The Houston Polo Club closed out their Spring Season with an exciting 6 team NYTS tournament. Players came from all over the world came to Houston to get a chance to play in competitive, fun polo with their peers.
Will Mudra showing great form!
Its BCI against Listo Polo!
In the first game, the packed Sunday crowd enjoy a fast open match up between the Consolation finalists BCI vs Listo Polo. BCI's Rexy Vicardo broke the ice in the first chukker, scoring the first goal from the field. Listo Polo's captain, Valentino Echezarreta was quick to respond with two goals of his own in the second chukker, however BCI's Cara Kennedy was an offensive force, scoring one goal of her own to tie the score 2 to 2 after the second chukker.
In the third chukker, Listo Polo kept their offensive push alive with a penalty conversion from Grace Burgert, and a goal from the young Milo Dorignac. BCI's Kennedy found the goal one more time to make the score Listo Polo 4 to BCI 3. The fourth chukker belonged to Listo Polo, as Echezarreta scored three consecutive goals from the field, solidifying the win for Listo Polo with a score of Listo Polo 7 over BCI 4.
NYTS Consolation Winner: Listo Polo
Will Mudra, Grace Burgert, Milo Dorignac, Valentino Echezarretapictured with LoneStar Ford sponsor Brian Faistenhammer
2 Strong Teams in the Finals
April Galindo riding off Grayson Price as he is going to goal
...as Horsegate takes on Rocking P
The NYTS final was between two strong Houston teams, Rocking P and Horsegate. As the teams paraded around the boards of the field, a energetic crowd cheered on the young players as they lined up to start the game. Both teams had a set of siblings on them, Horsegate, with brothers Lance and Sloan Stefanakis, and Rocking P with Grayson and Bridget Price. Rocking P came out with a strong offense against a flat footed Horsegate, winning the first two chukkers 4 to 0 as the teams took a quick half time break.
Horsegate's team captain, Sloan Stefanakis, attempted to pull his team back into the game scoring two unanswered goals in the third chukker. However Grayson Price proved to be too quick for the Horsegate defense, sneaking in another goal in the 4th chukker to end the game.All players in the tournament showed outstanding sportsmanship, and incredible skills on the polo field. HPC is looking forward to getting to host a bigger and better NYTS tournament in the spring 2018 season!Final Score: Rocking P 5 def Horsegate 2
Winning team: Rocking P
Anson Moore, Grayson Price, Carter Nix, and Bridget Pricepictured with LoneStar Ford sponsor Brian Faistenhammer
Best Playing Pony:London played by Grayson Pricepictured with Overture Tanglewood sponsors Connie Wolff and Emily Collins
AQHA Best Playing Pony:Thing 2 played by Will Mudra pictured with family Billy, Pam, and Grace Mudra
USPA NYTS All-StarsChino Payan, Vaughn Miller Jr., Anson Moore, Valentino Echezarreta, Sloan Stefanakis, Grayson Price, Courtney Price, Milo Dorignac
Junior Tournament
Lead Line: HPC Gold def Sealy Tractor def Russo's NY PizzeriaSealy Tractor: Alexis Wall, Ripley Middleton, Jose Ramirez Jr. HPC Gold: Brock Fly, Raquel Russo, Ainsley Middleton Russo's NY Pizzeria: Alice Russo, Vincent Russo, Rocco RussoWalk Trot: Sands Farm tied HPC BlueSands Farm: Clare and Mimi BogartHPC Blue: Ava Seward and Sydney RoninIntermediate Winners: Vintage Polo def HPC GreenVintage Polo: Danielle Price, Lily Lequerica, Tate Seward, Joe Bob LequericaHPC Green: Payton Daly, Isabel Artzer (MVP), Grace ParkerBPP: Barbie, owned and played by Danielle PriceAQHA BPP: Superman, owned and played by Joe Bob Lequerica
Winners Circle
2 Goal:
Summer Sizzler
ComericaManny Baigorria, Crane Sorenson, Allison Riordan, Joe Holzer
Club League:
Spring Chicken Cup
Crows Nest Ranch/ShanghaiAshlie Manno (Subbing for Brandey Heckeroth), Cody Woodfin, CJ Lequerica, Steven Armour
4 Goal:
Chili Pepper Cup
Cat SpringBilly Mudra, Chino Payan, Ray Stainback, Kendall Plank
8 Goal:
David Yurman Classic
HorsegateSloan Stefanakis, Jeff Blake, Anson Moore, Nick Stefanakispictured with David Yurman sponsor Nènè Soumaré
The Livingston Memorial
KC Krueger and Michel Dorignac running neck and neck for the ball
On a beautiful day of the closing weekend of the Houston Polo Club's spring season, two powerhouses, Tonkawa and ERG, went toe to toe for the finals of the 12 team Livingston Memorial. From the first throw in both teams were flying with Tonkawa's Matt Coppola drawing first blood. Marcos Alberdi for ERG was quick to respond with a nice run from midfield to tie it one to one. Tonkawa led for most of the first half with Coppola, Cody Ellis and Jeff Hildebrand all scoring, but ERG snuck in a few late goals in the third chukker to go into halftime leading by one.
Tonkawa started strong in the fourth from good team plays from Coppola and Ellis, putting themselves up by two midway through the fifth, but the experience from team captain, Michel Dorignac showed, as he directed his troops and ended the chukker only down by one. The sixth chukker was running and gunning with ERG adding two unanswered goals, the second one being with only ten seconds left in the game to seal the victory. Cody Ellis was named MVP and Matt Coppola's homebred stud horse, Sun Dance, took home the blanket for best playing pony.
Winner: ERG
Valentino Echezarreta, Milo Dorignac (subbing for Scott Wood), Michel Dorignac, Marcos Alberdi, pictured with Tammy Livingston and family and friends
MVP:Cody Ellis, pictured with Tammy Livingston
Best Playing Pony:Sun Dance, Matt Coppola's homebred Stallion, pictured with Coppola's groom and Tammy Livingston
ERG and Tonkawa
Top: Valentino Echezarreta, Milo Dorignac, Michel Dorignac, Marcos Alberdi, pictured with Tammy Livingston and familyBottom: Cody Ellis, Matt Coppola, Jeff Hildbrand, KC Krueger
