The high-goal season in Santa Barbara begins in mid-July with the Robert Skene Memorial, followed by the America Cup in late July and ends with the Pacific Coast Open at the end of August. Generally the same teams play in all three events, as was the case with the six teams competing this year, with the exception of some substitutions to the teams. Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs played with 1-goal Jonathan Burrows and 7-goaler Hugo Barabucci in July. They were replaced with A-rated Lyndon Lea and 8-goaler Ruki Baillieu for August when the team’s name was changed to Jimmy Choo’s. Audi Polo also replaced players in August, when 1-goal Marc Ganzi took over for his A-rated wife, Melissa, and 3- goal Scott Devon replaced 3-goal Joaquin Foster. For Duende 2-goal Henry Walker replaced 2-goal Nicolas Intriago in August.

The first event is named after the late 10- goaler Robert Skene, a former manager of Santa Barbara and Hall of Famer, who held onto his 10-goal status for 17 years after returning from his service in the Indian Army. He kept polo in Santa Barbara going by holding off attempts to develop the club property in the early 1970s.
Played as a single elimination, Audi and Duende received a bye to the Skene semifinal, while the remaining four teams played off. Grant’s Farm Manor/Windsor and Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs took early exits after being defeated by Antelope and Mansour, respectively. In the first semifinal, Antelope eliminated Audi, while Duende ousted Mansour. Antelope and Duende advanced to the final. Mansour defeated Audi 12-4 in the consolation match.
The final was a closer matchup, with Antelope, winner of the 2004 Pacific Coast Open, against Duende, winner of the 2003 Pacific Coast Open, showing their strengths. Antelope was led again this year by 10-goaler Adam Snow and 7-goaler Luis Escobar, joining 1-goaler Geoff Palmer and 2-goaler Joseph Stuart. Duende’s de Narvaez and Merlos were joined by 2-goaler Nicholas Intriago and A-rated Mike Hakan. Antelope held a 3-goal lead at the half, but Duende came out firing in the fourth, holding Antelope scoreless while taking a 1-goal lead. Antelope fought back, with Snow and Stuart combining for seven goals in the last two chukkers to win the match 14-11.
Skene’s widow, Elizabeth, presented the trophies to the jubilant Antelope team.
The losing teams concentrated their efforts on the next tournament, while Antelope tried to keep up the momentum. The teams were placed in two brackets and played off with the teams in the other bracket, giving everyone at least three games played over 10 days. Grant’s Farm/Windsor and Duende counted first round wins, while Antelope succumbed to Mansour. Antelope came back strong in Round 2, crushing Audi. Duende trounced Mr. Cecil’s while Grant’s Farm edged Mansour. In Round 3, Mansour handed Duende their first defeat, Grant’s Farm beat Audi, and Antelope hammered Mr. Cecil’s. The undefeated Grant’s Farm/Windsor team earned their way to the final, while Duende edged Mansour, both 2-1, on net goals. Mansour defeated Antelope in the consolation, 11-7.
The America Cup final started off well, with Duende holding a 4-goal lead in the second chukker before the game got bogged down with penalties. Grant’s Farm/Windsor got on the board, with 8-goal Jeff Hall converting a Penalty 4 followed by a Penalty 3 conversion from 6-goal Jeff Blake. Hall scored from the field in the third, then Blake sank a Penalty 2, tying the score at 4. Merlos put Duende ahead with a Penalty 3 at the end of the first half. Announcer Andy Smith kept the crowd in the game with his play by play.
The second half continued with the familiar sound of the umpires’ whistles. Hall tied the game early in the fourth with a Penalty 2 conversion. Merlos answered by scoring a field goal, then a 60-yard penalty to regain the lead. But it was shortlived asHall found the uprights on a Penalty 4, then hammered in a field goal. De Narvaez scored for Duende, but another penalty, this time tallied by Blake, tied the match at 8. Merlos gave Duende the lead early in the sixth, but Hall answered with another Penalty 2 conversion. Merlos tried it again, but this time Blake answered with a shot on goal to tie it and force sudden-death overtime. Hall took possession of the ball and sent it through the uprights, giving Grant’s Farm/Windsor a well-deserved win and sending Duende home a runnerup once again.
Hall was named MVP. Flaco, played by 5-goaler Andy Busch, one of the top amateur players in the sport playing effective back for Grant’s Farm/Windsor, took best playing pony—amateur , and Kenia, played by Merlos, took best playing pony—pro.
The teams had just a week to rest or regroup if necessary, before the month-long Pacific Coast Open got underway. The teams played each of the other teams for best record, with the first four best records advancing to the final and the fifth and sixth place teams playing off for the Mayor’s Cup.

Once again, Duende dominated in the playoff rounds, the only team to go undefeated, and earned the top spot in the semis. Jimmy Choo’s, getting stronger as the season went on, took second with a 4-1 record, while early winners Grant’s Farm/Windsor and Antelope held their own with 2-3 records. Duende would face Antelope in a replay of the Skene Memorial final, but it was anything but. Duende held the three-goal lead after the half this time, and Antelope remained silent in the fourth, while Duende kept hammering. Down 5-11 going into the final period, Antelope took a last gasp, scoring three goals, including a pair of Penalty 2s, but Duende matched them to win 13-8, sending Antelope to the consolation for their second time and Duende reaching a third final this season.
In the other semi, Grant’s Farm/Windsor led Jimmy Choo’s 8-6 at the half. Jimmy Choo’s was silent in the fourth but came alive in the last with six goals. Grant’s Farm hung on for the win 13-12. Jimmy Choo’s took their first win of the season, outplaying Antelope 11-8 in the consolation match, played as the Western Badge.

The final match would be a rematch of the America Cup final with Grant’s Farm/Windsor taking on Duende. Both teams were motivated, but Duende was hungry for a tournament win after letting the previous two slip between their fingers. Grant’s Farm’s Jeff Blake drew first blood early, but de Narvaez responded for Duende. Blake added a pair of Penalty 2 conversions in the second and Andy Busch put one in from the field, but Duende kept pace, matching goal for goal. Merlos put Duende ahead with a lone goal in the third, ending the half with Duende leading 5-4, just like in the America Cup final.
Duende turned up the heat in the fourth, with Merlos adding four goals to Blake’s one. Duende added two more in the fifth, while holding Grant’s Farm to a field goal from Patrick Nesbitt. Unlike the America Cup final, Grant’s Farm was trailing by five going into the sixth. Blake scored four unanswered goals and probably would have scored more had he not been stopped by the sound of the final horn. Despite the effort, this time Grant’s Farm was denied an overtime and lost 11-10.
Blake and Merlos led their respective teams with eight goals each, and Merlos was named most valuable player—pro. Andy Busch, putting in another valiant effort, was named most valuable player—amateur. Merlos’ mare Kenia won her second best playing pony award this season, and Nesbitt’s Christina won best playing pony–amateur.
The Santa Barbara high goal season is always rounded out with plenty of fun social activities including the Pacific Coast Open polo ball, and lots of things arranged to keep the children entertained.