houston polo 2012
DESCRIPTION
A review of the 2011 season at the Houston Polo Club.TRANSCRIPT
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� O� cial � ampagne � the Houston Polo Club �w w w. f e u i l l at t e . c o m
table of contents
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 7
letter from the president 7
welcome uspA winners circle
12
22 44
polo 101 u.s. women’s open26 50
polo schedule texas open scene at polo15 30 54
salute to sponsors team uspA Meet the players18 35 58
staff polo out west polo school
pros
20 40 62
66
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Robert Duvall riding our breeding stallion Wild Card Dun It in the movie “Seven Days in Utopia”
the
BEST is yet to come.
� anks to the gentlemen of Arroyo Escondido for a great 2011 fall season.
Here’s looking forward to more great polo memories in 2012.
Congratulations to the
Houston Polo Club on 85 Years of Polo
www.rss.ae
publisherMegan Kozminski
editorial directorLisa Muirhead
art directorAubrey Amante
director of business developmentAllee Messina
contributorsRebecca Bollenbach, Penny Dillingham
George Georgiades, Jamie Johnson, Allee Messina, Pam Mudra, Vanessa Shapiro
photographyRebecca Bollenbach and Gerald King
cover imageDavid Sanders
www.allprosportspix.com
© 2012 Houston Polo Club Printed in Canada by Transcontinental
Published for the Houston Polo Club by:
Poise Publications Inc.www.poisepublications.com
Houston
Polo Magazine
We congratulate the
HOUSTON POLO CLUB on its 85th Anniversary
Here’s to a Winning Season!
LOCKTON IS PROUD TO BE AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE HOUSTON POLO CLUB
5847 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 320
HOUSTON, TX 77057 | 713.458.5200
We congratulate the
HOUSTON POLO CLUB on its 85Anniversary
Here’s to a Winning Season!
We congratulate the
HOUSTON
12 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
board of d i rectors
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I would like to welcome you to the 85th Anniversary Year of the Houston Polo Club! Having been designated by the USPA as one of only five Regional Polo Centers in the U.S., as well as recently achieving the status of the top-ranking polo club in terms of playing members, we are looking forward to an exciting year!
We are committed to making your experience at the Houston Polo Club a rewarding one and have recently made several positive additions to our staff, as well as improvements to the club that we hope will be noticeable to you and help add to your enjoyment.
I encourage every polo fan to take advantage of HPC’s “Step Up” program, which offers everyone, regardless of riding ability, the opportunity to learn to play polo. From riding lessons to Polo School, Margarita League to 14-goal, there is a place for you at HPC!
As we continue to work hard, maintaining our vision of being a premier polo club, we invite you to join us for the world-class polo you have come to expect. Whether you are learning to play, or are looking forward to our 14-goal events, our objective is to provide you with the most enjoyable polo experience possible.
As always, we wish you a competitive, fun, and safe season.
See you at polo!
George Georgiades President of the Houston Polo Club
from the
president
Steven ArmourRebecca BollenbachTommy DorseyGeorge GeorgiadesJeff Hildebrand
Paul HobbyTim KellyColleen MarksKristy OuthierCarl Price
Wesley SinorStan StrattonScott Wood
board of directors
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schedule
Schedule is subject to change. Please check the HPC website for updated information.
springApril
1 spring classic 8 uspA Governor’s cup Final &
Van conover Memorial trophy 15 Malbec cup 22 uspA officer’s cup29 prairie cup
MAy 6 chandler ranch cup 13 hats on to polo: salute to Mother’s Day 20 houston spcA Adoption cup presented
by land rover houston central 27 red oak cup
June 3 Vaqueros cup 10 Anniversary cup
fallsepteMber
9 Fall classic 16 nicolas Feuillatte cup 23 corporate cup30 harvest invitational
october 7 bayou city invitational 14 lockton cowboy cup 21 legacy cup 28 texas open
noVeMber 4 Founder’s cup 11 uspA u.s. women’s open and 18th
Annual ladies’ tournament
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CAT SPRING POLO TEAM CONGRATULATES THE HOUSTON POLO CLUB
ON ITS 85TH ANNIVERSARY
18 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
sponsors
18 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
salute to oursponsors
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 19 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 19
p r e s e n t i n g s p o n s o r s
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For information about sponsorship opportunities,
email us at [email protected] or call us at 713.681.8571
THE
T E A M
20 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
s ta ff
pam Mudraexecutive Director
Merrily Quincocesriding Director/barn Manager
penny Dillinghampolo Assistant
MelanieKentbusiness Manager
Amy leroyAssistant riding instructor
Mandi Villanuevapolo Assistant
Allee MessinaDirector of business Development
Mark prinsloorpc Manager & senior polo instructor
esteban GonzalesGrounds supervisor
elena scardinoDirector of events
barlee Flanderssenior polo & riding instructor
Marty salinasAnnouncer
Danielle GarciaAccount representative
paige FlandersAssistant polo & riding instructor
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22 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
the houston polo c lub welcomes you!
Join us for exciting polo events throughout the spring and Fall polo seasons.
spring season 2012
April 1 – June 10
Fall season 2012
september 9 – november 11
consult the 2012 schedule on page 15 for tournament dates
Join us for:
*world-class polo
*champagne divot stomps
*special holiday events
come for the day or buy a box for the season! the houston polo club is
conveniently located adjacent to Memorial park, just inside west loop 610.
General admission, Vip seating and sponsor boxes available.
For more information about visiting the polo club for a game or special event,
visit www.thehoustonpoloclub.com, or call 713.681.8571.
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 23
the houston polo c lub welcomes you!
h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b c A M p u s
Houston Polo Club • 8552 Memorial Drive (Just inside west loop 610)Houston, Texas 77024 • 713.681.8571 • www.thehoustonpoloclub.com
1 - the ten goal grille2 - member will-call3 - the kid’s corral4 - entertainment area
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26 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
po lo 101
Chukker A period of play in polo. There are four chukkers in Low Goal games and six chukkers in High Goal games in regulation outdoor polo. Each chukker is seven-and-a-half minutes long, and players have four minutes be-tween each chukker to change horses.
Foul Any infraction of the USPA rules, ranging from dangerous riding to inter-rupting the line of the ball, is called a foul. The severity of a foul depends on how dangerous the infraction was to the horse or player. Fouls are called by two on-field officials; if the officials cannot agree on a call, the referee, or “Third Man,” on the sidelines has final say.
