Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
Left: James Robertson, Luis Escobar, Santiago Tanoira and Paul Chin pick up a fast pace at the NCB Capital Markets High Goal Polo Tournament. Right: Dr. John Masterton (right) takes his granddaughter Aliana for a ride, while his daughter, Lesley Fong-Yee, leads the horse at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas, on Sunday, April 30. Lesley Fong-Yee played in the first match for the Green Team, and took on the role of umpire for the second match.
THE JAMAICA Polo Club entertained a South American invasion for the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Capital Markets High Goal Polo Tournament, and the foreigners were in full swing at the quarter-final matches held at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estate, last Sunday.
In the first match, Team A - the NCB White Team of Randy Mair, Argentine Juan Humberto, JLP Member of Parliament James Robertson, and Costa Rican Luis Escobar - contested Team B, the NCB Green Team of Lesley Fong-Yee, Shane Chin, Paul Chin, and Argentinean import Santiago Tanoira.
TOTAL GOAL HANDICAP
Both teams had a total goal handicap of 13, with Escobar of Team A boasting seven, the Argentinean Tanoira having a goal handicap of five. Though the first match got off to a slow pace, by the beginning of the fourth chukka the score stood at six goals to four in favour of Team A. In the fourth chukka, Luis Escobar made a brilliant run down the field to score the seventh goal for the White Team which, says Master of Ceremonies Roger Turner, was "The hammer driving the nail into the coffin of the Green Team." So the match ended seven to four goals, in favour of the White Team.
Not long after, the second match got under way, with John G. Byles, Alexander Melville, Craig Russell and Tomas Lalor playing for Team D, the Blue Team, and Paul Lalor, Mark Wates, Jason Wates and Jorge Donovan, playing for Team E, the Red Team. This match got off to a more exciting start than the one preceding it, as Tomas Lalor tore away from the pack to open the scoreboard with a long shot from about 80 yards that cruised through the posts, giving the Team D an early lead. However, Team E would not have it, and less than a minute later Jorge Donovan scored one for the Red Team. Still Team E could not fend off Team D and the game ended seven goals to three in favour of the Team D.
SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS
Young Santiago Tanoira is one of the Argentinean players who came to Jamaica to participate in the tournament. It was his first visit to the island, unlike other Argentines Jorge Donovan and Tomas Lalor, who have played here on previous occasions. He comments that the level of gameplay he's seen thus far is superior to what he expected, and even the condition of the field has surpassed his expectations. On this premise, he says, "I would love to come back to Jamaica for another tournament."
The tournament will climax this Sunday at the Kingston Polo Club, when the finals will be contested.
