Arranmore defeats Pinecroft in overtime to win Wyndham Drake Gold Cup. By Karen Martino – In a match that was close throughout, Arranmore defeated Pinecroft 7-6 in overtime to win the prestigious Wyndham Drake Gold Cup (16-goal) at the Oak Brook Polo Club.
The tournament has been played at Oak Brook since 1962, the year the Wyndham Drake Hotel opened across York Road from the old International Field. Over the years, the hotel has hosted players and dignitaries from around the world, designating it the “Official Hotel of the International Polo Series.”
The 15-goal Pinecroft team started with one goal on handicap, but Arranmore evened the score midway through the first chukker on a Penalty 3 conversion by Carlucho Arellano. Pinecroft’s Gonzalo Teves scored from the field to again take the lead.
The second chukker saw goals by Mariano Obregon Jr. for Pinecroft and Marcelo Frayssinet for Arranmore. Good defensive play by both teams kept the third chukker scoreless for a halftime score of 3-2 in favor of Pinecroft.
Frayssinet found the mark early in the fourth to tie the score, but his goal was quickly answered on a breakaway by Antonio Galvan to again give Pinecroft a one-goal lead. Tim Greene’s accurate foreshot through goal for Arranmore tied the score at 4-all at the end of the fifth period.
The sixth chukker was fast and exciting, as Galvan scored on a beautiful pass from Jim Drury to put Pinecroft up by one. However, Frayssinet and Arellano scored back-to-back goals from the field to quickly put Arranmore in the lead. An infraction by Arranmore gave Galvan the opportunity to tie the score at 6-6 before the bell sounded.
About four minutes into the deciding chukker, with Pinecroft players bearing down, Frayssinet took control of the ball, knocking it through the goalposts for the win.
Trophies were presented by Michael Yaneck, general manager of the Wyndham Drake Hotel, and his children, Brian and Nicki.
The first match of the day was a semi-final match in the USPA Butler Handicap, with Morgan Creek defeating Catamount 12-9, to take Morgan Creek to the finals against Arranmore.
Michael Butler, whose father, Paul Butler, founded the Oak Brook Polo Club in 1922; his son, Adam and Adam’s wife, Michelle; and niece Reute Butler flew in from California and Texas to present trophies.
A fundraiser for the Oak Brook Historical Society took place throughout the afternoon, and Friends of Conservation set up a booth to promote their upcoming fundraiser.
Wyndham Drake Gold Cup
Arranmore – John Greene (1), Carlucho Arellano (5), Marcelo Frayssinet (7), Tim Greene (3). Pinecroft – Gonzalo Teves (3), Mariano Obregon Jr. (5), Antonio Galvan (6), Jim Drury (1)
The photo captions are:
Team shot – Arranmore was the winner of the 2006 Wyndham Drake Gold Cup at the Oak Brook Polo Club. From left to right: Marcelo Frayssinet, Tim Greene, Carlucho Arellano and John Greene. In the center is Michael Yaneck, general manager of the Wyndham Drake Oak Brook Hotel, who presented trophies, along with his children Brian and Nicki.
Action shot – Patrons John Greene of Arranmore and Jim Drury of Pinecroft battle it out in the finals of the Wyndham Drake Gold Cup.
Photo credits: Karen Martino Photography.