By Liz Leamy
It was a glorious September Sunday afternoon as many of polo’s renowned high-goal and amateur players faced off against one another in a high-charged series of four round-robin matches at the Greenwich Cup to usher out the 2024 Greenwich Polo Cup season in stellar fashion.
This high-octane series of matches, whose team roster featured the standout New York metro-area polo contingents, Round Hill/NuEnergen, Steel Polo/Over-Under, Amaro/GTFO, York ReCapital and Strongwater, were clearly on their A game much to the delight of the sold-out crowd there who applauded them for them in an enthusiastic manner throughout the entire afternoon.
As the horses and players on all the teams flew around the field maneuvering and hitting the ball, this lively group of more than 4,000 individuals, who filled up the grandstands and sidelines to capacity, cheered them on with the same infectious level of energy as that of a National Football League crowd, designating this as a memorable 2024 season wrap up for the Greenwich Polo Club on all fronts.
“It’s been an amazing day. Everyone was great out there and the match was tough. We just tried to play our best and work as effectively as we could,” said Dana Drury of Steel Polo, whose team is based out of the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York and was named Most Valuable Player of the day. “This is an incredible venue. The field is fantastic, everyone here is great and it’s just been a terrific day.”
Others agreed.
“It’s always incredible and also motivating to play here. The crowd was amazing and there was such energy in the air,” said Michel Dorignac who helped lead York ReCapital to victory and is involved with Polo United, the organization that conducts private and group polo clinics from beginner through the advanced levels from spring through the fall at the Greenwich Polo Club. “This is a special place with such wonderful people. That, along with the beautiful fields and this whole atmosphere is why I love being here.”
By all accounts, the Greenwich Polo Club is a gorgeous pastoral venue with a resounding and dynamic community that profoundly reflects so much of the spirit of the town itself.
“It’s wonderful being here with the team in this incredible environment. The players and ponies, along with everyone else involved, have all put in such a tremendous amount of hard work and training to get to this point,” said Lauren Walsh of Greenwich, Patron of the York ReCapital team. “Everyone is also so connected here, which is everything.”
Right from the outset, it was clear the energy among the crowd, players, ponies, their team members and virtually everyone else on hand at this match, including the sponsors, retailers, food truck vendors and others, was palpable to set a golden tone for the afternoon as this remarkable community worked together in graceful and effective concert.
“We love it here and there couldn’t be in a better place for us to be,” said Ben Krigler of Armonk, New York. “The weather has been ideal, which further adds to the whole ambiance of everything. It’s sunny, breezy and absolutely beautiful and it reminds me a lot of Montecito, California, near where I used to live and what we’re seeing and experiencing here really defines nature’s majesty.”
Krigler, along with his family and friends, spent the afternoon relaxing and socializing at the ever-popular Barbados Marketing Inc. tent in celebration of Barbados Day, with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. being a dedicated longtime sponsor of the Greenwich Polo Club.
At this bustling hotspot, many individuals, including Kriger, could be seen having a great time whether they were enjoying its complimentary refreshments and rum cocktails, seafood fritters, grilled lamb chops and grilled chicken with sticky sauce, among other tasty things.
“Being here is an experience like no other,” said Erik Klein of Greenwich who was also at the Barbados tent area with Adriane, his wife. (Klein is also Editor of the hit iconic Food Network reality TV show, ‘Chopped.’) “It’s a very special community and venue and the fact that this club is right here in Greenwich is amazing.”
At the conclusion of the matches, members of the teams all convened together on the awards dais, celebrating with loud cheers while being showered with confetti, further adding to the whole joyous tone of the afternoon.
“This has been a fantastic day in every way,” said Jason Yearwood, Business Development Manager of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. that is based in New York City and was attending the match with Jakita, his wife, and Jesse, his son. “It’s been a great day with such an incredible turnout of people. The Greenwich Polo Club is a great experience and, as always, we are pleased, happy and thankful to share Barbados with everyone here.”
Based the excitement of the matches along with these heartfelt sentiments, it is clear that the Greenwich Polo Club experience represents a victory for everyone there in some capacity.
“It is a spectacular venue and everyone here represents what Greenwich is all about,” said Mark Steinberg, who co-owns the Port Chester, New York-based company, @trailnetworkusa.espwebsite.com with his brother, Michael Steinberg, provider of the remarkable and popular gear at the Greenwich Polo Club store on the club’s site that is always teeming with customers. “Everyone leaves here happy.”
