The sun shined on Santa Barbara and on the hard-working Stone Canyon Entertainments team which took an 11-10 win over Duende in the Pope Challenge Final June 3rd.

Stone Canyon in black and red had Artie Cameron Jr. with the no 1. shirt on (despite some occasional slippage to Artie's accustomed place at back!) with Alfonso Giannico and Carlos Avendano anchoring the team at 2 and 3 and Brad Schlei at back.
Duende in blue and yellow lined up with Jason Crowder in front, Kris Kampsen at 2, Mariano Fassetta at 3 and Mike Haken at back.

A slow first chukker saw Stone Canyon two goals ahead, both from Carlos Avendano with no score for the blue/yellow team. The youthful Duende team played a skilled and determined game in the second chukker for five goals, all from the field - three for Jason Crowder and two for Kris Kampsen - who made a huge run from mid field to the goal mouth, but had his goal thwarted by brilliant defensive play by Carlos Avendano. A repeat run a few minutes later for Kampsen, from a brilliant pick-up by Mariano Fassetta, was rewarded by a goal despite Carlos' best efforts.

Two goals each in the third chukker (one each to Crowder, Fassetta, and Artie Cameron and a penalty 2 taken by Carlos Avendano) set the score at 7 goals to 4 in Duende's favour at half time.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and Carlos Avendano and Alfonso Giannico pulled it all out in the fourth and fifth chukkers for a total of 7 goals (including one penalty 1 goal awarded after a lovely run to goal by Brad Schlei off Carlos' pass was interfered with at goal mouth) to Duende's one.
A masterful goal from Kris Kampsen through thick defense in the final chukker, and a penalty 2 goal taken by Mariano Fassetta (over the scoreboard) with a minute to go brought Duende within reach by one goal but time was running in favour of Stone Canyon, which took the match with final score of 11-10.

Best Playing Pony (professional) went to Gaucho, Carlos Avendano's 9 year old gray gelding bred at Carlos' Argentine ranch. Best Playing Pony (Alegria) went to Mike Haken's Alegria - Mike bought this lovely 6 year old bay mare off the race-track and made her from his Rancho Duende in the desert.

Although player of the match must certainly go to Carlos Avendano, the moment of the match goes to Mariano Fassetta, who showed real class when he stopped in the middle of the tense second chukker to pick up opposing man Alfonso Giannico's mallet. A big round of applause erupted from the crowd in appreciation for this gesture of real sportsmanship from the 5-goal Argentine player.

The Pope Challenge Consolation was won by Mansour, from Long Beach, 12 goals to 10. Mansour lined up with Roxy Keyfauver at the front, Agustin Zavaleta at 2, Santiago Trotz at 3 and sponsor Ben Soleimani at back.

The Long Beach team of four Walkers (Ken at the front, Matt and Dan at 2 and 3 and Henry at back playing with an injured knee) made its trademark strong start with four goals to two in the first two chukkers. One on the board for the 11-goal Walker team made it 5-2 going into the third.

A spectacular crash between Dan and Matthew Walker thirty seconds into the second chukker delayed the game while both players remounted. (We understand that Matthew's horse Sonny, taken from the field injured, is well on the road to recovery).

A huge comeback from Mansour in the third and fourth chukkers (7 goals to 1 from Long Beach) put the yellow team ahead by 9 to 6 going into the fifth period - a lead Long Beach just could not catch despite strong play in the last two chukkers. The final score was 12-10.