WELLINGTON, Fla., February 6, 2025--On a special day for women and girl athletes, Camp Polo won the second weekly game of The Polo School Women's Polo League Wednesday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
It's only fitting a women's polo game was held on a day when the achievements of girls and women in sports are celebrated.
The 39th National Girls And Women In Sports Day began in 1987 as a special day in the nation to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls, and honor the progress for equality for women in sports.
After years of looking for opportunities and exposure in polo, the amount of growth and interest in women's polo has been tremendous. The popularity of women's polo has increased so much that it now accounts for about 50 percent of registered players in the United States. And, it continues to grow with more tournaments, sponsors and leagues including The Polo School Women's Polo League, the oldest women's league in the world.
On a perfect day for polo, Polo Camp and La Monarquia battled for five chukkers with Polo Camp holding off a late rally by La Monarquia to win, 5-4.
Camp Polo (Anna Palacios, Ana de la Fuente, Becky Schmeits, Ava Hinkson, Pearl Duncan) led La Monarquia (Maggie Hill-Smith, Megan Manubay, Malicia Von Falkenhausen, Jennifer Williams, Julia Kline) from start-to-finish.
Camp Polo jumped out to a 4-0 lead which held up until the fourth chukker. Hinkson opened the first chukker with a goal early at 6:05. After a few missed scoring opportunities by both teams, Duncan scored in the second chukker for a 2-0 advantage. Hinkson followed with another goal for a 3-0 lead after two chukkers.
After a scoreless third chukker where both teams had scoring chances, Duncan scored again with 4:16 left in the fourth chukker for a 4-0 lead.
La Monarquia got its offense on track in the fourth and fifth chukkers. La Monarquia was awarded a penalty one with 4:16 left and Smith followed with another goal a minute later to trail, 4-2, scored with 3:43 left. Palacios found an opening to score and give Camp Polo a 5-2 lead going into the fifth chukker.
La Monarquia continued to claw its way back within one goal. Kline scored early and Williams scored a minute later to cut the lead to 5-4. La Monarquia and Camp Polo each missed two scoring opportunities as time ran out.
Hinkson and Duncan shared leading scorer honors, each with two goals. Anna Palacios added one. Smith, Williams and Kline each had one goal for La Monarquia. They were also awarded a penalty-one.
Ten players, some subbing in and out, competed over five chukkers. The teams were evenly-matched with players of all levels.
The world's oldest weekly women's polo league features players of all ages and skill level. The league was created by Alina Carta, one of the highest ranked women in the U.S. in the 1980s, and Melissa Ganzi, Grand Champions Polo Club President, World Polo League co-founder and avid player.
The league, along with the April WCT Finals at Grand Champions, honors Sunny Hale, the all-time greatest women's polo player and Hall of Famer. The league annually awards SunnyShips, scholarships honoring the legacy of Hale. Hinkson, Hope Arellano, Alyson Poor and Malicia Van Falkenhausen are among past recipients.
All team entry fees from the weekly league benefit The Polo School, a stand-alone USPA-sanctioned club.
During the winter polo season, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation's largest and most innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club cradled in the heart of the world's winter equestrian capital, hosts a wide range of tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 26-goal leagues, 26-goal World Polo League, The Polo School Women's Weekly Polo League, WCT Finals, several Polo Training Foundation junior tournaments, World Polo League Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 10 well-manicured world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita.
Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
The Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. The stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. The Polo School has nurtured several junior, men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception.
For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.