Polo Players' Edition is the official publication of the U.S. Polo Association. Dedicated to the sport of polo, it features player profiles, game strategy, horse care, playing tips, polo club news and tournament results.
Issue link: https://polo.epubxp.com/i/31965
POL O IN THE P AMP AS ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ BLACKTIDE Ellerstina’s run for Triple Crown got off to a great start E llerstina Etiqueta Negra showed superiority again in the Tortugas Country Club Open, the first leg of Argentina’s Triple Crown. Known as La Zeta, the only 40-goal team claimed six victories in the last seven editions. The 2010 season introduced more team line-up changes then in recent years. To better understand the carousel passes, only two teams, Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra and La Aguada BMW, kept their 2009 teams unchanged, although it is an open secret that La Zeta will make changes next year. La Dolfina Peugeot, winner of the last Argentine Open, lost Mariano Aguerre and thus its 40 goals, when the No. 3 decided to join Alegría Air France and play the classification tournament to qualify for Hurlingham and Palermo. This quartet also included Francisco de Narváez after he left Chapa Uno Hope Funds. To compensate for the departure of captain Aguerre, Adolfo Cambiaso called on Uruguayan David “Pelon” Stirling, who, playing in 2009 wearing the shirt of Indios Chapaleufú II Cardón, proved he was fully prepared for high-handicapped polo. Pelón’s spot on Chapa 2 was covered by Matias Magrini playing his first season as a starter for a big team. The team of Chapa 2’s cousins, Chapa Uno, lost Brazilian Rodrigo Ribeiro de 40 POLO PLAYERS EDITION Andrade, who formed Sao José Audi, and filled vacancies with Juan Ignacio Merlos who came from Alegría, and Matías Mac Donough who came out of retirement. Piaget Pilará planned to keep the same team after achieving such promising results a year earlier, but in the last practice before the start of the season, Marcos Heguy injured his right shoulder. His place was taken by Juan Agustín García Grossi. Pilará to get a clear 18-12 win with open and dynamic play. The first five chukkers were fairly balanced, with Chapa Uno holding an 11-10 lead, but in the last two chukkers Bautista Heguy, who scored 10 goals including seven penalties, made the difference. A day later, Chapa 2 was able to take advantage of another absence. Adolfito Cambiaso, who is never too keen on playing the Tortugas, decided to take a sabbatical, and his place was filled by Guillermo “Sapo” Caset. Chapa 2’s three Heguy brothers successfully adapted to new teammate Magrini, unlike La Dolfina, that didn’t adjust well to Sapo Caset. The final score was in favor of Indios Chapaleufú II, 15-11, with 10 goals from Eduardo “Ruso” Heguy, including seven penalties. Only 48 hours later, the Ellerstina’s Juan Martin Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, Gonzalo Pieres and Facundo Pieres won both the Tortugas and Hurlingham Opens. Once this whirlwind of changes settled, the ball started rolling on the Tortugas Country Club. The rain also played its own game, postponing the start, scheduled for September 28, to October 2. The good weather allowed Chapa Uno to take advantage of Marcos Heguy’s absence on defending champion La Zeta took the field. Rumors of alleged internal conflicts among the Pieres brothers and their teammates were set aside the moment they stepped onto Tortugas’ Field No. 6. La Zeta was relentless against Pilará, still missing Marcos Heguy. With some ups and downs, Ellerstina eventually won a decisive 18-11 victory thanks to seven goals from Facundo Pieres and six from his brother Gonzalo. The next day, the Novillo Astrada brothers debuted, sealing La Dolfina’s SERGIO LLAMERA SERGIO LLAMERA
