Things have been heating up in San Diego and we aren’t talking about just the weather. As the San Diego Polo Summer Season continues through August and September, the polo talent rises. The horses are faster, the players work harder, and the crowds grow larger.
This holiday weekend’s Labor Day Tournament started off with an 8-goal tournament match between Twin Palms/San Fernando vs. StarMeadow/Monteverde. Things started off at an even pace in the first chukker, with Diego Velarde and Gaston VonWernich scoring for Twin Palms/San Fernando and Ellen Greenhill and Colton Bancroft scoring for StarMeadow/Monteverde. Roberto Estudillo scored 3 goals for his team, Twin Palms/San Fernando and teammate, Diego Velarde, had a high of 5 goals. Although StarMeadow/Monteverde played their hearts out, they just couldn’t catch up. Twin Palms/San Fernando beat StarMeadow/Monteverde 10 to 7.
During intermission, the Victorian Roses Riding Society performed. The Victorian Roses are a re-enactment group from Southern California who enjoy representing history and doing events that raise money for charity. The group symbolizes the romance of the 1880’s, or the Victorian Era, in the colorful costumes they wear and each member has a “rose” moniker representing who she is in the re-enactment society. Truly a sisterhood of dedicated women, these ladies ride in numerous parades and rodeo ceremonies and also participate in skit competitions, old-west shows, costume contests and other events.
The feature match was the finals of the Labor Day tournament with Hanalei Bay vs. Adeptus. Jesse Bray, who was bumped from a 2-goal handicap to a 4-goal handicap last year, started things off quickly and scored a goal for Adeptus within the first 30 seconds of the match. Ashton Wolf, another favorite San Diego Polo player, scored 2 for Hanalei Bay in the first chukker. Jesse Bray wouldn’t let that slide, so he scored two additional points for Adeptus in the second chukker. By the third chukker, the score was tied up 3 to 3.
Guests enjoyed stomping divots with their Korbel California Champagne. During the divot stomp, guests dressed in white spread out across the green grass during the perfect summer day.
During the half time, Hanalei Bay recharged and focused on the match. In the fourth chukker, they came out blazing. Mariano Fassetta score 3 goals and Ashton Wolf scored 1 for Hanalei Bay. Adeptus’ Daniel Juarez only could get one goal past the opposing team. In the fifth chukker, Hanalei Bay kept up with an additional 3 goals by Ashton Wolf, bringing the score up to 11. Daniel Juarez scored again in the 5th and 6th chukkers, along with Jesse Bray, but they just couldn’t catch up to Hanalei Bay, but they sure did put up a fight! Hanalei Bay beat Adeptus 12 to 9.
If you’re looking for some more action, join us this Sunday for the USPA Rossmore Cup and our annual Salute to Military, as we honor active military, veterans, and first responders.