By Sarah Eakin
Two years ago, brothers Felipe and Ignacio “Nachi” Viana set up a farm in Wellington, with the mission of having an impact on the U.S. polo scene. They accomplished it by winning the coveted Joe Barry Memorial 16-goal tournament Sunday, Jan. 26 with Zapican BMW’s 10-8 win in the final over tried and tested ConcordeEquityGroup.com on the U.S Polo Assn. Field One at the National Polo Center in Wellington.
“This is a farm that we have in Wellington that we started with my parents some years ago and from scratch with the dream of two boys that started playing polo,” recalled Felipe Viana, who was sidelined early in the tournament with a broken hand but was there to watch the final and support his team from the end zone. “The United States is not easy. It’s a very competitive world with a lot of polo dynasties. It is very competitive, and we’re giving it a try.”
The brothers are eight years apart in age and first-generation polo players. It was their father who was introduced to polo by an Argentine friend and elected to encourage his sons to play. Rather than take up the sport himself, he waited until his oldest son was ready to start swinging a mallet, Felipe Viana said.
Five teams entered the tournament hosted by the Port Mayaca Polo Club, whose founder Stevie Orthwein was part of the Zapican BMW line-up. ConcordeEquityGroup.com was no easy prey, lining up American player Jeff Hall and the talented Wellington born and raised brothers, Lucas and Nico Escobar. Nachi Viana came to the finals as the highest goal scorer of the tournament, with 25 goals — 10 more than his closest rival — and he added to his prolific scoring record with seven goals in the final, earning himself the Most Valuable Player award while also receiving the Best Playing Pony for his grey mare Yatay Bengala.
BMW Zapican’s win was vindication for Felipe Viana that their foray into polo is now paying dividends. “To compete in a huge tournament, and here we are — it’s field number one, and we are winning our first tournament,” he said.
While he was not on the field, he was happy to be a part of the victory. “There are no mixed feelings,” he said. “At the end of the day, what matters is it’s our farm’s name, and it’s something that we put together with the family. If it’s not my turn to be on the field, and still my organization, and my brother is on the field, and Santi [Wulff], who was a great sub, and a great friend to be here. Everything is just positive, and I wouldn’t change myself for anyone else right now.”
Read more by equestrian writer Sarah Eakin at www.paperhorsemedia.com.
