This past Saturday, September 6th, the nation’s oldest alumni polo match, the Harriman Cup presented by J. Press marked its 41st anniversary in grand style. Polo graduates from Yale and the University of Virginia squared off at Bethpage Polo at the Park in Bethpage, NY, thrilling a crowd of more than 500 spirited spectators.
Leading the charge was J. Press, the iconic menswear house synonymous with timeless Ivy League style, as the proud title sponsor of the celebrated match. Adding to the prestige was the ceremony sponsor, U.S. Polo Assn. — the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), who provided custom performance team jerseys for all the players as well as the Chevy Beh MVP Award.
Team Yale was composed of Danielle Lyons, Nico Trigo, Vlad Tarashansky, and Sam Clemens while Leopold Schwarz, Griffin Keffer, Katie Mitcham, and Garvy Beh played for Team UVA. To ensure an even handicap, two players switched teams.
UVA’s Beh promptly scored the match’s first goal, followed by teammate Mitcham’s field goal. Yale’s Lyons responded with a goal. At the end of the first chukker, UVA led 2-1. In the second chukker, Tarashansky tied the score, taking the ball downfield and scoring through the uprights. UVA’s Schwarz and Beh scored consecutive goals, putting their team ahead 4-2 at halftime. In the third chukker, Keffer scored, giving UVA a three-goal advantage. Yale responded with an impressive goal by Clemens. At the end of three chukkers, UVA led 5-3. In the fourth and final chukker, Yale tied the score with a field goal by Trigo and a penalty shot by Tarashansky. With the score tied at 5, the fans were on the edge of their seats, cheering for their favorite team. With three minutes remaining, the game’s outcome was uncertain. At the bowl in, Keffer brought the ball toward his goal and scored, putting UVA ahead. As the clock ran down, Beh sealed UVA’s victory with the final goal, securing a 7-5 win over Yale.
On the field, Garvy Beh lit up the scoreboard with three goals, the most in the game, earning him the Chevy Beh Most Valuable Player Award. Named in tribute to his late brother, the award carried extra meaning, making Garvy’s award deeply moving.
Rounding out the accolades, the coveted Best Playing Pony Award was presented to Emezeta Duquesa, masterfully ridden by Sam Clemens.
The polo awards ceremony closed on a high note as the Harriman Cup board proudly presented Liz Brayboy with the prestigious Harriman Cup Award, a well-deserved recognition of her visionary leadership in growing and elevating the U.S. Polo Association’s Intercollegiate and Interscholastic programs. Thanks to her tireless efforts, 29 colleges and universities now boast polo teams, fueling the future of the sport and inspiring the next generation of players. Each year, this honor celebrates individuals whose vision, dedication, and service to polo echo the legacy of the Harriman Cup’s namesake, W. Averell Harriman — a Yale graduate, accomplished polo player, and former Governor of New York.
The celebration didn’t stop there — prizes were also awarded for Best Tailgate, Best Hat, Best Dressed Man, Best Dressed Woman, and even Best Dog, adding a dash of glamour and charm to the day. Winners and polo players alike toasted their triumphs with bottles of Quinn Rosé and refreshing cans of Brez.
Style reigned supreme in the fashion categories: the Best Hat and Best Fascinator winners took home couture creations by Suzanne Couture Millinery, with the Best Hat champion also scoring a luxurious two-night stay at the Yale Club of New York. The Best Dressed Man looked even sharper with a J. Press tie from the Harriman Cup Collection and a Seward feather pocket square by Brackish. Meanwhile, the Best Dressed Woman dazzled with Brackish’s Cascade 2.0 feather stud earrings in emerald, white, and black, framed in gold, along with a flowing kimono designed by artist Annika Connor. The Best Dog received a bag of goodies courtesy of Tri-County Feeds.
THE WINNERS:
Best Hat: Gabrielle McLymont
Best Fascinator: Tiffany Frasier
Best Dressed Man: Guerre
Best Dressed Woman: Irene Gencarelli
Best Tailgate: Virginia Club of NY
Best Dog: Kodak
This year’s match was made possible through the generosity of other sponsors including the Yale Club of New York City, the Virginia Club of New York, Quinn Rosé, Brez, Ivy Style, the Preppy Handbook Fan Club, Tri-County Feeds, and Hanks Giardiniera. The Harriman Cup is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of polo and supporting the collegiate polo programs at Yale and the University of Virginia.