Aiken, SC –Crestview continued its play to win philosophy as it came to the final of the USPA Continental Cup presented by Progressive Show Jumping with an unblemished record in its preliminary rounds. The strong string of Alan Meeker (A), Alan Martinez (6), Owen Rinehart (7) and John Eicher (3) came to fight and win a battle of the minds against a strong Winfield squad of Ruben Coscia (5), Wille Hartnett(4), Horacio Onetto (5) and Rick Hartnett (2). Winfield arrived at the final with a strong performance in the first round of 2-1 beating Barrington and First View, with their only loss being to their finals opponent Crestview.
Crestview opened up the scoring in the first chukker with a penalty conversion by Martinez and goals from Rinehart and Eicher, plus one from the field by Martinez responded to only once by Coscia to end the first with Crestview with a domineering lead 4-1. The second was all Winfield with two unanswered goals by Onetto to close the gap to 4-3 at the finish of the chukker. In the third Crestview extended their lead; as a result of two goals, one from the field by hall of famer Owen Rinehart and one on a penalty three conversion by “Stick” Martinez. The half ended with Crestview extending their lead to a three goal margin 6-3 to finish the half.
Winfield came out in the fourth with a “play to win” attitude with Onetto scoring twice from the field responded to only once by Alan Martinez’s penalty three conversion to end the fourth with the score 7-5. In the fifth it was ALL Winfield with Onetto converting a penalty three conversion and Ruben Coscia coming alive with two awesome goals from the field to close the gap and slide in to the lead 8-7. An incredible goal off Alan Martinez’s hot stick tied the game late in the sixth 8-8. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the throw in commenced for the overtime chukker when off a conversion play Alan Martinez grabbed a loose ball and slammed it through the uprights for the Crestview win in overtime 9-8.
The USPA Continental Cup became the possession of Crestview as did several other honors…Alan Meeker’s “Fleur” was honored with the Amateur Best Playing Pony blanket and Alan “Stick” Martinez garnered MVP pro laurels. Horacio Onetto’s consistently strong play on his lovely “Josephina” resulted in her achieving the Best Playing Pony Pro award while Rick Hartnett’s consistently strong performance at back for Winfield earned him the MVP amateur honors.
Crestview began and ended its fall season with two prestigious wins as they garnered victory in the fall’s opening tournament in Columbus Georgia of the coveted Upatoi Cup and ended with their domineering victory in the USPA Continental Cup. 302 Polo (www.302polo.com) Progressive Show Jumping, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta and all of our corporate sponsors are delighted to host this prestigious tournament in Aiken, and the entire 2009 season here in Aiken.
For more information contact: Barb Uskup 803-643-4925
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