Juan Bollini Archives - San Diego Polo Club

On Saturday, October 24^th, nearly 12,500 spectators attended the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower, taking in all of the sights and sounds of the “world’s most interesting polo event.” This year’s attendance set a new one-day record. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the event featured some of the world’s best polo players. Six competitive polo teams traveled to compete in three highly-contested matches, including the San Diego Polo Club. Some of the players included top American player Nic Roldan of the Aspen Valley Polo Club, top ranked player Andres Camacho of the Arizona Polo Club, collegiate player of the year Kareem Rosser, and Wales’ top rated player Pete Webb.

The day’s festivities included more than just polo. Fans also took advantage of The Canine Couture dog fashion show, the Larsen Art Gallery LIVE Art Auction, the World’s “Longest” Catwalk Fashion Show, and a preview of the world famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. It also featured ballroom dancing field side for the first time ever, as well as a Phoenix Symphony quartet performance along with play, and a High Tea Tent by The Phoenician. This year also saw the debut of the Triyar Ivy League Lounge, packed throughout the entire day with over 1,000 people dancing and drinking in a nightclub like atmosphere.

The first match on Saturday began at 11:00 AM with Barrett-Jackson Automobile Auction Company Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson making the first drop in the match between Polo Azteca and Club Polo Cabo, presented by One & Only Palmilla of Los Cabos, Mexico. In that match, Club Polo Cabo beat Polo Azteca, 9-8, and was led by the play of team founder and San Diego Polo Club member, Tony Yahyai.

In the match that followed, local favorite Arizona Polo Club took on rival San Diego Polo Club. Six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amy Van Dyken made the first drop to get the exciting match started. Despite the tremendous play of Andres Camacho in the match’s second half, San Diego Polo Club beat Arizona Polo Club by a score of 9-3. San Diego Polo Club’s first half lead proved too much for Arizona Polo Club to overcome. Alvaro Tadeo led San Diego as he executed both offensively and defensively.

The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships’ Featured Match presented fans an opportunity to witness two of the world’s best polo teams face off against one another. Defending champion Clogau Wales Polo Team, featuring players Ricky Cooper, Pete Webb, and Roddy Matthews, faced Aspen Valley Club, led by Nic Roldan, Melissa Ganzi, and Juan Bollini. The Phoenix Suns’ Tyson Chandler, an NBA Champion and Olympic gold medalist, provided the first drop for the day’s most thrilling match. From the start, Aspen Valley dominated their counterparts and won 9-5 to be crowned the new champions of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. Roldan scored six of Aspen Valley’s nine goals.

In one of the most unique elements of the day, the Phoenix Symphony provided the musical backdrop to one of the featured match’s chukkers. Fans were regaled with classical music all while witnessing the two teams take on one another.

“Even though we weren’t able to defend our title, the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships have become one of my favorite polo events to compete in,” said Clogau Wales Polo Team captain Ricky Cooper. “It was a great crowd and we enjoyed ourselves fully.”

Second Annual National Youth Tournament Series Championship: Young polo players travel from all across the country to compete for the championship title on Sunday, August 31 at the San Diego Polo Club.

San Diego, Calif. – The most celebrated and youngest polo players in the United States will compete in the 2014 National Youth Tournament Series Championship (NYTS) for the U.S. Polo Association (USPA) Cecil Smith Cup trophy on Sunday, August 31 at 1 p.m. at the White Party to benefit Miracle Babies at San Diego Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe.

After 27 tournaments and 122 player nominations, being selected as one of the final 16 All-Stars is a great accomplishment. “It is exciting to see the talent and commitment of our young polo players,” said Chrys Beal, USPA Governor-at-Large and NYTS Chair. “The National Youth Tournament Series promises to be fast and furious, and showcase many talented players hoping to claim the Cecil Smith Cup.”

The 2013 NYTS Championship team from USPA Zone 3 will defend their winning title in San Diego. Returning team members Wes Finlayson, Juan Bollini, and Grant Ganzi will play with first timer Crisitan Weisz.

Zone 1 – Pacific Coast, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Border, Southwest and Hawaiian Islands Circuits

Jim Wright – Menlo Park, Calif.
Colton Bancroft – San Diego, Calif.
Sloan Stefanakis – Houston, Texas
Garrett Smith – Oakbank, Manitoba

Zone 2 – Central, Great Plains, Mid-States and Southeast Circuits

Eduardo Margalef – Culver, Ind.
JT Shiverick – Atlanta, Ga.
Andrew Begg – King City, Ontario
CJ Sifton – Toronto, Ontario

Zone 3 – Defending Champions from the Florida Circuit

Wes Finlayson – Wellington, Fla.
Juan Bollini – Wellington, Fla.
Grant Ganzi – Wellington, Fla.
Cristian Weisz – Wellington, Fla.

Zone 4 – Northeast and Eastern Circuit

Barrett Coke – Topsfield, Mass.
Marissa Wells – Freeland, Md.
Wyatt Harlow – Warrenton, Va.
Tommy Huber – Baltimore, Md.

The semi-finals matches begin on Saturday, August 30, with a consolation match on Sunday, August 31 prior to the start of the championship final at 1 p.m.

San Diego Polo Club is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to come watch the thrilling championship action at the White Party to benefit Miracle Babies. Tickets range from $12 – $125 and parking is $10. Guests are encouraged to wear white or light colors. For additional event information, please call 858.481.9217, visit www.sandiegopolo.com or purchase tickets here.About the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS)

In 2013, the United States Polo Association created a national tournament series to provide more opportunities for junior players to compete outdoors with and against their peers at a local and national level. In an effort to grow and sustain the sport of polo in the United States, NYTS is a training module that prepares youth for formal tournament competition, challenges players to get to know their team, and identify their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

About the San Diego Polo Club

Founded in 1986, The San Diego Polo Club is an established institution recognized for excellence in the sport of polo. The San Diego Polo Club is beautifully situated on 60 acres of land in Rancho Santa Fe, offering five world-class class polo fields, including an exercise track, riding trails, a clubhouse and bar, a polo training school, and an outdoor lighted arena. The San Diego Club has one of the longest playing seasons in the country running from May through October. Sunday matches are presented to the public every Sunday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.

About the U. S. Polo Association

The U.S. Polo Association was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts. For more information, please visit, www.uspolo.org.

About Miracle Babies

Miracle Babies, founded by Dr. Sean Daneshmand and based in San Diego, is a non-profit organization structured to provide education and financial support to families with newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its mission is to provide financial assistance and support to families in need with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. For additional information, please visit www.miraclebabies.org.