Two elite teams have been assembled for a rare polo exhibition Sunday, August 19, at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club – a 30-goal match featuring eight international players rated at a minimum of six goals. Leading the Learjet team will be Hilario Ulloa, and on the Challenger side will be Lucas Criado. Both players have nine-goal ratings.
The match will take place at 3 p.m., following a 1 p.m. contest between patrons of the polo teams. The show is a prelude to the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open, the prestigious 20-goal tournament that begins on Thursday, August 23. Four teams will battle to play in the final on September 2.
Runners and swimmers of all ages will converge at Goleta Beach on Sunday morning for the 34th annual McConnell’s Ice Cream Endurance Events.
The 2012 high school football season will kick off Friday, August 24, with four games in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria.
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
Saturday, August 18
Women’s college soccer – California Baptist at Westmont (exhibition), 1 p.m.
Men’s college soccer – Westmont at UCSB (exhibition), 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 18
Polo – Exhibition matches at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: Bombardier vs. Global (8-9 goals), 1 p.m.; Learjet vs. Challenger (30-31 goals), 3 p.m.
Wednesday, August 22
Running / swimming – Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through August 29. runsantabarbara.com.
Thursday, August 23
Polo – Bombardier Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: Mansour vs. Grants Farm Manor, 2 p.m.; Lucchese vs. Farmers & Merchants Bank, 4 p.m.
Swimming – Reef & Run Summer Swim Night (500m, 1k, 1-mile), East Beach Bath House, 5:30 p.m. Continues every Thursday through August 30. reefandrun.org .
Friday, August 24
High school football – Santa Maria St. Joseph at Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Cabrillo at San Marcos, 7 p.m.; Santa Ynez at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.; Templeton at Carpinteria, 7 p.m.; Bishop Diego at Santa Maria, 7 p.m.
College women’s soccer – Illinois at UCSB, 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 26
Polo – Bombardier Pacific Coast Open at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: Grants Farm Manor vs. Farmers & Merchants Bank, 1 p.m.; Mansour vs. Lucchese, 3 p.m.
College men’s soccer – UCSB at Loyola Marymount, 3 p.m.
RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING
Sunday, August 19 – McConnell’s Ice Cream Endurance Events (5K run, 10K run, children’s mile, mile swim, biathlon), Goleta Beach, 8:30 a.m. sbrunning.org.
Saturday, August 25 – Santa Barbara Triathlon, long course (1-mile swim/34-mile bike/10-mile run), East Beach Bathhouse, 7 a.m. sbtriathlon.com.
Sunday, August 26 – Santa Barbara Triathlon, sprint course (500-yard swim/6-mile bike/2-mile run), East Beach Bathhouse, 7 a.m. sbtriathlon.com.
Sunday, September 2 – Pier to Peak Half Marathon, Stearns Wharf to La Cumbre Peak, 6:30 a.m. runsantabarbara.com.
Sunday, September 30 – Carpinteria Triathlon (1.5K swim/40K bike/10K run or 0.5K swim/15K bike/5K run) Carpinteria State Beach, 7:30 a.m. carpinteriatriathlon.com.
Saturday, October 6 – Solvang Mile, Copenhagen Drive, 7 a.m. active.com.
Sunday, October 7 – Carpinteria Kiwanis Big Avocado 5K Run, Carpinteria Bluffs, 8 a.m. active.com.
Saturday, October 13 – Fall 5-Mile Cross Country Classic and Kids’ Mile, Lake Los Carneros, 8 a.m. foxfallxc.com.
Sunday, October 14 – Cancer Center 10K Run and 5K Walk/Run, Montecito Union School, 8 a.m. ccsb.org.
Saturday, October 20 – Santa Barbara Century bicycle ride, Leadbetter Beach, 7 a.m. For experienced riders: 100 miles, 100K, and 34-mile Foothill Course. santabarbaracentury.org.
Saturday, November 10 – Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon, Dos Pueblos High School to SBCC, 7:15 a.m. Half Marathon, Page Youth Center to SBCC, 7:45 a.m. sbimarathon.com.
Sunday, November 25 – Red Rock Marathon and 50-Mile Trail Run, Rancho Oso Guest Ranch, 6 a.m. allwedoisrun.com.