Crestview emerges with Continental Cup title!

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

USPA Monty Waterbury Semi Finals

Thursday, October 1st schedule for the semi finals of the USPA Monty Waterbury is as followed:

10 am Barrington vs. Mavoffice.com @ New Bridge

5 pm Goose Creek vs. Pony Express @ Isinya followed by the Thursday Night Tango catered by Davors/ Old Aiken Market.

If you have purchased tickets to the finals of the USPA Monty Waterbury, they will be available for pick up at Will Call on Sunday. If you would like to purchase tickets you can do so online at www.302polo.com until 5 pm Thursday, Oct 1st. Otherwise tickets can be purchased at the gate for tailgate spots and general admission. For ticketing questions, call 803-643-4925.

Wednesday, September 30th the Wilcox defeated Foxdale Equine 13-12 in the Holley Tractor Kabota 12 Goal Finals (1/4, 3/5, 7/5, 7/8, 10/9, 13/12 ~ Aiken Polo Club). Most Valuable Player was awarded to The Wilcox's Collin McCosh, while "Kali" won Best Playing Pony, owned and played by Ruben Coscia.

Please stay tuned for the next schedule of tournaments, until then see you on the field!

Barrington defeats Goose Creek 17-16 with 0:34 seconds remaining

In today's match of the USPA Monty Waterbury, Barrington defeated Goose Creek 17-16, Tommy Biddle scoring the winning goal with 0:34 seconds remaining in the 6th chukker (2/3, 2/5, 5/9, 8/11, 12/14, 17/16). The next game of the Monty Waterbury will be played at Newbridge this Sunday, Sept. 27th Pony Express vs. Bendabout at 5:00 pm.

The finals for the Aiken Ladies Invitational will be held, Saturday, Sept. 26th at Meadow Hill 3:00 pm. All proceeds to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation to provide free mammography and further breast cancer diagnostics to uninsured women. Program provided through the Breast Care Center at University Hospital of Augusta, Georgia.

For more information please contact 803-270-2502

Mavoffice.com vs. Bendabout, Thursday Sep. 24th

Thursday, September 24th, Mavoffice.com will challenge Bendabout for a chance to move forward in the USPA Monty Waterbury. The game will take place at Isinya, 5:00 pm. Following the match, 302 Polo will host the Thursday Night Tango catered by Davor's and The Old Aiken Market. Also on Thusrday, the Aiken Ladies Invitational will continue with two games: at 10 am Polo Bear vs. Jamaica on Loughrea East, followed by Sirius Solutions vs. Brigadoon/ Goose Creek at 3:00 pm on Loughrea West. For more information on the ALI please call 803-642-8790. For any information regarding 302 please call 803-270-2502.

See you on the field!

Barrington defeats Pony Express 13-7

In Tuesday's match of the USPA Monty Waterbury, Barrington defeated Pony Express 13-7 (2/1, 3/1, 6/3, 8/5, 10/6, 13/7). The tournament will continue this Thursday, September 24th, 5:00 pm at Insinya, Bendabout vs. Mavoffice.com. Following the game will be 302 Polo's Thursday Night Tango, catered by Davor's and The Old Aiken Market.

For Wednesday, Sept. 23rd

Aiken Ladies Invitational:

10:30 High Cotton vs. C-Spear
12 pm Equine Divine vs. Kentucky
(Both games will be located at Henry Cato's)


Aiken Polo Club:

4 pm Natural Soda vs. Casa Azul
5 pm Crestview vs. Wilcox
(Both games will be located at Powderhouse)

For more information please contact Carsten @ 803-270-2502

Aiken Ladies Invitational, Tuesday Sept. 22nd

The Aiken Ladies Invitational continues Tuesday, September 22nd with three prominent games:

10:30 am Sirius Solutions vs. Buckliegh Farm (3-5 Goal) @ Loughrea West

12:00 pm Holley Tractor vs. Brig/Goose (3-5 Goal) @ Loughrea West

2:00 pm Polo Bear vs. Oakgrove/Texas (0-Goal) @ Loughrea East

In the event of a rain-out, the game will be scheduled on the first available dry day. For Last minute updates, please call the ALI hotline @ 803-642-8790.

