Family Pride

By Lisa Duncan

“It doesn’t get any better, especially for a guy like Messi,” smiled Argentine polo player Santi Wulff as families in sky-blue-and-white jerseys gathered at the Santa Barbara Polo Club following Argentina’s appearance in the FIFA World Cup Final. “We are very proud. I know we all want to win, but we are very proud.”

That same Argentine spirit carried onto the polo field, where children proudly wore Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt before Klentner Ranch defeated La Karina, 10-6. Jesse Bray and Nachi Viana led the scoring, while Jake Klentner added two goals and his father, Justin Klentner, scored one.

“We’ve been doing this as a family for more than ten years,” said Jake Klentner after being named Most Valuable Player. “This award is really a credit to my dad – to how far he’s been able to take the whole organization. It’s super special.” The championship was a fitting reward for a father-and-son team whose years of dedication have helped build Klentner Ranch into one of the sport’s respected organizations.

Bradley Cance and Tori McLaughlin, representing corporate sponsor The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, presented the Robert Skene championship trophy before the traditional champagne shower brought a joyful close to an afternoon celebrating Argentine pride, family, and polo.

Sightings 

Justin Bieber celebrated into the early hours after his FIFA World Cup Final halftime performance, hosting an exclusive SKYLRK after-party at The Twenty Two in New York, where Hailey Bieber, Camila Cabello, and Tate McRae joined the festivities… Prince Harry made a surprise solo appearance at the inaugural TIME100 Sports Gala in New York, where he was honored for the impact of the Invictus Games. Greeted by TIME CEO Jessica Sibley, the Duke praised sport’s power to heal and unite… Katy Perry traded Montecito calm for roaring crowds in Nîmes and Nancy, France, thrilling fans with her theatrical tour show and a viral crowd-surf atop a giant inflatable water bottle during “I Kissed a Girl.”

From Richard and friends to all of you… Pip! Pip!