The Teams – Ellipse vs Altaris
Ellipse (16-goal team)
Lucas Diaz Alberdi – position 1, rank; 6-goal
Tolsi Ulloa – position 2, rank: 5-goal
Roberto "Robi" Bilbao – position 3, rank: 5-goal
Louis Devaleix – position 4, rank: 0
Let the Game Begin
Altaris (16-goal team)
Jamal Nusselbeh – position 1, rank: 0
Milo Dorignac – position 2, rank: 2-goal
Lerin Zubiaurre- position 3, rank: 8-goal
Joaquin Panelo – position 4, rank: 6-goal
The Polo Action on Sunday, July 25, 2021
Sunday, July 25, 2021, began with cloudy, grey skies that threatened to rain interspersed with periods of sun amidst the clouds. The weather competed at the same level as the two teams, Ellipse v. Altaris, who volleyed goals back and forth throughout the day as well for a fast-paced match.
Chukker 1 was off to a quick start as Roberto "Robi" Bilbao scored the first goal for Ellipse bringing the score 1 – 0 over Altaris. Ready for the challenge, Milo Dorignac made a goal with 1:06 minutes remaining, closing out the first chukker dead even, 1-1.
Chukker 2 had lots of action and excitement on the field. Bilbao scored for Ellipse bringing the score 2-1 over Altaris. Louis Devaleix took a hit and was injured with both teams taking a break with 4:29 minutes remaining for him to receive medical attention. Cleared, Louis returned to play, with Joaquin Panelo scoring for Altaris from 99 yards bringing the score to 2-2. Jamal Nusselbeh took a tumble off his horse however he was able to get back on quickly. Joaquim Panelo made another goal bringing the score to 3-2 with Altaris leading for the first time. The lead did not last for long, as the Ellipse team scored tying up the match at 3-3.
Chukker 3, Lucas Diaz Alberdi for the Ellipse team scored a goal, followed by an Altaris goal bringing the score to 4-4 with 4:46 minutes remaining. With 2:28 minutes remaining, Robi Bilbao scored for Ellipse brining the score to 5-4. The teams took a break with 2:10 minutes remaining, with Lerin Zubiaurre scoring a goal with 1:10 minutes remaining, to even the score 5-5.
The Divot Stomp between Chukker 3 and 4 brought the fans out onto field to do the time-honored divot stomp to tidy up the grass torn by the horses’ hooves, stretch their legs, and mingle. Karl Josef and brand Ambassador Molly from The Macallan, were on the field as well.
The Macallan
Brand Ambassador Molly Melville, Debra C. Argen and Karl Josef
Chukker 4 was off to a quick scoring start as Ellipse scored, followed by Altaris, bringing the score 6-6 with 1:27 minutes remaining, followed by another Ellipse goal, with Ellipse leading with a score of 7-6. Chukker 5 brought more action on the field with 38 seconds into the chukker when Lerin Zubiaurre fell off his horse and the horse took off galloping down the field on his own towards his trailer. Panelo approached and scored for Altaris, followed by another Panelo goal bringing the score 8-7 with Altaris leading. With 4 minutes remaining, Devaleix scored a goal bringing the score to 8-8. There was a pony change with 3:18 minutes remaining. Zubiaurre scored for Altaris, making the score 9-8 Altaris. Tolli Ulloa scored for Ellipse bringing the score 9-9, followed by an Altaris goal, closing out the fifth chukker 10-9 in favor of Altaris.
Chukker 6 was off to a slow start with no goals scored with 3:36 minutes remaining. Action picked up as Tolli Ulloa took a penalty shot and scored, bringing the score 10-10 with 2:58 minutes remaining. Robi Balboa was off his horse, then got back on. Ulloa scored again for Ellipse bringing the score to 11-10 at 1:55 minutes remaining. With 1:15 minutes remaining, Milo Dorignac scored for Altaris to even the score to 11-11, which caused a Sudden Death overtime chukker. Panelo scored with a free shot for Altaris just 26 seconds in to overtime closing out game with a score of 12-11 over Ellipse, earning Altaris the East Coast Gold Cup 2021.
Final Score
Awards Ceremony
Altaris – Champions – East Coast Gold Cup 2021
MVP Player went to Milo Dorignac (Altaris team), MVP Amateur went to Louis Devaleix, and Best Pony went to Picassa owned by Michel and Milo Dorignac. Speaking with Milo Dorignac after the awards ceremony we learned that Picassa, whose real name is Leona, (she is nicknamed for the white stripe on her face) is the horse that he feels the most confident riding. Highly accomplished at a very young age, Milo started riding at age 5, started playing polo at age 7, and is ranked as a 2-goal player.
