2006 USPA Officer’s Cup Championship Finals
Longfield Farm 11 Smithfield Farm 10
2006 USPA Officer’s Cup Champions-Longfield Farm denies Smithfield Farm the “Triple Crown” with their 11-10 win. That 11-10 score should sound a tad familiar around Mashomack. It is the score of the USPA Eddie Moore Finals for the past two consecutive years. Longfield had the 11 in 2005 and Smithfield had the 11 this season and both of those games were sudden death. This game was decided in regulation but the teams played all six chukkers like they were each sudden death periods. We witnessed a great game of Polo as the field was spectacular. The field had not been played since early in the month and after a lot of topdressing, some fertilizer, and a good deal of rain, the field looked like it had been re-done with new sod. It took the ponies and the players the first chukker to adjust to the slightly slicker conditions you have when you have good turf. Julio Ezcurra did a somersault on a tight turn at Mach III early in chukker one to be a clear indicator of conditions. The teams played each other even 1-1 in the first. Then the favored Longfield unleashed their secret weapon, Juany Jerona as he scored two goals in chukker two, whereas the Smithfield mallets could not find the goal posts. The game seemed to swing into the mode that most on the sidelines felt it would. The memo circulated around the barns in pre-game buzz was that Longfield was a clear favorite. Well…someone forgot to get that memo to Smithfield as they came back in chukker three with two brilliant nearside goals by Ernie Ezcurra and they took the chukker 2-1. Two things happened in chukker 4. One, Enrique Zavaleta recovered from chukker 3 and guided Longfield to a 3-1 edge in the chukker, but secondly, something sparked inside of Julio Ezcurra. He scored 2 goals in each of the chukkers in the second half to take high score honors and almost tied up the game with seconds left. Smithfield won both chukkers 5 and 6, but just a goal shy of what they needed to sent it into OT. Longfields’ Zavaleta and Jerona both scored 5 goals in the final. Now that isnt much of a surprise for Zavaleta, but 5 goals out of Longfield’s Juany Jerona ? (ahem….just clearing my throat). Not a bad performance for a struggling one goaler. Did I say struggling? I will also add that Duke Buchan had several clutch tail shots with all kinds of Ezcurra breathing down his neck. Juan OIivera added the much needed 11th tally for Longfield that helped seal the championship paperwork.
In any event….an awesome game of polo. And we all got to watch it. Congratulations to both teams for providing us with a thriller. Julio Ezcurra was voted Game MVP and that he was, in a crowd of mvp performances. Well done, everyone.
And thank you Felix and Don for solid performances as umpire and referee…much appreciated my friends!!
Consolation Finals-Lieutenant Cup
Buena Vista (10) Supersized Titans ( 8)
Buena Vista’s 2 goal handicap proves to be the edge they needed for victory
First order of a great Labor Day of Polo was the Consolation Lieutenant Cup Finals which had the Supersized Titans facing off against Don Langlois’s Buena Vista. These two teams met in the USPA Officer’s Cup round and Supersize down sized Buena Vista 9-4. In yesterday’s meeting, Buena Vista took their 2 goal handicap and added 2 goals and finished chukker one up 4-1.
Maxi Crotto and Felix Martinez combined for 8 goals in the Titan roster, playing along with Michael Levin and Andres Erhbetti. Buena Vista was being orchestrated by Tatin Zubiaurre who was game high with 6 goals. Don Langlois who has played well all season added two clutch goals in the final two periods that sealed the win. Completing the Buena Vista squad was Woody Keesee, and then Parker and Oakleigh Thorne splitting. This was Parker’s and Oakleigh’s first USPA tournament showing and they showed well. The Titans won chukkers 2 and 6, 1-0 and 2-1. The teams played each other even for chukkers 2,3 and 4. BV won chukkers 1 and 5, 2-1. So the game was all tied up, except for those two handicap goals.
I would also like to thank Chris Green for helping me umpire. Chris is looking to get re-certified as he used to do a lot of umpiring some years ago. He did a great job. Now I have two potential replacements…..Chris Green and Cate Buchan.
What’s left at Mashomack??
Well I left for one……after a wonderful summer and a lot of great polo and a super group of members and pros, I pointed my covered wagon west and hitched up the mules. So I write this final chukker chatter for one of the watering holes along I-80. I had a great time, we have an awesome club.
The Club will continue with three more weekends of 8 goal polo with 4 or 5 teams. The reins are in Julio Ezcurra and Juan Olivera’s capable hands, so you can get a hold of either one of them with any questions. Thanks to all who came and helped make the 2006 season a memorable one. Have a great Holiday Season everyone and I wish you and your horses some pasture time and then a great winter season! Tom Goodspeed.
Photo captions:
Mashomack’s USPA Officer’s Cup Runner-up champs and champions: Fuad Malik, MVP Julio Ezcurra, John Klopp, Ernie Ezcurra, Juan Olivera, Duke Buchan, Henry Zavaleta, and Juany Jerona
Best Playing Pony owned by John Klopp
Lieutenant Cup Champions:Don Langlois, Tatin Zubiaurre, Woody Keesee, Parker Thorne, Oakleigh Thorne and the greatest supporting cast in polo.