Photos 2/2

More photos (1/2) from the Final

Nice video 13.45 min in spanish from ESPN (Arg) starts after a few 20 seconds)

La Dolfina Champions!

In an incredible game La Dolfina dominate Ellerstina 18-10

In amazing game with allways La Dolfina infront all the game

Better selection of horses and with a team work lead by Nero (my MVP) La Dolfina give the impresion that Ellerstina was lost in the field.

Field 1 in better condition than the games played last weekend.

Crowd was aspecting a harder resistance from the Pieres team but La Dolfina closed all road to the goal with Nero as guardian

Cambiasso Jr. played as the previous games in a new role that gives his teammates more action not depending all from him

Pablo Mac Donough in a good match worked in the midfield against the elaboration of any attack from his former team (so he was one of the clues wy Ellerstina couldnt score)

The game was for La Dolfina alltime, and the result could be worst if Cambiasso Jr was more effective (lost as least easy 4 goals)

Better conditioning shows results, in the horses of La Dolfina, shown healthier and won practically all important runs

One of the clues also was the selection of horses, in the 4th chukka when I saw both teams selection, I told that it was wrong pick for Ellerstina and they will loose the chukka for at leat 4 goals that result one of the worst chullas for Ellerstina

Ellerstina to thin, could been overtrained

Todays the Final of the 118th Argentine Polo Open

Todays is the Day!

Lovely weather, nice temperature, a little breeze, great day for polo!

Nerves from both sides, unslept night for almost all players... Facundo Pieres in his Nespresso blog tells about his feeling and what the Final of this tournament represents in all polo players.

Not only to win it, to just play the Final give the impression about the grandeur of this day.

In La Nacion newspaper a really uncommon photo appears in the front page of the polo section (shown above), the former team Ellerstina is gathered to talk about this afternoon game.

What a difference with other sports!, remember that two of the former members of the team now are playing for La Dolfina...

Information tells that La Dolfina didn´t play their horses this week, just individual training (amazing horsemanship!)

Hoping for an imposible... a good day for the Referees, the best show on earth in polo is in their whistle and hands!!

ELLERSTINA TO THE FINAL! 18-14 over Estancia Grande

Ellestina again in the Final.

Nice day, mild weather sunny, but the Field 1 ( in poor condition of the season - see photo) after the weekend.

Ellerstina with a little help, referees stoped the game insistently in favor of one team

Ellerstina received that aid mainly in the first part of the game (3rd chukkas: in all action could be perfectly called to the other team at first hand in my opinion)

Ellerstina doesnt need the protection to get to the final, allways have one more action than the other team

Score progression: Ellerstina-Estancia Grande 4-2, 4-1, 1-3, 3-1, 2-2, 2-1: total 18-14

Ellerstina horse a saw them over stressed, to thin, posible over trained, remember that they have one day less to rest than La Dolfina ( also I saw them in better conditions too) for the final that will be next friday (program changed this year).

Injures during the game: Ignacio Heguy a cut in his right arm but could play and Facundo Pieres right arm a cramp continue playing with difficuties, a horse had a cut near his eye I think it was Tarantula (one of Facundo P best horses)

Bad thing of the day: was the continuosly fouls from eath side, marked or not, due to the deficient actions of the Referees to control the game, they must be ban for the Final in my opinion.

LA DOLFINA TO THE FINAL 15-7 over La Aguada

Sunny nice weather Field 1 (in regular condition)

La Dolfina Dubai shows that polo must be played in accordance to what you posses, your main attributes.

It won over an devaluated version of La Aguada (the unlucky brothers again!) due to the injured Javier Novillo Astrada to add misery to this team that didn't had Miguel also injured for this season.

Another thing to appoint is that La Aguda had 15 of their best horses injured this season too, that worries them as much as their lost players.

According to some well informed friends the team will change for the 2012 season with an inclusion of Alejandro NA in the next team.

Breeding changes must be took right of way!

