Source:  News Release/Sharon Robb for PMG Inc.

Gordon W. Ross Wins Team Title, Named Most Valuable Player of GPL International Tournament

WELLINGTON, FL---Gordon W. Ross was introduced to polo by a friend seven years ago during a dinner party. "We were talking about hobbies and horses came up in our discussion," Ross said. "She told me she played polo and I should come out and she would put me on a polo pony. "That spring I went out, she put me on a polo pony and I've never looked back. It was a wonderful experience." The Calgary, Canada-based Ross is one of the top players in the Gay Polo League. The 0-goal rated player more than proved that on Saturday at the fourth annual GPL International Polo Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club. Not only did the Gordon W. Ross Team Re/Max capture the Senator's Cup Trophy for the second time in the tournament's four-year history, Ross was also named Most Valuable Player. The MVP award is selected by Piaget team captain and tournament host Melissa Potamkin Ganzi and the four pros participating in the two-day tournament including Ross' teammate Juan Bollini, a former 8-goaler from Argentina. "He was great, we love him and we played with him before," Ross said of Bollini. "He is a great team leader. We enjoyed having him on our team. "It's really important to follow what your team leader says especially when he tells you to leave the ball even though the ball is right there and your first instinct is to try and hit it and take it down the field. "The best thing you can do is listen, have a calm mind and calm hand. This is how you have to approach this game." Gordon Ross GPL 2012 Playing in less than ideal weather conditions, Ross calmly scored the winning goal to lead Team Re/Max to a 2-1 rain-soaked victory over Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox in the rain-abbreviated championship final. In Friday's 5-3 semifinal win over Cedar Crest Stables, Ross scored two goals and played well on both ends of the field. Ross has competed in all four GPL tournaments in Wellington. He was the first international polo player to compete in the inaugural event. "The skill has moved up a level this year," Ross praised. "The players have increased in their level of play and that's so great. It makes it more safer for all the players. We're here to have an experience." Since he started playing, Ross has improved every year. He started out with a minus-goal rating and now is at 0 goal. This past spring he played 8 to 10-goal tournaments in Palm Springs. He won the 6-goal Holiday Cup. In 2010 he won the Canadian Open. "All tournaments are important, no matter where they are," Ross said. "I am totally impressed with the GPL. It's a difficult sport because you have to coordinate so many things in terms of horses, pros, grooms, sponsorship, PR. It's unbelievable how many people have to be involved to orchestrate and pull it off." Ross played water polo for ten years before turning to polo on land. "When I transitioned from water polo to polo there were people that would ask me do the horses have trouble in the water? It was quite funny and there were a lot of jokes but we had a lot of fun with it." Ross hopes to play in Montreal in June and then will play the Calgary Polo Club season from mid-June to mid-September followed by his Hunt Club for ten weeks. "I believe you have to come physically and mentally prepared all the time and make sure you are in the best shape as you can be in," Ross said. "You just want to feel good about being out there and playing the best you can play." Ross said he would like to work on getting his goal rating higher. "Every time you go on the field, whether it's a practice or a game you learn something. And, when you come off the field you re-apply that in your future games," Ross said. Ross was encouraged by the turnout of players and spectators and is hoping the event attracts more GPL members. "You look around this year and it's just unbelievable how many people came out to support this," Ross said. "For many people it's the first time they have been out to a polo game. "We're hoping to recruit some new players and get them interested, whether they are riders or non-riders. A lot of them come from an old equestrian background and love the idea. They start taking lessons and become quite good players." The tournament was hosted by Grand Champions Polo Club and Marc and Melissa Ganzi. Melissa Ganzi, newly-elected president of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, selected the well-matched teams and provided most of the ponies for the tournament. The Gay Polo League, created in 2006, is an international organization and only known gay polo league in the world. Currently, the GPL's established four U.S. chapters are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Wellington. GPL members include players from several foreign countries such as France, England, Argentina, South Africa, Canada and Australia. GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington. INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget and Polo School at Grand Champions. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women's Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.

Barnmice News story brought to you by Omega Alpha

Omega Alpha has you covered for all your equine natural supplements -
plus human and pet needs too!