What a day! Not only did we have fantastic Polo in San Diego on Sunday afternoon, but we had a handful of wonderful sponsors. Giving Back Magazine hosted their 3rd annual “Day of Polo” tournament and raised money to benefit the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera.
1pm Match: Trinity vs. Southwind/Adeptus- 8-goal polo
Trinity:
Rick Paicius 0
Patrick Uretz 1
Jared Sheldon 1
Mariano Gutierrez 5
Southwind/Adeptus:
Colleen Wilson 0
Mike Kerley 3
Pedro Orellano 4
Chris Collins 1
Starting off the day, we had Southwind/Adeptus vs. Trinity featured in the 1pm game. Trinity was up by 3 at the end of the second chukker, but Pedro Orellano scored 3 in the 3rd chukker, bringing the score to 7 to 6, Trinity.
Chris Collins played great defense in the second half, keeping the ball out of the Southwind/Adeptus goal. At the end of the 5th chukker, Trinity was up 9 to 8. Mariano Gutierrez scored another for Trinity in the 6th chukker, bringing them up to 10. Chris Collins scored and Pedro Orellano scored to tie up the game, 10 to 10.
Our very own founding member and patrona, Colleen Wilson, had a break away with just a couple seconds left and scored the winning goal for Southwind/Adeptus!
Meanwhile, guests bid on the silent auction items and drank Mai Tais in the CitiBank Lounge.
The San Diego Symphony played a live parade march to welcome in the two competing teams.
Next up, a representative from the San Diego Opera blew us away with the National Anthem.
3pm Feature Match and Willis Allen Memorial Cup Finals: Starmeadow vs. Tritech/San Judas
Tritech/San Judas:
Ramon Richard -1
Ashton Wolf 3
Gaston VonWernich 5
Chris Maloney 1
Starmeadow:
Jessica Bailey 1
Jesse Bray 3
Graham Bray 5
Joy Bancroft -1
After Alisha Wray’s fall a couple of weeks ago, Ramon Richard stepped up to the plate and took her place on Tritech/Princeps, now renamed, Tritech/San Judas. Alisha is doing well and attending the matches, but taking time to heal.
Although this is only 8-goal polo, it sure feels like 12-goal. Jesse Bray started off hot with 2 goals in the first chukker for Starmeadow. Gaston VonWernich matched his two goals in the second chukker and added a few more in the second half of the match. Also in the second chukker, Graham Bray had a beautiful back shot near the goal line that barely made it through the goal posts.
Ramon Richard of Tritech/San Judas had two very important goals in the 3rd and 5th chukkers, which were very instrumental in the win.
Jesse Bray continued to knock them in, tallying up 7 goals total.
We had a couple of falls, 2 from Ashton Wolf and 1 from Gaston VonWernich. The crowd was spooked when Gaston and his horse, Fleur, fell. Sure enough, the horse just got the wind knocked out of her and got right back up. The horse is healthy and we are all very thankful Gaston and Fleur are doing okay. Although Ashton’s ribs are a bit bruised, that didn’t stop him from playing his best.
In the 6th chukker, the match was 10 to 9, Tritech/San Judas on top. Jesse Bray sailed the ball into the air during a penalty shot, but missed it by inches. His second penalty shot was deflected by Ashton Wolf’s mallet. In the 3rd penalty shot, Jesse missed it again, by centimeters! Time ran out before Starmeadow had a chance to score, leaving the win to Trinity/ San Judas!
Gaston Von Wernich‘s horse, Fleur, won Best Playing Pony.
Runner’s up received gift bags from Giving Back Magazine and South Coast Plaza. Jesse Bray won MVP.
Tritech/San Judas won the Willis Allen Memorial Cup. After taking lessons in the arena and graduating to grass polo last year, Ramon Richard was thrilled to be a part of the winning team. He celebrated with dousing his teammates in Veuve Cliquot Champagne.
Trophies were presented by Tiffany & Co. of Fashion Valley.
Danitza Villanueva of Giving Back Magazine, Ramon Richard and his wife Virgina Calero, Ashton Wolf, Gaston VonWernich, Chris Collins, grandson of Willis Allen, Chris Maloney, Peggy Stevenson of Tiffany & Co., Esteban Villanueva of Giving Back Magazine, and Gaston’s children.