The World Polo League Heads Into 2021 Season With Gaston Dorignac As Head Umpire
The World Polo League recently announced that the world-renowned Gaston Dorignac has accepted the position of head umpire, beginning with the 2021 Florida season.
Dorignac, who lives in Madrid, is president of the Spanish Polo Referees Association, holds a category A designation from the Asociación Argentina de Polo and is qualified to officiate at a maximum handicap level of 40 goals.
A native of Argentina, Dorignac comes from a family with a rich polo tradition, being the son of legendary 10-goaler and Argentine Open winner Gaston Dorignac. Prior to becoming an umpire, Dorignac played polo professionally for 20 years, reaching a handicap of 6 goals.
Dorignac’s umpiring began in 1996, officiating at up to 28 goals, and by 1999, he was umpiring in Argentina’s Triple Crown of Polo at Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo. By the end of 1999, he had officiated at seven of the eight games played in the Argentine Open in Palermo, including the final.
Today, Dorignac has umpired more than 20 finals in the Triple Crown, including six in Palermo, as well as eight King’s Cup finals in Madrid, eight finals in the Puerta de Hierro, five Sotogrande Gold Cups and numerous international tournaments, including matches in St. Tropez, Barcelona, Columbia and the Dominican Republic.
“We are thrilled to have an umpire of Gaston’s standing joining us as head umpire for the World Polo League,” WPL founder Melissa Ganzi said. “Our aim is to offer the very best in high goal polo outside of Argentina, and Gaston brings tremendous experience to the table. With his involvement, we can continue to enhance an already incredible level of play in the league.”
Dorignac is excited to begin this new opportunity.
“After Argentina, the WPL offers the highest handicap matches in the world. Play at the 26-goal handicap is very challenging, and if you take into account players like Cambiaso, Nero, McDonough, Andrade, Ulloa and the Castognola brothers, we’re talking about an epic level,” he said. “This wouldn’t be possible without the organization and effort from the WPL.”
Dorignac has enjoyed his previous work with the league.
“I am very proud to be a part of this,” he said. “It was a great feeling to participate in the WPL in 2019 and 2020, and I am honored to have been appointed chief umpire.”
Co-founded by Grand Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Club owner and president Melissa Ganzi and Valiente Polo Farm owner Bob Jornayvaz, the successful World Polo League is the only league offering 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina.
The WPL attracts a large international field of players from all corners of the world, including Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Nigeria and England.
For more information about the WPL’s 2021 season, and to watch games from previous seasons, visit www.worldpolo.org.
While details about the 2021 WPL season are still being finalized, with special precautions due to the pandemic, Ganzi’s Grand Champions Polo Club is also planning a full slate of 2021 winter tournaments.
Grand Champions is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. Events include world-class umpires, 12 championship fields, a polo school, livestreamed games and polo on demand.
The club will offer polo at a wide array of levels this season:
High Goal — The Sterling Cup runs from Jan. 19 through Jan. 31; the $100,000 World Cup by Audi will be held Jan. 29 through Feb. 13; and the Santa Rita Abierto is set for March 2 through March 14.
16 Goal — The Grand Champions Cup runs from Feb. 15 through March 6; the Power Horse Invitational is set for March 9 to March 27; and the Pedro Morrison Memorial will be held March 30 through April 17.
12 Goal — The Limited Edition 12 Goal Series runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 13. It will be followed by the Sieber Memorial Trophy from Feb. 16 through March 6; the $50,000 National 12 Goal held Feb. 17 through Feb. 28; and the Top Pony 12 Goal from March 9 through March 27.
8 Goal — The Aspen Valley Cup runs from Jan. 15 through Jan. 31; the Top Pony 8 Goal will be held Feb. 16 through March 6; and the Limited Edition 8 Goal is set for March 9 through March 27.
6 Goal — The Metropolitan Cup runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 13; the Halo Polo Trophy will follow from Feb. 16 through March 6; and the Madelon Bourdieu Memorial will be held March 9 through March 27.
Also at Grand Champions, the Polo School Women’s League is held every Wednesday from Jan. 13 through April 14, and the WCT Finals run March 31 through April 4.
For more information, about the upcoming season at Grand Champions, visit www.gcpolo.com.
