SIG wins: U.S. open arena polo concludes at California polo club

Published on January 16, 2024

The action-packed week of arena polo kicked off with a record-breaking nine teams converging at the picturesque California Polo Club in Los Angeles for the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship, presented by U.S. Polo Assn. Over the course of three intense days, the quest for supremacy in the highest echelon of arena polo in the United States culminated in a thrilling showdown between SIG (Eden Ormerod, Daniel “Cacho” Galindo, Nicolai Galindo) and KCrush (Harrison Azzaro, Remy Du Celliee Muller, Mike Azzaro). Combining strategic board play and capitalizing on penalty opportunities, Nicolai Galindo’s impressive 14-goal performance, coupled with a resilient defensive strategy, secured SIG’s gripping 15-14 victory, along with a substantial $55,000 prize. The final match of the US Open Arena Polo Championship can be watched on-demand on the USPA Polo Network channel on YouTube.

Arena polo, often likened to hockey on horseback, is a dynamic sport played with ball and mallet on highly trained horses within an enclosed arena. Teams of three players each, mounted on horseback, engage in fast-paced matches, aiming to score points by maneuvering an inflated ball into the opposing team’s goal. Chukkers, lasting 7.5 minutes each, define the periods of play, with the team scoring the most goals at the end of the game, typically four chukkers, declared the winner. Stringent adherence to rules ensures the safety of both players and horses, with penalties enforced by umpires overseeing the match.

In their journey to the final, KCrush overcame challenges by defeating two teams in the quarterfinal round-robin play, namely Hotels At Sea and Equus Hotel Waikiki. The semifinal clash against Work to Ride/BOOM! Cult showcased KCrush’s commitment to the physicality of high-goal arena polo, resulting in a convincing 19-11 victory.

SIG’s path to the championship included a triumphant face-off against Prestonwood/Broken Taco in the opening rounds, securing a 14-12 win. The semifinals featured a high-scoring duel against OC Polo, culminating in a 19-15 victory for SIG.

Comprising the SIG trio with team owner Deep Singh’s support, the 14-goal team featured brothers Cacho and Nicolai Galindo alongside English arena veteran Eden Ormerod. Nicolai emphasized their preparation for the tournament, stating, “We had a few practice games in the desert [Indio, California] before we came up here. Eden was the one that walked us through everything.” Ormerod, reflecting on his own play, expressed a desire for redemption after a less-than-stellar U.S. Arena Open performance the previous year.

Entering the final with a tournament-leading 42 goals, KCrush showcased their high-flying offense early in the match, with Mike Azzaro scoring twice in the first chukker. However, Nicolai Galindo’s stellar performance, including a two-point shot, propelled SIG to an 8-5 lead at halftime. The second half saw KCrush narrowing the gap, but SIG’s defense held strong, securing a thrilling 15-14 victory in the final chukker.

Nicolai Galindo, responsible for all but one of SIG’s 15 goals and converting eight of nine penalty attempts, earned the Most Valuable Player accolade. Reflecting on Nicolai’s performance, Ormerod commended his solid penalties, great hit-outs, and ball control, stating, “He just got better every chukker.” Cacho added, “Every play he was involved in, he was dominant.”

LWR Sweet Sioux, a 4-year-old bay mare owned and played by Mike Azzaro, received the Best Playing Pony award. Azzaro described the mare’s exceptional speed, handle, and bumping power. The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Best Playing Pony went to Awesome Sauce, an 11-year-old chestnut mare, played by Shane Rice and owned by Hidden View Farm, recognized for her versatility and performance in the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship bronze medal match.

Brian Salmon received the Overall Sportsmanship Award for his positive attitude and support for peers, while Spencer Hurtt was honored with the Sportsmanship Award for the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship. In their final interview, Nicolai shared the special significance of winning his first U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship title with his brother Cacho, emphasizing the uniqueness of the experience. Cacho humorously added, “Now we have one up on him!”