The sun was shining this past weekend for the finals of the USPA Northeastern Circuit Congressional Cup between finalists Glen Farms and Kingswood Reagan, both winners of the tournament’s semifinal rounds, for the first of two thrilling 4 chukker matches to award the A1 Roofing Independence Cup. This match wasfollowed by an additional four chukker consolation match between Kingswood and Kingswood B to round out the Newport International Polo Series, presented by Turkish Airlines last Saturday evening.
After two weeks of matches, the competition was fierce as the finalists lined up to take home a thrilling win and prize money to split. Spectators were dressed in their best Yankee Doodle attire with their red, white, and blue tailgate spreads, all hoping to take home a prize from Stella Artois for Best in Show.
The Patio Bar was abuzz with energy as spectators enjoyed the latest beverage offerings from Absolut, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and Stella Artois on tap. For those feeling patriotic the drink of the day crafted by The Cocktail Guru was the Army Navy – a cocktail best described as a gin mojito with almond syrup, orange juice, lemon sour, and a dash of bitters. Cocktails from Goslings were also readily enjoyed including the Dark ‘n Stormy, the official drink of the Newport International Polo Series. The Pro Shop set out many new summer items including Men’s Pro Beach Volleyball Shorts, perfect for the warmer weather! Weekly Gourmet Food Trucks and Vendors were parked field-side serving up Newport classics from Newport Chowder Company, Hawaiian Jim’s Shave Ice, Milk Caffe, Weiner Wagon, A Mano Pizzaria, and Ben and Jerry’s.
At the appointed hour of 5PM, festivities began with umpires Ernie Ezcurra and Matthew Fonseca leading Glen Farm and Kingswood Reagan onto the field for the opening ceremony, beginning with player introductions. Wearing green for the day was Glen Farm with Stuart Odell at #1, Jennifer Williams at #2, Sam Clemens at #3, and Stuart Campbell at #4 anchoring the team. In white for the day was Kingswood Reagan with Kathleen Reagan at #1, Stephanie Mitchell at #2, Taylor Palacios at #3, and Rulo Trotz anchoring the team in the #4 position. Next up was the official coin toss from A1 Roofing and Construction’s Director of Energy, Jeff Goff, after which the game began!
Sam Clemens came out strong with the first goal of the game, which was quickly matched by Kingswood Reagan’s Rulo Trotz. Glen Farm fought back, putting up another two goals, one from Campbell and another from Clemens. Trotz hustled to put in another goal, but Glen Farm ended the first chukker in the lead, 3-2. In the second chukker, Glen Farm saw another two goals from Campbell and one from Clemens bringing their score up to six. Kingswood Reagan tried to make up the difference, but with one goal from Trotz and another Palacios, the ended the first half with four goals, just two shy of Glen Farm’s six. In the last half, Trotz puts in four impressive goals, but its not enough to best Glen Farm. We see three more goals from Campbell, one from Odell, and one from Clemens. Glen Farm impressively kept their lead the entire match to secure the tournament win with a final score of 11-8.
With the conclusion of the first match, spectators flooded the field for a traditional divot stomp at half time to prepare for the second match. Once the divots had been stomped, many dropped off their raffle ticket at the Pro Shop for the chance to win the Daily Door Prize from Veuve Cliquot. Each week’s winner is then entered in the 2023 season’s grand prize, two business class tickets to anywhere in the world, given by Turkish Airlines.
Half time concluded, and we welcomed the second set of teams onto the field. First up was Kingswood in silver, with Brynn Whitten at #1, Peter Friedman at #2, Jim Thames in the #3 position, and finally Segundo Caimi in the #4 position. Next, in lime green, was Kingswood B, led by Emerson Bruce at #1, Rick Salter at #2, Ariadne Dogani in the #3 position, and Federico Wulff anchoring his team in the #4 positon.
Wulff quickly scored the first goal of the day, but was answered by Friedman who put a goal in for his team. Dogani scored, securing Kingswood B’s second goal and the lead at the end of the first chukker. As the players swaped their ponies, the winner of the Stella Artois Best in Show Contest was announced and this patrotic group walked away with a special gift from Stella Artois.
The game continued with another three goals from Kingswood, one from Salter and two from Wulff to secure a strong lead in the second chukker. Caimi came back with a quick two goals in the third chukker, but was matched with another goal from both Salter and Wulff. In the fourth and final chukker of the day, Caimi finished strong with another two goals for Kingswood, but Wulff put in one last goal to maintain the lead for Kingswood B and secure the win with a final score of 8-4.
