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Avendano 2000. Palm Beach Children's February polo tournament. Report. By equiworld.net boss John Crawford. Never having been to the world famous Palm Beach Polo Club in Florida, I did not know quite what to expect. I have to admit that I had just a little trouble getting to see Cali Garcia the director of polo operations for he is a very busy man. Luckily a chance meeting at breakfast brought me nose to nose with the very chap I wanted to meet and more helpful he just could not have been. Now that's when I got roped into helping Mimi Gracida with the Sunday Children's tournament
Everyone from children who's parents were expert players with grooms to help all the way, to one young fella who had to be lent a hat, a pair of breeches, a stick and a pony! Me? My first job was to take the register and collect the money from the seventy plus players. (I reckon they knew I was Scottish?) That done and the money duly collected, I was to be treated to an action packed day. Nineteen teams of four payers would do battle on this day and the weather and ground conditions were just ideal. Teams of four of course, each team playing four competitions of one chukka, in a round robin, which Mimi never seemed to lose track of! Everything from the peewee's in a lead-rein chukka on a mini pitch to the eldest groups who although less than 15 years old seemed to travel at lightning speed. Well I suppose you that if your second name is Gracida, Laprida, Pierres or Lalor and you are mounted on a pony, which hardly seems to need a rider that can be expected! Hey but don't get me wrong here! As always in all good polo the camaraderie and support from parents and between players from the bottom to the very top was outstanding. There was indeed some handsome play at all levels with no accidents (well none worth mentioningJ) no one lost tempers, bad riding or behaviour - just lots and lots of happy faces.
And so to the results. FIELD 15A. 3.00PM ROUND ROBIN.
FIELD 15A. 4.00PM.
FIELD 15 B. 3.00PM.
FIELD 15B. 4.00PM
FIELD 15C. 3.00PM.
FIELD 15C. 3.00PM
FIELD 15C. 3.30PM
Left to Right: Carlos Gracida, Mimi Gracida, John Crawford & Memo Gracida Please Visit John Crawford's Page for further details. |
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