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Grand Champions Ends Successful Fall Season Saturday With Holiday Doubleheader

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Grand Champions Ends Successful Fall Season Saturday With Holiday Doubleheader

WELLINGTON, November 30, 2019---It's Show Time at Grand Champions Polo Club on Saturday with its traditional season-ending holiday doubleheader. 


The club's successful fall season ends with the Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial at 1 p.m. and International Cup at 3 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. 

The opening game honors the legacy of the Hall of Famer and one of the sport's greats, who died tragically in February, 2014 at age 53. 

Carlos Gracida

Gracida, one of the sport's most beloved players, started playing when he was 5, reached 10 goals at age 25 and held the highest possible rating for 15 years. He won the U.S. Open nine times and British Open ten times. He was said to be Queen Elizabeth's favorite player. He coached Princes William and Harry and played alongside them several times.

His oldest son, Carlitos Gracida, 28, and Argentine Open six-time champion Horacio Heguy head the star-studded lineups.


The rosters for the game between DePaula/Aspen Valley Polo Club and Grand Champions Polo Club are:

DePaula/Aspen Valley Polo Club (21): Carlitos Gracida, 4, Sugar Erskine, 6, Horacio Heguy, 6, Juan Bollini, 5.

Carlitos Gracida

Grand Champions Polo Club (19): Ale Poma, 2, Jason Crowder, 6, Kris Kampsen, 6, Tommy Biddle, 5. 

In last year's legends game, Gracida Wine (Julio Gracida, Mariano Gracida, Riley Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida) won 6-2 over American Polo Horse (Santos Bollini, Weston Gracida, Wes Finlayson, Whistle Uys). Carlitos Gracida was MVP.

In the featured match at 3 p.m., GCPC-USA will put its seven-year International Cup win streak on the line against France. It is the eighth time Grand Champions will host a major international men's game.

Grant Ganzi

The rosters for the game are:

GCPC-USA (17): Marc Ganzi, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Juancito Bollini, 4.

France (17): Louis Jarrige, 3, Julien Reynes, 4, Edouard Pan, 4, Pierre Henri Ngoumou, 6.

"There is always added pressure when you represent your country," said Roldan, America's highest-rated player. "We all have to do our jobs and execute. France is a good team."

Other past GCPC-USA team victories and rosters featuring a Who's Who of polo players are: 2018, U.S. 9, Azerbaijan 7.5, Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Jeff Blake, Juan Bollini; 2017, U.S. 9, Brazil 7, Grant Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Julio Arellano, Mike Azzaro; 2016, U.S. 6, Uruguay, 3, Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Julio Arellano, Nic Roldan; 2015, U.S. 12, South Africa 7, Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan, Julio Arellano; 2014, U.S. 3, Mexico 2.5 and USA 2, Team USPA 1.5, Marc Ganzi, Wes Finlayson, Nic Roldan, Mason Wroe; 2013, U.S. 13, Chile 8, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Jeff Hall, Carlitos Gracida; and 2012,  U.S. 8.5, England 6, Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan. Roldan is a three-time MVP winner.

Juancito Bollini

Tickets and sponsor packages ranging from $20 to $1500 are still available. For tickets, call 561-644-5050 and for sponsorship packages call 561-714-0887. 

Proceeds from the doubleheader benefit The Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the development, history and tradition of the sport of polo by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport.

Grand Champions is closing out another successful fall season.

Newport (Gene Goldstein, Grant Ganzi,  Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan) made club history winning the first-ever Wellington Open high goal tournament of the season.  

Kris Kampsen and Horacio Heguy

The winners of the first five medium goal tournaments at Grand Champions were: Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Pierre Henri Ngoumou), Pedro Morrison Memorial; Newport (Gene Goldstein, Jason Crowder, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini), Fall Plates Tournament; Sebucan (Santos Bollini, Pablo Pulido, Nic Roldan, Kris Kampsen), Fall Classic; Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Kris Kampsen, Pablo Spinacci, Juan Bollini), Tackeria Invitational; and Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Brandon Phillips, Jason Crowder), US Trust Cup. The Polo Gear Challenge final was postponed by rain.

During the 2019 fall season, the nation's largest and busiest polo club, hosted both medium and high goal polo tournaments. 
 
The well-organized fall tournaments attract players from all over the United States and world including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, England, France, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Uruguay, Switzerland, Nigeria and South Africa.

The fall season served as a tuneup for the winter season for players and green horses. The winter season will feature the second season of the highly-successful 26-goal World Polo League at Grand Champions and Valiente Polo Farm with the best polo players in the world.

Nic Roldan

The club takes pride in teaching and sharing the exciting sport of polo with anyone interested in learning. Grand Champions' sister club Aspen Valley Polo Club is coming off its most successful and historical summer season.

Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm cater to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program at the turnkey facility.

The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its' mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School, a stand-alone USPA club, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at  561-346-1099.

2019 Grand Champions Fall Schedule



Nov. 30 1 p.m.
Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial

Nov. 30 3 p.m.
2019 International Cup, GCPC-USA vs. France

THE POLO SCHOOL 

The Polo School at Grand Champions and Director of Operations Juan Bollini are dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. The school's mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. For lessons contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099. 


Chukker TV will live-streame the entire fall polo schedule. ChukkerTV, featuring cutting-edge technology, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club. For advertising opportunities on ChukkerTV please contact Mike Ferreira at mike@chukkertv.com. 


GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera, 561-644-5050, juan.olivera@gcpolo.com; hotline  561-644-5050.

INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.

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