The Ylvisaker Cup and The C.V. Whitney Cup in Full Swing
It has been a busy week at The International Polo Club, Palm Beach as the 20 goal season continues with the Semi Finals of the Ylvisaker Cup and the first round matches of the prestigious 26 goal C.V. Whitney Cup taking place throughout the week.
Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Facundo Pieres, Peke Gonzalez and Lucas Criado) got another step closer to winning the 2016 Ylvisaker Cup by defeating Dubai (Rashid Albwardy, Carlos Gracida, Diego Cavanagh and Alejo Taranco) in Sunday’s Semi Final game. The victory came in overtime by the surprising score of 4-3 in a defensive and low scoring match.
Earlier in the day, Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Tommy Beresford, Felipe Viana and Adolfo Cambiaso) and Palm Beach Illustrated (Nacho Badiola, Jared Zenni, Facundo Obregon and Jesse Bray) faced one another in what remained of the other Semi Final of the Ylvisaker Cup, the original match having been postponed after two chukkas due to rain. In those two chukkas, Valiente had run up a commanding 6-1 lead before the game was postponed. The two teams returned to the field four days later to complete the match, with Valiente on top, 6-1. Palm Beach Illustrated attempted to work their way back into the competition only to be defeated 13-10.
The Final will see rivals Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres battle once more as Orchard Hill take on Valiente for the third and final 20 goal title.
There was no hanging around as the 26 goal season got underway with a tough week for the Valiente teams in the C.V. Whitney Cup. Orchard Hill defeated Valiente 11-8, and White Birch took a 13-11 win over Valiente II. Both games were so well attended that the sidelines looked like a Sunday featured match. Both Valiente teams are now out of contention in the single-elimination tournament. In Wednesday 2 March’s Semi Finals, Orchard Hill will play Lucchese (which got a bye to the Semis), and White Birch will play the winner of the last Quarter Final, Audi who defeated Coca-Cola, 9-7, in an impressive second half come back on Saturday 27 February.
It’s all go in Florida and the International Polo Club, Palm Beach is flying high as leading private aviation company Sentient Jet have renewed and expanded their sponsorship commitment for the 2016 high-goal polo season. The prestigious C.V. Whitney Cup will be presented by Sentient Jet, along with awarding their second annual Sentient Jet Challenge, and the all-new Sentient Soar and Score Challenge at half time.
Photograph: Adolfo Cambiaso’s Valiente may be out of the running for the C.V. Whitney Cup but they will battle for the Ylvisaker Cup next week. By Alex Pacheco
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