NEWS

U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship

Defending champions Cedar Croft Farms (Robert Ceparano, Kris Kampsen, Felipe Viana) battled against newcomers NYC Polo (Sam Ramirez, Jared Sheldon, Matias Magrini) in the finals of the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championships at Country Farms Polo Club in Medford, New York. A fast and physical game, non-stop action abounded from both teams. In the first chukker, Team USPA member, Jared Sheldon, put the first score on the board for NYC Polo. Magrini quickly followed with another goal. Felipe Viana, also a Team USPA member, rebutted with two goals for Cedar Croft Farms. Both teams conceded two goals on penalties and the first chukker ended with a tied score of 4-all. NYC Polo took control in the second chukker. Two penalty-two conversions from Sheldon, combined with a penalty one and field goal from Magrini, put NYC Polo ahead 8-6 at halftime.

An evenly scored third chukker (five goals each), kept NYC Polo in the lead. However, Cedar Croft Farm’s Kris Kampsen dominated for his team, making two out of three penalty shots and scoring three goals from the field. In the first minutes of the heated final chukker, NYC Polo capitalized on a penalty one, followed by a penalty-two conversion for Cedar Croft Farms. Yet another penalty one, this time in favor of Cedar Croft Farms, was followed by a quick goal from Robert Ceparano. Three combined goals from Sheldon and Magrini and a penalty-four conversion from Kampsen, had both teams equally matched with four goals apiece.

Yet, it was not enough for Cedar Croft Farms to overcome their two goal, second chukker deficit. Dethroning the three-time reigning champions, NYC Polo garnered the coveted U.S. Open Polo Arena Championship title. NYC Polo high-scorer, Jared Sheldon, with 10 of the total 17 winning goals was awarded Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were given to Tatora owned by Sam Ramirez and ridden by Magrini in the third chukker.

U.S. Open Arena Handicap

Following their losses in the U.S. Open Arena Championship Semifinals, Equuleus (Joe DiMenna, Magoo Laprida, Tommy Biddle) and Miller & Miller/Don Ercole (Santino Magrini, Torito Ruiz, Juan Martin Zubia) met in the finals of the U.S. Open Arena Handicap. The 12-goal Miller & Miller/Don Ercole (MM/DE) team received five goals in handicap at the onset of the match. In the first chukker, Equuleus worked diligently nearly making up for their five goal deficit, with two goals each from Tommy Biddle and Magoo Laprida. MM/DE kept in stride with three goals, two from Torito Ruiz and one from Juan Martin Zubia, all from the field, to end the chukker 8-4 in favor of MM/DE. The second chukker saw four goals from Laprida, including a two-pointer at the end of the chukker. Laprida’s surge of goals, combined with Biddle’s penalty three conversion tied the score 10-all going into the half.

Both teams scored four goals in the third chukker. Ruiz contributed three from the field for MM/DE and Zubia converted on a penalty three. Of Equuleus’ four goals, one was a pony goal, the other three, including a two-pointer were scored by Biddle. The score now 15-14, Equuleus took a narrow lead going into the fourth chukker. The low-scoring final chukker began with a goal by Biddle, followed by a field goal from Ruiz (his seventh of the game). A final goal from Laprida, brought the score to 17-15 and Equuleus prevailed as the 2016 U.S. Arena Handicap Champions. Game high-scorer Tommy Biddle received Most Valuable Player for his eight goal contribution and consistent penalty shots. Laprida’s first chukker horse India was awarded Best Playing Pony.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer and Matthew Photography