Leighton Jordan at the Helm of Summer’s Top U.S. Tournament

By Darlene Ricker

 

Amidst the hubbub of the largest and most exciting East Coast Open in recent years, Greenwich Polo Club Managing Director Leighton Jordan finds himself almost as busy off-campus as on-campus. As his home club has long done, Greenwich is hosting the tournament. But this year, with eight teams competing in the 2016 USPA East Coast Open, Jordan shuttles from Greenwich to nearby clubs that are partnering with Greenwich Polo Club and the United States Polo Association to expand the tournament and facilitate this year’s heavy game schedule. His midweek destination may be an ECO match at Meadowbrook, Bethpage or Bridgehampton polo club; Mashomack Polo has also offered field usage. 

 

“When you have a tournament like this, field conditions are absolutely crucial. With eight teams here and with weather, we want as many fields as possible so we can move as necessary,” said Jordan. “My objective is to run as smooth a tournament as possible. In the draw, we did not assign fields in advance for that very reason. We want the best field available on that day for the teams to play.” (The final will take place, as always, on the main field at Greenwich Polo Club, on September 11.)

 

With defending champions Audi Polo Team, 2015 finalist White Birch and Airstream returning, interest in this year’s ECO is extremely high. New teams include Faraway, Postage Stamp Farm and Goose Creek. Chris Brant, who competed last year, has also entered a new team, Beluga. Mt. Brilliant also entered a team.

 

Last year with six teams, Greenwich was able to keep the entire tournament there on its three fields. “When you have eight teams, it feels like quadruple the amount of concerns and probabilities,” said Jordan. “We’re thrilled to have eight teams at 20 goals. This is fantastic! In addition to Connecticut and New York, teams came all the way from Virginia, Colorado, Kentucky and Florida. These are good teams, good people, and it’s very competitive. The enthusiasm is terrific and is building upon what we had last year. The patrons’ and players’ attitude is, ‘What can we do to help this tournament?’”

 

Maureen Brennan, patrona of Goose Creek, decided to bring a team from Virginia this year when she heard about the tournament, said Jordan, adding that Goose Creek is a highly competitive team. Brennan competed in previous tournaments at Greenwich this summer and made it to several finals. 

 

“People are realizing that if you’re going to play high-goal polo in the summer, [Greenwich] is the place to be,” said Jordan. That reputation attracted Mt. Brilliant, a young group of players from Kentucky, to the ECO this year. 

 

“What’s important is to have good fields, great competition and a well-managed event. If you do that, people will come back. And we have a good time with the barbecues and parties.”

 

At the same time as Greenwich is hosting the highest-rated tournament of the 2016 U.S. summer season, Jordan has another big task on his plate: serving as Northeast Circuit Governor of the United States Polo Association. For him, building polo in the Northeast U.S. is clearly a labor of love. “I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s fun interacting with all the clubs in the Northeast.” During the ECO, the USPA holds a chairman’s reception. This year, said Jordan, “We’re bringing all the governors to Long Island to show them the birthplace of polo in the United States.”