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The Southwestern Circuit Women’s Arena Challenge

The La Aguada Ladies Cup

The Southwestern Circuit Women’s Arena Challenge was held at the Texas Military Polo Club over 15 – 16 October, with three teams entered the tournament took on a round robin format combined with continuous scorekeeping, which meant each team played two chukkas in a round robin. At the end of Saturday’s chukkas there was an overnight half-time, Elite Motion led 6-4 over LeasePlan, Bar Spur led 6-3 over LeasePlan and Bar Spur and Elite Motion remained in a 5-5 tie. The second half was played on Sunday 16 October and the last two chukkas of the day served as the Final as both Bar Spur and Elite Motion had 1-0 records and were tied at 5-5. Bar Spur ran out the winners with a score of 8-7. Elite Motion’s Audry Persano was chosen as the Most Valuable Player, and I’iwi, played by Tiamo Hudspeth and owned by Amanda and Mark Osburn, was selected as Best Playing Pony.

The Southwestern Circuit Women’s Arena Challenge Teams:

Bar Spur: Amanda Osburn, Wendy Stover & Tiamo Hudspeth LeasePlan: Lisa Yanskey, Samantha Leech & Megan Rahlfs Elite Motion: Lauren Sterr, Amanda Massey & Audry Persano

Photograph by David Murrell

Elite Motion’s Audry Persano & Bar Spur’s Wendy Stover compete for the ball

Ouro Fino Brasil, winners of The La Aguada Ladies Cup

The La Aguada Ladies Cup saw six teams up to 16 goals compete across two leagues at the Novillo Astrada family’s Club, the tournament has been played since 2008 and remains a highlight of the spring season in Argentina. Ouro Fino Brasil beat El Gurí 11-8 in the Final to take the title, with Milly Hine chosen as the Most Valuable Player. Meanwhile the Subsidiary Trophy II was won by Jean-Pierre Joyeros after defeating Squad 9-7 and the Subsidiary Trophy I, went to Aruba Polo Team who took a 7-5 win over Polo Angels.

The La Aguada Ladies Cup Final Teams:

Ouro Fino Brasil (16): Milagros Sanchez (7), Sofia Rivas (5), Eduarda Engler (2) & Lucia Junqueira (2) El Gurí (15): Juana Pando (2), Milly Hine (7), Olivia Jauretche (3) & Olivia Merlos (3)

The Ladies Charity Cup

AM Polo, winners of The Ladies Charity Cup

Photograph by AHPRC

Al Habtoor Polo Club kicked off its polo season with The Ladies Charity Cup which is in its fourth year. The exhibition cup supports the Al Jalila Foundation and Breast Friends during breast cancer awareness month with the pink-themed event drawing in spectators for an afternoon of polo. AM Polo defeated defending champions Hesketh Polo 5-3½ with a last-minute comeback to take the title. Her Highness Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum as the Most Valuable Player and Zuma, played by Lee Slimming was the Best Playing Pony.

International & Home Women’s Polo The Southwestern Circuit Women’s Challenge

The Southwestern Circuit Women’s Challenge Final between Chandler Ranch and Spiritless was played at Houston Polo Club on Sunday 20 November. Spiritless began with a half goal handicap advantage, but by half-time Chandler Ranch had managed to take the lead, 3-2½ after two goals in quick succession from Megan Flynn and Tiamo Hudspeth. However, Spiritless managed to hold Chandler Ranch goalless for the entire second half, while Spiritless’ Cara Kennedy was able to score in both the third and fourth chukkas to take the win, 4½-3. Grace Mudra was awarded Most Valuable Player for her performance in both attack and defence, Indigo Wood, played by Tiamo Hudspeth and owned by Bobby McCan, was awarded Best Playing Pony Professional and Peanut, played by Cara Kennedy and owned by Colleen Williams, was awarded Best Playing Pony Amateur.

A smiling Spiritless team of Kaile Roos, Jenna Davis, Cara Kennedy & Grace Mudra

The Southwestern Circuit Women’s Challenge Final Teams:

Chandler Ranch: Megan Flynn, Tiamo Hudspeth, Stephanie Massey Colburn & Roxy Mounter Spiritless: Jenna Davis, Cara Kennedy, Grace Mudra & Kaile Roos

The U.S. Open Women’s Handicap

Photography by Houston Polo Club

QR Jets, winners of The U.S. Open Women’s Handicap Sarah Wiseman was named Most Valuable Player

Both finalists had met earlier in the tournament when BCI/Alliant defeated QR Jets, so there was all to play for come the Final on Friday 18 November. Grace Mudra, Lily Lequerica, KC Krueger and Sarah Wiseman lost out in last year’s Texas Women’s Open (playing under the team name Engel & Volker’s Houston) and returned to the Club with the same team and same coach as in 2021, Sarah Wiseman commented, “We’re not letting this happen again”. After their loss to BCI/Alliant earlier in the tournament, QR Jets tweaked their tactics and knew they had to be more disciplined and mark effectively. BCI/Alliant received a two goal handicap advantage, but QR Jets managed to stifle their goal scoring and by half-time had taken a 4-3 lead. After a regroup and team chat, BCI/Alliant responded with two unanswered goals from Sophie Grant to take the lead, but QR Jets outscored in the final chukka and secured themselves a 7-5 victory. For Grace Mudra this was her third title, having also won in 2016 and 2017. Sarah Wiseman was chosen as the Most Valuable Player, Theresa, owned and played by KC Krueger was the Best Playing Pony Amateur and Don Juan, played and owned by Maddie Grant was the Best Playing Pony.

The U.S. Open Women’s Handicap Final Teams:

QR Jets: Grace Mudra, Lily Lequerica, KC Krueger & Sarah Wiseman BCI/Alliant: Cara Kennedy, Sophie Grant, Maddie Grant & Anna Winslow-Palacios

UK End of Season Handicap Changes

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) has announced the women’s handicap changes following the end of the 2022 outdoor season in the UK and also the new outdoor handicaps for mixed tournaments, which will come into effect on 1 January 2023. Anyone not handicapped at this meeting will start with either their mixed handicap conversion, highest women’s handicap in the world or previous handicap (whichever is higher). The full list of handicap changes can be viewed at hpa-polo.co.uk but some of the highlights include: 8 to 9 goals: Candelaria Fernandez Araujo 7 to 8 goals: Milly Hine 5 to 6 goals: Azucena Uranga 4 to 5 goals: Lucy Keen and Olivia Merlos 3 to 4 goals: Sheika Maitha 2 to 3 goals: Sheikha Alya Al Maktoum