Catamount claimed a narrow 13-12 win over Zapican BMW and won the Ylvisaker Cup, after the final that was played on Sunday February 22, at the National Polo Center (NPC), located in Wellington, Florida, United Sttes. The Ylvisaker Cup, second leg of the NPC 16-Goal Championship, saw fifteen teams up to 16 goals, in participation. Teams were split in three leagues.
It’s worth to remember that the next tournament of the NPC 16-Goal Championship is the Iglehart Cup, due to commence on Monday February 23. The Iglehart Cup is the penultimate tournament of the series, that will be completed by the Outback Cup. Once the four contests are done (Joe Barry Memorial Cup, Ylvisaker Cup, Iglehart Cup and Outback Cup), the big final of the NPC 16-Goal Championship will take place on Sunday April 22, at the NPC.
With regards to Sunday’s final, Scott Devon’s foursome made a change, with Poroto Cambiaso subbing in for his father, Adolfo; therefore, Catamount had the two Cambiaso siblings, Poroto and Mia, playing the decisive match of the Yvisaker Cup. Following a very leveled start, that saw a 2-all in the first chukka, and a slight advantage for Catamount (5-4) in the second, the latter seized the reins from the third chukka onwards, and managed to earn a three goal gap (10-7) by half time.
Catamount remained in the lead and by the start of the sixth and last chukka they were 11-9 up. But Zapican BMW were not about to give up. In a last chukka, which was a tough batle, Zapican BMW put enough pressure over their contenders to get closer in the scoreboard, in an attempt to overturn the result. But at the end of the day, luck was on Catamount side – they outscored Zapican 3-2 to seal the 13-12 victory and the second title of the NPC 16-Goal Championship. A title that Catamount won undefeated with a perfect 7-0 record. And by the way, another one for the Cambiaso family…
Meanwhile, the Subsidiary Sunny Hale Cup went to Dracarys, after defeating BTA 14-10.
YLVISAKER CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22
CATAMOUNT 11-9 ZAPICAN BMW
Catamount: Mia Cambiaso 2, Scott Devon 0, Santiago Torres 5, Poroto Cambiaso 10*. Total: 16.
*Subbed in for Adolfo Cambiaso.
Zapican BMW: Max Torokvel 0, Constancio Caset 5, Facundo Cruz Llosa 7, Felipe Viana 5. Total: 17.
Score Catamount: 2-2, 5-4, 7-5, 10-7, 11-9, 13-12.
Umpires: Jamie Mirikitani & Héctor Galindo
Third man: Horacio Onetto.
MVP: Santiago Torres.
BPP: Dolfina AlUla, ridden by Poroto Cambiaso and owned by La Dolfina.
Mejor Producto Polo Argentino: DS Altamira, ridden by Mia Cambiaso and owned by La Dolfina.
PHOTO GALLERY
Ylvisaker Cup, Final, Catamount vs. Zapican BNW
NPC 16-GOAL CHAMPIONSHIP – WINNERS
Joe Barry Memorial Cup: Las Brisas.
Ylvisaker Cup: Catamount.
The Ylvisaker Cup was established in 2003, as a tribute to William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a true pioneer of the development of polo in the Wellington, Florida area, whose contributions allowed the growth of the sport in the 70s and 80s. Among others, Bill Ylvisaker founded the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club; Palm Beach Polo Club flourished and the town of Wellington sprung up around it, going on to successfully host not only, polo but numerous other equestrian sports. Bill Ylvisaker, who started playing interscholastic tournaments in the 40s, reached a handicap of 7, and he is the winner of the US Open and the USPA Gold Cup, and also claimed the Coronation Cup, in England, twice. Mr. Ylvisaker also founded the Polo Training Foundation, in 1967, and served as Chairman of the USPA through 1970-1975, and was inducted in the Polo Hall of Fame, in 1996.
YLVISAKER CUP – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo and photo gallery, by Agustina Fonda.