10th Annual Mashomack International Polo Challenge presented by BEAR STEARNS
Event Sponsors:
BEAR STEARNS
Berluti..Bottier depuis 1895, Paris
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, New York
The Dorchester
Sotheby’s
Heather Croner Real Estate
Being the tenth annual, how appropriate for mother nature to gift us with beautiful weather to be able to showcase this very special event and help draw the largest attendance to date. How can you go wrong when the ladies dress up for a day of polo? The tradition is three representative teams from France, England, and the USA doing battle with polo sticks in the midst of a week of social celebrations. The week included a player reception at the exquisite Carlyle Hotel in New York, an Asado for the players by Parker and Oakleigh Thorne, the annual Mashomack 4th of July celebration, the Louis Roederer Champagne Reception on game day, the fieldside luncheon and silent auction, tailgating parties, petting zoo, some exotic animals, and of course, the polo match.
A talented committee of Mashomack members and their spouses, orchestrated by Karen Klopp and Bruce Colley, put in way too many hours in the organization of this fundraiser which benefits The Pine Plains Fire Hose and Rescue Company and the Mashomack Barns preservation. Lindsay Baldwin is the event director/magician who does a wonderful job in assisting Karen, Bruce, and their committee.
This year’s three teams:
France, sponsored by Berluti
Oakleigh Thorne
Parker Gentry Thorne
Don Langlois
Julio Ezcurra
John Klopp
USA, sponsored by The Carlyle
James McBride
Conor Mahoney
Bruce Colley
Carlucho Arellano
Duke Buchan
England, sponsored by The Dorchester
Philip Mactaggart
Mr. P
Peter Hunter
Tatin Zubiaurre
Sam Ramirez
The polo match was an exciting one as the two rivals from across the pond faced off for the first leg of the 9 chukker competition.USA jumped all over England in the first chukker with two goals each by James McBride and Carlucho Arellano to end the chukker 4-1, However, round two went by way of team England as Tatin Zubiaurre and Phlip Mactaggart teamed up for 3 goals to none from the USA squad to tie it up 4-4, at the end of two. Chukker three saw 2 goals off the mallet of Tatin to a single goal from Carlucho, giving England the nod-6-5 at the end of their match.
The format for a round-robin calls for the loser to stay up to face the third entry, France. Then the winner of the first three chukkers plays France for the final three chukkers of the event. Once again, team USA was strong off the blocks but short on distance as France edged USA out 8-6, with 6 goals by Julio Ezcurra and an additional two from MVP Don Langlois. This match was also tied at 4 goals at the end of their second chukker just to give you a feel of how well these teams were matched up.
The last match up and the three deciding chukkers of the event was between team England (The Dorchester) and team France(Berluti). Team France went to work very quickly with Julio Ezcurra scoring 4 unanswered goals in the first two chukkers. A handicap goal and a score by Peter Hunter kept England close with a 4-2 score at the end of two. The final chukker of the match was an even effort by two very talented players, Julio Ezcurra and Tatin Zubiaurre, and Team France takes title position for Berluti in this 10th annual, 6-4.
The players all moved to the post game BEAR STEARNS trophy presentation where all the teams were recognized and Berluti presented with their beautiful bronzes. Don Langlois was awarded the game MVP and James McBride’s pony was given the Sotheby’s Best Playing Pony award.
Summary…………… a great success in every category.
next up on the docket:
Wed, July 4th, we will decide the June 6 goal champions: Smithfield or Hawk Hill ??
Then, we turn our attention to the warm-up 12 goal in preparation for the 2007 USPA Eddie Moore !!