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  • Robert Jornayvaz, playing his first high goal season in the US
  • David Stirling, already a 10-goaler in the US
  • Robert & Bob Jornayvaz, father & son meet on the polo fields
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World Polo Tour

Robert Jornayvaz and Pelon Stirling, March MVPs

Amateur & Pro, respectively; plus, Pelon has some big news

- DAVID STIRLING JR. - MARCH MVP PRO 

Winner of the USPA Gold Cup with Valiente II and named MVP of the final, David "Pelon" Stirling was awarded as the Jaeger-LeCoultre MVP Pro in March of the World Polo Tour. Not only that; the talented Uruguayan player, who became Valiente II's leading man after Adolfo Cambiaso's unexpected injury, raised from eighth place to fifth place in the international ranking of polo. However, the fight will be very balanced: he outscores Facundo Pieres by only one point!
Still in Palm Beach, where he is on top form to play the US Open, Pelon has also some big news concerning Valiente II's near future.

You won the Gold Cup and played very well... and then, Adolfo got injured. How will you organize the team?

See, is so easy to replace a player like Adolfo Cambiaso... it's so easy that we called Santiago Chavanne and gave him a simple job, replacing no less than Adolfo Cambiaso!!! (laughs). Seriously, it was a surprise. Fortunately, there was only one chukker remianing and we got Juanma Nero who helped us to finish the match. It's always very hard to replace such a player like Cambiaso, and besides, the rules in the US don't allow players to play with another team. So we had to get all the team again.

Do you know that, being the highest rated player, you have to lead the team, don't you?

No, I didn't know that. I told Santi Chavanne that he would replace Adolfito. So we plan to play like we did before, as I told you, that easy...


- ROBERT JORNAYVAZ - MARCH MVP AMATEUR

19-years-old Robert Jornayvaz is living a special moment in his career. Bob Jornayvaz's son formed his team, Valiente II, with no less than two 10-goalers and Palermo winners, Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling. Despite Cambiaso's unexpected injury, that will have him out or the fields for a couple of weeks, Robert will continue to receive support and advice from the world's best player.

Winner of the USPA Gold Cup, Robert also was honored as the Casablanca MVP Amateur of the month in the World Polo Tour.

How did you start to play polo?

Mi dad played polo a lot, and I started four or five years ago, when I was around 15 years old. Back then, I did show jumping, and my dad encouraged me to play polo, which I really liked.

In which level of enthusiasm you will put polo over other equestrian sports?

Over the top, without doubts. There's everything with competition, the energy, the team, all the people that works with you. You can't compare it with anything else.

Are you involved with your organization, the horse?

Yes, of course, I work daily on everything. 

You were in Argentina in the last season. Did you play any tournaments, bought horses?

Yes, I played some low goal tournaments and played some horses. But I also played the Copa Julio Novillo Astrada, and we did very well, it was a lot of fun, a very competitive tournament. My dad also played, and won, the Gold Cup, in Ellerstina.

How do you feel to play with the world's best player, Adolfo Cambiaso?

It's incredible, really, amazing. He improved all the organization, he is the leading man. He has done a lot, but I think he did the best on the field. He makes the team play well, he makes the team play as a team; and everybody put the best to make it.

Which is your biggest goal in your career?

My dream is high goal. Obviously, polo is a sport that has improved a lot, and it's more difficult to reach. You have to dedicate completely to polo to become a 10-goaler. But I want to be a high goal player, and play on a professional level.

Three months ago, you weren't even thinking about playing high goal... now, not only you're playing high goal, but you also won the Gold Cup. How do you feel about this?

It's a great experience for me, and play against my father is even more fun... a bit strange, too!!! But I am enjoying it.

What are your plans after the US Season?

We would like to play in England, but we're going to Denver in summer. Definetly, I'd love to go to England, we have to organize and see. But it's something it will happen in the future.