Could be harmed with their next year Handicaps

Under these disadvantages, La Aguada played a extremely defensive game (their trademark !) to complicate the erratic game of the Dream Team in the firsts chukkas (until the 3rd the score was even in 2 goals per team!) until the demolition take place when playing La Dolfina with their best horses started to play with three players in offense with Nero as a classic back, to dominate the field the scoreboard is conclusive.

Scoreboard: LA Dolfina 1-1,, 2-2, 2-2, 5-3, 9-4, 10-6, 13-6 and 15-7

Scorers: La Dolfina Cambiasso Jr. 8:1 penalty, Stirling 1, Mac Donough 6 , Nero 0 ; La Aguada Javier NA 2, Toccalino 2, Eduardo NA 1 , Ignacio NA 2 penalties

A saw La Dolfina horses in better shape, to be at their best for the Final (next friday)!, as an example, Leyend played her best game in the season an showed the way to get out the La Aguada trap...

MVP are 2 in my opinion: Adolfo Cambiaso Jr., scorer of the match, in one of his best game of the season (returned to his old version as main leader player role how plays and make play the others), and Pablo Mac Donough in his role of the aid for a better version of Cambiaso Jr., a real powerhouse for La Dolfina.
Fouls: La Dolfina Dubai 13 (must improve in this section)- La Aguada: 5
Goals/Shots : La Dolfina 14/25 - La Aguada: 5/13

Pilara Piaget 16 vs. Chapa Uno 13 - Zone A

The day was one of the nice days of this season, so it was a perfect day for people to see polo in Buenos Aires.

Sunny mild temperature with good pressure, it was not necessary to give extra aids to players ansd polo horses during the game.

Zone A, Pilara 16 vs. Chapa Uno 13

Scoreboard: 2-1, 3-3, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 10-11, 14-12, 16-13

Through the score progression it could show that was an interesting game, with two similar teams in handicap (Pilara 33 goals against Chapa Uno 32 goals) so in field 2 it was entertain to see the last chukkas when the final line was near for both teams, in close finish give the game to Pilara, that appears to be a great challenger for the coming years.

Chapa Uno is a new team, that will also improve with a better selection of horses (commonly known as "organization" here) as their not close to any great organization or breeder they have to look for an aid in this section.

Scorers: Pilara Piaget Ulloa 4 Laprida 3:1 penalty, B Heguy 6:4 pen., Tomlinson 3:2 pen.; For Chapa Uno (Bautista's Heguy Team -see Pilara formation) Paul Pieres 4:1, Caset 4:1, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 5 (in my opinion MVP), Garcia Huidobro 0.

Ribiero de Andrade made his best appearance in the Argentine Open, as a solid player well mounted, most be rised in his handicap to sustain his progress.

Some picked videos and photos

In spanish presentation (with 14 seconds espn ad starting) with videos from the 2011 Argentine Polo Open


From day 1:




From day 2:

Great polo weekend! matchs 3 and 4

Buenos aires weather

Both days where played under a really warm weather, partially cludy with high humidity, so you can imagine how it was in the fields.

Due that it didn't rain as told by the national service, so the fields a little hard and drier but better conditions to play polo than the previous games.


Day 3 Saturday

La Aguada 7, Chapa Uno 9

The surprise of this Open came in field 2, when Chapa Uno won over the Novillos Astrada team La Aguada in an undescribable game that made La Dolfina's way to the semifinals all lot easier

This result will speed Miguel N Astrada's recovery and as told he will play next game against La Dolfina (replacing Toccalino)

La Aguada is not the same with the inclusion of Toccalino (that plays very well) but the brothers needs to play with Miguel to be the solid team that made them won the Argentine Open years ago.

They still been unlucky but the next step is La Dolfina and will be decisive to mantain their handicaps.

La Dolfina 20, Pilará 7

The crowd was waiting debut on field 1 of the Dream Team, and as the result shows it appeared in full, with a symphony of great polo and the impression that this is the real team to beat this year.

They played like they been playing with a Playstation comand, playing their game of open and run polo (a lot different from the Cambiasso's way handling the ball of years before)

La Dolfina is a real team, that any players can score, and in my opinion is playing better every new game

Its really interesting to see how the players positin as one of them is the laucher of the attack, also the horses (that are not in their pinacle in this stage !) make the diference in the field 1.

