Polo Players Edition

JAN 2011

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

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 42 of 67

destiny, again without Adolfito, after downing it 14-12. La Aguada’s win was no easy task, not just because of the opposition, but because of a drizzle that came down when the game started. Javier Novillo Astrada, fully recovered from a brain tumor he suffered in 2009, was the man of the match with half a dozen goals including two penalties. The first finalist place was determined after the duel between Ellerstina and Chapa Uno. It was a great match with two teams who played hard. If La Zeta advanced it would be its sixth final in seven years. And it did, with the final score, 17-12. Facundo Pieres had nine goals including two penalties, while Bauti Heguy stood out among the losers with eight goals. The other contender for the title was decided in the match between Indios Chapaleufú II and La Aguada. If the forecast predicted a close yet rusty game on the field, there was only a battle of good style that went in favor of the Heguys. Their Chapa 2 team exhibited great use of space against a team that is known as the best defenders at this level. With an exceptional fifth chukka, outplaying La Aguada 5-1, the Heguys came forward 11-10 and were able to maintain the distance the rest of the match, ending 13-11. As usual, Eduardo Heguy was the top scorer with seven goals, including five penalties. A week later, on October 16, it was time for the great final. Ellerstina was one of the contenders with four titles since 2005. The only year they failed, in 2006, the cup went to Indios Chapaleufú II, already with titles in four other years. From its first victory in 1990, it has seemed almost inevitable brothers Pepe and Ruso Heguy’s Chapa 2 would be in the finals. The last clash between the teams was in Palermo in 2009 when Chapa 2 snapped Ellerstina’s 12-match winning streak with a 14-13 win. The story was not repeated this time. Ellerstina did not want to be surprised, and took to Field No. 7 intent on demolishing its opponent. With a fast, luxurious game, using all sectors of the field, in the first 28 minutes, Ellerstina played incredibly, taking an amazing 14-5 advantage, unheard of at this level. That left 21 minutes to the end, and everyone expected the Heguys to show the tenacity Ellerstina’s Facundo Pieres and Chapa 2’s Eduardo Heguy battle in the final of the Tortugas Open. Ellerstina won 21-11. Heguy was out with Pneumonia for the Hurlingham tournament. that allowed them to turn around what looked like lost games, like the 1996 Palermo final against Chapa 1. But, Ellerstina, the black machine, did not let up. As the game progressed, the difference was maintained until the end with the final score 21-11, thanks to 11 goals from Facundo Pieres, including five penalties, that earned him MVP honors. Ellerstina once again held up the Emilio de Anchorena Cup. To complete the celebration, Pablo Mac Donough’s mare, Irene Farsa, received the award for best Polo Argentino horse. After so many Tortugas victories, Facundo Pieres joked, “We could take a piece of land in the club. We are a little bit Tortugas’ owners.” Continuing to play in a dominant way, Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra went on to win the next step in the Triple Crown, the Hurlingham Open title. The question remained, could any team stop La Zeta in its final step? After the Tortugas Open, a qualifying tournament would decide which two teams would make the cut and join the six Tortugas contenders for the eight spots in the Hurlingham and Argentine Opens. The qualifying tournament had six teams from 29- to 34-goals. Rising above the rest was Alegría Air France, which had in its line-up Aguerre and de Narváez. They did not disappoint, winning their ticket after beating Trenque Lauquen 16-11 and La Quinta Beaufort 12-10. The other quartet that confirmed its place in the top two tournaments on the planet was Sao José Audi, after defeating Las Praderas 10- 8 and Pilará II 12-11. With the big picture now complete, the eight teams prepared their guns to play the world’s oldest tournament, the Hurlingham Open, beginning on October 19. The first day of competition at the club located in the western suburbs of Buenos Aires was an amazing coincidence. Just as in the Tortugas tournament, the opening match was a duel between Chapa Uno Hope Funds and Pilará Piaget. The latter, still without the benefit of its highest-rated player, Marcos Heguy, who was out with an injured right shoulder, sat down his substitute in the Tortugas Open, Juan Agustín García Grossi, and replaced him with Tomas Garcia del Río. The change allowed for an improvement in team performance. At the close of the first half, Pilara held a 10-8 lead. But Bautista Heguy came alive in the second half, scoring eight goals and forcing sudden death overtime after ending the eighth chukker 16-16. Unlike Agustín Merlos, who failed to score alone from more than 30 yards from goal, his brother, POLOPLAYERS EDITION 41 SERGIO LLAMERA

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Polo Players Edition - JAN 2011
Polo Players Edition

Subscription Form

Please enter your email address to view this digital edition.
* required fields
1