Chin No 1 team wins polo thriller

The Carib Beer-sponsored Chin No.1 team defeated the Chin No. 2 team 12-11 to win the Hi-Pro/ICWI High Goal Polo tournament at the St. Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall last Saturday afternoon.

The final was indeed a thriller, so much so that it took overtime to determine the winners.

It was a family affair between the Chin No. 1 team of Junior Chin, his son Kurt Chin, Andy Vernon and Lesley-Ann Fong-Yee and the Ace Hardware Chin No. 2 team comprising Paul Chin, his brother Shane Chin, John G Byles and Craig Russell, who received a one-goal on handicap.

The Chin No.2 team jumped out to an early lead in the first chukka as Byles, Paul Chin and Shane Chin all scored unanswered goals to lead 3-0.

Their opponents fought back in the second chukka, however, with Kurt and Junior Chin scoring good goals to close the gap.

The Chin No. 1 team then went on a scoring spree in the third chukka as Leslie-Ann Fong-Yee and Andy Vernon both scored and Kurt Chin twice, while their opponents were held to a single goal by Shane Chin.

Chin No. 1 held a two-goal advantage at half-time.

Both teams scored twice in the fourth chukka as siblings Paul Chin scored twice for Chin No. 2, while Kurt Chin did likewise for Chin No. 1 to keep the same spread. Fong-Yee and Kurt Chin subsequently increased the lead in the fifth chukka with a goal apiece, but Shane Chin kept his team within striking distance with a goal for the losing team.

Suddenly, the Chin No. 2 team came back with a vengeance in the last chukka as first Byles, then Paul Chin and Shane Chin all converted to make it 11-11, sending the match into overtime.

The riders raced up and down the field as both teams had their chances but eventually, Kurt Chin scored the golden goal for the Carib Beer team to win by 12 goals to 11.

Gift baskets

In the presentation of prizes which took place after the match, Jan Pollack of Caribbean Producers Limited distributed gift baskets to all the players and the two umpires, Jorge Donovan and Ricky Wates.

Eric Williams of Hi-Pro Feeds then presented the Low Goal trophy and prizes to the winners of the Low Goal Section of the tournament the ICWI Lalor team of Paul Lalor, Jason Wates and Sam Wates, with Paul collecting the prize for his father, the Hon. Dennis Lalor who was not present. Paul Lalor of ICWI then presented the magnificent Kay Sullivan sculptured trophy of a mare and foal to the winners of the High Goal Section - the Carib Beer team.

. of Junior "Dad" Chin, Kurt Chin, Andy Vernon and Lesley-Ann Fong-Yee and Mrs. Paola Byles handed them their prizes.

Eric Williams of Hi-Pro then presented Paul Lalor with a gift certificate from the Ace Hardware and Supercentre for the Most Valuable Player in the Low Goal Final and presented Kurt Chin with another gift certificate for the Most Valuable Player of the High Goal Final.

The "heaviest prize in polo" - one ton of Hi-Pro Horse Feed was then distributed among the competitors.

After a delicious dinner, patrons then celebrated and partied until the early hours of the morning to close off the 2007 polo season.