Goal A goal is scored on the field each time the ball fully crosses between the goal posts at any height. The term “goal” also refers to a player’s handicap rating (e.g., She is a 2-goal player.), and is used to denote the level of play in a
match, as determined by the cumulative
handicap ratings of the players on the
team (e.g., There is a 4-goal tournament this
weekend.).
Goal judge The designated person
standing at each end behind the goal
posts who flags each successful goal “in”
by waving the flag up high or “out” by
waving the flag below the waist.
Handicap A player’s handicap is a
rating between -2 (or C) and 10. A rat-
ing committee at each polo club decides
the handicap of club players based on
playing ability, horsemanship, team
play, horses, and knowledge of the
game. The handicap of a team is the
sum total rating of all of its players, and
the final score of a match is adjusted
according to discrepancies in the two
teams’ handicaps.
Hook A common defensive technique in which a player uses his or her mallet to interfere with an opponent’s swing.
Knock-in When a team in an offensive drive hits the ball across the opponent’s backline, the defending team resumes play with a free hit, or “knock-in,” from their back line.
line of the ball Once a ball is hit, the player who is closest to the ball with the narrowest angle has the right of way. Opposing players cannot cross the line too closely to the player who has the right of way, nor can they ap-proach the “on line” player at too sharp an angle, or they risk a foul and subse-quent penalty.
getting to knowthe game
hook
umpire
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 27
out of bounds Whenever the ball is hit outside of the perimeter of the field, one of the Umpires returns the ball to play with a throw-in from near to where it exited the field.
Penalty A free hit may be awarded when a foul is committed. Each infrac-tion of the rules of play, or foul, is given a rating between one and nine by the Umpires. The severity of the infrac-tion determines the level of penalty imposed.
Player positions Player positions are represented by the numbers on their polo jerseys (from one to four). The Number One player primarily as-sumes an offensive position on the field and is responsible for neutralizing the opposing team’s Number 4 player (their primary defense). The Number Two is the mover and the shaker, a transi-tion player who backs up the Number One player, and aggressively seeks to move the ball upfield. The Number Three player is the quarterback, who focuses on game strategy, field advan-tage, and moving the ball. This player is often the highest rated player on the team. Finally, player Number Four is primarily responsible for guarding the goal, and preventing the opposing team from scoring.
Referee If the two Umpires on the field disagree on a call, the Referee, or Third Man, on the sidelines has the fi-nal say.
Ride-off (or bump) Similar to a body check in hockey, this is a defen-sive move in which a horse’s shoulder is pressed into the shoulder of another player’s horse, in an attempt to drive him or her off the line of the ball. Legal bumping of an opponent’s horse takes place at no more than a 45-degree angle.
umpires Two mounted officials are on the polo field for all games; they are re-sponsible for ensuring safety and enforc-ing the rules of play.
throw-in Play begins or is resumed when the Umpire throws the ball into play. After each goal, teams line up facing the Umpire at mid-field, and the ball is thrown (underhand) between the teams.
PlayeR and Pony GeaR
bridle A series of leather straps and a metal or copper bit, which provide the player control in maneuvering and stopping the pony.
breastplate Leather strapping that crosses the pony’s chest and prevents
the saddle from slipping backwards dur-ing the game.
draw reins Attached to the bit and the saddle, these reins enhance control over the pony.
Girth Leather and elastic strapping that fits behind pony’s front legs and se-cures on each side of the saddle to hold it securely in place.
Helmet Hard-surfaced, cushioned protection for the player’s head from swinging mallets and racing polo balls. Face guards can be attached for extra protection.
Knee pads Protection for the play-er’s knees during play, especially during ride-offs (or “bumping”).
Mallet A flexible bamboo shaft and hardwood head, ranging in length from 49 to 54 inches, depending on the height of the horse. A player uses the side of the mallet head to hit the polo ball.
Martingale A leather strap that runs from the girth to the bridle, under the pony’s neck, that helps to keep the po-ny’s head from rising too far upwards.
Plaited tail Ponies’ tails are braided and secured to avoid getting tangled in mallets during the game.
Polo ball A polo ball is made of solid, hard plastic and measures 3 to 3-1/2 inches in diameter.
Polo bandages Commonly re-ferred to as “polo wraps,” these lower-leg bandages support the pony’s legs and provide protection for tendons against contact with mallets, polo balls, and other ponies’ legs.
Polo ponies Thoroughbreds, or part thoroughbred and part quarter horse, are selected and trained for polo based on their agility, speed, endurance, and intelligence.
ride-off
28 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
po lo 101
Roached mane Ponies’ manes are roached (or clipped) to eliminate inter-ference of the pony’s mane with play-er’s reins during the game.
saddle Fitted and secured closely to the horse’s back and withers, saddles are relatively flat and have little padding under the leg, allowing for maximum movement.
stirrup iron A metal frame that holds the players foot. The irons are attached to each side of the saddle by a long strap of leather (the stirrup leather).
tendon boots Protection for the po-ny’s legs from contact with other ponies, mallets, and the ball.
Fieldside CHatteR
divot stomp Spectator participation! The Divot Stomp is a long-held polo tradition that takes place during the half time of a game. Spectators are invited onto the field to replace pieces of turf dug up by the horses during play. The goal is to remedy the grass surface, so that the ball travels smoothly down the field. A great complement to the Divot Stomp is a tall glass of Champagne!
Polo school It’s never too late to take up the sport! Polo players come from all backgrounds—some bring riding experience, others bring a great golf swing. Regardless, the adrenaline of combining horsemanship with hand-eye coordination hooks hundreds of players a year. Lessons in the Houston Polo Club’s Polo School can be a rigor-ous start to your polo career, or a casual weekend pastime for family and friends. No matter your level, interest, or abil-ity, no one ever regrets their first polo lesson, and rarely do they only show up for just one!
Patron(a) A team sponsor (female is Patrona), who is responsible for cover-ing all of the playing costs and encum-brances associated with their polo team, including those of the professional play-ers who they hire to play. Team spon-sors can also be corporations or orga-nizations that seek high-profile team branding, but do not necessarily intend to play on the team. Most sponsors name or brand their team according to a personal or corporate affiliation.
