NEWS

Article courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club

Clearwater and Dutta Corp faced off in the USPA Eastern Challenge Final April 30 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

Dutta Corp (Timmy Dutta, Kris Kampsen, Piki Diaz Alberdi, Tim Dutta), a 13-goal team, started off with a four-goal lead against 17-goal Clearwater (Chip Campbell, Michael Bickford, Ezequiel Fernandez, Jeff Hall).

Dutta Corp, coming off its spring season-opening victory in the Santa Rita Abierto, led 5-1 after the opening chukker. Clearwater took advantage of Dutta Corp penalties in the second chukker to score four goals including two on penalties, to cut its deficit to one (6-5). Kampsen scored from the field and Bickford converted a penalty shot in the third chukker with Dutta Corp still holding a one-goal lead for a 7-6 halftime advantage.

In the second half, Clearwater found its offensive attack behind Fernandez, who was unstoppable in the final three chukkers. Clearwater outscored Dutta Corp 5-0 in the fourth and fifth chukkers for an 11-8 lead. Tim Dutta closed the gap with two goals in the final chukker but Dutta Corp was unable to get any closer.

"We trusted each other as a team and I knew we would overcome their four-goal handicap lead," Fernandez said. "We knew Dutta Corp was a good team and we had to play our best to beat them."

Fernandez, the catalyst for Clearwater's second-half comeback, was named Most Valuable Player. Fernandez scored a game-high six goals including five in the second half.

Fernandez' horse, Rosaura, a 9-year-old Argentine mare, was selected Best Playing Pony.

Comedian and actor Pauly Shore was the awards presenter and kept the players and fans in stitches the minute he stepped on the awards podium.

"I am very happy for the team," said Fernandez, a 20-year veteran of the game. "We got along together well and played for each other." Fernandez is preparing to play in Bogota, Colombia for the summer. He has been playing in Colombia the past ten years.