By Liz Leamy
Last Sunday was an affair to remember as Smithfield, the venerable high-goal polo crew based out of the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York and Audi, the formidable high-goal contingent from Greenwich went head-to-head in a heated battle with to claim the 2024 East Coast Open title at the Greenwich Polo Club.
In the final tally, Smithfield wound up at the top of the leaderboard, clinching the famed East Coast Open Perry Cup Trophy by outdistancing Audi 10-9 due to the fact that Pablo Pieres Jr., the esteemed number-three Argentinian nine goaler, knocked in his team’s game-winning point during the second-to-last (fifth) chukker.
Throughout this memorable showdown, Pieres, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the match, worked in dynamic and effective concert with his esteemed team colleagues, Joaquin Panelo, the high-octane six goaler, Manuel Villamil and John Klopp, the team’s patron.
According to Klopp, winning the East Coast Open was a thrilling on all counts.
“I made up my mind I was going to work as hard as I could to reach this point and today was incredible. We were behind in the first half and knew going into the second [half] that it was time,” said Klopp, whose wife, Karen and children, Jake, Adam and Kell, along with their other close family members and friends cheered him and the whole Smithfield team on from the grandstand during the game. “It was fantastic being out there and it was a great match.”
This sold-out match, played in front of more than 4,000 spectators, was one for the books as it featured many of high-goal polo’s most decorated players and ponies who put the pedal to the metal as they all flew around the massive Conyers Farm field at speeds of more than 35 miles an hour twisting, turning and hitting in goals.
In the first half of this match, Audi, with its stellar roster of players, Mariano Aguerre, Torito Ruiz, Nicolas Diaz Alberdi and Martin Velez Suarez, commanded a resolute lead.
However, in the second half, all of the game-changing drama took place.
In the fourth chukker, Smithfield tied up the game up 8-8 with Audi when Pieres hit in a soaring 40-yard penalty shot.
Then, in the fifth chukker, Panelo proceeded to drive in a goal for his team to put Smithfield ahead of Audi by one point at 9-8.
Shortly thereafter, Audi’s Ruiz knocked in a thriller of a goal whereby he, along with his powerful charge, flew down the massive Conyers Farm field at optimal speed to tie the match at 9-9.
Several minutes later, Pieres then scored a goal for Smithfield to help his team surge one point ahead of Audi at 10-9, which wound up being the final score of this memorable East Coast Open final match.
Clearly, the efforts of all the athletes, both human and equine, were very much appreciated by virtually everyone there.
“When we first got here, Smithfield was behind and then there was a serious turn of events. To see them come from behind in such dramatic fashion has been incredible. I love an underdog story,” said Amanda Bailey of North Jersey, who was attending her first polo match at the Greenwich Polo Club with some friends. “The match has been amazing, the grounds are beautiful and everyone has been so welcoming. It’s relaxing to be in an environment that is so green and tranquil with such lush surroundings and with such great energy. This is a place that we are definitely planning to come back to.”
By all accounts, this also seemed to be much of the sentiment among the players and their families, friends and fellow team members.
“It’s always great to be here,” said Klopp, President of the Mashomack Polo Club, a sprawling 6,000-acre estate featuring six polo fields, a regulation arena for winter play and stalls that house up to 250 horses. “This is a wonderful venue with so many terrific people. It’s something.”
Others concurred.
“It’s always great to be here,” said Jason Yearwood, Business Development Manager of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. based in New York City that has been a longtime sponsor and partner of the Greenwich Polo Club and whose organization plans to have a major celebration in honor of Barbados Day at next Sunday’s Greenwich Cup match on October 15th. “It’s an incredible environment and every time I come here it’s always a unique and different experience. It’s wonderful to see everyone enjoying the day watching the horses and players in this beautiful environment. The sun, air, grass and trees are so gorgeous, and you feel the excitement right from the moment you drive in.”
Others expressed similar feelings, including the amiable proprietors and members of the Greenwich Polo Club’s extensive lineup of food trucks, whose tasty fare is always a huge customer draw at the Sunday matches.
“We love it here. The horses are beautiful, it’s a gorgeous area and this is a whole different world,” said Yuki Nakmichi, who, along with her husband, Shu Nakamichi, operate and own the Japanese food truck, Eshumaru, which has been a fixture at the Greenwich Polo Club since 2019 with its popular menu of sushi, poke bowls, shumai, gyoza an spring rolls, among other things. “We really enjoy being here. The people are so nice and everything is so well organized. We always recommend coming up here to all of our customers and friends.”
By all counts, the Greenwich Polo Club is a one-of-a-kind place with its many incredible offerings, designating it as a premier summer-season go-to spot for so many individuals hailing from the New York metropolitan area and beyond.
“It’s been a wonderful experience to be here today and I definitely want to come back,” said Maria Sun of New York City who was attending her first-ever polo match at the Greenwich Polo Club. “Everyone was cheering for the horses and players together, which was great. The crowd was incredible and now this has become my favorite sport to watch.”
Madeline Groth of Westchester, agreed.
“It’s a great team sport to watch. The players and horses are fantastic and do a phenomenal job,” said Groth. “Polo involves so much strength, skill and coordination and I try to come up here whenever I can.”
2024 East Coast Open Final Best Playing Pony Results:
Best Playing Pony (Argentine): Machitos Fuyi played by Mariano Aguerre (owned by Annabelle Gundy)
Best Playing Pony: No Va Mas played by Joaquin Panelo
The 2024 Greenwich Polo Club season will conclude on Sunday, September 15th with the Greenwich Cup. For more information, please contact the club at: www.GreenwichPoloClub.com