La Dolfina ans Ellerstina are teams that are well suited for the Argentine Open but mainly for the field 1 ("The Cathedral") by the quality of their players but also the quality of their horses.

MVP in my opinion was Pablo Mac Donough, an exemple of positioning and timing

La Cuartetera (one of the best polo horses of the world) played a few minutes only

Day 4 Sunday

Estancia Grande 19 vs. Alegría 17

In the best game of the day thanks to the loyalty of both teams Estancia Grande with a narrow final chukkas that also shows its potential that can harm Ellerstina's way to the semifinals beware!

Estancia Grande can make great things in the Argentine Open today and mostly in the days to come, because they know how to play the Open (becuse the experience of all their players) and they have the horses to play against anyone but the most important thing in my opinion the will to play this game, and are thirsty and have courage! (this match they where losing in the 6th chukka 11-16 and won with a strike of 8-1 in the last ones -amazing!-).

Estancia Grande played with Juan Ignacio Merlos (Goals Hcp: 8) replacing his brother Sebastian, out for one game, due to his 4th yellow card in this season.

Ellerstina 21 vs. Indios Chapaleufú II 14

The black beaty made it again!

Its the only team that could play as even to the La Dolfina' s game in the year Argentine Open.

Ignacio played as number 4 again (as in Tortugas) and played better than before in this new version of Ellerstina, against the team he used to play (his family). He also played a lot easier when he could be left free to score 6 times!

The team apperared for the first time this year in field 1 and played its best polo game of the year against an Indios Chapaleufu that couldn't stop the variety of quality shown by Ellerstina due maninly on their best horses (that also are so many!, as an exemple Facundo had Easy Go as replacement!)

MVP of the game in my opinion Ignacio Heguy

Facundo played as Cambiasso in old times been the lauchers the strategist and the scorer but could harm his horses for the next steps

The horses in their best, but a little thin, in my opinion beware of this, Dont squeeze the lemon dry, said one on the best TB trainers in history!!

Scorers of the match:

Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres, 7 goals:1 penalty, Nicolas Pieres; 5, Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 3 asn Ignacio Hegut 6 goals

Indios Ch. II : Alberto Heguy Jr. 0 goals, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 2, Julio Arellano 4 and Eduardo Heguy 8: 6 penalties

Another remark, could Nicolas play as number 4 against La Dolfina?, he poses the courage and the will to run and anticipate the players lauched in attack better than Ignacio (that shawn his best performance in years in this game in the position of number 3 player, but this must be done now!, it cant been done in the final ...

Next weekends, you must be here!

If you have some time come to Buenos Aires, and have a great moment..., Sunny days and great polo will take away all financial sorrow (you cant do nothing to stop the decline of the markets), use this golden rule: buy gold and come to Argentina!, we have food, nice peolpe, a lovely city and in the following weeks the best polo in the world, what else do you need ?

Next games for this Zone A next Saturday,
Field 2 at 01.45 PM: La Aguada vs. Chapa Uno, its a nice match to come after eating some argentine steaks in nearby Cañitas
Field 1 at 4.45 PM: La Dolfina vs. Pilara, you must be there you love the game!!


Next games for this Zone B next Sunday,
Field 2 at 01.45 PM: Estancia Grande vs. Alegria, very nice match with great players both sides
Field 1 at 4.45 PM: Ellerstina vs. Indios Chapaleufu II, you must be there for the black synphony!

Estancia Grande 18 vs. Indios Chapaleufu II 13

A new contender appeared in this Zone B: Estancia Grande

Beware Ellerstina, these guys real know the game and they can give them more than a headache!

Yellow card for Sebastian Merlos (and his 4th could lose a game) could damage the team as contender for the crown

Weather: cloudy and high humidity

Rough game (spot many times by injuries of the players), played in old argentine style, Estancia Grande (new team that play with very well known argentine polo players), had an extra quality in their horses than Indios Chapaleufu II.