Pee Wee Polo As with many sports and pastimes, a great time to take up the sport of polo is when you are young
and fearless. The Houston Polo Club hosts weekly Pee Wee polo sessions that involve kids, parents, ponies, polo in-structors, and prizes!
usPa The United States Polo Asso-ciation, or USPA, is the governing body of polo in North America. Originally founded in 1890, the USPA is respon-sible for sanctioning polo clubs and tournaments, managing and publishing rules and handicap ratings, and orga-nizing, promoting, and supporting polo across North America.
pee wee polo
divot stomp
30 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
texas open
texas open2011
HPC’s 2011 Fall Season was packed with memorable matches, including the Texas Open 12-goal finals. Two weeks of elimination games wrapped up on October 23, as ERG’s Scott Wood, Santi Torres, Jeff Blake, and Jared Sheldon faced off against Tonkawa’s Jeff Hildebrand, Carlitos Galindo, Guillermo Aguero, and Jimmy Seward in the finals. Houston’s St. Thomas’ Episcopal School Pipe Band lead the players to the field to honor polo guests attending from the Royal Bank of Scotland. The closely matched teams put on a fast-paced match for over 1,000 polo fans.
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 31
32 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
texas open
2011 texas open teams
bRaCKet a
santa Maria wick McKean 0rodrigo Moran 3Marcos bignoli 4Miguelito torres 3 10
tejas charles Fridge 0J. w. hall 4chris nevins 4Joe wayne barry 4 12
eRG scott wood 0Jared sheldon 1santiago torres 5Jeff blake 6 12
bRaCKet b
Rocking P carl price 0tommy collingwood 3Marcos Villanueva 4carlucho Arellano 5 12
bta chrys beal 0steve Krueger 3Jeff hall 8Kelly beal 1 12
tonkawa Jeff hildebrand 0Guillermo Aguero 6carlitos Galindo 3Jimmy seward 3 12
The finals started off with a close call in the first chukker when Torres came off his mount in heavy traffic and was lucky to emerge without injury. Starting in the second chukker, Tonkawa’s Jeff Hildebrand launched a scoring streak that put four of his team’s eight goals on the board, while Jeff Blake made his mark for ERG as he put in the first of five of ERG’s nine goals. The match was decided by just one point, as Torres scored the winning goal for ERG in the sixth chukker.
As the Texas Open winners, ERG took home the coveted Chris Kerley Texas Open Spurs. Santi Torres was awarded MVP, and Babe, owned by Scott Wood and played by Santi Torres, was awarded 2011 Texas Open Best Playing Pony.
Wishes the Houston Polo Club and all of the players a most successful 2012 season.
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team uspa and houston polo
building polo’s futureAs one of the premier polo destinations in the United States, it comes as no surprise that the Houston Polo Club is home to several of the nation’s most talented young players. Since 2009, the United States Polo Association (USPA), the national governing body for the sport of polo, has brought these up-and-coming players together under a special program known as Team USPA. The organization established Team USPA to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to nurture their abilities. Houston is home to several of these emerging talents, who contribute to the club on many levels while building their careers as professional players. Houston and its surrounding clubs are proud to host eight members of Team USPA in 2012, including Steve Krueger, Mason Wroe, Stephanie Massey, Trevor Allen, Jesse Weaver, Carlitos Galindo, Nicolai Galindo, and Remy Muller.
Among the Team USPA pros play-ing in Texas are two members of
the original Team USPA 2009 class, Steve Krueger and Mason Wroe. Steve Krueger, a polo standout at 24 years old, was not only an inaugural member of Team USPA, but was also selected as the winner of the first Equus & Co. Award in 2010. The award honors a Team USPA player for his or her commitment to the sport of polo and its growth in the United States. Five finalists
from Team USPA were in the run-ning for the Equus & Co. Award based on their leadership and com-munication skills, sportsmanship on the field and participation in Team USPA programs. Krueger was presented with the $5,000 award at Wellington’s International Polo Club in February 2010. He gradu-ated from Texas A&M in 2010, where he led the men’s polo team
Jesse Weaver (L) was among the Team USPA members who served as instructors in Houston’s RPC polo training programs in 2011.
36 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
team upsa and houston polo
Mason Wroe competes for the U.S. FIP team in a match against Brazil.
Kris Bowman, Team USPA Program Director, with Houston’s Regional Polo Center Instructor Mark Prinsloo
Steve Krueger accepts the Equus Award in Wellington, FL.
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 37
team upsa and houston polo
to three USPA National Intercol-legiate Championships and was named USPA/PTF Intercollegiate Player of the Year in 2010.
Playing alongside Krueger for the BTA team this spring is fellow A&M graduate and 3-goaler Mason Wroe, who first came to HPC in 2007. In February 2011, Wroe took time off from his busy schedule, which includes playing professionally in Wellington, New York, Wyoming, and Aiken, to represent the United States in the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Championships in San Luis, Argentina. Wroe was chosen for the team from a pool of more than 30 Team USPA members, and helped the U.S. team to earn wins over Canada and Guatemala in the FIP playoffs in the Dominican Republic before moving on to the finals in Argentina.
“Being selected to be a part of Team USPA in its first year was an honor,” says Wroe. “It’s exciting to see how much it’s grown since 2009. As young American pros continue to compete against other players from Argentina, Chile, South Africa, England and elsewhere for polo jobs and in tournaments like the FIP, having the support of Team USPA is going to help give our players an advantage that they didn’t have before the program was created.”
Team USPA isn’t just for the boys. Stephanie Massey, from nearby College Station, Texas, is one of four female players chosen for the program. Currently a senior studying biomedical science at Texas A&M University, Massey is the Aggies’ women’s polo team
captain. She won the USPA National Interscholastic Women’s Championship with Texas A&M in 2008, and was a finalist in the National Championship with the team in 2010. In addition to being named as a National Intercollegiate All-Star in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Massey also competed in the 7th Annual International Arena Tournament in Guatemala in 2011.
It is not only HPC’s extensive tournament polo schedule that has attracted members of Team USPA to Houston. Young players also come to the Bayou City to work with Mark Prinsloo and Barlee Flanders to expand their coaching and horse training skills, as instructors in Houston’s nationally recognized Regional Polo Center (RPC) program. One of these players is Jesse Weaver, a 24-year-old 1-goal player based out of Peoria, Illinois. Weaver won the USPA Governor’s Cup, USPA Officer’s Cup and numerous other tournaments in the area, and has competed in Intercollegiate Polo with New Mexico State, as well as in Argentina, Mexico, and Russia. After participating as one of the instructors in the RPC program in 2011, Weaver will continue at
HPC in 2012, as a pro in the 4- and 8-goal leagues while training young horses on the side. His teammate, Remy Muller, a 19-year-old 1-goal player from Santa Barbara, plans to follow a similar path for 2012.
