Edging their way past teams in bracket play comprised of the best women’s players in the world, Cabo Wabo and Hawaii Polo Life entered the Susan G. Komen U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship™ Final 3-0  at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida. Relocated from Houston, Texas, to South Florida for 2019 the tournament faced some rain delays with preliminary games being split between Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida, and IPC. Showcasing strategic team organization and exceptional horsepower, the women of Hawaii Polo Life demonstrated their prowess in the second half to definitively claim the championship title 10-5.

Utilizing the sharp reflexes of a 10-goaler, Nina Clarkin skillfully took a pass from Mia Cambiaso around defenders to score the opening goal within the first thirty seconds of play. An offensive powerhouse from the start, Hawaii Polo Life successfully prevented Cabo Wabo from completing any of their set plays in the first chukker, enabling the team in blue to pick up another field goal and an impressive Penalty 4 conversion. “It’s amazing now to look back and think we’ve won considering we nearly didn’t make it into the semifinals,” Clarkin said. “I knew that we had a good team and we hadn’t quite reached our potential yet, but in the semifinals we played well. All four of us played hard, worked for each other and the team really came together today and it showed.”

Responsible for seven out of Hawaii Polo Life’s 10 total goals, Nina Clarkin was named Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were presented to Got Milk, played by Hope Arellano in the second chukker.

By United States Polo Association
Photo credit: ©United States Polo Association/David Lominska