Photos by Alan Fabricant
The 2023 US Open Women’s Polo Championship played between La Fe and Dundas on paper should have been a very close game. Each team had an identical 10, 8, 5 and 1 goal players.
However, the game is played on the field, not paper.
La Fe won handily 12-6 under cloudy, windy conditions before an almost capacity crowd at the National Polo Center.
La Fe led by 10 goaler Hazel Jackson, the game’s MVP, Wellington’s own Hope Arellano who scored six goals, Winifred Branscum and Pamela Flanagan jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back.
The previously undefeated Dundas was made up of 10 goaler Nina Clarkin, Ana de La Fuente, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs and Mia Cambiaso. Team Patron Sarah Siegel-Magness looked on from the sidelines with a broken leg sustained in an earlier game in the tournament.
This was the first time that this game was played in prime time on a Sunday in the main stadium.
La Fe won $30,000 for their win while Dundas collected $10,000.
In addition to the prize money provided by Eastern Hay, the US Polo Association gave both teams $2,500 to donate to their charity of choice.
La Fe’s charity was Replay Polo while Dundas donated to Work To Ride.