“I’ve been blessed to play throughout the world, and never have I seen a club with a more ideal demographic than here in Houston,” says Weaver. “The unlimited grassroots growth potential of this club, the best American players, great sponsors, and a phenomenal fan base encourage better polo for years to come. HPC is and will remain a great springboard for Team USPA.”
Houston’s active Interscholastic program, in only its second year, is developing some future Team USPA hopefuls among its 22 participants. One of these is Lara Straussfeld, a 17-year-old A-rated player at HPC. Lara will attend Texas A&M in 2012 and plans to apply for Team USPA within the next few years. “It would be a huge opportunity to be selected to Team USPA,” says Straussfeld. “You get to learn from some of the best players in the world.” As players are eligible to apply up to age 23, Lara has several years to work towards her goal.
“The Houston Regional Polo Center has been instrumental in assisting in the development of the Team USPA players,” proudly states Kris Bowman, program director. “The Houston partnership is invaluable to the success of the program.” The Houston Polo Club is committed to developing America’s young polo players, the future of the sport in the United States and internationally.
C U S T O M W R O U G H T I R O N • A C C E S S G AT E S • C E D A R P R I VA C Y F E N C E • M A S O N R Y • S T U C C O • S T O N E & B R I C K C O L U M N S • R E PA I R S • F R E E E S T I M AT E S
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Congratulations to the Houston Polo Club on its 85th Season
Molly and George Georgiades
NO LE HACE P o l o T e a m
40 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
po lo out west
pegasus ranch, brenham, tXTen miles southwest of Brenham, the Pegasus Ranch sprawls over 475 acres of Texas wilderness. Owned by the Andras family for over 35 years, Pegasus Ranch is now home to three generations of the family, including Dub and Mary Andras, their son David Andras and his wife Anne, and their grandson Hunter. Originally developed as a quarter horse and cattle property, David and Anne expanded the ranch in 2005 to include a polo field and
world-class stabling. After many years as Houston residents, they chose to make it their permanent residence in 2010 with the addition of a custom-built home. Located just over an hour outside of the city, the location maintains a rural feel but still provides easy access to the Houston metropolitan area.
Pegasus Ranch hosts polo matches and barbeques throughout the HPC season, and its field, sur-rounded by rolling hills that are blanketed with bluebonnets dur-ing the spring, is admired as one of the most picturesque in Texas. The
Andras family has also started a polo breeding operation at the ranch, with Finance the Cat, son of world-famous thoroughbred Storm Cat, standing at stud.
“The ranch has always been a special place to me, and it’s been a wonderful experience to finally make this our full-time home,” said David. “Much of the ranch is managed as a wildlife refuge, and we enjoy not only being able to play polo in our backyard, but also taking part in maintaining the local species.”
Finance the Cat, a thoroughbred stallion who stands at Pegasus Ranch, is the sire to a new generation of polo ponies. The Pegasus polo field in spring, with bluebonnets covering the surrounding hillsides.
the houston polo club hosts 24 tournaments per year, with over 100 players participating. with this volume of high-level polo being played, we rely on a very supportive polo community who are generous enough to share their facilities to accommodate polo players, local and visiting, who come to houston to participate in the sport of Kings.
poloout west
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 41
Fulshear polo Farm, Fulshear, tX Tucked behind a stone entrance on Highway 359, just one mile north of the energetic and equestrian-friendly town of Fulshear, TX, is a place that polo players know well: Fulshear Polo Farm. The 650-acre ranch is home to 2-goal polo pro Kristy Waters Outhier, her husband Mike, and their kids Madison and Ace. The estate has been owned by the L. A. Waters family for 30 years. Originally acquired as a cattle property, the Waters family expanded it in 2009 with the addition of two polo fields, a polo barn, and a residence. The sandy loam soil on the ranch provides excellent drainage for the polo fields, and there is even a natural slope that lent perfectly to field design, with the aid of laser-guided heavy equipment.
“It’s a real thrill to see great horses and skilled players come together at our home base, and we love the excitement of the polo games and
the camaraderie of the players,” says Kristy. In addition, Kristy rents a barn and guest lodging to other professional players who come in from out of town, so the ranch is always a hub of activity during the Houston polo season.
With a 300' x 600' outdoor arena and a 150' x 250' covered arena on the ranch, Mike, a professional saddle bronc rider, hosts major roping events such as the Fort Bend County PRCA Rodeo steer roping and the Ben Johnson Charity Roping. He also keeps busy breaking, training, and finishing horses that have been bred and raised by the family (lawatersquarterhorses.com).
With the polo activity utilizing 200 acres, the balance of the property continues as a ranching operation with great potential for future development. Cottonwood, a magnificent 14,000 square foot estate home on the property, has been completely renovated and is available for sale with adjoining acreage through Martha Turner Properties.
pecan Acres polo ranch, simonton, tX Founded in 2002 by local polo players Tim Kelly, Hernan Tejera, and Robert Frost, Pecan Acres Polo Ranch is located just west of Houston. This 100-acre ranch, which includes a polo field, full barn, and large tracts of pecan groves that serve as turnout, focuses on the breeding, training, and development of polo ponies.
The property is part of an acreage originally developed as a pecan orchard by Vernon Frost, a 20th century ranching and oil and gas pioneer in Houston. Vernon’s son, Robert Frost, who was also a player at the Houston Polo Club in the 1960s and 70s, sold Kelly the land and helped design and develop the structures, which include, among newer ones, some original buildings from the 1940s. Local players especially love the “Party Barn,” which is host to many asados and social events throughout the season.
The barn adjacent to the Outhier’s home is a favorite spot for polo parties and social functions.
Fulshear Polo Farms’ two fields host several games per week during the HPC Spring and Fall seasons.
