PoloBARN - Steve Crowder Polo Report

Oct. 13th, '03: The Lights Are Out – It’s the end of the polo year in Santa Barbara. On Sunday the final horn blew the same way it has for the last 3 years giving the Last Silver Cup of ‘03 to General Lee Pettigrew and his Canadian Freight train Mercari. They ran away with the last big cup in Indio, the Governor’s Cup, and they did it again in S.B., but this time it was no runaway for sure. Mr. Clark, as in John Clark, came to have a little fun and he did. They were tied with 14 seconds to go when a # 5 was blown against Redwood and Fass-etta (Mariano Fassetta ) and Star were on the fly to goal and sent it thru with a swoosh. It was a battle all the way as the score was tied or 1 up all but one chukker. When it was Mercari by 3, Redwood had a rally to tie it back up. Peter Ganibi, as a sub for Jimmer Newman, and General Lee were outstanding players for both their teams. The pace of the game was fast and fairly clean all the way. The umps were oops, but that was expected in the consolation finals. It was once beaten Mansour blasting the sand out of Long Beach and Ben Solemani did not even get into a fight with Ms. Walker, which was also a pleasant surprise. So the trailers have headed out of town and the show moves East for a while, but we will be back. Guess what? The sun came out for the last 3 days of the S.B. season, so now they can grow some grass. They need it.

Summer recap coming soon. See ya.

Oct. 11th, '03: The Final Day. It's General Lee Pettigrew and Mr. Clark in the final day at S.B. They stood the charge as 2 of the 3 undefeated teams and net goals were a factor as Mercari finished with 13, Redwood with 10, and Long Beach with 8. It came down to Bracket 2 not completley dying on the vine as it was harvest time. We all knew it. The Surfer (Diego Cossio) and the Lawman (Matt Ladin) came roaring back and with the help of their patron. Ben Solemani had a few calls go against Mansour and they lost in O.T. The only team from Bracket 2 to win a game as Nicoma beat Mansour. Doreen Ladin put Ben Solemani on her hip and took it to goal.

In the next game it was Long Beach with sexy Lady Cristina Walker and her family beating up family member Uncle Henry and winning by 3 against the Plastic team Beverly Hills Institute. Then it was Mercari and General Lee giving a royal a_ _ beating to Western Badge and Mr. Fair Banks, beating them by 6. Fast Etta (Mariano Fassetta) blew by the boys in orange for 12 goals in the final game of the day. Gehache trying to stay above water, but it was not to be as Mr. Clark let it rip and kept it close. Redwood then did a tap dance on Gehache in the 6th and it was adios Long Beach as they get to play the second game or consolation against Mansour who can win one more time in 2003.

So Sunday it will be:

11 a.m. Nicoma vs Gechachie
11 a.m. Western Badge Vs Prime Source
1. p.m. Mansour vs Long Beach
3. p.m. Mercari vs Redwood

SO SEE YOU AT POLO the last time in S.B. in 03

Oct. 10th, '03: The Last Harvest Is Here - There are two days to go and its going to be fun. Bracket 1 has one team still in the race and it's Mr. Clarks REDWOOD. They play Gehache who has a loss and Redwood is +7. Bracket B has not won a game and Bracket c has been undefeated and have killed Bracket B. It comes down to Long Beach + 5 against Beverly Hills who are - 12 and then it's Nicoma - 5 against Mansour who lead the charge at + 11 and at 1 p.m its Mercari + 5 vs. Western Badge - too many. The winner will be the teams undefeated with the most net goals and 4 teams could go undefeated. Then the goals could be giant #'s at the end of the day. Bracket B can go pick grapes, but their scores will be so important. Can Gehache get back on track or will Redwood blow them down? Be there it should be fun.

See you at polo.

Oct. 5th,'03: No Sun In Santa Barbara - Well polo is not over on the Gold Coast, but maybe the sunshine is. We have been here for a week and did see the sun for a few short hours on Sat., but no mass. However the polo has been hot and they are doing fine in the final tournament of the year, the Wickenden Cup. It’s a 3 bracket fix in 4 playing days and here is the way it is.

4 team bracket winners goes to finals. 2 - three team brackets and playing across. So far it has been pretty lopsided as Mansour with Benjamin Solemoni playing big brother Ben. Ben has been very helpful for the Palomino (Jason Crowder) and Joe Wayne as they burned Baker and H. Walker on Satuday by 7 and killed Western Badge in a mismatch on Sunday. Bracket 2 continued to be fish food for bracket 3 as 3 generations of Walkers Beat up Western Badge on Saturday and slid by Nicoma on Sunday with Mr. Ken Walker proving senior citizens are still on the move as he flies down the field at 77. General Lee Pettigrew is back in town from up north and looking ready to let the Canadian Freight run as they spanked Nicoma on Saturday and took the plastic out of Beverly Hills on Sunday. It could be interesting if all 3 in 3 are 3-0 with net goals looking very big this coming Sat.

Bracket 1 is looking Red so far as Captain Clark, John Clark that is, moving a little like the big trees they are named after. That’s up as Peter Ganibi who is subbing. He is getting the role down and they are flying by as they stopped Prime Source and edged Little but big Artie Cameron in OT on Sunday.

It was Ken Berry and First Republic taking to OT losses on the weekend losing to Gehache on Sat and then Redwood on Sunday after staging some major comebacks in both games. It all looks like this more or less (see team brackets in the right column of this page).

Oct. 6th, '03: So Long San Diego - Its all over in San Diego, but the crying. As polo comes to a healthy ending for 2003. It was a big finish as 10 teams in the 6 Goal and 6 teams in the 14-Goal made for a great show to finish it off. It was quite a voyage for Voyager as Silent Chris Maloney and Steve Dalton found the winning way in the end and Marcelo Abiatti, playing his final tournament, went out a hero making the big one with the clock ticking away. The he field could be a little better, but when 5 fields have 9 games a day for 4 weeks it just going to be that way. It is not astro turf. All in all it was a great time where the surf meets the turf thanks to SDPC and all its staff.

See you in 04.