USPA Monty Waterbury and ALI opening match today, September 21st

FIELD CHANGE: 20 Goal
Please note that today's opening match of the USPA Monty Waterbury, Goose Creek vs. Bendabout, will be played at 3pm at NEW BRIDGE FIELD 4. Please check the info line: 803 642-8780 for any changes or updates.

AIKEN LADIES INVITATIONAL

Monday, September 21st is the beginning of the annual Aiken Ladies Invitational. Due to the possibility of rain this week, please check View from the Boards daily for the most up to date schedule. For any other information please call 803-270-2502.

Today's games:
11:00 am High Cotton vs. Kentucky (0-2 goal) Location-Henry Cato

1:00 pm Regent vs. Jamaica (0 goal) Location-Loughrea

5:30 pm Equine Divine vs. C-Spear (0-2 goal) Location-Henry Cato

Directions:
Henry Cato is located at 4267 Wagener Road. From the intersection of Highway 302 and Pine Log Road, take Highway 302 east 8 miles. Pass Langdon Road on your right. Continue on 302 another quarter mile, entrance and field visible on left with black fencing.

Loughrea is located at 735 Cedar Branch Road
Take Hwy 302, go east 10 miles to Mackey Scott Road (2 miles past Langdon Road). Go right. Go approx 2.5 miles, road changes from asphalt to dirt. Loughrea is on the right with black fencing. Using Hwy 78, go east 8 miles to Cedar Branch Road. Go left. Go approx 2 miles to Loughrea Plantation on the left.

A Busy Second Week for the Aiken Fall Festival Horse Show

Week Two of the Aiken Fall Festival Horse Show started off with a couple of busy days at Highfields in beautiful Aiken, SC. Aiken is bustling with all of the equestrian competition in town as well as many fall events taking place in downtown Aiken. “It’s a great time to be in Aiken”, said show manager JP Godard. “The weather has been beautiful, there are festivals taking place downtown, and there are many charity events and special classes at the horse show this week”.

Aiken’s Casey Hodges and her 7 year old mare Finn Razel started their week off on a high note taking top honors in the $5,000 Welcome Stake on Thursday afternoon. Casey gave Finn Razel the week off during the previous week’s competition and it seemed her strategy worked to their advantage as the pair navigated the course flawlessly with two clear efforts. Michael Tokaruk and his Roger Rabbit took home second and My Elizabeth Webber and Available Action took third place honors rounding out the top three out of the original field of 20.

Friday evening’s action included a $3,000 6-Bar Class and a charity event benefitting the United Way of Aiken County. The VIP tent was full of spectators enjoying “High Steppin at Highfields”. The event featured a catered dinner by Newberry Hall, a silent auction, and live music by Preston and Weston. The 6-Bar competition started out the evening at 6 pm. The 6-Bar class is a unique event where riders jump six fences set in a straight line. Riders are either eliminated or penalized if they knock a rail down. After each round where more than one competitor goes clean or is tied for fewest faults, the six fences are raised in height each subsequent round until there is a winner.

Josh Dolan of Hilton Head, SC and his Skyland’s Con Chino Z made their 6-Bar debut and literally out jumped the competition! It came down to the 6th round with the jumps raised to the final hole on the jump standards at almost 6’. Aiken’s Angel Karolyi and his two entries Liza Horan’s Maldini and Diamond Edge Farm’s Claudy Bay Z along with Dolan were the final two riders standing. With Karolyi having a rail on both of his mounts, Josh Dolan and Skyland’s Con Chino Z wowed the crowd and jumped brilliantly to take top honors in the 6-Bar.