Applauso, the Kellys’ Argentine thoroughbred stallion, stands at stud at Pecan Acres Polo Ranch. (Photo by JAMIE JOHNSON)
42 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
po lo out west
After completing the polo field at Pecan Acres, Kelly joined his close friend and Simonton neighbor Carl Price in the construction of a second field known as the Rockin’ P field. This group of polo friends and families, including Price’s four polo-playing kids, are helping secure the future of polo in Simonton. Pecan Acres is pleased to be part of Houston polo and a host of HPC West games.
erG ranch, brookshire, tXLocated near Brookshire, TX, on the banks of the Brazos River, this sprawling 305-acre polo ranch is dotted with majestic pecan groves and includes four polo fields, three barns, and an indoor polo arena. Scott Wood, a long-time polo sponsor and player, as well-known around the world as he is in Texas, acquired the property that became the Scott Wood Polo Ranch in 2005. Over the next few years, Wood, with the help of ranch manager Martin Munoz, acquired
several adjacent properties and made tremendous improvements to the ranch. The most recent addition is ERG’s covered arena, which was designed exclusively for indoor polo matches. Completed in 2010, the ERG arena is a state-of-the-art facility that includes some of the best indoor footing found in the U.S., a computerized scoreboard and timing system, and a 40-stall attached barn for hosting visiting polo teams.
“When I’m home in Houston, the ranch serves as a refuge for me and my family,” says Wood, who spends much of his time traveling to vari-ous polo destinations, including Argentina, Santa Barbara, Florida, and Colorado. “But as much as I enjoy playing here myself, it’s very rewarding to see the ranch taking on a role in growing the sport. In-vesting in polo’s future by hosting Interscholastic and Intercollegiate polo was our intent in building the arena, and it’s great to see it being used to its full potential in 2012.” The ERG arena will be the site of the 2012 Texas A&M Intercol-legiate Fundraiser as well as the
Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Regional Championships, and has been proposed as a site for the In-tercollegiate Nationals in the near future.
In addition to being the new home of arena polo in the Gulf Coast region, Wood’s four fields are invaluable to the Houston Polo Club’s tournament leagues during each season, frequently hosting a dozen or more games and practices in a single week. The #1 Field has also been home to fundraisers and other social events, such as the 2011 Polo Under the Pecans benefit, which raised over $70,000 for SIRE.
“At over 100 USPA members, HPC couldn’t support the amount of polo that we run today without a facility like ERG,” says Pam Mudra. “We are so lucky to have ranch owners like Scott Wood who have always opened their doors to the polo community. Scott’s passion for the sport, along with his generosity and vision for its future, have had a tremendous impact on polo in Houston.”
ERG’s new state-of-the-art arena plays a key role in developing the sport’s future players.
The Pecan Acres Party Barn is the site of many asados and social events throughout the polo season. (Photo by JAMIE JOHNSON)
Scott Wood’s Ranch hosts various polo and social events throughout the season, such as 2011’s Polo Under the Pecans benefitting SIRE, a therapeutic riding program for those with disabilities.
You’ve scaled the heights of business. Reached the pinnacle of success.
Now, let’s see if you can handle a pony.
The Sport of Kings is Hot in Houston.
Take a lesson today at the Houston Polo Club,
a USPA Regional Polo Center located in the
heart of the city.
Email [email protected] to sign up.
Let’s face it. There’s not much you haven’t accomplished
in your life. Maybe it’s time to jump right in the saddle
of your next challenge and sign up for polo lessons.
The ponies are waiting. Are you ready?
44 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
tournaments
uspA Arena Masters cup (4–6 Goal)winner: pecan Acres
uspA Governor’s cup
(6 Goal) winner: cinco canyon
spring season
winner’s circle 2011
houston polo club
upsA
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 45
uspA officer’s cup (8 Goal)winner: tonkawa
uspA president’s cup (12 Goal) winner: cinco canyon
uspA western regional cup (12 Goal)winner: erG
fall season
46 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
tournaments
uspA Keleen & carlton beal cup
(12 Goal)winner: rocking p
uspA player’s cup (4 Goal)
winner: cat spring polo
uspA u.s. women’s open
winner: Goose creek
For forty years, Currie Equine has been serving members,
families and friends at the Houston Polo Club.
Thank you for trusting your equine partners to our expertise in sports
medicine, reproduction, lameness and wellness care. We are looking forward
to the upcoming polo season and wish the best of luck to all of our
polo players and teams.
Dr. Andrew K. Currie and Sandy Currie
Andrew K. Currie, VMD • Gustavo DeCillo, DVMHeMpsteAD, texAs • telepHone: 979-826-2852 • www.Currieequine.CoM
DrCurrie_HPC2011_Fullpage.indd 1 3/8/11 12:35 PM
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU MAKE ALL OF YOUR EQUESTRIAN GOALS
COME TRUE IN 2012.– Merrily and Amy
TO OUR HPC RIDING MEMBERS...
Thank you for a remarkable year
8552 MEMORIAL DRIVE | HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024 | W W W.THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
Deep roots anchor Dr. Danny W. Dutton to the Bayou City. And as his own family begins to grow, Dr. Dutton is committed to the development of close relationships with the families and friends of the
Houston Polo Club. Those relationships continue to grow while Dr. Dutton provides cutting-edge advanced lameness diagnosis, digital diagnostic imaging,
purchase examinations, and general equine health and medicine to polo and other horse enthusiasts in the Houston area.
While farm calls may seem like a vestige of the past to many horsemen, Dr. Dutton brings these advanced services to your farm or stable.
Along with Dr. Dutton’s years of sport horse medical experience, he also brings to bear the experience and capability of ESMS with board-certified specialists in surgery, internal medicine, pathology, and emergency medicine.
These clinicians work collaboratively with Dr. Dutton to provide the deepest understanding and the clearest resolution of
your horse’s problems for the best outcome.
Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery and Dr. Danny W. Dutton treat your horses and you like family.
(832) 370-6882 equinesportsmedicine.com
The future of sport horse medicine in Houston is ESMS.
Chandler Ranch wishes
the Houston Polo Club and
all of the players a most
successful 2012 season
Chandler Ranch wishes
the Houston Polo Club and
all of the players a most
successful 2012 season
EST. 1899
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU MAKE ALL OF YOUR EQUESTRIAN GOALS
COME TRUE IN 2012.– Merrily and Amy
TO OUR HPC RIDING MEMBERS...
Thank you for a remarkable year
8552 MEMORIAL DRIVE | HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024 | W W W.THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
50 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
u . s . women’s open
Since the 6th century, when the Persian queen challenged her husband King Khosrow II Parviz to a royal polo match, women have defined their position as one of polo’s core demographics. Carving out a place for women in polo alongside the men who dominate the sport has been a long road, and the resurrection of the USPA U.S. Women’s Open in 2011 is a significant milestone in that journey.
In 1972, the USPA handicapped Jorie Butler Richardson Kent and Sue Sally Hale as its first women players, and the doors slowly began to open for women’s polo in the U.S. By 1990, the 8-goal Women’s Open at Empire Polo Club in California proved that women had finally gained ground as serious competitors in the sport: “It took us 30 years to make it, but we’re here!” quipped Sue Sally Hale upon winning the Women’s Open in 1990.
