Annual Mashomack International Polo Challenge

PINE PLAINS — The Mashomack Polo Club hosted its 13th annual Mashomack International Polo Challenge on Saturday, June 26. The event began with a Louis Roederer Champagne Reception followed by an elegant field-side luncheon. The culmination of the day’s festivities was an exciting 12-goal polo match where American, British, Italian and Singaporean teams battled to secure the coveted trophy for their country.

After eight chukkas (a chukka is a seven-minute period of play) of nonstop play, the Italian team triumphed. Wendy Svarre from Hunter Boot was on-hand to present the hard-fought first-place trophies to Carlo Baceheschi Berti and his Castello di Vicarello team of Parker Thorne, Don Langlois, Agucho Zavaleta and Duke Buchan.

Second-place awards, presented by Bob Boulogne, Rosewood Hotel CEO, and his daughter, Lilly, went to the American team. The Americans were sponsored by The Carlyle and included Philip Mactaggart, Bryan Colley, Woody Keesee, Julio Ezcurra and John Klopp.

Heather Croner of Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty and Valesca Guerrand-Hermès presented the Mathias Guerrand-Hermès Sportsmanship Award to Bruce Colley on the Carlyle Team.  Mathias was an “accomplished polo player, and a great friend and team member of Mashomack Polo Club,â€� said Croner. “He passed away in April and will be missed by all.â€�  

Bruce Colley, in his acceptance praised Guerrand-Hermès.

“He was a passionate, determined competitor,� Colley said. “And a gentleman on and off the polo field.�

The event attracted more than 500 “town and country� patrons and marked the official start of the summer social season in Millbrook. Many fans traveled from New York City, Westchester and Fairfield counties to spend the day in the countryside and experience “the sport of kings.� The Mashomack Preserve Club is a private shooting and polo club located on 2,380 pristine acres in the heart of the Hudson Valley’s hunt country.

A portion of the proceeds from the match will help support two community groups: The Foundation for The Pine Plains Community Center and Library, Inc., and The Pine Plains Hose Company & Rescue Squad. The chairmen of this year’s event were Bruce Colley, Karen Klopp, Sara Rotman and Parker Thorne.

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