Polo,
Pomp Highlight The C.V. Whitney Cup Polo Tourney At International
Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON,
Florida – A full day of polo, pomp and circumstance highlighted
the activities during the quarterfinals of the prestigious C.V.
Whitney Cup polo tournament Sunday at the International Polo Club
Palm Beach.
More
than 275 guests enjoyed a pre-game bountiful buffet in the Grand
Marquee, catered by The Breakers. The on-field festivities began
with the parade of polo players to midfield, led by 13-year-old
Maggie Boyle carrying the American flag. Jonathan Panks sang the
national anthem. Kathy Foster, president of Junior Achievement and
the first mayor of the Village of Wellington, handled the pre-game
coin toss with aplomb.
The
club’s now traditional halftime champagne divot stomp continued
as four HUMMERS, the official vehicle of International Polo Club
Palm Beach, raced onto the field to dispense the bubbly and a large
crowd gathered to watch a performance by the South Florida Mustang
Club.
Village
of Wellington councilwoman Laurie Cohen, along with Gil Johnston,
matriarch of the winning Bendabout foursome, presented prizes to
the teams during the post-match ceremonies. Carroll Goodman, wife
of Isla Carroll patron John Goodman, presented the MVP award to
Miguel Novillo Astrada of Bendabout.
On
the field, 10-goaler Adam Snow scored on a 10-yard neck shot 91
seconds into overtime to lift Bendabout over Isla Carroll 12-11
in a quarterfinal match of the 26th annual C.V. Whitney Cup 26-goal
polo tournament.
Bendabout
scored the final three goals in regulation, the last one a 60-yard
penalty shot by 10-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada with 2:54 remaining,
to tie the game at 11-11. Bendabout had two excellent chances to
win the game in regulation, but Memo Gracida backed away a ball
near the goal line with 1:28 left and Astrada sent a forehand wide
with 20 seconds remaining. Snow finished with a team-high six goals
while Astrada finished with five and Johnston scored one. Alejandro
Novillo Astrada did not score.
Thirteen
teams entered the tournament, which is a prelude to the Stanford
Financial Group – 100th U.S. Open Polo Championship, the most
prestigious polo tournament in North America. The C.V. Whitney Cup
final is slated for Sunday, March 21 at 3 p.m. at the International
Polo Club Palm Beach stadium.
The
tournament is named in memory of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny”
Whitney, who along with his brother John Hay Whitney, were important
polo patrons in the 1930's. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry
Payne Whitney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against
his brother), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred
racehorses.
The
C.V. Whitney Cup championship game is Sunday (March 21) at 3 p.m.
High-goal polo action continues every Sunday at 3 p.m. The polo
game and a delicious Sunday brunch catered by The Breakers is open
to the public. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (561)
204-5687 or visiting the club’s website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Tickets are also available at the gate on the day of the game.
International
Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between
Lake Worth Road and Pierson Road, in Wellington.
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