The Aiken Fall Festival continued on Saturday with lots of action in the hunter and jumper rings. The highlight of the day was the second annual Hunt Night which took place on the beautiful grass field. The course included such natural obstacles as a log jump, coop, and split rail fencing. Some of the Hunt Night winners and champions included: Open Hunters- Honor System and Dacia Johnson, Field Hunters- Debonair owned by Flying Color Partnership and ridden by Patti Brantley, Adult Hunter- Oscar and Cathy Chambers, Junior/Pony Hunter- Woode Do It and Sarah Chambers.
Top honors in the Handy Hunter Derby went to Oscar and Cathy Chambers and the winner of the hunt team class was Why Worry Hounds of Windsor, SC. A fun afternoon was had by all as the hunt night competitors and other exhibitors were treated to a reception sponsored by Merial, Ltd. and Jim Gibby under the VIP tent.

Sunday the final day of the two week series started off early with the traditional Governor’s Cup Medal Finals breakfast at 7:00 am provided by Equus Events and the Aiken Fall Festival Horse Show. The 2009 South Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Governors Cup Medal finals began at 8 am and featured 20 top equitation riders that have accumulated points all year long in order to be invited to this prestigious event. The beautiful and challenging course received rave reviews and was designed by Ohio native Joe Carnicom. Congratulations to Nicole Roos who is trained by Stella Prescott for taking home top honors in the Governors Cup. Sarah received a cooler, trophy, and her name engraved on the Governors Cup Perpetual Trophy. Sarah Brown took home second place honors, Caroline Ravenel was third, and Caroline Roberson rounded out the top four.

The $15,000 Jumper Classic along with the “Horsin’Around” benefit for Children’s Place of Aiken was the final highlight of the Aiken Fall Festival series. The crowd was treated to a dressage exhibition by Jasmine Farm’s Valerie Swygert, a southern luncheon, and the chance to win many raffle items with proceeds going to Children’s Place. The course was designed by JP Godard and featured 20 in the original field of entries. The class showed off Aiken’s talent as the top three placings were all local riders. Michael Tokaruk and Rodger Rabbit went early in the jump off and set the pace with a time of 40.568. The pressure was on for the final entry of Mclain Ward’s Galant and Angel Karolyi with Tokaruk still holding his lead. With the crowd on the edge of their seats, Karolyi piloted Galant to a thrilling finish in a time of 39.697 to take home the blue ribbon, cooler donated by Intergrity Linens, and trophy donated by the Farm House. He also placed fourth on Maldini and seventh on Claudy Bay Z. Tokaruk and Rodger Rabbit ended up second and Casey Hodges and Finn Razel took the third place ribbon.

Equus Events would like to thank all of the exhibitors, sponsors, and spectators for the 2009 Aiken Fall Festival. Special thanks go to Gold Sponsor Brook Ledge, Inc Horse Transportation, Silver Sponsors Equine Divine, The Farm House, and Integrity Linens, and Special Sponsors Merial, Ltd, Oak Manor Saddlery, Royal Champion Products, and Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies.

For complete horse show results and information please go to www.equusevents.com or call 803-643-5698

Aiken Polo Club welcomes fall season!

I would like to welcome everyone back to the APC Fall Season and hope that you all had an enjoyable summer, wherever that may have been.

Practices will begin Friday Sept 4th. Please use the Information line (803 643 3611) as always to call in chukkers the previous evening before 5pm.

We have closed the entries for the Fall 12 goal with four very competitive teams. Team sheets and a schedule will be out as soon as I receive all outdates.

The entry deadline for the 4 goal will be Sept 8th. All teams interested in playing please contact me as soon as possible, we will limit the tournament entries and I want to make sure that anyone who is planning on playing has contacted me.

There will not be a Whitney Field Game this Sunday Sept 6th, we will however be practicing at Powderhouse on that day. Stay tuned to the website and the information line for more information on the Sunday games as well as the general tournament games.


