POLO REPORT DISP A T C HES FR OM THE W ORLD OF POL O BORDER
SKULL VALLEY TAKES 6TH ANNUAL TOURNEY
Utah’s Jorge Estrada III bumps Skull Valley’s Glen Voorhees (in blue). Utah’s Michelle Huber follows with Skull Valley’s Scott Poppenberger on her hip. Travis Simpson is far right.
S
kull Valley conjures up ominous thoughts but is actually a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains in
Northern Arizona that derives its name from Indian turf wars resulting in piles of skulls discovered by settlers in the 1860s. Could there be polo in Skull Valley, a
berg of 350 people? Indeed! More than 170 spectators came to watch the Skull Valley, Scottsdale, and Utah teams square off in October for this annual event on the polo field at the Van Dickson Ranch of C. Paul and Carolyn Harris. Winner of the 6th Annual Skull
48 POLO PLAYERS EDITION
Valley Polo Tournament in a very close match was Skull Valley, whose players were Scott Poppenberger, Travis Simpson, and Glen Voorhees. Final scores were Skull Valley, 9; Utah, 8; and Scottsdale, 6. Playing for the Utah team were Michelle and Craig Huber, and George Estrada II and George Estrada III. Scottsdale’s players were Bill Stalcup, Dan Coleman, Stephen Bentz, and Diego Flores. Umpire for the tournament was former polo professional Mike Hynes, a Skull Valley resident.
The colors were presented by
Shannon Gillette and her Andalusian Stallion, Espartano, and the pair also did a dressage performance between the second and third chukkers. The polo event was a benefit for the Yavapai County Sheriffs Explorers Post 7906, an organization which mentors future peace makers. An art show featuring western artists Gary Melvin, Bruce Fee, Robert Sheelings, Cecilia McGuire, and Rick Hartner, added flavor to the event, as did the Texas smoked barbecue served by host C. Paul Harris after the match. Skull Valley is a ranching community