The number of women in polo grew throughout the 1990s, but lacked an organization committed to bringing women players together to improve the quality of the sport until 2005, when Sunny Hale founded the Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) series. The WCT, which now represents the largest women’s polo tournament series in the world, brought the efforts of local organizers together under a single USPA-sanctioned format. The WCT unites women in polo with a universal goal: to improve women’s polo across the U.S. and around the world. The upper-level WCT qualifiers and WCT finals have showcased some of the best women’s polo ever fielded in the world, with fast- paced, full-contact matches that demonstrate the undeniable talent and ability of women polo athletes.
In November 2011, the WCT and the Houston Polo Club achieved another milestone in the journey, as the national-level USPA U.S.
Women’s Open came back to life after a 21-year hiatus. Backed by internationally recognized sponsors such as Cartier, Ralph Lauren Blue Label, and Land Rover, the U.S. Women’s Open adds another prestigious title to the already impressive roster of tournaments that the WCT Series hosts worldwide.
Originally awarded to the Brookshire Polo League (BPL), the event came under the Houston Polo Club’s list of sanctioned events as a part of the merger of the two clubs in June 2011. Scott Wood, Martin Munoz, and others at BPL had a vision to re-establish the Women’s Open Tournament, and made a request to the USPA to pull it out of the archives and put it back onto the field. Houston Polo Club, with 17 years of women’s polo under its belt, invested all of its energy into creating a tournament that was worthy of a national title.
houston polo club AnD cArtier resurrect the
uspa u.s. women’s open
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 51
2011 u.s. WoMen’s oPen
The tournament week kicked off with the team draw on Sunday, November 6, which set the schedule for over 20 matches at four different levels, including the 6-goal U.S. Women’s Open and the Brazos Cup WCT Qualifier, which hosted eight teams at the 2-goal level. The tournament also hosted four teams in an invitational format in the Bayou City Cup and Farish Cup tournaments. “We have worked hard to make this tournament very special for all of our players,” said Pam Mudra, HPC’s executive director. “This event gives our younger women a goal to shoot for—to be the next Kristy Outhier or Sunny Hale; to someday win the Women’s Open.”
The U.S. Women’s Open games began the week on Tuesday, November 8, with the first of three elimination matches to determine the top two finalists. Tuesday’s matches were halted briefly following an accident involving ERG’s Erica Gandomcar, who was sidelined for the remainder of the week, with Abby Riggs taking
the 3 position for ERG. Tuesday’s matches ended with victories for Goose Creek and BTA.
Wednesday opened the Brazos Cup 2-goal eliminations, with Hendrick’s Gin, Charlotte’s Saddlery, Ruth’s Chris, and Pegasus defeating their opponents to move into Friday’s semi-finals. Wednesday evening, players and sponsors attended a five-star reception at the home of Colleen and David Marks, where Cartier displayed the Women’s Open awards and perpetual trophy.
Thursday’s USWO matches tallied up another win for Goose Creek over BTA and one for ERG, who defeated Argentina’s Ina Lalor and the Ralph Lauren Blue Label team. Thursday night’s festivities went retro with the Ladies Night Disco Party hosted by Tim Kelly at Pecan Acres, as players got their groove on in costume with cocktails, dinner, and disco.
In Friday’s Brazos Cup semis, Pegasus and Hendrick’s Gin took home wins to secure their places in the Sunday finals. Afterwards, the players cleaned up for a cocktail reception hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue and Ralph Lauren Blue Label. “In a public venue like the Houston Galleria’s Saks Fifth Avenue, having the players in their whites, boots, and jerseys generates a lot of interest in the sport of polo,” observed HPC Director of Business Development Allee Messina. “It’s a special opportunity for people to meet the players. From the beginners to the pros, our women players received some well-deserved recognition as athletes and ambassadors for the sport.”
houston polo club AnD cArtier resurrect the
uspa u.s. women’s open Goose Creek’s Sunny Hale (L) takes a near side as ERG’s Karen Reese and
Tiffany Busch defend.
The Saks Fifith Avenue and Ralph Lauren Blue Label reception featured the players of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open & 17th Annual Ladies’ Tournament.
52 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
u . s . women’s open
Saturday’s consolation matches began with the Farish Cup eliminations win by Land Rover, followed by the final round of U.S. Women’s Open eliminations, in which Goose Creek remained undefeated with a win over Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren fell short by one goal to BTA, giving BTA the second slot in Sunday’s finals. ERG ended third in the event, with Ralph Lauren Blue Label coming in fourth; however, with almost all of the elimination games decided by only one goal, the two finalist slots came down to Saturday’s last chukker. “All the games have been so competitive, and we just wanted our shot at the finals,” said BTA’s K.C. Beal. Beal, along with Lia Salvo and Lesley Masterton, were lucky (or unlucky) enough to make both the Brazos and Women’s Open Sunday finals, making for eight chukkers of back-to-back polo!
Saturday’s games at Fulshear Farm were followed by a Mexican Fiesta hosted by Wanda and Lou Waters and an awards ceremony for all teams other than the finalists. Sunday’s matches began with the Bayou City Cup Invitational, won by Sullivan Group. After the Bayou City match, Land Rover won the Farish Cup final. At 1:30, the stands filled up as Pegasus took on Hendrick’s Gin in the Brazos Cup Finals. In spite of a strong effort by Pegasus’s Anne Andras, Lesley Masterton, Kate Weber, and Sheila Lequerica, the Hendrick’s Gin team of K.C. Beal, Lia Salvo, Jenny Sharrock, and Carin Middleton took home new bridles as the Brazos Cup winners with a 7–3 win over Pegasus. Esmeralda, owned by Anne Andras, won Best Playing Pony, and Lia Salvo of Hendrick’s Gin was voted MVP.
