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The inaugural Juniors Polo Cup recently took place at the Casa de Campo Polo Club featuring the future stars of Dominican Polo.
The idea for this tournament was to showcase and promote these young players, as well as give them a chance to strut their abilities on the big stage.
Many spectators and family members were on hand to cheer on the Casa de Campo and the La Lopera polo teams. The Casa de Campo polo team was led by Cachi García-Vélez a veteran of international competition at just 23 years of age, alongside local Dominican players Pedro Pablo Cabrera (18), Pedro Eric Hache (18) and Jose Julio Schiffino (20).
The La Lopera team was led by seasoned veteran Julio Lopez, age 25 alongside Rafa Garcia (18), Angel Peña (19) and Jose Cochon (20).
With some very nice goals by Pedro Pablo Cabrera and Jose Julio Schiffino coupled with an incredible display of ball handling and pinpoint passing from Cachi García-Vélez, who had not been on a horse since April of last year, the Casa de Campo team jumped off to a quick 6-0 lead.
However a very determined Julio López led his team back chukker by chukker closing the gap as his teammates began to play better defence.
The last chukker was very fast paced and La Lopera made several runs at goal, but eventually Cachi García-Vélez made the play of the day on Best Playing Pony CR #354 “Jetsetter” swooping in between two of La Lopera players and stealing the ball from Julio López right in the goal mouth to run up the field and end any hopes of a comeback by La Lopera.
We would like to thank the players and patrons who so graciously donated their horses to this event, as to ensure all the players were well mounted. Especially Mauricio Bogaert who was to play in the event, but took a fall one week prior and could not play, but still sent his horses to his teammates.
Juniors Polo Cup 2014
Final Score: Casa de Campo 8, La Lopera 6
MVP (Most Valuable Player): Pedro Pablo Cabrera
BPP (Best Playing Pony): CR #354 “Jetsetter”
This article was contributed by Calixto García-Vélez, director of Polo & Equestrian for Casa de Campo, as well as Managing Director of Sports for The Sporting Life