EASTERN CHALLENGE®
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Eastern Challenge, a 12- to 16-goal national tournament, was established in 1986 at the Potomac Polo Club in Maryland. The winning team consisted of Alan Nash, Jack Whittemore, Juan Bollini Sr. and Salvadore Socas. Hosted by multiple clubs throughout the Eastern Circuit, a consistently deep field of competitors has proven repeat titles rare, with Crab Orchard serving as the last team to hoist the trophy in back-to-back years (2000, 2001). Played a total of 26 times throughout its history, the Eastern Challenge has resided at Beverly Polo Club (The Plains, Virginia) since 2021.
The conclusion of the 2022 Eastern Challenge featured a welcome showdown between freshly-crowned National Eight Goal champions Point to Point (Francisco Mera-Rodriguez, Felipe Viana, Bautista Micheletti, Nelson Gunnell, sub. Audrey Wilde) and formidable hometown challenger Beverly Salamander (Wil Ballhaus, Bill Ballhaus, Jorge “Tolito” Fernandez Ocampo Jr., Manuel Sundblad). Deadlocked 11-all entering the final chukker, Point to Point's Rodriguez-Mera weaved his way to goal twice. Beverly Salamander's Ocampo Jr. answered late in the chukker, but it was not enough to offset Point to Point’s momentum, as they ultimately secured a 14-12 win. Read article here.
This year's edition features four competitive teams including many Virginia polo staples. Under new moniker Pineapples & Pussycats/Point to Point, Bautista Micheletti, Nelson Gunnell and Audrey Wilde will seek to defend their title with the additions of Roman Iriarte Sr. and Alan Martinez. 2022 runner-up Beverly Salamander will return with the same roster representing Salamander. Each seeking their first Eastern Challenge title, Beverly Polo and Core Real Estate will round out the talented competition.
Beverly Polo Club will be taking advantage of the USPA's Bridge to High Goal Initiative (B2HG) for the Eastern Challenge, which provides eligible USPA Member Clubs with three USPA Professional Umpires (two mounted officials and one third man) at 50% of the regular cost to the club. The Bridge to High Goal Initiative (B2HG) has been created to support outdoor mixed polo between 12 and 16 goals, an under-supported level of polo in the United States. The goal of the program is to build a bridge from low-goal polo to high-goal polo that provides a safe environment for competition, which will allow for the cultivation of sponsors and the advancement of aspiring professionals.
2022 Eastern Challenge Champions: Point to Point - Francisco Rodriguez-Mera (Francisco Jr.), Bautista Micheletti, Felipe Viana, Nelson Gunnell, Audrey Wilde. Pictured with Breanna Gunnell (Rosalie Grace). ©Rebekah Pizana