Craig Fraser
(803) 292 3377

Aiken Fall Festival Horse Show September 3rd -13th

2009 Aiken Fall Festival Social Schedule
~VIP Tent~

Thursday September 3rd 5:30 PM Join us for a reception honoring the marriage of Ashlyn and Jimmy Anderson Sponsored by Rick and Cathy Cram and Tracy and Jim Murray.

Friday September 4th 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Hard Hat Barbeque- Come as you are! Sponsored by Greystone Farms and Sharer Dale & Drasius Arkus @ their NEW home and Farm 510 Steeplechase Drive in Steeplechase Equestrian Community.

Saturday September 5th 5:30 PM during the $15,000 Jumper Classic. Join us for a Mexican Fiesta honoring Exhibitors and Sponsors. Sponsored by Royal Champion.

Thursday September 10th 4:00 PM Wine and Cheese Social Sponsored by Oak Manor Saddlery.

Friday September 11th 6:00 PM 6-Bar Competition and “High Steppin’ at Highfields”. Dinner, Dancing, and Silent Auction all to benefit the United Way of Aiken County. Featuring live music by Preston and Weston. Tickets $45/person or $350 for a table of 8.

Saturday September 12th 3:00 PM Join us for drinks and Hors D' oeuvres during Hunt Night Sponsored by Jim Gibby and Merial, Limited “Order for the SCHJA Medals finals to be drawn”.

Sunday September 13th SCHJA Medal Finalist Breakfast @ The Pavilion 7:30 AM.

“Horsin Around” Equus Events invites you for an afternoon of exciting Jumping Competition and Luncheon during the $15,000 Jumper Classic. A Southern Lunch will be served ~A chance to win many raffle items including a piece from the Mark Lexton Jewelry Collection from Floyd and Green- value of over $1000! ~Tickets $35/person or a table of 8 for $250~Proceeds to benefit Children’s Place. Tent will open at 1:30 and food to be served at 2:00.

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USPA Aiken Ladies Invitational tournament fights to win for National Breast Cancer Foundation and University Hospital Breast Health Center in Aiken!

302 Polo will host the 11^th annual USPA Aiken Ladies Invitational Polo Tournament presented by Mav.Office.com from September 21-26, 2009. The event will once again benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s funding of a program located at University Hospital of Augusta’s Breast Care Center.

The tournament consists of three divisions- ALI Signature Flight at 3-5 goals, the Campbell Cup at 0-2 goals and the Player’s Junior Cup at 0 goals. Players and teams come to Aiken from all over the world including all over the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa, Argentina and Jamaica. A full schedule of games and locations will be available at www.302polo.com or by calling tournament manager Rebecca Gutierrez at 561-676-2879 AFTER September 20, 2009.

The finals of the Campbell Cup and the USPA Aiken Ladies Invitational Signature flight will be held at Meadow Hill Farm at 3 PM on Saturday September 26, 2009. The event offers a variety of ticket options ranging from general admission and tailgate spaces to the Crestview Farms Pavilion tent-an all inclusive package that includes admission food and beverages.

This finals event co hosted by Aiken Equine Charities (a 501c3 organization) and 302 Polo serves as the major fund raiser for the program at University Hospital of Augusta that provides free mammography and further diagnostics (if needed) for women with either no health insurance or insufficient health insurance. The program was created in March of 2008 with the proceeds of the first event held in September of 2007. This annual event now in its third year continues to fund this program. To date the program has provided approximately 1200 free mammograms. Over forty women have received further diagnostic testing from a simple follow up doctor’s appointment to MRI’s and biopsies as needed. Six women are currently in treatment for breast cancer as a direct result of the program. That’s six lives SAVED because of this event’s funding of this wonderful program!

Aiken Equine Charities, 302 Polo (www.302polo.com), MavOffice.com, Crestview Farm and all of the participating corporate sponsors were delighted to be able to give back to the community by hosting and presenting such a successful event. The National Breast Cancer Foundation looks forward to continuing to fund the University Hospital mobile mammography unit program to provide free mammography to uninsured women for the foreseeable future. We all look forward to next year’s event and to continuing to support such a worthwhile cause.