Mon 11th Jan 2021Action from the USA at International Polo Club Palm BeachJoe Barry Memorial Cup Underway
As the UK slumbers under the tight restrictions of Covid-19 it is good to currently see some news of games underway in the USA, albeit under strict no spectator rules. One of the start of season highlights at the International Polo Club Palm Beach is the Joe Barry Memorial Cup. The tournament was founded in 2005 in honour of Joe Barry, who passed away in 2002. Inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1999, his major wins included six U.S. Open Polo Championship titles, three USPA Gold Cup titles and the 1971 Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club here in the UK. In 2020, Palm Beach Equine captured the title, defeating Stable Door Polo in a thrilling Final 14-12. Returning for the 2021 season with two of their four players in Scott Swerdlin and Gringo Colombres, Palm Beach Equine adds Graduating Team USPA member Costi Caset and Robbie Bilbao to their line-up, so the question is will they be able to secure another tournament win on Sunday 17 January? Or will it be a moment of family celebration for the two father-son duos Matías and Keko Magrini and Luis and Lucas Escobar which comprise Santa Clara’s line-up? So far it is anyone’s guess with a win for Beverly Polo against Palm Beach Equine on Wednesday 6 January, closely followed by a defeat for Beverly Polo 11-10 by Santa Clara on Sunday 10 January. Next up it is Palm Beach Equine squaring up against Santa Clara on Wednesday 13 January. Who will come out on top? Watch this space! Joe Barry Memorial Cup Teams: Beverly Polo (16): Bill Ballhaus (0), Lucas Diaz Alberdi (6), Tolito Fernández Ocampo (6) & Hilario Figueras (4) Palm Beach Equine (18): Costi Caset (5), Robbie Bilbao (5), Gringo Colombres (8) & Scott Swerdlin (0) Santa Clara (17): Keko Magrini (2), Lucas Escobar (3), Matias Magrini (7) & Luis Escobar (5) Photograph: Tolito Ocampo shows his skill with a deep neck shot, his efforts helped to secure victory for Beverly Polo in the opener of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup. By ©Alex Pacheco |