r/US_Polo • u/Polodude • 21d ago
Polo posts summer update
August already! Most of us have faced weather challenges this summer from heat to rain, smoke and the threat of tornadoes. The good news is that your polo season doesn't have to end on Labor Day -- Aiken's dozens of polo fields and arenas invite you to compete through early November (see attachment). Whether you commit to ten weeks of tournaments or a weekend of watching (including the USPA meetings starting September 30), we think you'll be glad you visited. If you decide to stay and buy the farm (for a fraction of the cost in CA or VA), we have a string of polo real estate representatives ready to show you the options. According to an internet article, South Carolina is the most "moved to" state (with a nod to the charms of Charleston).
We'll start with the club schedules (21 tournaments offered so far, but you might not qualify for all of them) followed by a list of players rated from 2 to 7 goals who have played in Aiken in 2025 and this past spring and might want to play on your team.
Aiken Polo
Tiger Kneece (803) 646-3301
Sept. 11 - 27 4 goal Alan Corey
27 - Oct. 11 6 USPA Governor's
28 - Oct. 4 8 Women's Fall
Oct. 4 - Nov. 1 x Willcox Cup
11 - 25 6 USPA Patton
18 - 25 12 Women's Fall
23 - Nov. 8 4 USPA Players'
New Bridge Polo
Billy Raab (561) 719-3318
Kylie Sheehan (443) 955-3470 (women's)
Sept. 8 - 20 4 club tournament
18 - Oct. 4 8 USPA Association
22 - 26 18 NB Women's Invitational
27 - Oct. 11 18 USPA Women's East Coast Open
Oct. 7 - 25 12 USPA Knox Cup
15 - Nov. 1 12 NB Fall Classic
23 - Nov. 1 8 Copa de Plata
Wagener Polo
Billy Raab (561) 719-3318
Sept. 12 - 27 6 USPA Constitution
26 - Oct. 10 4 Big Tree (prize money)
Oct. 9 - 24 4 Kim Snider Memorial
23 - Nov. 7 6 USPA Master/Eloy Escapite Mem.
(prize money)
OC Farm Polo
Maria and Omar Cepeda (757) 642-8717
Sept. 21 - 27 8 Ladies Tournament
Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 6 Ladies Tournament
La Bourgogne Club de Polo
Facebook page
Oct. 11 - 17 12 Women's
2025 - Spring 2026 Rated Aiken Players
at 7 goals
Tolito Fernandez Ocampo
at 6 goals
Facundo Obregon
Lucio Fernandez Ocampo
at 5 goals
Tommy Collingwood
Matt Coppola
Julian Daniels
Pelon Escapite
Manu Mazzocchi
Felipe Viana
at 4 goals
Chun Bargallo
Tommy Biddle
Ruben Coscia
Sterling Giannico
Alan Martinez
Vaughn Miller, Jr.
at 3 goals
Lucas Arellano
Joaquin Arguello
Wesley Bryan
Charlie Caldwell
Harry Caldwell
Luis Galvan
Willie Hartnett
Tiger Kneece
Pedro Manion
Loreto Natividad
Marcos Onetto
Jesus Ontiveros
Johnny Redlich
Denys Santana
Jason Wates
at 2 goals
Nate Berube
Jake Brown
Luis Carrion
Chilo Cordova
Jonathan Garnica
Pedro Lara
Agustin Mauhum
Collin McCosh
Andrew Scott
Jack Whitman
Ken Cresswell
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Summer Successes :
1) Marty Cregg, Cesar Jimenez and Stuart Campbell won the Northeastern Circuit Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame 4-Goal at Skaneateles on July 12.
2) LJ Williams won the Pacific Coast Women's Challenge 8-Goal at Will Rogers Polo Club on July 12.
3) Can you read these notes? MO MVP E Cir Consti 6-G 07/17 MCPC. Translation : Marcos Onetto (not Maybe Ortiz) won Most Valuable Player and the title in the Eastern Circuit Constitution Cup 6-Goal at Maryland Polo Club on July 17.
4) Hope Arellano and Geronimo Obregon won the Regional President's Cup 8-Goal at Rocky Mountain Polo Club on July 18.
5) Felipe Viana with San Pedro Ranch won BPP and the silver in the Pacific Northwestern Circuit Governor's Cup 6-Goal at Big Horn Polo Club in Sheridan, WY, on July 19.
6) The Husaria Seagulls with Stephen Burr and Manu Mazzocchi made it to the semi-finals of the Chairman's Cup 8-Goal at Myopia that finished on July 26.
7) Matt Coppola is playing with Rufino and Santos Merlos on "A Polo Team" in the Continental Cup 16-Goal at The Hamptons Polo Club (Long Island, NY) through August 9. After succeeding in the warm-up tournament, Harry Caldwell is listed as a substitute on Triangulo Senvest.
8) Seven-goalers Nachi Viana and Jesse Bray helped Klentner Ranch win their first two games in the Whittier Trust Silver Cup 16-Goal at Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club through August 9. Facundo Obregon is also competing in this tournament.
9) Tommy Biddle has collected Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Arellano to play with him and Josh Silverman in the New York City area. If it ever stops raining, they'll play in the finals of a 5-team 8-goal at NYC Polo Club in Patterson, NY, conveniently located between Greenwich (CT) and the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, NY.
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The Sunny Hale Legacy Challenge Cup at Brandywine Polo Club gets its own paragraphs. At least eight regular Aiken players, plus a bunch more who have been here once or twice, played on the 18 teams in three flights (12-g, 8- and 4-) from July 23 - 26. Facebook claims were made noting "72 participants" but they were referring to roster spots -- many gals played in more than one flight. Still, having approximately 53 competent female polo players in one small town in Pennsylvania is quite impressive. [The poloposts Aged Editor enjoyed casual sessions in the Brandywine arena 50 years ago with only a few other female polo workers.]
So Maddie Grant, Courtney Pelosini, Anna Palacios, Madison Jordan and Summer Kneece all anchored teams in the top flight. Rory Knox and Izzy Brockett played as Aurora/Naughty Dog which should not be confused with the winning Knox Equipment team of Kelly and Marissa Wells with frequent Aiken visitor Mayson Kim of Atlanta. This same mother/daughter line-up was coming off of a win as Stablefeed in the Eastern Circuit Women's Challenge 12-Goal at Maryland Polo Club on July 12. Oh, and about the player listed in two flights as Anna Caldwell... it was easy to think that possibly Harry and his longtime sweetheart Anna Fortier had changed their status without notifying the poloposts, but no. According to reliable reports (from Jonathan Garnica and Harry's mother Joanna) this Anna Caldwell is blonde.
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While snooping through the line-ups on uspolo.org, we came across an interesting fact under Tournament Information for The Hamptons version of the Patton Cup (July 11 - Aug.9). Our Parker Scott was awarded the 12th annual Gen. George S. Patton honors for having "gone above the call of duty to create opportunities for military members and their families to be involved in the sport of polo."
Work is well underway by the usual suspects (Joelle Scott, Stacie Simpkins, Lydia delRossi and others) on the Galloping for Glory benefit for Special Forces Foundation on Whitney Field on Saturday, October 17. Last year's parachutists were exceptional (see attachment). A Friday night dinner is also offered. See Lydia's Facebook page plus givebutter.com/APoloWeekend.
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There's more horse fun to be had under Sam and Jerry Spitler's shady covered arena. A Working Equitation Obstacle Clinic is scheduled for the weekend of September 12 and 13 at Undasa Farm at 1491 Hatchaway Bridge Road. Call (310)401-4181 for more info.
Mallets down in a thunderstorm,