PoloBARN Polo Events, Polo Clubs, Polo Tournaments and Polo Equipment

Poway Arena Polo hosted the
2002 USPA National Arena Amateur Cup (0-3 goal) Tournament
Nov. 2 - 3, 2002
By Russ Sheldon

Sunday Nov. 3 - FinalsThe USPA National Amateur Cup Finals

Polo Dude and Playa Grande squared off in the finals of the Amateur Cup with the score at the end of the first chukker Polo Dude 2 and Playa Grande 1.
The second chukker saw Polo Dude come alive scoring 5 goals to Playa Grande's 1 which totaled a score of Polo Dude 7 and Playa Grande 2 at half> time. During half time USPA National Arena Chairman, Tom Goodspeed visited the teams and offered words of encouragement and answered strategy questions.

Photo on left: Tom Goodspeed, Jared Sheldon, Shane Rice, Cary Burch and Russ Sheldon.

In the third chukker Playa Grande drew quite a few penalties against Polo Dude, but they were unable to capitalize on the penalty shots and missed 5 penalty out of 7.. Polo Dude was hot with two penalty shots and six scored from the field to take a 15 to 4 lead after 3 chukkers. In fourth chukker Playa Grande turn things around by scoring 4 goals, but it was not enough to close the gap. Polo Dude won the finals 17 to 8.

MVP Shane Rice. Best Playing Pony was Banjo, ridden by Theo Wakefield,
owned by Denny Geiler

The Playa Grande Team showed outstanding teamwork, rotating quickly, communicating well, but they could not convert the penalty shots when it counted. The hard work and practice they put in prior to the tournament was very evident.

Photo on left: Denny Geiler, Heather Schuberth, Theo Wakefield and Tom Goodspeed.

The Polo Dude Team also showed the advantage of teamwork. The team was headed up by Shane Rice, 2002 Interscholastic Player of the year, his cousin/Interscholastic Teammate Jared Sheldon and newly wed Cary Burch (who hosted a 70's disco party at his new home Saturday night for all the polo players and friends). You will have to see the photo's of Cary Burch and Billy Sheldon in costume. What characters!

USPA National Arena Chairman and 9-goal arena player, Tom Goodspeed, presented the awards to the winners of the MVP, Best Playing Pony and a plaque to all players who played in the 2002 USPA National Arena Amateur Cup Tournament. The awards furnished by USPA for the winners and Best Playing Pony were outstanding.

Picture on the left: Shane Rice won MVP.

The USPA National Amateur Cup Consolation Game

Poledeo Ranch vs. Pick up Stix. It was a quick paced game that was not decided until midway through the 4th. chukker when Poledeo Ranch teammates Mark Regrister and Sherry Sheldon combined their efforts to shut down Pick up Stix and secure the win. Poledeo Ranch won 10 to 6.
The Amateur Cup Finals was preceded by a chukker of Pee Wee Polo with 8 youngsters (some on lead lines). The excitement displayed by the youngsters riding the horses that just finished playing was heart warming. Poway had to promise to set up a 4 chukker afternoon just for the youngsters to come back and play. Ages ranged from a strong 4 to an old 8, but they all played like they were experienced players.

Preliminary Tournament Round Robin Results
Scalawags 5 vs. Poway 4, Playa Grande 7 vs. Poway 3, Playa Grande 9 vs.
Scalawags 2

Playa Grande took home the silver for the Preliminary Finals.
MVP Brent Soto, Best Playing Pony - Quincy ridden by Adam Sheldon, owned by
Russ Sheldon. The Playa Grande Team lead by Claudio Manfrin with booming shots, Aldy Jerney quick turns and being the first to the ball and anchored by Dave Schuberth who always kept the back door slammed shut, was just too much for the Scalawags and Poway. Congratulations to Playa Grande for great teamwork and super sportsmanship. They seemed to be quite happy carrying the Silver home.

Results from Saturday Nov. 2, '02

Preliminary Round Robin Tournament

Saturday started with a Preliminary Round Robin Tournament featuring Scalawags (Eric Soto, Adam Sheldon, Brent Soto, who are also members of the Poway Interscholastic Team) against Poway Maroon (Susan Harris, Nancy Kirchhofer, Bobby Velesbir) The match resulted in a tie with a score of Scalawags 6 and Poway 6. Playa Grande (Dave Schuberth, Aldy Jerney, Claudio Manfrin) vs. Poway. Playa Grande won 8 to 2. Playa Grande vs. Scalawags (Playa Grande won 10 to 5)

MVP Aldy Jerney, Best Playing Pony - Eric Soto's white Pony Magic Eric Soto scored his first 2 point goal (14 yrs old & has only been playing 6 months).

USPA Amateur Cup

Polo Dude vs. Pick up Stix. Polo Dude won 19 to 6. Polo Dude (Jared Sheldon, Shane Rice, and Cary Burch)
Pick up Stix (Kathy Winn, Gary Martin, and Russ Sheldon)

Playa Grande vs. Polodeo Ranch (Playa Grande won 12 to 5) Playa Grande (Heather Schuberth, Theo Wakefield and Denny Geiler). Polodeo Ranch (Steve Bradford, Mark Register and Sherry Sheldon)

Winners Polo Dude and Playa Grande advanced to the Sunday Finals.

All the players thanked Billy Sheldon, A rated USPA Arena Umpire, Shane Rice - B rated, Russ Sheldon - B rated, Mark Register -C rated and Kathy Winn - C rated for the job they did in officiating the game and keeping it moving and safe. A Job well done.