April closed the Florida season with a final worth waiting for. Valiente beat Orchard Hill 11-9 on 19 April to win the 111th U.S. Open Polo Championship at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, at the third attempt after losing the final in 2013 and 2014.
The line-ups
- Valiente: Bob Jornayvaz, Alejo Taranco, Guillermo Terrera and Adolfo Cambiaso, a 26-goal side.
- Orchard Hill: Steve Van Andel, Facundo Pieres, Polito Pieres and Ezequiel Ferrario.
How the final was won
Polito Pieres gave Orchard Hill a two-goal cushion after the first chukker and they led 5-4 at the interval, with Valiente repeatedly drawing level. The fourth chukker changed the picture: Cambiaso scored three straight field goals for a hat trick, and Valiente went in front 7-5 for the first time. Orchard Hill hit straight back with three in the fifth, two from Polito and one from Facundo, and edged ahead 8-7. Facundo then added a penalty from 135 yards and another from the line to put his side two clear.
Then came the swing. Orchard Hill lost a challenge to a penalty one awarded to Valiente, and Terrera tied it at 9-9. Taranco scored from the penalty line to make it 10-9, and with about a minute left Cambiaso snatched the ball from a pack of players and galloped through for the clincher. Valiente conceded 12 fouls to Orchard Hill’s 18.
- MVP: Alejo Taranco, who scored four goals.
- Best playing pony of the final: Frenchita, ridden by Facundo Pieres.
- Best playing pony of the Open: Cambiaso’s mare Romana, which took the Willis Hartman Trophy.
Chile are world champions
Earlier in the month, in Santiago, Chile won the tenth FIP World Polo Championship by beating the United States 12-11 in overtime on 1 April. The Americans led 5-2 at half-time, but Chile scored four times in the fourth chukker and levelled just before the end of regulation. Mario Silva scored the winner shortly into overtime. For the USA, Jesse Bray scored five, Felipe Viana three, Remy Muller two and Patrick Uretz one, and Muller was named Sportsman of the Tournament. Second place is the best American finish since they won the title in 1989.
Sources: Town-Crier Newspaper, Hurlingham Polo Magazine