After the match the teams took a lap around the field in celebration of the end of the USPA Congressional Cup in the traditional victory salute. The lap was followed by the Veuve Clicquot Trophy Presentation. The USPA player’s trophies and the winner’s cup were presented to Glen Farm along with their prize money. Stuart Campbell of the Glen Farm team was named MVP of the match. After the extended celebration, spectators and players made their way to the Modern Luxury Lounge for a complimentary Goslings Dark ‘n Stormy to celebrate two weeks of competition with some of the best players in the region.
Check out photos from the match here!
Live audiences can enjoy the Newport International Polo Series polo matches every Saturday as they have for 32 years to witness the timeless sport unfold on the manicured, emerald green at Glen Farm, home of the Polo Series, in a classic exhibition of horsemanship and valor, with host, the Newport Polo Club, where the home team – Newport/USA – meets challengers each season from around the world as well as teams representing major US cities and regional rivals in one of Newport’s unique traditions & renowned attractions.
The Polo Series is scheduled to continue every Saturday through September. The schedule of teams is subject to change without notice, subject to RI State mandates, US travel bans which may impact travel and Adult Sports, and force majeure. Stay current with the 2023 team lineup & stats, latest news, events, and more by e-scription to the Gameday Briefing (sign up) and weekly eMagazine (sign up). Both subscriptions are private and spam-free.
The Polo Grounds’ favorable proximity to the shores of the island’s Sakonnet east passage provides reliably cool coastal effects, moderating afternoon temperatures and providing a dependable breeze for the late afternoon polo matches all summer. Minutes from the bustling Newport waterfront, the International Polo Grounds are located on the acreage of Glen Farm, 250 Linden Lane (off of Rte. 138) in Portsmouth, RI. This bucolic setting is the last 100 acres of a pre-colonial settlement from the 1600’s that became the Town of Portsmouth’s original gentlemen’s farm, an 800-acre manorial estate established during a Gilded Age movement of retreat from the high life into pastoral country acres, to become the future home of polo in the next century. Its classical 19th-century stone barns and its park-like grounds were rehabilitated by Polo Series founder, Dan Keating in the early 1990’s and continue to thrive as an equestrian & community recreational property, and home of the Polo Series.
The Newport International Polo Series is proud to name its 2023 sponsors including Brenton Hotel, BD, TD Bank, Turkish Airlines, Modern Luxury Boston, Herb Chambers Exotics, Vanderbilt International Properties, Hotel Viking, The Vanderbilt, The Chanler at Cliff Walk, Newport Life, Providence Diamond, Veuve Clicquot, ABSOLUT, Clarke Cooke House, CCE Golf Cars, BMW of Newport, Atria Senior Living, Northwestern Mutual, Charles Schwab, Insperity, AAA Northeast | Viking, A-1 Roofing, US Polo Assn, Stella Artois, Visit Jamaica, Goslings, ROCKSTAR Limo, and Classical 95.9 WCRI; and promotional partners including Newport Helicopter Tours, The Cocktail Guru, Newport Jaguar Tours, Picnic Charters, Island Adventures, On Watch Sailing, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport Vineyards, Newport Mansions, Island Surf and Sport, Newport Picnic Co. and Audrain Automobile Museum.
“Our sponsors have been with us since the beginning. Without their support, the Series would not be as extensive as it is,” explains Dan Keating, Polo Series founder.
This is the 32nd season of the Newport International Polo Series, which has hosted teams from 36 nations including, Ukraine, Colombia, Ireland, Germany, Spain, England, Argentina, France, Egypt, India, Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Canada, Chile, Jamaica, Nigeria, Portugal, New Zealand, Barbados, Scotland, South Africa, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Kenya, Brazil, China, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, Singapore, Monaco, Morocco, Peru, Poland, and Switzerland.
Gilded Age Legacy. Polo is, without a doubt, the oldest ball game in the world today. First recorded in the 6th-century b.c. when the Turkomans beat the Persians in a diplomatic tournament, the alluring game caught on with equestrian royalty and cavalry, and took off with globalization, withstanding the tests of time. Arriving on Newport’s shores during the Gilded Age, the sport had evolved for nearly 2500 years, steeped in tradition, captivating newcomers like Newport’s summer sporting set who embraced the new pastime, establishing America’s first polo club in 1876. A charter member of the United States Polo Association, the club today is still a trailblazing model polo club, hosting the Newport International Polo Series public exhibition matches, supporting philanthropic causes, organizing tournaments, polo club member services, and polo instruction year-round. Experience the king of games in its American landing at Newport Polo.