As La Dolfina embarks on the international stage, 24-year-old American Quinn Evans has the opportunity of a lifetime to play in the first tournament of the Gauntlet of Polo with one of the most powerful polo organizations in the world.
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Evans’ journey from Union, Oregon, to the international stage of the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, stands as a testament to hard work and passion for the game. Evans’ debut in the C.V. Whitney Cup with La Dolfina, alongside teammates Dillon Bacon, Tomas Panelo and the prodigious Poroto Cambiaso, was marked by a victorious start, defeating The Dutta Corp 14-9. In game two, La Dolfina defeated Pilot 17-12, with one goal coming off the mallet of Evans for his first in the series.
“When I first learned that I was going to play the C.V. Whitney for La Dolfina was an unforgettable moment. It’s hard to put into words to describe what I was feeling at that time. To be able to call and tell my parents and let them know…to hear how excited they were for me and how happy they were was a moment I’ll never forget.” – Quinn Evans
Evans’ reflections on his journey, the preparation for the tournament, and the experience of playing with and against some of the best in the sport offer an inspiring glimpse into the world of high-goal polo. The young American shares the surreal feeling of competing in the C.V. Whitney Cup and the joy of achieving such a significant milestone in his career. As Evans looks forward to continuing his journey in polo, his story serves as a beacon for aspiring athletes, illustrating the power of dedication and the endless possibilities that come with chasing one’s dreams.
Quinn, could you start by telling us a little about yourself?
“I’m 24 years old and I’m rated 1 goal. I was born in Washington and grew up in Union, Oregon. I started playing polo in the Pacific Northwest at the Tacoma Polo Club [Roy, Washington], La Grande Polo Club [La Grande, Oregon] and the Spokane Polo Club [Spokane, Washington]. I started playing polo because it’s been in my family for four generations, I grew up riding and being around horses.”
How did your path lead you to play for La Dolfina, one of the most prestigious organizations in polo?
“The path that led me to where I am today is one that came with a lot of patience and hard work, behind the scenes and with countless people along the way that helped me. Carlos Galindo and his family gave me my first job in polo, Sugar Erskine was the first person I came to Florida with to work for and opened my eyes to this level of polo and competition.
These last couple of years working as a pilot for Gillian Johnston and her organization has been a huge help to me in my polo career. Just to be around the high-goal scene and the level of polo and playing practices with good players and some really good horses helped me get prepared for this opportunity when it came along. I’m so thankful for this and to all the people that helped me get to where I am today.
I think that going to Argentina the last two seasons, playing with Miguel Novillo Astrada and being there to play polo at a high level has been a big step in my improvement and how I play.”
La Dolfina – Dillon Bacon, Quinn Evans, Poroto Cambiaso, Tomas Panelo.
How did you feel when you first learned you’d be playing with La Dolfina in the C.V. Whitney Cup? Can you describe that moment?
“When I first learned that I was going to play the C.V. Whitney for La Dolfina was an unforgettable moment. It’s hard to put into words to describe what I was feeling at that time. Just very excited, lots of joy and to be able to call and tell my parents and let them know…to hear how excited they were for me and how happy they were was a moment I’ll never forget. I felt all the hard work and dedication paying off a little bit. It was a surreal moment for me.”
Competing in the C.V. Whitney Cup is a significant milestone. What does it feel like to participate in such a prestigious tournament, especially as part of La Dolfina?
“Competing in the C.V. Whitney is honestly surreal and amazing, it’s the highest level at which I have played in a tournament so far. The tournament has a lot of history, so to be able to participate and be a part of it is really cool. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and excited to see where it goes and try to enjoy it as much as possible.”
How have you prepared for the C.V. Whitney Cup? What are your personal and team goals for the tournament?
“To prepare for the C.V. Whitney [Cup], I tried to get to know the horses and my teammates as quickly as possible, learn how they played and try to get up to speed. Most importantly I tried to enjoy the moment, take everything in and not put too much pressure on myself. I tried to take it one step at a time and really enjoy this opportunity that not many people have. I feel very lucky and honored.
My personal goals are to try and play my best and have fun and help the team win in any way that I can. The team’s goal is to try and go as far as we can and hopefully win it. I think we have a good, fun team and we have a chance to do well.”
“For me to be able to play [La Dolfina’s] horses and be comfortable quickly is a testament to how deep their horsepower is.” – Quinn Evans
Playing with Poroto Cambiaso must be an exceptional experience. What is it like to share the field with him, and what have you learned from this partnership?
“Playing with Poroto so far has been an unbelievable experience. I watched him from the outside for a couple of years now. He has always been unbelievably quick and talented with the ball. To share the field with him and witness it firsthand and play alongside him takes it to a whole new level. He is always in the right spot making the right decisions, he’s so poised inside the field. It’s been a joy to play with him so I’m trying to learn as much as I can and take anything away that might be helpful to me while I play with him. He makes the game super easy for me and for everybody else in the field to play.”
La Dolfina is renowned not only for its players but also for its exceptional horses. Can you share your experience working with these elite animals?
“La Dolfina has an amazing breeding program and amazing horses. For me to be able to play their horses and be comfortable quickly on horses I don’t know is a testament to how deep their horsepower is and how impressive their organization is. I feel very lucky to be a part of that. I also had the pleasure to work for Gillian Johnston for the last couple of years and she has always been extremely well mounted and has a very good breeding program of her own, so throughout my time in polo, I have played with some amazing equine athletes.”
“It’s a sport unlike any other where you have the chance to meet amazing people along the way. I want to take it step by step to get more opportunities like this.” – Quinn Evans
Who were your major influences in polo when you were starting out?
“One of my major influences was my grandfather Reuben Evans who had 4 goals and won the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 1970 at Oak Brook Polo Club. Having him around, telling stories and sharing his experiences was something truly special that I cherish to this day. Growing up, there was one magazine called Hurlingham Polo which would come with DVD’s of games from around the world and I watched Adolfo Cambiaso playing and winning those games, so he was definitely an influence to me. To now share the field with his son is a surreal moment for me.”
Looking forward, what are your aspirations within the sport? Are there specific tournaments, goals, or achievements you’re aiming for?
“I don’t know if I have any specific goals or tournaments that I want to win, but I want to enjoy my time working, playing, continue to grow and improve and see where it takes me. Hopefully, I get as far as I can. It’s a sport unlike any other where you have the chance to meet amazing people along the way. I want to take it step by step to get more opportunities like this.”
All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.