CLEARWATER WINS USPA EASTERN CHALLENGE | U.S. POLO ASSN.

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CLEARWATER WINS USPA EASTERN CHALLENGE

May 02, 2017

Winning Clearwater teammates Jeff Hall, Ezequiel Fernandez, Michael Bickford and Chip Campbell.
Winning Clearwater teammates Jeff Hall, Ezequiel Fernandez, Michael Bickford and Chip Campbell. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.

Article courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club

Clearwater and Dutta Corp faced off in the USPA Eastern Challenge Final April 30 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

Dutta Corp (Timmy Dutta, Kris Kampsen, Piki Diaz Alberdi, Tim Dutta), a 13-goal team, started off with a four-goal lead against 17-goal Clearwater (Chip Campbell, Michael Bickford, Ezequiel Fernandez, Jeff Hall).

Dutta Corp, coming off its spring season-opening victory in the Santa Rita Abierto, led 5-1 after the opening chukker. Clearwater took advantage of Dutta Corp penalties in the second chukker to score four goals including two on penalties, to cut its deficit to one (6-5). Kampsen scored from the field and Bickford converted a penalty shot in the third chukker with Dutta Corp still holding a one-goal lead for a 7-6 halftime advantage.

Ezequiel Fernandez of Clearwater battles Timmy Dutta of Dutta Corp for the ball.
Ezequiel Fernandez of Clearwater battles Timmy Dutta of Dutta Corp for the ball. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.

In the second half, Clearwater found its offensive attack behind Fernandez, who was unstoppable in the final three chukkers. Clearwater outscored Dutta Corp 5-0 in the fourth and fifth chukkers for an 11-8 lead. Tim Dutta closed the gap with two goals in the final chukker but Dutta Corp was unable to get any closer.

"We trusted each other as a team and I knew we would overcome their four-goal handicap lead," Fernandez said. "We knew Dutta Corp was a good team and we had to play our best to beat them."

MVP Ezequiel Fernandez with awards presenter comedian Pauly Shore.
MVP Ezequiel Fernandez with awards presenter comedian Pauly Shore. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.

Fernandez, the catalyst for Clearwater's second-half comeback, was named Most Valuable Player. Fernandez scored a game-high six goals including five in the second half.

Best Playing Pony Rosaura, a 9-year-old Argentine-bred mare ridden by Ezequiel Fernandez. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.
Best Playing Pony Rosaura, a 9-year-old Argentine-bred mare ridden by Ezequiel Fernandez. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.

Fernandez' horse, Rosaura, a 9-year-old Argentine mare, was selected Best Playing Pony.

Comedian and actor Pauly Shore was the awards presenter and kept the players and fans in stitches the minute he stepped on the awards podium.

Comedian Pauly Shore doing what he does best, cracking up players on the awards podium while presenting awards.
Comedian Pauly Shore doing what he does best, cracking up players on the awards podium while presenting awards. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.

"I am very happy for the team," said Fernandez, a 20-year veteran of the game. "We got along together well and played for each other." Fernandez is preparing to play in Bogota, Colombia for the summer. He has been playing in Colombia the past ten years.

Ezequiel Fernandez of Clearwater works his way through defenders Kris Kampsen and Piki Diaz Alberdi.
Ezequiel Fernandez of Clearwater works his way through defenders Kris Kampsen and Piki Diaz Alberdi. Photo courtesy Grand Champions Polo Club.