Polo Life with Mystique Jewele
2021 NSLM Polo Classic Presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
Published: Sep 15, 2021
Mystique Owner Liz Mandros Presents Trophies at National Sporting Library & Museum's
2021 Polo Classic
Polo player and Ralph Lauren model, Nacho Figueras,
and his son, Hilario Figueras, pose with Mystique Jewelers owner, Liz Mandros.
You don’t even have to enter Middleburg’s Mystique Jewelers to realize that owner Liz Mandros — like most of Middleburg — loves horses. Just take a peek at the front window displays and you’ll see the equestrian theme that is carried out through store decor and many pieces of jewelry. But what you might not realize is that Liz has a special penchant for polo. She’s been playing for 25 years and even sponsors a team — aptly named “Mystique.”
This past weekend, the National Sporting Library & Museum hosted its 2021 Polo Classic at Great Meadow in The Plains, where Mystique Jewelers was a sponsor and Liz presented the trophies. The event featured two top tier polo matches — the Founders Cup and the Mars Cup — as well as a parade of St. Andrew’s Society Pipes & Drums and Founders Cup Players, and a parade of the Orange County Hounds. Professional polo greats, Nacho and Hilario Figueras and Daymar Rosser, were in attendance.
“The weather couldn’t have been more perfect,” says Liz.
As the sole fundraising event for the National Sporting Library & Museum each year, the Polo Classic supports exhibitions, educational programs, preservation of collections and more. It also helps fulfill their mission “to preserve, promote, and share the literature, art, and culture of equestrian, angling and field sports.” This year a portion of proceeds will be shared with local food banks to support our community members who have experienced loss and hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 NSLM Polo Classic Presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
The event featured two top tier polo matches, the Founders Cup and the Mars Cup, a parade of the Orange County Hounds, and more!
The six-chukker Mars Cup took place in the afternoon after a ceremonial ball toss by President of Mars Petcare North America Ikdeep Singh. Andy Hertneky, Daymar Rosser, Nacho Figueras, and Hilario Figueras played on the NetJets team, facing off against Wil Ballhaus, Bill Ballhaus, Tolito Fernández Ocampo, and Lucio Ocampo for Holman Hall, sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Manuel H. Johnson. The Mars Cup was a family affair; both teams featured a father-and-son duo, Nacho and Hilario Figueras for NetJets and Wil and Bill Ballhaus for Holman Hall, and brothers Tolito and Lucio Ocampo played together on the Holman Hall team. The latter emerged victorious with a final score of 8-9. W. Ballhaus was awarded Most Valuable Player sponsored by Securiport, LLC. The Best Playing Pony award, sponsored by BUCKEYE™ Nutrition and Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds, was Ventura, a chestnut named Taruha, ridden by Andy Hertneky.
2021 Polo Classic
Polo player and Ralph Lauren model, Nacho Figueras,
and his son, Hilario Figueras, pose with Mystique Jewelers owner, Liz Mandros.
You don’t even have to enter Middleburg’s Mystique Jewelers to realize that owner Liz Mandros — like most of Middleburg — loves horses. Just take a peek at the front window displays and you’ll see the equestrian theme that is carried out through store decor and many pieces of jewelry. But what you might not realize is that Liz has a special penchant for polo. She’s been playing for 25 years and even sponsors a team — aptly named “Mystique.”
This past weekend, the National Sporting Library & Museum hosted its 2021 Polo Classic at Great Meadow in The Plains, where Mystique Jewelers was a sponsor and Liz presented the trophies. The event featured two top tier polo matches — the Founders Cup and the Mars Cup — as well as a parade of St. Andrew’s Society Pipes & Drums and Founders Cup Players, and a parade of the Orange County Hounds. Professional polo greats, Nacho and Hilario Figueras and Daymar Rosser, were in attendance.
“The weather couldn’t have been more perfect,” says Liz.
As the sole fundraising event for the National Sporting Library & Museum each year, the Polo Classic supports exhibitions, educational programs, preservation of collections and more. It also helps fulfill their mission “to preserve, promote, and share the literature, art, and culture of equestrian, angling and field sports.” This year a portion of proceeds will be shared with local food banks to support our community members who have experienced loss and hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 NSLM Polo Classic Presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
The event featured two top tier polo matches, the Founders Cup and the Mars Cup, a parade of the Orange County Hounds, and more!
The six-chukker Mars Cup took place in the afternoon after a ceremonial ball toss by President of Mars Petcare North America Ikdeep Singh. Andy Hertneky, Daymar Rosser, Nacho Figueras, and Hilario Figueras played on the NetJets team, facing off against Wil Ballhaus, Bill Ballhaus, Tolito Fernández Ocampo, and Lucio Ocampo for Holman Hall, sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Manuel H. Johnson. The Mars Cup was a family affair; both teams featured a father-and-son duo, Nacho and Hilario Figueras for NetJets and Wil and Bill Ballhaus for Holman Hall, and brothers Tolito and Lucio Ocampo played together on the Holman Hall team. The latter emerged victorious with a final score of 8-9. W. Ballhaus was awarded Most Valuable Player sponsored by Securiport, LLC. The Best Playing Pony award, sponsored by BUCKEYE™ Nutrition and Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds, was Ventura, a chestnut named Taruha, ridden by Andy Hertneky.