Postage Stamp Triumphs, Takes Monty Waterbury Cup

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Members of the Postage Stamp Farms and some family members celebrate with the Monty Waterbury Cup after beating Airstream 9-7 for the championship. (John Ferris Robben photo)

By Liz Leamy
Sentinel 
Correspondent

It was an afternoon of high energy, drama and heated competition as Postage Stamp Farm, the electric Wellington, Fla.-based squadron, drove home a 9-7 victory over Airstream at the Greenwich Polo Club last Sunday to claim the prestigious Monty Waterbury Cup, one of the most decorated and oldest tournaments in the sport.

Postage Stamp Farms and Airstream battle Sunday for the Monty Waterbury Cup title. (John Ferris Robben photo)

This highly anticipated U.S. Polo Association showdown, which drew more than 2,500 spectators, was one for the books as each of the teams, both of who had reached the finals after winning a series of qualifying matches over the past three weeks, battled it out against one another right up to the last (sixth) chukker.

Racing up and down the massive Conyers Farm field on their gorgeous ponies at speeds of up to nearly 40 miles per hour, the players staged one heck of a show as Postage Stamp Farm took the top honors in the final tally.

“Postage Stamp Farm played their game and earned their win,” said Dr. Horace Laffaye, a renowned polo historian and author based in Fairfield County. “Airstream played well and, as with all of the teams in this tournament, were of a very high level. On any given day, any of the teams could win and it’s that close.”

At the start, Airstream, the formidable Greenwich-based team, lead the match, with Tomas Garcia del Rio, the venerable Argentinian high-goaler, knocking in all-important points.

By the conclusion of the third chukker (or first half), however, Postage Stamp Farm had evened the score with Airstream at four-four due to its rock-solid offense and lightning-quick playing.

Throughout the entire second half, Postage Stamp continued to build their momentum and eventually wound up as victor.

“Halfway through the third chukker, it started to click,” said Brandon Phillips, the driven Canadian five-goaler. “We fought to win out there and we needed this as a team. We won this for Annabelle.”

The ‘Annabelle’ whom Phillips had been referring to is Annabelle Gundlach, the high-energy Postage Stamp Farm patron who had been unable to play in the finals due to the fact that she was recovering from a recent accident. (Will Tomita was the alternate who played her number-one postion.)

“I think we put in even more effort out there today with Annabelle in mind,” said Phillips, whose charge, Bonanza, was named the Best Playing Pony of the match. (Joao Ganon, Phillips’ teammate, was named Most Valuable Player.) “During the last three chukkers, I think we really put it together.”

His teammates agreed.

“It was intense out there,” said Kris Kampsen, the fierce Wellington, Fla.-based six-goaler who scored three of his team’s nine goals. “It feels great to win. I’ve always gotten to the finals and to be here now is huge.”

Without a doubt, Postage Stamp Farm fought hard to claim the Monty Waterbury Cup, as Airstream, with their star-studded roster of players, gave them a tough run for their money.

In the end, though, as with any good competition, it is all about delivering the goods at the right time.

“We had chances,” said Tommy Biddle, the esteemed South Carolina five goaler who is always a big crowd favorite at the GPC. “You can’t take a break for a second.” 

Postage Stamp Farms and Airstream battle Sunday for the Monty Waterbury Cup title. (John Ferris Robben photo)

Still, both teams seemed to bring out the best in one another, including off the field.

After the awards ceremony, Biddle, Phillips and Kampsen, along with all of the other players in the final could be seen hugging, talking and making plans with one another, indicating that there is indeed, a genuine brotherhood and family-type dynamic that exists among this engaging community of elite polo athletes.

At the same time, many of these players seemed excited at the prospect of being on the rosters at the GPC this season, which only seems to make sense since it is known to be the U.S. summer high-goal polo capital of the sport.

“This is one of my favorite spots to play,” said Kampsen, who has been part of the GPC playing rosters for several years now. “It’s a beautiful club, the people are great and I love the fact that it’s based in the Northeast because my wife’s family is from the tri-state New York area (they are from New Jersey) and we get to spend time with them.”

The spectators agreed that the GPC is exceptional.

“Everything is so fast-paced and interesting out there and the way the players handle the horse and hit the ball is phenomenal. The whole experience here has been great,” said Joseph Uzar, a University of Connecticut senior who is enrolled in the Allied Health pre med program and is also a representative for the Boxcar Cantina of Greenwich, whose food truck was a big crowd draw at the match. “I really enjoy being here. It’s a lot of fun and everyone has been really nice, friendly and enthusiastic.”

Uzar’s same sentiments were shared by others.

“It’s my first polo match and it’s been amazing,” said Emily Wingrove, a Boston-area native who attends Yale University as a PhD student in the Biological Sciences. “I didn’t realize how much athleticism was involved and it’s been so exciting to watch it live here. I wish [the match] would last longer.”

Truer words could not be spoken, especially in seeing the smiles, excitement and enthusiasm of those attending this match.

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