HPC Newsletter: 9.17.23

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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

KING’S CUP

Opening Sunday for the Fall Season at the Houston Polo Club did not disappoint!! Two 12 Goal teams, BTA and San Saba, faced off in a fast paced game to kick off the Season.

BTA’s Joao Aranha takes the ball out of the air on Rogue

San Saba’s team captain Santi Zubiaurre came out flying on a beautiful black thoroughbred mare named Barbara, scoring the first goal of the game. His teammate, Harrison Azzaro converted from the penalty line to give San Saba a quick two goal lead in the first chukker. BTA started to wake up and their team captain, Steve Krueger, converted two penalty shots of his own to tie the score 2 to 2 at the end of the chukker. Krueger and Azzaro traded goals once more in the second chukker, then Krueger added two more from the field to gain a two goal lead for BTA going into the third chukker. San Saba’s offensive player Dawn Jones scored her first goal of the game to bring her team within one goal of the lead, but Krueger converted another goal from the penalty line to end the first half BTA leading 6 to 4.

BTA’s Joao Aranha (blue) riding Frank reaches to make a hook on San Saba’s Harrison Azzaro riding Americana

Halftime brought the crowd onto the polo field to help stomp divots and enjoy complimentary champagne. The weather was beautiful and just what Houstonians asked for on a Sunday afternoon!  After the horn sounded to end halftime, the players mounted up and spectators returned to their seats to enjoy the remaining three chukkers of the game.

BTA’s Mason Wroe leads the pack towards goal on Rihanna

San Saba’s Azzaro converted another open goal penalty to start the fourth chukker, but was answered with two more goals from the BTA team. In the fabulous fifth chukker, BTA found themselves in foul trouble once again, leading to Azzaro converting another penalty to bring San Saba within two goals on the lead. Both teams battled back and forth and in the last minute of the chukker, BTA’s Krueger jumped on a teammate’s backshot to run the ball down the field to end the chukker leading 9 to 6. Tension was high to start the sixth chukker, as Krueger converted his third penalty 2 of the day to extend BTA’s lead to 4. San Saba’s Joe Wayne Barry responded with his first goal of the day, but Krueger snuck another goal in to make the score 11 to 7 midway through the sixth chukker.  San Saba knew they were playing against the clock as Azzaro, Zubiaurre, and Barry each scored another goal, but the last horn sounded and BTA came away with the win with the score of 11 to 10.

Winning team: BTA
Mason Wroe, with daughters Evelyn & Olivia, Steve Krueger with kids Shirley & Carty, Joao Aranha, KC Krueger
presented by David Cordúa with The Lymbar

MVP: Steve Krueger,
presented by David Cordúa from The Lmybar

BPP: Barbara, played by Santi Zubiaurre,
owned by San Saba, pictured with daughter Rosita, Dawn Jones, Gilo Zepeda, Jonathan Alvarez
presented by Alex Chavez with Engel & Völkers Houston

Special Thank You to our 2023 Sponsors!