MIAMI BEACH, November 12, 2024---With the Atlantic Ocean as a stunning backdrop, beach polo returns to the white sands of Collins Park with the World Polo League Pride Polo Miami and World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
The WPL Pride Polo Miami, featuring actor Sterling Jones, kicks off opening day festivities on Thursday with a Drag Queen Show, highlighted by legendary Daisy Deadpetals, at 2 p.m. followed by player introductions at 2:30 p.m.
The game begins 2:45 p.m. with Team Avatar Financial (Jason Mohr, Jonathan Hayes, Ryan Cronin) playing Team World Polo League (Sterling Jones/Kylie Jones, Talbot Logan, Vinny Sangaline). Teams will play two chukkers followed by halftime and Drag Show at 3:20 p.m. The game resumes with the third and fourth chukkers followed by awards at 4:15 p.m.
"Visibility and inclusivity are crucial, and it's disheartening to see the ongoing prejudice faced by the queer community," said Jones, who has participated in several Pride events. "While I may never fully understand the roots of this hate, I am committed to advocating for change. Our goals are simple: peace, love and equality.”
Sexy Fish Miami Restaurant, one of the events sponsors, will host the Official Polo Players Dinner and Auction, also on Thursday at 9 p.m. The evening will include exquisite cuisine, signature cocktails and opportunity to mingle with some of the world's top polo players. There will also be a silent auction benefitting the EQUUS Foundation.
Polo takes center stage on Friday with the world's largest beach polo tournament celebrating its eleventh anniversary. Action continues on Saturday with the finals on Sunday. Record crowds are expected to watch a record 12 teams compete at various levels of beach polo.
Four games are scheduled for Friday: GCPC Cup games at 12:30 p.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; WPL Cup games at 2 and 3:15 p.m. On Saturday the schedule is GCPC Cup games at noon, 12:45 and 1:30 p.m.; Celebrity/Charity Game at 2:15 p.m. and WPL Cup games at 2:45 and 4 p.m.
On Sunday, the schedule is noon (5th and 6th place GCPC Cup); 12:45 p.m. (3rd and 4th place GCPC Cup); 1:30 p.m. (Casablanca Trophy 3rd and 4th place WPL Cup); 2:45 p.m. (Grand Champions Polo Club Cup Finals (1st and 2nd place); 3:30 p.m. (World Polo League Finals Cup (1st and 2nd place); 4:45 p.m. Awards presentation.
The four teams competing for the WPL Beach Polo World Cup are:
The Setai: Pablo Dorignac, 7, Juan Bollini, 4, Tito Gaudenzi, 3.
Blackfin: Grant Ganzi, 3, Pierre Henri Ngoumou, 7, Mariano Gracida, 5.
Beach Club: Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Nic Roldan, 9.
Ketel One: Joaquin Castellvi, 1, Manuel Lopez, 4, Tomacho Pieres, 7.
Playing for the Grand Champions Polo Club Trophy are: Luxos: Phil Gutman, Andres Fanjul, TBA, Casablanca: Miles Rich, Grant Ganzi, TBA, Delta: Rebecca Cohen, Juan Bollini, TBA, World Polo League: Brad Limehouse, Eliza Limehouse, Jason Crowder, St. Moritz: Chris Gregory, Tito Gaudenzi, TBA and Blade/GB: Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Mariano Gracida.
The Charity Cup Teams are Museum of Polo Hall of Fame led by Cindy Prado and The Polo Training Foundation led by Sterling Jones.
"This tournament is so much fun," said Alejandro Novillo Astrada. "Not only the polo on the beach with this amazing surface and organization but also the whole weekend. Everything is a lot of fun."
Last year, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, Nic Roldan, 9) led from start-to-finish to defeat Richard Mille (Santos Bollini, 2, Agustin Arellano, 3, Pablo MacDonough, 10), 11-7.5 and finished undefeated to win the tournament. Roldan was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a team-high six goals. He finished with 17 goals in three games. The three-day, eight team, 12-game tournament was the most competitive in tournament history.
General admission is free, as is access to the retail village, which this year will open at 10 a.m. and feature ready-to-wear clothing options, accessories, and home items. The VIP Tent opens at 11:30 a.m. Guests can purchase tickets to experience the polo match under the shade at the lounge overlooking the polo field. VIP packages include shaded lounge areas, an open bar and access to an open buffet. For more information on ticket prices and social events, go to miamipolocup.com.
Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) will live stream all four days of action worldwide with Dale Schwetz and Cale Newman calling the action.
Swiss polo visionary Reto Gaudenzi, the founder of the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz and several other tournaments, created the Beach Polo World Cup in 2005, one year after beach polo was introduced in Dubai, and hosted the South Beach event through 2008.
Gaudenzi's son, Tito Gaudenzi of Lifestyle Polo, resurrected the event in 2018 successfully along with World Polo League founder and player Melissa Ganzi, president and owner of Grand Champions Polo Club. The Wellington-based club is the host polo club and WPL is title sponsor. The WPL is the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina.World Polo League Pride Polo Miami, WPL Beach Polo World Cup Begins Thursday At Collins Park