Milo Dorignac, MVP and Best Pony – Picassa
VIDEO
Interview with Milo Dorignac of Altaris – https://youtu.be/gIZ1yWWqC0k
Debra C. Argen and Milo Dorignac
Other Excitement
MOJO
We enjoyed listening to the music by the band MOJO in the CTC&G Players’ Lounge VIP Tent before the match and during halftime, where the cocktails and wine flowed all afternoon at The Pony Bar by The Cup Bearer.
The Macallan
Outside the VIP Tent, The Macallan brand ambassador and other representatives conducted select tastings of The Macallan Double Cask 12, The Macallan Double Cask 15, and The Macallan Rare Cask.
Argentine Asado
After the awards ceremony there was music, Argentine Asado (barbecue), and drinks at The Pony Bar which kept the party going and was the perfect culmination of a day of exciting high-goal polo in Greenwich.
Until next time, keep enjoying adventures with Luxury Experience!
Debra C. Argen and Joaquin Panelo
Greenwich Polo Club matches are high-goal matches (16-handicap ranking). Each match consists of 2 teams with 4 players each, 1 of the players on each team will hold amateur status (non-ranked), with the remaining 3 carrying the balance of the ranking for a total of 16. The higher the rank, the better and more experienced the player. Interesting to note is that "players are ranked yearly by their peers and the USPA on a scale of 2 to 10 goals. Team play is handicapped on the basis of ability."
Play is conducted on a field measuring 300 yards x 160 yards, with horses racing on the field towards the goal at speeds up to 35 miles per hour, making the action fast and enthralling. There are 6 chukkers (periods), played for 7.5 minutes each with an intermission halfway through for the traditional stomping of the divots" to repair the playing field marked from the horses’ hooves on the field. If there is a tie at the end of the 6th chukker, play will continue for an additional chukker with the first team to score determining the winner. Interesting to note is that players must hold the mallet in the right hand only, and players will swap out their horses throughout chukkers to keep their horses fresh and achieve optimal play, as the horse can account for up to 75% of a player’s handicap.
Remaining Greenwich Polo Club 2021 Sunday Matches – Gates open at 1pm, matches begin at 3 pm
August 29
September 5
September 12
Pricing Information
Seating Packages: East Lawn – picnic seating, $40 per car, general admission, East Lawn Reserved – reserved lawn seating, $75 per car, Grandstand Bleachers, reserved seating, $60 per car, West Lawn Club in front of Grandstand, $350 per car for table with 4 seats, Grandstand Box, $300 with 2 car passes for a box with 4 seats, CTC&G Players’ Lounge VIP, VIP Tent, with music and bar, $150 for 2 guests, $250 for 4 guests, in same car, West Cabana, reserved space, field side, $600 for 4 cabana car passes for 4 cars of guests, 10’x 10′ tent and private 25’x10′ lawn in front, includes 8 chairs, cocktail table, can accommodate up to 20 guests, access to VIP bathrooms, East Lawn Cabana, reserved space, field side, $400 for 4 east lawn cabana car passes, 10’x 10′ tent and private 20’x10′ lawn in front, includes 8 chairs, can accommodate up to 20 guests, additional car passes can be purchased, Executive Hosting Cabanas, VIP Hosting, $3000, contact Greenwich Polo for complete details.
For information on the Greenwich Polo Club and attending an upcoming match, please visit their website: www.GreenwichPoloClub.com.
Greenwich Polo Club
Field Address (location of public matches)
1 Hurlingham Drive, Greenwich CT 06831
United States
Mailing Address (office, not the Polo Field)
80 Field Point Rd #3,
Greenwich, CT 06830
United States
Telephone: +1-203-561-1639
Email: info@GreenwichPoloClub.com
Website: www.GreenwichPoloClub.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/GreenwichPoloClub
Instagram: @greenwichpoloclub
Twitter: @greenwichpolo
United States Polo Association®
Telephone: +1-800-232-USPA
Website: www.USPolo.org
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/USPoloAssociation
Instagram: @uspoloassn
Twitter: @uspoloassn
Follow the United States Polo Association® on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/USPoloAssociation
Follow Luxury Experience on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LuxuryExperience to see photos and videos.
Follow Luxury Experience on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/LuxuryPair @luxurypair
Follow Luxury Experience on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/luxurypair @luxurypair
© August 2021. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
