NEWS

The 2018 Carlton & Keleen Beal Cup 12-goal tournament final turned out to be a rather one sided contest as Geoff Palmer and his Antelope polo team (Geoff Palmer, Santiago Trotz, Jared Sheldon*, Remy Du Celliee Muller*) outscored Danny Walker and Ben Soleimani’s Farmers & Merchants Bank/RH Polo group (Ben Soleimani, Mariano Fassetta, Santiago Von Wernich, Alonso Cruz – substitute for injured Walker) by an average of one goal per chukker and cruised to a 14-9 victory.

Having to give up one goal at the start, based on handicap difference, Antelope won the opening throw-in and scored in the first 25 seconds. Farmers & Merchants/RH answered back and led after the first 2-1. Antelope exploded with five goals in the second to lead by three 6-3. The scoring was even in the third chukker to maintain the gap and Antelope's lead 8-5 at the half.

Antelope counted three more in the fourth to only two for Farmers & Merchants/RH increasing their lead to four goals 11-7. The fifth chukker was much of the same. Antelope continued to play a running game, scoring twice more. Farmers & Merchants/RH were not able to keep up and counted just one. Scoring was even in the last period, Antelope capturing the victory with a final score 14-9.
 Antelope scoring was led by Trotz with eight goals. Trotz was the unanimous choice as the Most Valuable Player, based on his dominating open and influential play, and his mare Pepper was selected as the Best Playing Pony.

*Jared Sheldon and Remy Du Celliee Muller are members of Team USPA. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos ©Kaylee Wroe Photography