Goals Estancia Grande: Agustin Merlos 7:6 penalties, Lucas Monteverde 5, Sebastian Merlos 1 and Bartolome Castagnola 5
Indios Chap. II Albeto Heguy 2:1 penalty, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 2, Julio Arellano (USA) 3 and Eduardo Heguy 6 all penalties.

MVP (in my opinion): Was Lucas Monteverde (9 goals Hcp.) , that apperared in total in the crucial moments of the game given and aid to the difence and strongly projected in attack.

Julio Arellano (USA) played very well to be his first time in field 1 but in my opinion stil, needs a more solid pack of horses to play the Open.

Ellerstina vs. Alegria Final score 20 - 17

Nice game

Openly played

High humidity

Facundo playing as usual

Third chk. Ellerstina 7 - Alegria 5

Fourth chk. 9 - 8
De Narvaez Jr. motor of the team Alegria ( 0 fouls) that plays its game Ellerstina ( 4 fouls: 3 Nicolas P) loosing their plan

Fifth chk 11 - 9
Aguerre´s plan to slow down Ellerstina pace is working, he lost 2 goals in a row incredible!, but Ellerstina through Gonzalo still survives

Sixth chk. 14 -12
Ellerstina better back on on their way 2 quick goals
Alegria on their plan to dont give any foul/penalities

Seventh chk. . 17 - 15
Running is my game
Ellertina everything out!! dominate the field with quality
Nico P out of focus
Mannix Jr. 2 goals playing his best given an aid to Aguerre

Last chk. 20 - 17
Facundo on his best he practically imposble to follow in the last 2 chks

Polo Confirmed by AAP for Sunday

The argentine service informed that no more heavy rains are forecast for today, after yesterdays heavy rains in the Buenos Aires area that started in the final chukkas of the second game, due to the lack of rains of the precedent days I can expect to have polo today at Palermo.

Some players yesterday told that the field was in perfect condition but dry, that didnt give good grip for the horses( a couple fall down by this reason, but with no injuries).

I have confirmation for today match by the AAP.

Todays matchs are (for Zone B):

Match 3 : Ellerstina vs. Alegria, that starts at 01.45 PM
Ellertina with Ignacio Heguy as number 3 and Gonzalo as back (new disposition! ) plays against a difficult team (with experince and good horse specially in Aguerre and De Narvaez), but will be nice to see Ellerstina again with this new formation, with the excelence of their players and horses.

Match 4 : Estancia Grande vs. Indios Chapaleufu II, starts at 4.45 PM
Indios Ch. II is back again for its 27th time in the Argetnine Open a lot more madure now (obviously!) but with the new blood of Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Julio Arellano (after the depart of Ignacio Heguy to Ellertina) but infront will be the challenger for this zone B, Estancia Grande that posses the will and the caracter to play their best polo in the field 1 of Palermo (thats not easy!), if so it could be a nice match to attend and find a clue to see if they can stop Ellerstina!.

Matchs 1 and 2 La Dolfina and La Aguada won

2011 Argentine Open Season, begins these results:

La Dolfina 23 - Chapa Uno 10
Goals for La Dolfina : A Cambiaso Jr.(played all game) 9 goals: 6 penalties and 1 corner, Stirling 3 Mac Donough 4 and Nero 7 : 2 penalties


La Aguada 11 - Pilara 10
In very narrow game - until the last minute, Pilara could equalize
Miguel Novillo Astrada didnt played (possible out for the season) and Toccalino started with the other Novillo Astrada brothers (he saved the equalizer goal in the last minute near the goal line)
Pilara played better that La Aguada and in my opinion is one of the best new teams in the Argetine Open.
La Aguada won with nothing more than a goal, but in the next games they will face the lack of "Open style" horses, Pilara dominate that item.

In my opinion the MVP was Hilario Ulloa, the next polo super star, with a little pacience he could score at least 4 goals more...

