In a big game Faith surprised Dundas and won the US Open Women’s Polo Championship, in the final that was played on Sunday, March 19, at the National Polo Center Wellington, located in Wellington, Florida, on sunday march 19. The most relevant women’s polo competition in the United States included the participation of five teams with up to 24 goals for women’s handicap.
Although La Fe remained ahead on the scoreboard throughout the match, the great takeoff came in the third chukker, which they won 3-0, to go up 6-4 at half time. Starting in the fourth set, La Fe practically overwhelmed Dundas, who was unable to score in the third and fourth chukkers, taking wide advantages, until they achieved the 12-6 victory, which allowed them to take the title. In addition, Hope Arellano got the individual prizes – she was the MVP of the final, and her mare, Macumba, took the blanket as BPP.
Women’s polo began to be played in the United States back in the 1930s in California, while the first official tournament took place in 1937 at Golden Gate Field in San Francisco, sponsored by the United States Women’s Polo Association. The winning team of that first Women’s US Open Polo Championship was Riviera, with Louise Tracey, Dorothy Rodgers, Audrey Scott and Ruth Cropp, who beat Santa Barbara 9-4 in the final. Women officially joined the United States Polo Association (USPA) in 1972, and one of the first was Sue Sally Hale, pioneer of women’s polo and mother of the remembered Sunny Hale, one of the women who most dedicated her life to spreading polo. women’s polo around the world. The US Open Women’s Polo Championship was recognized as a national level tournament in 2011 and landed in Florida in 2018.
US OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL – SUNDAY, MARCH 19
FAITH 12-6 DOUBTS
Faith: Winifred Branscum 1, Pamela Flanagan 5, Hope Arellano 8, Hazel Jackson 10. Total: 24.
Dundas: Sarah Siegel Magness 1 *, Erica Gandomcar 3, Mia Cambiaso 8, Nina Clarkin 10. Total: 24.
*Replaced by Ana de la Fuente.
Faith Progression: 2-1, 3-4, 6-4, 9-4, 10-5, 12-6.
Umpires: Kimo Huddleston & Brent Mirikitani. Referee: Julian Appleby.
MVP: Hope Arellano.
BPP: Macumba, played by Hope Arellano.
PHOTO GALLERY
US OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAMS
Dundas: Sarah Siegel Magness 1, Erica Gandomcar 3, Mia Cambiaso 8, Nina Clarkin 10. Total: 24.
Faith: Winifred Branscum 1, Pamela Flanagan 5, Hope Arellano 8, Hazel Jackson 10. Total: 24.
El Cid Fitness: Cecilia Cochran 5, Heather Souto 5, Fatima Balzano 6, Milagros Sanchez 8. Total: 24.
Saint Sheba: Dawn Jones 5, Kylie Sheehan 5, Isabelle Parsons 8, Gillian Johnston 6. Total: 24.
BTA: Sophie Grant 5, Maddie Grant 5, KC Krueger 6, Sarah Wiseman 7. Total: 23.
US OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FIXTURE (US local time)
Friday March 10
10 a.m.: El Cid Fitness vs. Dundas
12 p.m.: BTA vs. Faith
Sunday March 12
12 p.m.: Dundas vs. Saint Sheba
Tuesday March 14
12pm: El Cid Fitness vs. Faith
2pm: BTA vs. Saint Sheba
Thursday March 16
12pm: Semifinal #1
2pm: Semifinal #2
Sunday March 19
3pm: US Open Women’s Polo Championship Final
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.
