NEWS

The summer season kicked off at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club on Friday, April 29. With the GAUNTLET OF POLO coming to an end, the club based in Carpinteria, California, will offer competitive tournaments at the 12- and 18-goal levels. The first tournament proved to be especially noteworthy, with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, joining the field. Following his win with Los Padres in the opening tournament of the season, Prince Harry will continue to play the entire 12-goal season at Santa Barbara through June.

“We decided to play in Santa Barbara because Harry lives here. We came up with the idea to be able to use our team for charitable purposes,” Nacho Figueras told CLICKPOLO.

Figueras, a longtime friend of Prince Harry, was very pleased with last weekend’s results. “I think we had a good game and we improved from our previous match where we still didn't know each other and we were a little bit anxious,” Figueras added.

CLICKPOLO sat down with Figueras to learn more about the creation of the Los Padres team.

How did you come up with the team name Los Padres?
"We named the team like that due to Los Padres National Park that surrounds the area, but it is also a reference to the connection we both have today in life as parents."

Besides Prince Harry and yourself, what can you tell us about the team?
"The other two players are Kristos "Keko" Magrini* and Juan Guerrero. They are both two very good young players, they are only 16 years old and have a very bright future ahead, but also a very good present. They played really well and I feel very proud and happy for both of them. This was just the beginning and we need to keep ourselves focused and working hard to keep the good results coming."

How will your season continue?
"I will play here until June and will then go to Aspen [Colorado] from July to August, where I have already been playing with the Ganzi family for the last couple of seasons. Aspen [Polo Club in Carbondale] is a really nice place to play and polo over there is very entertaining."

*Kristos ‘Keko’ Magrini is an Active Team USPA Member. 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 courtesy of ©Kerri Kerley.