This time luck was in the La Aguada side... but needs more to beat La Dolfina

Goals: La Aguada: Javier 4 all penalties, Toccalino 3, Eduardo 1 and Ignacio 3 : 1 penalty.
Pilara: Ulloa 3 Heguy 4: 1 penalty and Tonlinson 3 all penalties.
Some light rains started in the last chukkas

Weather forcast shows heavy rains for this night, possible suspension for the games this Sunday

2011 the real season starts

After some months off, Im back to give my view upon the 2011 Argentine polo season.

As told the first gems where played, Tortugas won by Ellerstina and Hurlingham won by La Dolfina, in very strange matchs where La Dolfina for moments dominate for more than 6 goals.

Both tournaments where won by a narrow difference of only one goal for the joy of all how attend.

The conclusion are:

Both tournaments are like a warm-up session for the real big event, that is the Argentine Open.

The teams in Tortugas are meeting for the first time in the field, after the internationals seasons and its played with the second and third lot of their polo horses, so it can explain the difficulties for the players to adapt again to the rythm and speed of polo as played here in Argentina.

Hurlingham is played with little differences, like Tortugas, but includes some the best polo horses but for some minutes (In the last chukka of the Final "La Cuartetera" appeared and shows her amazing speed and ability to play this sport with A. C. Jr.).

This Saturday, the 2011 Argentine Opens starts, with the following matchs:

Field 2: LA Dolfina vs. Chapa UNO (Zone A)
The game starts at 01,45 PM (Bue time), but is a nice hour too have lunch nearby in Las Cañitas, and be at Palermo for the last chukkas.

Adolfo Cambiasso Jr. is with an injured ribs, so its posible that he will decide to play or not depending to how he feels, but I can anticipate that he will play, and if his team goes well he will ask for change, I inform any news...


After this match, in Field 1 : La Aguada vs. Pilara (Zone A) that will start at 4.45 PM.
The Novillo Astrada Brothers are here again! waiting for some luck (as not present in the previously years) so it will be nice to see how their horses are shape for the tournament (that was also a problem in recent years), they are like the old boxing champ that haves a new possibility for the title, they are the real worriors of this sport.
All depends on their horses and a little help from the gods...

La Aguada's could find resisitance if Pilara is confident, its a very interesting young new team with the great Bautista Heguy among them, hoping to see a great match here!

Im back with some info about the argentine polo final

After a couple of months out, Im back to give you a view about whats new in Argentina in Polo and in the TB industry.


In December last year La Dolfina and Ellerstina played once more there usual battle for the Abierto (for the 5th time)



As told in my reports of that polo season the final was won by Ellerstina by 14 to 13, with scores for Ellersitna 2-3 4-5 7-5 7-7 8-10 12-10 13-13 14-13.

The final game was played in two days, because heavy rains hit Buenos Aires (first time weather suspention in 117 years of the tournement), after some minutes (3:17) of the first chukka leaving a score 2-1 for Ellerstina after a slow start for La Dolfina.

The next day Sunday presented gloriuos weather for polo and the match was more emotional, due to a quick recover of La Dolfina.

Man of the Match was Gonzalo Pieres 6 goals, but in my opinion the real x factor is the "Ellerstina" horsemanship machinary, that provides the best polo horses from a single source for the players (please see the video on youtube on this link )

Things to improve for next year: Referees (practically all players also told so!)

Ellerstina won the Argentine Triple Crown for the second time as won in 1994 with Adolfo Cambiasso Jr. Mariano Aguerre Gonzalo Pieres Sr. and Carlos Gracida, and is the only team that won more than one time after Coronel Suarez that won the Abierto in the seventies four times (1972 1974 1975 1977).

This was their last game for both polo teams, because they will playing this year (2011) with new members.

Ellerstina 2011: Nicolas Pieres, Ignacio Heguy, Gonzalo Pieres Jr. Facundo Pieres.

Please if you have some time next november and december this year, come to Buenos Aires, not only to see the best polo teams of the world for the Argentine Polo Open, but in years, a real Dream Team, the new La Dolfina.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FScZj4yape4&feature=related

Nations Cup: Argentina 13 - England 8

Chukkers:

Argentina: 1 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 = 13

England: 2 - 0 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 1 = 8