

In the second round robin at noon on Field 2, Mountain Chevrolet will play Victory. El Tiburon, led by Collen Clark, makes its summer polo debut, playing last.

On Sunday, 18 chukkers will take place with the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup, Basalt Handicap final and Just For The Fun Of It Cup at start times to be determined.

Sponsors and team rosters are:

Santa Rita: Melissa Ganzi, Marc Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini.

Brookshire: Scott Wood, Alejandro Poma (Friday), Vinny Sangaline (Sunday), Nacho Figueras, Torito Ruiz.

La Karina: Brian Boyd, Alejandra Foster, Tomacho Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres.

Mountain Chevrolet: Michael Payne, Alex Gooding, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong.

Victory: Kevin Schmeits, Paul Foster, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Novillo Astrada.

El Tiburon: Collen Clark, Jason Crowder, Pancho Bensadon, Grant Ganzi.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 18, 2022----In a wild finish, McClure River Ranch won the Craig Sakin Memorial Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

The foursome of Marc Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Pancho Bensadon and Stewart Armstrong held off Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, Vinny Sangaline, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) in the final two minutes for a thrilling 9-8 victory.

Bensadon, making his Aspen Valley Polo Club summer debut, was Most Valuable Player.

"Our team was very balanced," Bensadon said. "We were in natural positions so it was easy to play. We had a great time and that gave us good results.

"It's a pleasure to be here in Aspen, the polo is really good," said Bensadon, coming off a successful 26-goal World Polo League season at sister club Grand Champions in Wellington, Fla. "Everything is spectacular here. The lifestyle and polo is super so we are having a great time. I love playing here."

Burundanga, a 6-year-old Chestnut mare owned and played by Stewart Armstrong, was Best Playing Pony.

McClure River Ranch, a 15-goal rated team, won the six-team tournament playing well as a four-man team against upset-minded and 10-goal rated Santa Rita. The game was played on the flat.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 15, 2022----Six teams will compete in the Craig Sakin Memorial that begins Friday at McClure River Ranch.

Preliminary action begins with two round robins at 10:30 a.m. and noon.

In the opening round robin, Santa Rita, Los Amigos Red and Mountain Chevrolet will play at McClure River Ranch Field 2. In the second round robin, La Karina, Victory and McClure River Ranch will play on Field One.

On Saturday the Just For The Love It Cup is 10 a.m. followed by Kidz Polo at 11 a.m.

The Craig Sakin Memorial continues Sunday at McClure River Ranch with the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup, the championship final and Just For The Fun Of It Cup. Game times will be determined after opening day.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 11, 2022----Brookshire won its Aspen Valley Polo Club debut Sunday at McClure River Ranch Stadium.

Playing summer polo for the first time at Aspen Valley Polo Club, Brookshire (Scott Wood, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) held off Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Gonzalito Pieres, Nacho Figueras), 11-7, to win the ChukkerTV Cup.

Brookshire, coming off the 26-goal World Polo League winter season in Wellington, Fla., led the game from start to finish to win the second tournament of the summer season. Los Amigos, last weekend's Independence Cup winners, was making its second consecutive championship final appearance.

Nic Roldan, the second highest rated American, was named Most Valuable Player. He also earned the Tom Ford Award for best goal of the day.

"Nic was on fire," Bollini said. "Nic is playing ten goals, he is playing very well."

Added Roldan, "We had fun, it was a fun game, open and not a lot of fouls. The field played great and my horses played well. I was happy with that. I think we had a fun and really good team."

After the teams exchanged goals early in the first chukker, Brookshire pulled away 2-1, 4-1 and 5-2 in the first half behind Roldan's four goals and one by Crowder.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 7, 2022----It will be a busy weekend of polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club with five teams competing in the ChukkerTV Cup.

Preliminary action begins Friday with Brookshire playing La Karina at 10:30 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 1. A round robin between Mt. Chevrolet, Victory and Los Amigos will follow at 11:45 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 2.

On Satuday at Aspen Valley Polo Club's barn field, Victory and NetJets play in the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 10 a.m. followed by Kidz Polo at 11 a.m.

On Sunday, the Just For The Love Of It round robin begins the day at 10:30 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field 2. The ChukkerTV Cup final is noon on McClure River Ranch Field 1.

Four of the five teams in the field are making their summer debut. The lineups are:

Brookshire (14): Scott Wood, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini.

Mt. Chevrolet (15): Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Alex Gooding.

Victory (15): Kevin Schmeits, Alejandra Foster, Pancho Bensadon, Nacho Novillo Astrada.

La Karina (14): Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Tomacho Pieres.

Los Amigos (15): Paul Foster, Vinny Sangaline, Nacho Figueras, Gonzalito Pieres.

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 3, 2022----The season-opening Independence Cup lived up to expectations Sunday at McClure River Ranch.

After three competitive round robin games, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres) won the coveted trophy for the first time in team history.

Los Amigos defeated Casablanca (Alejandra Foster, Grant Ganzi, Torito Ruiz, Nic Roldan), 6-2, to clinch the victory on goal differential in the third and final round robin game.

In earlier games, Los Amigos rallied to tie NetJets (Melissa Ganzi, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini), 5-5, in the opening three chukkers. NetJets defeated Casablanca, 6-3, in the second game.

Marc Ganzi, who scored four goals in three chukkers including two full field runs and two in the final chukker, was named Most Valuable Player.

"The match that was really interesting was the first one for us," Foster said. "We were down three goals (5-2) and we ended up coming back and we tied it. That was the one that was really tough. If we hadn't done that we wouldn't have been able to win."

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CARBONDALE, Colo., July 2, 2022----Aspen Valley Polo Club's much-anticipated ninth summer polo season begins Sunday with the Independence Cup at McClure River Ranch.

Los Amigos, NetJets and Casablanca will compete for the season-opening title in a round robin at 11 a.m. MST. Los Amigos and NetJets will play first.

Team lineups are:
Los Amigos: Paul Foster, Marc Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres, Tomacho Pieres.
NetJets: Melissa Ganzi, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini.
Casablanca: Alejandra Foster, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Torito Ruiz.

The world's destination spot for summer polo has attracted some of the top players in the world including 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres, 8-goaler Nic Roldan and 7-goaler Alejandro Novillo Astrada as well as world-class horses.

The horses arrived early to acclimate to playing 7,908 feet above sea level. Much like elite athletes, horses benefit from playing in high altitude, enhancing blood oxygen-delivering capacity and improving vitality that has consistently translated to improved performance, aerobic power and stamina.

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