CaRtieR’s sunday Finals
Cartier pulled out all the stops at the HPC Sunday finals with a white-glove cocktail reception and luncheon for players and guests, with the U.S. Women’s Open prizes on display in the five-star outdoor Cartier lounge area. At 3:00, the U.S. Women’s Open finalists took to the field, with Sunny Hale quarterbacking Goose Creek’s team of Maureen Brennan, Dawn Jones, and Kristy Outhier. All four
of Goose Creek’s players brought significant high-goal experience to the finals, with two (co-ed) U.S. Open winners among them. On the opposite side, BTA’s Lia Salvo of Argentina captained her teammates K.C. and Chrys Beal and veteran player Lesley Masterton of Jamaica. With all eight players mounted on strings ready for 12- to 20-goal polo, the two teams waged a largely defensive battle throughout the finals, with the overtime goal by Hale bringing
Winners of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, Goose Creek: Kristy Outhier, Sunny Hale, Dawn Jones, Maureen Brennan
Runners-up of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, BTA: Lesley Masterton, Lia Salvo, K.C. Beal, Chrys Beal
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 53
We wish you success in your riding goals this year.The Papandreou and Papadopoulos Families.
We wish you success LovetoRide!
the Champagne-fueled crowd of over 1,000 spectators to their feet. Goose Creek won the final 4–3, taking home Cartier watches, La Martina bags, and rights to the new perpetual trophy donated by the Houston Polo Club. Vinnie Meyer presented MVP Dawn Jones with a new Texas Polo saddle, and Kristy Outhier’s Modelo took home the Best Playing Pony honors.
“We’ve hosted a women’s tourna-ment for 17 years now, but when we took on the U.S. Women’s Open in June along with BPL, we put 110 per cent into it,” said Rebecca Bollenbach, event chairman and member of the Board of Directors at HPC. “It is a fantastic milestone
in women’s polo and we are very proud to be a part of it. It is not just about the winners and losers, or the prizes, or the parties; it is, at its core, also about the camaraderie among these players from all over the world. Karen Reese put it very well: when we are on the field, we play as hard as we can, but when one of those players is hurt or in need, the rest of us come running—it doesn’t matter what color of shirt we’re wearing. We celebrate each other’s victories and commiserate our losses, on the field and off. We make each other better polo players and better wom-en. The U.S. Women’s Open, the WCT, women’s polo overall—that is what this is about.”
MVP of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open: Dawn Jones
54 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
scene at polo
1. carin middleton and mark Prinsloo in the 4-goal 2. Photographer gerald king at sunday Polo. 3. billy mudra vents some
frustration during an 8-goal match. 4. scott Fraser and barlee Flanders 5. Polo guests enjoy croquet at the hendrick’s
cup. 6. caroline gray and dean acuri from ralph lauren at the saks Fifth avenue event 7. Pam mudra, allee messina
and elena scardino take in sunday Polo 8. christine moldvaer and steven armour at the Fall kick off Party. 9. Jenny
sharrock with siblings brooks diesel and laurance armour at the spring kick off event hosted by morton’s steakhouse.
1
2 3 4
5
6
7
8
9
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 55
10. david andras has a chat with Fanny at polo. 11. rebecca evans gets one of tonkawa’s ponies ready for a match. 12.
clare Jackson, debbie daspit, liz lary and guest at sunday polo. 13. sunny hale competes for Pegasus in the 8-goal. 14.
bonni roybal, colleen willams, wayne bollenbach, and carin middleton at sunday Polo. 15. colleen and david marks
proudly display the 2011 Van conover memorial trophy, won by cinco canyon. 16. allee messina, audrey archer, and
Joseph trahan attend the saks Fifth avenue event. 17. eva seward is all decked out for the 12-goal. 18. drew luplow
in the houston 4-goal. 19. troy lequerica, mike outhier, chris willaims, and cJ lequerica get down at the disco party
hosted by Pecan acres.
11
56 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
scene at polo
20. carlos galindo and hPc announcer marty salinas with miss texas, brittany booker 21. lara straussfeld competing
for tonkawa in the 6-goal governor’s cup. 22. John dagley and kari gonzales stomp divots at half time. 23. Joe wayne
barry with tony Yahyai of club Polo cabo. 24. charles Fridge with kids carter, christian, charlie, and wife danielle at
Junior Polo. 25. Jenny sharrock, k.c. beal, carin middleton, and lia salvo show off their whites at the saks Fifth avenue
women’s open event. 26. esther kane and marcos bignoli at the 2011 sire benefit. 27. madison outhier with pint-sized
friend, Patches, during half-time.
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22
23
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25
26 27
20
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 57
28. erg’s martin munoz 29. long-time social member robert taylor introduces some newcomers to the sport of polo. 30.
Josie Jones gears up for a 2-goal match at hPc. 31. rebecca bollenbach, danika rice, karen reese and brooks diesel.
32. the Price clan has four polo players in the making: bridget, grayson, courtney, and daniella. 33. melissa sturtecky
takes to the polo field. 34. shuman majumder, bella adiamak, ameer Jumabhoy, and Philip limon 35. michelle and Jeff
hall with son luke at the sire benefit. 36. Umpire caroline anier gets ready for a match in the U.s. women’s open.
28 29
30
31 32 33
34 35
36
58 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
meet the p layers
oscar Acosta
b emilio Acosta
aM Anne Andras
b.5 David Andras
1 hunter Andras
1
Jeff Anon
a pierce Anon
b laurance Armour
b.5 steven s. Armour
a Felipe bayon
b
chrys beal
a K.c. beal
1.5 Kelly beal
a Fox benton
b rebecca bollenbach
b.5
Andrea brucculeri
aM crystal cassidy
a Joe chandler
b tiffany clifton
b.5 Debbie Daspit
aM
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 59
brooks Diesel
a tommy Dorsey
a charles Fridge
a George Georgiades
1 Austin Gilbert
b
Vicki Greene
a Aaron hall
aM wil harris
1 Maria hartley
b charles haston
b
Mike heitmann
b paul hobby
1 clare Jackson
aM Ameer Jumabhoy
b saeed Kahkeshani
1
esther Kane
b tim Kelly
a liz lary
b.5 philip limon
b Andrew lyos
a
60 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
members
nick lyos
b Julie Mackay
b shuman Majumder
b David Marks
a colleen Marks
b.5
wick McKean
a Mary Austin Moody
b Anson Moore
aM Kristy outhier
2 cristi payan
a
Kendall plank
b Grayson price
b courtney price
b sarah prinsloo
a.5
Andrew richardson
b Marty salinas
a.5 Jenny sharrock
b.5 will shoppa
b wesley sinor
2
carl price a.5
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 61
cynthia weyler
b
t.J. slocum
b luisa stainback
b raymond stainback
a nick stefanakis
b sloan stefanakis
b
bayard stratton
aM stan stratton
a lara straussfeld
a John tasdemir
b
christopher williams
a.5 colleen williams
b.5 Jeff wood
a scott wood
a.5
62 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
reg ional polo center
In 2011, the Houston Polo Club completed its second year as a nationally recognized United States Polo Association Regional Polo Center (USPA RPC), marking a banner accomplishment in the club’s history. The RPC designation is awarded to a limited number of polo clubs in North America by the USPA, the sport’s ruling body, to recognize and provide assistance to the nation’s premier polo training programs.
