Polo America’s Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge on November 6 at Stormbranch Equestrian Club in Aiken, South Carolina set a world record for longest polo game. Fifty-plus polo players and over 200 horses played a 32 chukker 11-goal polo game. Play began at 8:00 a.m. with temperatures in the low 30s. Approximately eight hours after the first throw-in the game came to an end. The final score was Land Rover Columbia 49 and Grand Champions Polo Club 47. Melissa Ganzi and Luis Escobar each set new individual world records for playing 30 consecutive chukkers.

The event was organized by Randy Russell. It is the only known record for longest game. A search on the Guinness World Records website yielded just one polo-related result: Pablo Moreno Wilson of Chile set a record in 2003 for Most durable polo player for playing polo regularly for over 62 years.

This is all new territory. There was a rumor that an eight chukker polo game in Argentina went into eight overtime chukkers,” said Russell. “In regard to continuous play in a polo game, 30 chukkers has to be the record since no one has ever played a 32 chukker polo game.”

The Universal Record Database accepted the records and it is hoped Guinness World Records will too. Russell said, “Guinness supplied us with an ID number. I had the Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge aired live on Atlantic Broadband and recorded to send to Guinness. I will be sending them the DVD, scoresheets and newspaper clippings as documentation.”

Ganzi began preparing for the event well in advance. Her fitness trainer set up an endurance routine for her and she practiced eight or nine chukkers as much as possible prior to the event. To be sure she would be comfortable, Ganzi brought 20 horses to play, including a few of her favorites. She saved her daughter Riley’s horse, Baby, for the last chukker.

I felt very strong in chukkers 13-27,” said Ganzi. “It was sometimes hard to keep a rhythm of play because the players constantly changed. As much as that proved to be difficult to have to adapt to different levels of play, it also helped to keep it interesting. I met a lot of new people and they all made it possible for me and Luis to set individual records. And together we all set a world record for the longest, continuous polo game.

"The hardest chukker for me was the 11th. We took a 15-minute break between the 10th and 11th chukkers, and with it being so cold, starting to play again was a bit of a challenge. Then the 27th chukker was a bit of a struggle. The easiest was the 30th!” said Ganzi.

Escobar also prepared for the event by riding more every day and for longer periods of time, and working out. “I changed my workout, [doing] strictly physical conditioning—running, sprints and cross training.” He also stayed very focused on managing his energy so he could last all 30 chukkers and not injure himself.

He used 18 horses, doubling the first 12. “I started getting tired around chukker 22. I had two main challenges. Seven of the 18 horses I had never ridden before so, no matter how quiet the horses are, they take more energy from you,” explained Escobar. “Second, but most challenging was that we were in temperatures of 30, 40, and low 50s throughout the day. Once my body warmed up it would take two to three minutes to get cold, therefore every chukker was very challenging. It would have been easier in 60 or 70 degree temperatures.”

Players began arriving in the dark at 6:30 a.m. and tacked up under large rented lights. The Polo America staff of Arshia Rios, Lorrie Chadd and Kirsten Ludwig ran a flawless game. In fact, things ran so smoothly that the staff had to start calling players and telling them to come because they were running ahead of schedule. Signs were held up indicating the chukker number. David Andrews and Charlie Herrick did a fantastic job announcing this marathon polo game. Paul Wheaton had his own mini marathon as he umpired 14 chukkers.

Ganzi was thrilled to hear the last whistle. “It was music to my ears! And I felt proud to have achieved my goal in support of our troops.” A tired Escobar was equally happy to hear the final whistle. “I always get a kick every time I read the Guinness Book of World Records so it is fun.”

At the end of the game the scoreboard was brought up to the stage where Brigadier General Lynn presented the players with certificates of accomplishment along with special trophies to Escobar and Ganzi for playing 30 chukkers.

The Dawn to Dusk Chukker Challenge was a benefit for the Wounded Warriors and soldiers at Fort Gordon. The players who came to support the troops ranged from 8-goal to minus 1-goal players. The top four scorers were Melissa Ganzi with 21 goals, Luis Escobar with 15 goals, Randy Russell with seven goals and Collin McCosh with five goals.

So, what does it feel like to play 30 chukkers? Escobar said he needed a fourhour nap the next day and walked around slowly, like a zombie. “My wrist, calves and lower back were a bit sore and stiff, but it all went away by the third day,” he explained.

Ganzi surprisingly felt pretty good the next day, other than being a bit tired. “I was super excited about [the record]. It was an amazing experience. Not only was it an accomplishment for me but also for my organization. Juan Bollini, Tiana Smicklas and Joni Castillo worked equally, if not harder than I did,” she said.