POLO
The Fairfield Hunt Club was a big factor in polo since its American inception and was affiliated with the US Polo Association in 1926. The donation, in perpetuity, of the polo field by the Rudkin family ensured an attractive venue and the club won many championships over the years. They hosted teams from Argentina, Canada, The Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Iran, New Zealand and Pakistan. The tradition lives on with the annual Gold's Dragoons Polo Cup championship game in the late summer, fought by members of Gold's Dragoons which had supplied so many foxhunters and polo players over the years. |
In the long-anticipated rematch, Gold’s Dragoons hosted Squadron A at the Fairfield Hunt and Polo Club in Westport Connecticut at a 1 p.m. for The Equus Effect charity polo match.
The polo pitch was in the best shape ever and the tailgaters and vendors filled the sideline with their resplendent set-ups. It was a warm and muggy day with the match time accelerated to try and beat the impending storms.
Gold’s Dragoons knew they had a tough battle ahead as Squadron A had reformatted their team to wrest the cup from GD as they had three years ago.
The Key Sponsor of the match was the 116 Crown Restaurant located in New Haven, CT. Special thanks to 116 Crown as the champagne sponsor for the last 4 years! Thank-you Doug Anderson and his team from 116 Crown!
The team for Gold Dragoons was comprised of:
The team for Squadron A was comprised of:
Umpires for the match were Horacio Hernan Marco and P.J DeAngelis.
- Doug Anderson at position 1
- Dennis Fitzpatrick at position 2
- Hillary Blythe at position 3
- James DeAngelis, Captain, at position 4
The team for Squadron A was comprised of:
- Caitlin Condon at position 2
- Anne Hamonet at position 1
- Alberto Hamonet, Captain, at position 3
- Juan Acuñya at position 4
Umpires for the match were Horacio Hernan Marco and P.J DeAngelis.
Chukker One
The battle royal started with both DeAngelis and Acuñya making defensive plays to thwart the offensive drives of the two teams. A goal by DeAngelis in minute three drew first blood for GD. Play went back and forth between the two squads with DeAngelis thwarting the Squad A drives with defensive plays that
sent GD on offense, only to be reversed by constant defensive plays by his counterpart, Acuñya. As the chukker was nearing the six minute mark Blythe took a pass and galloped to a heavily defended goal and scored. With just six seconds left of the 1st chukker, Fitzpatrick was able to carry the ball through traffic and put goal number three on the board for the GD. The chukker ended with GD leading SQA 3:0.
The battle royal started with both DeAngelis and Acuñya making defensive plays to thwart the offensive drives of the two teams. A goal by DeAngelis in minute three drew first blood for GD. Play went back and forth between the two squads with DeAngelis thwarting the Squad A drives with defensive plays that
sent GD on offense, only to be reversed by constant defensive plays by his counterpart, Acuñya. As the chukker was nearing the six minute mark Blythe took a pass and galloped to a heavily defended goal and scored. With just six seconds left of the 1st chukker, Fitzpatrick was able to carry the ball through traffic and put goal number three on the board for the GD. The chukker ended with GD leading SQA 3:0.
Chukker Two
Chukker 2 saw more of the same for GD with DeAngelis passing to Blythe and Blythe constantly driving down field putting tremendous offensive pressure on SQA. Acuñya was quick to answer with his own fireworks as he consistently drove the ball forward and started to come through to goal on his own, scoring twice in the 2 nd chukker, including one spectacular fifty yard goal shot as he was heavily marked by Blythe. Fitzpatrick and DeAngelis (foul shot) each tallied a goal equaling the efforts of SQA but the message was clear – SQA was here to not just play but win. The end of the 2nd chukker GD led the match by a score of 5:2.
Chukker 2 saw more of the same for GD with DeAngelis passing to Blythe and Blythe constantly driving down field putting tremendous offensive pressure on SQA. Acuñya was quick to answer with his own fireworks as he consistently drove the ball forward and started to come through to goal on his own, scoring twice in the 2 nd chukker, including one spectacular fifty yard goal shot as he was heavily marked by Blythe. Fitzpatrick and DeAngelis (foul shot) each tallied a goal equaling the efforts of SQA but the message was clear – SQA was here to not just play but win. The end of the 2nd chukker GD led the match by a score of 5:2.
The infamous GD halftime divot stop (not so much this) and champagne toast (mostly this) as libations were served from the back of a classic Jaguar sedan with free-flowing Veuve Clicquot champagne supplied by the 116 Crown Restaurant.
Chukker Three
Halftime strategy changes by SQA resulted in their best chukker of the day - stymieing GD, while scoring several times. Acuñya was relentless in pounding the ball up to his teammates and, combined with Captain Hamonet, offensively to keep GD on their heels. Two goals by Condon and one by Acuñya left no doubt that the cup was in serious peril of leaving its home club. Chukker 3 ended with GD and SQA locked in a tie - 5:5
Halftime strategy changes by SQA resulted in their best chukker of the day - stymieing GD, while scoring several times. Acuñya was relentless in pounding the ball up to his teammates and, combined with Captain Hamonet, offensively to keep GD on their heels. Two goals by Condon and one by Acuñya left no doubt that the cup was in serious peril of leaving its home club. Chukker 3 ended with GD and SQA locked in a tie - 5:5
Chukker Four
The 4th chukker witnessed both teams pulling out all of the stops to get the ball down to their goals. Finally DeAngelis scored (foul shot) that gave GD the slimmest of leads. Acuñya and Hamonet were ever present, causing many last-minute saves by GD players. Finally, in minute six, DeAngelis followed Blythe
down the field and wove his way through a gaggle of players defending their goal and put one through the uprights. Fitzpatrick put the icing on the cake scoring the final goal of the match in the last 20 seconds resulting in a hard fought, heavily contested, GD victory – 8:5.
The 4th chukker witnessed both teams pulling out all of the stops to get the ball down to their goals. Finally DeAngelis scored (foul shot) that gave GD the slimmest of leads. Acuñya and Hamonet were ever present, causing many last-minute saves by GD players. Finally, in minute six, DeAngelis followed Blythe
down the field and wove his way through a gaggle of players defending their goal and put one through the uprights. Fitzpatrick put the icing on the cake scoring the final goal of the match in the last 20 seconds resulting in a hard fought, heavily contested, GD victory – 8:5.
The cup remained with GD, albeit forewarned that it is vulnerable to the SQA attack. The gauntlet has been laid down for next year’s 93rd game between the 2 teams. Awards were presented by GD President, John Conlin and representatives from 116 Crown Restauran saw each team member receiving a terrific haul of pirate’s treasure for their day’s efforts, including trophy plaques from GD, bottles of bubbly from 116 Crown, wonderful gift baskets from Julie DeAngelis, and coveted Argentine polo belts from Jim Brodie.
The MVP honors went to a well deserved SQA player, Juan Acuñya.
Our 2024 polo cup final is Sunday, September 8th
The MVP honors went to a well deserved SQA player, Juan Acuñya.
Our 2024 polo cup final is Sunday, September 8th