A more than two-decade old tradition will come to an end this year, as the Commonwealth Cup Polo match leaves Goochland for the Great Meadow Equestrian Center at The Plains in Northern Virginia.

Plans call for the match to be combined with a wine festival in an event to be called “The Commonwealth Polo & Wine Event at The Plains,” scheduled for September 12-13. Proceeds from the match will benefit the Wounded Warriors project, according to a press release from The Plains.

“Quite honestly I’m sad,” said Wayne Dementi, a former president of Goochland Family Services before its merger with the Goochland Free Clinic and co-chair of the match planning committee.

In its 23 years in Goochland, the match served as the main fund raising event for the Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services agency.

Held each fall at South Ceres Farm on Route 250 in Oilville, the Commonwealth Cup pitted the best players from Virginia against the British Forces Foundation Polo Team.

With antique carriage rides, Jack Russell Terrier races and the traditional half-time divot stomping by the crowd, the match drew thousands of spectators each year.

“It was a decision made by the two groups in a friendly way,” said Angela Abassi, co-founder of the Commonwealth Cup, of the decision to leave Goochland for a new location.

“We always loved to work with the Goochland Family Services. Our relationship was excellent with a tremendous mutual respect,” said Abassi, who said she thought GFCFS had decided to look for different venues for fundraising.

Executive Director of GFCFS Sally Graham said the decision not to sponsor the Commonwealth Cup this year was influenced by the recession.

“We decided that because of the economy that we would sit it out this year,” said Graham.

GFCFS has two other fund raising events scheduled for this year; the imPact Classic golf tournament set for August 14-16 at Richmond Country Club and a Richmond Symphony sponsored by the Goochland Rotary scheduled for November 7 at Goochland High School.

“We’re always reevaluating our fundraising,” said Graham. “It [The Commonwealth Cup] was a wonderful event.” Graham would not rule out partnering with the Commonwealth Cup again in the future, nor would Abassi.

“It had become sort of an institution,” said Goochland Director of Economic Development Greg Reid, who said that losing the event would have no real economic impact on the county, but added, “Anytime you lose a well known annual event it’s not a good thing.”