One of the highlights of 2011 was Houston’s USPA/PTF Instructor’s Forum in November, which hosted over 51 polo instructors from around the country. Instructors spent an intensive three-day clinic at HPC participating in a range of forums focused on improving club leadership, sharing best practices in polo training, and learning new marketing skills. The program included lectures from HPC’s Mark Prinsloo, Barlee Flanders, and Merrily Quincoces on topics that included structuring a winning multi-level polo training program, equine body scoring, and polo pony nutrition.
moving on uphouston’s polo
training programs offer something
for everyone
w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M 63
64 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
reg ional polo center
Houston’s RPC activities continue to expand in 2012, beginning with the winter Interscholastic Polo season. The Houston area’s Interscholastic polo program, entering only its second year, has already expanded to 22 youth players, who represent a broad range of ages and experience. For some younger players, this winter will mark their first season in arena polo, while some of Houston’s 16 and 17 year olds bring significant experience in 4- through 8-goal competitive polo to their Interscholastic teams. The Houston area fielded three teams in the Central region circuit, including Houston Polo Club (Lara Straussfeld, Nick Lyos, Casey Woodfin, and Dalton Woodfin); Pecan Acres Polo Club (Courtney Price, Grayson Price, Sloan Stefanakis, and Bayard Stratton); and ERG Polo Club (Kendall Plank, Luisa Stainback, Meredith Gregory, and Barrett Bergez). Team alternates, who practice with the arena teams weekly, include Aaron Hall, Nora O’Neill, Anson Russo, and Emilio Acosta. Interscholastic
coaches for 2012 are Mark Prinsloo and Barlee Flanders. The new ERG indoor arena will host Interscholastic games this winter, and was the site of the regionals for the Central Circuit, held February 17–19. An Intercollegiate fundraiser is also planned for June 2012.
To keep the ranks of tomorrow’s Interscholastic players growing, HPC also hosted multiple junior polo matches in 2011, where players as young as 4 years old got into the swing of polo in the lead line and chukker divisions.
Beyond the polo school, HPC also offers the Margarita League, which prepares players for entry into tournament polo through continued coaching chukkers with professionals at a variety of levels. After-match barbeques and fieldside get-togethers are a favorite way to close out Polo School and Margarita League game days. Players enjoy the camaraderie of the game as well as the beautiful setting of the polo club at sundown.
2011 Polo school Participants
Anson russobadia tajallibea Johnscatherine Keencourtney Abernathycurtis culverDouglas Johnsedith Milleremilio Acostaiona brownJaclyn wardJared ForesterJeanie rossJoe holzerJuan Antonio GarzaKate championlorri brineslucia bentonMackenzie owenMariano GarzaMelinda smithnick stefanakisnora o’neillVicky russell
2011 Margarita league Participants
Aaron hallAndrea brucculeriAndrew richardsonbarrett bergezbayard strattonclare sullivan JacksonDebbie DaspitGilbert saenzJohn cangelosiJose bayonJulie MackayKelley walkerMeredith GregoryMike Grouettenicola haslingparamjeet Dagarseth silvermant.J. slocum
A proud supporter of the Houston Polo Club
281-864-9009
Located in western Waller County, � e Sands lies adjacent to the Lower Brazos River. � e fertile river bottom soil
grows lush winter rye grass and coastal hay. Our pastures are a dream come true for ponies and cattle.
Pasture turnout is available year round.Worming, vaccination, supplemental feeding, protein,
and individual pastures available upon request.
For more information, or a tour of the grounds contact us at:
979.826.2288 • www.thesandsfarm.com
We love� e Sands!
Pho
to: L
acey
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omPoise Publications Inc. is proud to partner with Eldorado Polo Club, Calgary Polo Club and Houston Polo Club on annual publications.
Don’t just pray for the perfect magazine.MAKE IT HAPPEN WITH POISE PUBLICATIONS.
66 w w w. t h e h o u s t o n p o l o c l u b . c o M
p ros
nAMe rAtinG hoMetown
trevor Allen 2 ocala, Florida
carlucho Arellano 5 wellington, Florida
stewart Armstrong 3 san Antonio, texas
Agustin Arrayago 2 pierce, texas
Joe wayne barry 4 brookshire, texas
Marcos bignoli 4 Delray beach, Florida
brad blake 4 wellington, Florida
Jeff blake 6 wellington, Florida
chad bowman 1.5 laGrange, Kentucky
charly cendoya 4 wichita, Kansas
silvestre Donovan 7 pilar, buenos Aires
sugar erskine 7 wellington, Florida
carlos Galindo 4 thermal, california
carlitos Galindo 3 thermal, california
hector Galindo 6 west palm beach, Florida
nicolai Galindo 3 thermal, california
Julio Gracida 4 wellington, Florida
sunny hale 3 lake worth, Florida
Jeff hall 7 sealy, texas
brandon Kircher 2 new ulm, texas
steve Krueger 3 Argyle, texas
c. J. lequerica 1.5 sealy, texas
sheila lequerica 1 sealy, texas
nAMe rAtinG hoMetown
Drew luplow 1 banner, wyoming
wayne Kvalsvig 2 brookshire, texas
bryan Middleton 3 waller, texas
rodrigo Moran 3 san saba, texas
billy Mudra 3 cat spring, texas
remy Muller 1 lockeford, california
Martin Munoz 2 brookshire, texas
christopher nevins 4 cat spring, texas
Kristy outhier 2 utopia, texas
Mark prinsloo 3 brookshire, texas
carlos ramirez 2 pearland, texas
shane rice 4 bellville, texas
Jimmy seward 3 brookshire, texas
Jared sheldon 2 poway, california
hernan tejera 3 Fulshear, texas
Miguel torres, Jr. 4 houston, texas
santi torres 5 houston, texas
Jorge Vargas 1.5 Fulshear, texas
Marcos Villanueva 4 Fulshear, texas
Jesse weaver 1 peoria, illinois
cody woodfin 3 wharton, texas
Mason wroe 3 bryan, texas
houston polo Club
pros2012
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