Dueños 2012: The “Copa Dueños” Polo Tournament by Tania Evans

This post is also available in: Spanish

Last Saturday the 10th of November, the final sporting activity for the Casa de Campo villa owners enjoying the Dueños 2012 activity for Casa de Campo villa owners hosted by Costasur and Casa de Campo was the polo tournament. Here we bring you an article about the tournament contributed by Tania Evans, a player on the winning team – who as a keen equestrian and polo player describes this superb sport and game played between teams “Casa de Campo” and “La Potranca” with great insight and passion – thank you Tania! Polo at Dueños 2012 – by Tania Evans At 4 in the afternoon on Dueños Saturday (November 10th), puffy white clouds bonnetted a line of cars driving to the sideline to watch the Dueños 2012 polo tournament – the “Copa Dueños”. Each passed the endline where players pulled on boots over whites and donned team shirts. A bevy of grooms buzzed around the horses, brushing and saddling. Ponies stomped and swished their tails, high on pre-play adrenalin. 4 to 6 horses per player stood ready. 4 players per team. 6 periods of play. A few grooms jumped on horses to canter along the field edge, working out kinks and checking for the sound of loose shoes. At home for me in the northern United States, games are normally 2 goals. Here in Dominican Republic we would play this match at 6 goals. What a fortuitous leap for me! What a rare opportunity! Often when I’m in Dominican Republic, Director of the Casa de Campo Polo Club, Calixto García-Velez (Cali) plays on my team. He drives the small ball 200 yards up to me and drops it two strides in front of my horse. During the “Copa Dueños”, instead, Cali was the main umpire, with local player Herbert Schoderbock the second umpire. Third referee on the sidelines, at the apex of power if the two field umpires can’t agree, is the inimitable Dr. Jose Lopez, Health Vice President of Central Romana and Director of the Centro Médico, who meets and greets, talks politics and medicine while watching every single second of the game.

Annie & Alfonso Paniagua with Luis Carbuccia in the stands

The first chukker was a bit rough as players settled into the teams and a goal for each went up on the board. Second chukker saw us all moving swiftly out of the throw in. La Patranca’s JJ Schiffino quickly put himself out front to receive balls from his mates and our 4 Rafa as quickly neturalized him in the strike zone. On our side, we gained a goal. Out of the mix of chukker three, our Julio took the ball and passed it up to a swift Rafa at the center line. Rafa then cannoned the ball 100 yards to goal. This feat he accomplished more than once and he scored all his penalty shots.  For earning 5 of his team’s final 8 goals, Rafa won MVP (most valuable player). He sidled around nimble La Patranca defense on his horse “La Discordia”, which he bought from the Casa de Campo Polo Club breeding program last summer. This mare won BPP (best playing pony) for her talent. The Casa de Campo Polo Club breeding operation is coming into it’s own. “This beautiful thoroughbred mare,” says Cali, “would be at home in any patron’s or pro’s string anywhere in the world.”

Julio Lopez riding out for team “Casa de Campo”

I spent most of my time on defense and Luis Alfonso Paniagua  moved to goal. He rode well despite recovering from a collarbone injury. It was my job to mark the elegant Tony Rivera whom I began calling (to myself) “hit man” because he’s deadly in the back zone – marking Tony is to be instructed in how to play. At the 6 chukker opening, 7-5, came a shift in the atmosphere. When time is short the galloping gets faster. My claim to fame was a block to a La Patronca goal within 4 feet of the post. Then both teams scored. A cheerful, focused Alfredo Vargas rode a very nice Club pony Plateada, #320, that he maneuvered inside the 30 several times against strong defense but scoring eluded him. As time ticked, Rivera got serious and carried the ball from behind to the front where he drove it home at an acute angle that raised La Patranca by one. With a score of 8-7, the momentum was now La Patranca’s but it came too late. The last whistle shrilled. At the endline, grooms took the reins of horses still blowing hard from the fast chukker. The old sun mellowed to orange. Spectators revved up for home, pausing their vehicles at the endline to take in the bucolic vision of tired horses and happy players packing up mallets beside the smooth green cancha under the pinking clouds.

Winning Team: Casa de Campo

Players:

• Julio Lopez • Rafa Perez Diez • Luis Alfonso Paniagua • Tania Evans

Runner Up: La Potranca

Players:

• Tony Rivera • Roberto Garcia Bisono • Alfredo Vargas • JJ Schiffino • Pedro Cabrera

The following photos were taken during the “Copa Dueños” polo tournament on Saturday November 10th, 2012: e 

Article contributed by Casa de Campo villa owner, Tania Evans – many thanks Tania.

Tania G Evans Riverbend Equine Services Consulting, Research, Appraisals riverbendfarm@comcast.net www.riverbendequineservices.com