NEWS

The Argentine fall season witnessed a thrilling final match of the prestigious Copa Republica, held on Palermo's Field 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The final match saw two 20-goal formations face off in a competitive showdown. Cuatro Vientos (Tomás Ferrari, Lorenzo Chavanne, Santiago Chavanne, Santiago Laborde) defeated Santa Maria de Lobos (Gonzalo Di Ciurcio, Mackenzie Weisz*, Benjamín Panelo, Marcos Panelo Jr.) 12-6 to take the title. American player Weisz played an impressive game, scoring three goals for his team, while Laborde emerged as the top scorer of the game with six goals.

Santa Maria de Lobos began the match flat footed but managed to score the only goal of the first chukker. Cuatro Vientos quickly responded, turning the game around and heading into halftime with a 5-2 lead. They continued their dominance throughout the game, ultimately emerging as champions for the second time in the last three years.

Weisz's performance at the Copa Republica is significant for American Polo, highlighting the growing presence of American players in international polo tournaments. Despite his team's loss, Weisz's individual performance was acknowledged, showcasing his skills and ability to compete at the highest level.

Santiago Chavanne was named the Most Valuable Player, while V8 Petaca, played by Chavanne, and Open Panadera, played by Lorenzo Chavanne, received the Best Playing Pony and the AACCP Raza Polo Argentino awards, respectively.

The La Cañada Open, the highest-rated tournament of the fall season in Argentina, came to a close last weekend in Buenos Aires, with several American players taking part in the competition. The highlight of the tournament was the final match between La Natividad and El Overo, which saw La Natividad win 11-8 and take home the coveted trophy. La Natividad were led by brothers Camilo and Barto Castagnola, who paired up with Toly Ulloa and Rufino Lauhle to clinch the title. They faced tough competition from El Overo, which included Lukin Monteverde, Teo Lacau, and cousins Cruz and Antonio Heguy.

In the subsidiary Alejandro Cavanagh Cup, Jared Zenni’s* team, Don Urbano, claimed victory over Centauros in the handicap final. Zenni was joined by Alejandro Muzzio, Santiago Loza, and Marcelo Garrahan, while Centauros fielded a strong lineup consisting of Segundo Bocchino, Facundo Llosa, Pedro Falabella and Kristos 'Keko' Magrini*.

The La Cañada Open had more American participation, as Mackenzie Weisz and Jesse Bray* also took part in the competition but lost in the semifinals. Overall, the La Cañada Open was a highly-competitive tournament, with American players making a strong showing alongside some of the best Argentine players.

*Mackenzie Weisz and Kristos 'Keko' Magrini are Active Team USPA Members. Jared Zenni and Jesse Bray are Team USPA alumni. 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 ©Guadalupe Aziaga.