CLICKPOLO USA shares the story of this new project created by Aisha Quaintance, who is bringing together both of her passions, technology and polo, with the support of Ciro Desenzani and his organization, Taqueada Polo. This new team is based in Silicon Valley, the place with the biggest concentration of technology companies in the world.
Bits & Bytes claim 14-goal Test Match at La Herradura
La Herradura, Memo Gracida’s beautiful club in Santa Ynez, California, was the perfect venue for the Bits & Bytes Polo Team to make their official presentation. Played on one of La Herradura’s pristine polo fields, surrounded by vineyards and on a beautiful day, Aisha Quaintance’s Bits & Bytes came up against local team La Herradura in the 14-goal Test Match. In what was a competitive match despite the friendly context, Bits & Bytes defeated La Herradura 8-6 and lifted the trophy.
Bits & Bytes lined up with a very ambitious team as Aisha played alongside polo legend Memo Gracida and Santi Toccalino, who competes at the highest level every year in the Argentine Open and, at 8 goals, is currently the highest ranked player on the West Coast. Ciro Desenzani, who is Aisha’s polo teacher and professional player, completed the team. Meghan and Julio Gracida teamed up with Juan Curbelo and Jim Wright in what was a very competitive team as well, resulting in a game that went down to the wire.
Bits & Bytes Polo Team was created by Aisha Quaintance, who is bringing together both of her passions, technology and polo, with the support of Ciro Desenzani and his organization Taqueada Polo. Based in Silicon Valley, the place with the biggest concentration of technology companies in the world with companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Google, YouTube among many others, Aisha hopes that her team will represent the area and at the same time we will bring more interest to polo in the region.
Bits & Bytes in the eyes of Memo Gracida and Santi Toccalino
If the idea of Bits & Bytes is to represent polo in Silicon Valley, their presentation couldn’t be better. To organize a 14-goal test match in La Herradura, just two goals less than the Silver Cup that’s currently taking place at Santa Barbara, is a huge success on its own. To have polo legend Memo Gracida and current star Santi Toccalino playing was the cherry on the cake.
Memo is one of the all-time greatest players. Hall of Famer since 1997, winner of the Argentine Open, the Queen’s Cup and the Gold Cup in the UK, he holds the most US Open victories (16) and the most consecutive years as an American 10-goaler (21). With his club, La Herradura, he is a great promoter of polo in California and the United States.
“Aisha Quaintance and her team Bits & Bytes are a wonderful new addition to polo! She is the epitome of what we hope to create in the sport as a new sponsor. Aisha’s determination to learn and to become an asset to her team on the polo field is impressive. Her participation to play this test match amongst such talented players signifies her passion and enthusiasm for the sport. We have no doubt that Aisha will become one of the most successful and significant sponsors in polo. Congratulations Aisha!” Memo told CLICKPOLO after the match.
Santi Toccalino was also part of the event. With 8 goals, he is the highest ranked player taking part of the season at Santa Barbara and received Aisha’s invitation to play in Bits & Bytes first match. “We had a great time. It was a really nice match and it is always impressive to see the way Memo keeps on playing”, Santi said. “I’m grateful to be invited to the team's presentation as they told me they want to promote polo in Silicon Valley. I think it would be very good if they can stimulate polo over there and, in a broader view, it’s always good to have new places to play polo.”
