NEWS

The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (SBPRC) located in Carpinteria, California, proudly presents the Ramsey Asphalt USPA Regional Presidents Cup 8-goal tournament as part of the Fall 8-Goal Tournament Series. Players and sponsors alike enjoy fall polo for the camaraderie, competition and manicured high-goal fields. Four teams featuring a mix of local players and newcomers completed their first round of matches this past weekend.

Acme Elixers (7)
John Ziegler A
Jim Wright 2
Max Menini 5
Leandro Floccari A

Gipsy Farm/ Twin Palms (8)
Paige Beard A
Sterling Giannico 4
Graham Bray 3
Chris Maloney 1

FMB (7)
Jenny Alter B
Warwick Prendiville 1
Santiago Wulff 5
Henry Walker 2

Klentner Ranch (8)
Luke Klentner A
Dayelle Fargey 2
Jesse Bray 5
Justin Klentner 1

STG/ Calgary (8)
Leslie Tims B
Jack Ziegler A
Marcos Llambias 5
Ignacio del Tour 4

Father and son duos are a common sight at SBPRC. With big brother, Jake Klentner, off to college, younger brother Luke Klentner has big shoes to fill on his father’s Klentner Ranch team. Luke is familiar with 8-goal polo, but this will be his first full season on the team. Standing at an impressive 6’4", Klentner has come up through the Junior Polo, I/I, Coaching League and Pro Pool at the club.

The second father and son pair competing in the 8 goal happen to be on opposite teams. Graham Bray, captaining the Twin Palms/Gipsy Farm team, had to face off against his son, Jesse Bray* in his first match of the tournament. When both Brays are on the field, hard ride-offs and fast ponies are a guaranteed sight. While Graham and Twin Palms/Gipsy Farm led the scoring the majority of the game, Jesse decided to steal the show, sneakily grabbing the ball from the opponent’s goal mouth and racing the length of the field uncontested to score the winning goal.

Acme Elixirs emerged from the weekend undefeated, beating FMB and Klentner Ranch. Hidden talent, Leandro Floccari and young gun Jim Wright* complimented the skill and expertise of captain Max Menini. John Ziegler proved to be a force on the field, bringing his team forward on multiple occasions.

Round 1
Klentner Ranch def. Twin Palms/Gipsy Farm 10-9
Acme Elixir def. FMB 13-6

Round 2
Acme Elixir def. Klentner Ranch 13-8
FMB def. Twin Palms/Gipsy Farm 8-6

*Jesse Bray and Jim Wright are members of Team USPA. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.