Polo
WELLINGTON, FL - The polo season moves into a higher gear as 10 teams have entered the Joe Barry Memorial Cup, the second 22-goal tournament of the 2005 high-goal season at International Polo Club Palm Beach, the premier polo club in the United States.
Henley House and Goshen, finalists in the 22-goal Iglehart Cup, are expected to be among the top contenders. Henley House features 10-goaler Adam Snow and 6-goaler Francisco Lanusse. Goshen, a new team this season, is led by 9-goaler Pancho Bensadon of Argentina and 8-goaler Sugar Erskine of South Africa.
Victor Vargas’ Lechuza Caracas is the only other team in the tournament with a 10-goaler on its roster – Pite Merlos. They play Tommy Lee Jones’ San Saba on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the IPC stadium. San Saba features 8-goaler Hector Galindo of Wellington.
Another top team includes George Rawlings’ Crab Orchard, which features Hall of Famer Memo Gracida, his 17-year-old son Julio, a 3-goaler, and 9-goaler Agustin Merlos.
Francisco Escobar’s Santa Clara is another new team and could be a formidable challenger, with 8-goaler Fabio Diniz and his brother, Andre, a 7-goaler. They are joined by 6-goaler Jeff Blake of Wellington.
Neither defending champion Catamount nor runner-up Bendabout entered this year’s event, opting to start later this season. Catamount defeated Bendabout 13-10 in the 2004 final.
The tournament is named after American polo legend Joe Barry, who died on May 18, 2002 at the age of 58. Born and raised in Texas, he achieved a 9-goal rating and dominated polo in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Barry won six U.S. Open championships, three Gold Cups, three Silver Cups as well as the Coronation and Camacho Cup trophies. Barry was a teammate of Carlos Gracida’s on the 1980 championship USPA Gold Cup team. One of the greatest No. 4s in polo history, Joe Barry was elected to the Polo Hall of Fame in 1999.
The 2005 season features six high-goal tournaments – three 22-goal tourneys and
three 26-goal tournaments. Following the Joe Barry Memorial Cup is the Ylvisaker Cup, which has 16 teams. The 26-goal season opens with the Hall of Fame Cup, followed by the C.V. Whitney Cup and concluding with the Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open.
At least 20 high-goal teams are expected to participate in part of the 2005 season, according to polo manager Jimmy Newman, surpassing last season’s 17 teams.
The polo matches are open to the public. Tickets for the Sunday games at the International Polo Club Palm Beach are available at the gate, beginning at $10 each. For ticket information, call (561) 204-5687 or visit the club website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Complementing the quality polo on the field will be internationally renowned caterer and restaurateur Barton G. of Miami, New York and Atlanta, who bring his whimsical culinary talents to International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Barton G.’s talented staff will produce the popular Sunday Brunch, which serves approximately 350 meals during seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the marquee overlooking Field 2.
The haute cuisine Sunday Brunch is open to the public and reservations are required. Brunch is $55 per person, including tax and tip and a reserved seat to the polo match.
“We are excited to be working with the International Polo Club,” said Barton G. Weiss, president and founder of Barton G. “It is a fantastic facility and we are looking forward to providing not only a fabulous brunch each Sunday, but exciting and entertaining events throughout the season.”
In addition to the delicious catered Sunday Brunch preceding the featured stadium match, the popular champagne divot stomp at halftime, sponsored by Roederer Estates, will continue as will the post-match awards presentation where players are available for autographs and photos.
A “village” of vendors selling everything from tack to boots to children’s polo equipment will be set up near the new center stadium, making it a perfect gathering place before the game.
For information about the Sunday Brunch or the 2005 high-goal season, including the Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open, call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit online at www.internationalpoloclub.com. International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road, in Wellington.
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Joe Barry Memorial Cup Team Rosters
Crab Orchard Skeeterville
Julio Gracida 3 Skeeter Johnson 2
Agustin Merlos 9 Julio Arellano 8
Memo Gracida 9 Owen Rinehart 8
George Rawlings 1 Stevie Orthwein 4
22 22
Goshen Henley House
Irvin Abell A Francisco Lanusse 6
Sugar Erskine 8 Adam Snow 10
Pancho Bensadon 9 Wayne Grover 1
Stewart Armstrong 4 Carlucho Arellano 5
21 22
La Lechuza Millarville
Victor Vargas 2 Frederick Mannix 7
Gaston Urturi 4 Daniel Roenisch 6
Pite Merlos 10 Luis Escobar 7
Ignacio Toccalino 6T Nicolas Intriago 2
22 22
Old Pueblo Pony Express
John Hall 1 Bob Daniels 1
Jeff Hall 8 Guillermo Caset Jr. 8
Matias Magrini 9 Alex Agote 8
Willie Hartnett 4 Ramiro Egana 4
22 21
San Saba Santa Clara
Tommy Lee Jones 1 Jeff Blake 6
Hector Galindo 8 Fabio Diniz 8T
Gaston Von Wernich 6 Andre Diniz 7
Toto Collardin 7 Francisco Escobar 1
22 22
Joe Barry Cup Schedule
Wednesday, January 12th 1PM Santa Clara v. Skeeterville
3PM Old Pueblo v. Millarville
Thursday January 13th 10:30AM Pony Express v. Crab Orchard
1PM San Saba v. Henley House
3PM Goshen v. Lechuza Caracas
Saturday January 15th 1PM Old Pueblo v. Skeeterville
3PM Santa Clara v. Millarville
Sunday January 16th 10AM Pony Express v. Henley House
12noon Goshen v. Crab Orchard
3PM San Saba v. Lechuza Caracas
Thursday January 20th 1PM Semifinals
3PM Semifinals
Sunday January 23rd 3PM Final
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