And the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship came to an end. The championship match for the most coveted polo trophy in the world was ready to go on Sunday December 7; La Natividad La Dolfina and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu were ready to go head-to-head in the much anticipated contest of the year, that was watched from packed grandsstands at Palermo. With an extra spice – La Natividad La Dolfina, the Cañuelas-based foursome, made of the Cambiasos, father and son, and the double title holders (2023 and 2024), the Castagnola brothers, had the chance to claim no less than the Triple Crown.
Following a 2-all tie in a tough first chukka, Adolfo Cambiaso scored in the second, to put La Natividad La Dolfina 3-2 ahead. However, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu replied quickly through Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres and Antonio Heguy. The Pieres-Heguy combo outscored the Cañuelas foursome 3-1 and took a 5-3 lead. The third chukka was the reverse – it was La Natividad who left Ellerstina Indios Chapalaufu behind, with goals by Adolfo Cambiaso, Barto Castagnola and Jeta Castagnola. La Natividad La Dolfina closed the third chukka with a narrow 6-5 advantage.
Things would change in the fourgh chukka, that belonged to La Natividad La Dolfina – they overwhelmed their surprised contenders with an impressive 5-0, courtesy of Poroto Cambiaso (3), Barto Castagnola and Adolfo Cambiaso, to claim an impressive 11-5 lead by half time, in a match that had a close start and was expected to be tight. Now, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu needed to review their strategy in order to attempt a comeback in the second half.
The fifth chukka saw only two goals, one on each side; while Barto Castagnola widened La Natividad La Dolfina’s advantage, Antonio Heguy managed to break two scoreless chukkas for Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu, who seemed determined to overcome the result. Cruz Heguy opened the sixth with a remarkable goal, but La Natividad La Dolfina replied quickly via Poroto Cambiaso; in spite of the six goal gap in favour of the Cambiasos-Castagnolas, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu were not about to give up. Two penalty conversions by Facundo Pieres closed the gap to four goals (13-9), with two chukkas to go.
The seventh chukka was crucial for Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu in order to attempt a comeback and get as close as possible in the scoreboard. Following a great goal by Jeta Castagnola, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu managed to achieve their objective – with goals by Facundo Pieres (x2) and Cruz Heguy, they outscored La Natividad La Dolfina 3-1, and the distance has been shortened to two goals (14-12) with only one chukka left.
La Natividad La Dolfina won the first throw-in at the start of the last chukka, and Poroto Cambiaso found the flags quickly. But with a little more than a minute in the clock, the unexpected happened…
Facundo Pieres suffered a pull rider muscle, that left him unable to keep going. His place was taken by Brazilian Pedro Zacharias, who had played the previous match with La Aguada – the playoff against La Zeta Kazak. After some minutes of uncertainty, the game resumed and La Natividad La Dolfina started get closer to the Triple Crown. Two goals by Poroto Cambiaso and one by Jeta Castagnola sealed the deal – La Natividad La Dolfina won 17-13, and made the dream come true; the dream they wanted to make true since the day this foursome got together.
But there’s more – the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open championship marks another remarkable record in Adolfo Cambiaso’s legendary career. He became the only polo player to have claimed the Triple Crown five times. And with the addition to have earned this special achievement with the family – his son Poroto and his nephews, Barto and Jeta. History has been written once again.
132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL – SUNDAY DECEMBER 7
LA NATIVIDAD LA DOLFINA 17-13 ELLERSTINA INDIOS CHAPALEUFU
La Natividad La Dolfina: Camilo Castagnola 10 (3 goals, 1 corner), Poroto Cambiaso 10 (7, 2 penalties), Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (3), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10 (4). Total: 40.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú Vista: Facundo Pieres 10* (6, 4 penalties), Antonio Heguy 8 (3), Gonzalo Pieres Jr.9 (1), Cruz Heguy 9 (3, one penalty). Total: 36.
*Subbed in for Pedro Zacharias, with 1m16sec in the eighth chukka.
Score La Natividad La Dolfina: 2-2, 3-5, 6-5, 11-5, 12-6, 13-9, 14-12, 17-13.
Jueces: Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva
Third Man: Matías Baibiene.
Lady Susan Townley Cup to the BPP of the final: Lovelocks Drogba, ridden by Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.
Best Polo Argentino Bred Presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn. and Sociedad Rural Argentina Award: Dolfina Copas, ridden by Poroto Cambiaso.
Rubén Sola Award: Adolfo Cambiaso.
Gonzalo Heguy MVP Award: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.
Javier Novillo Astrada to the top scorer of the tournament: Hilario Ulloa & Facundo Pieres (35 goals each).
Gonzalo Tanoira Award to the best mounted player of the tournament: Gonzalo Pieres Jr.
Fomento Equino and Municipalidad de Cañuelas Cup to the best mounted player of the final: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.
Juan Carlos Harriott Fair Play Award: Gonzalo Pieres Jr.
Rufino Laulhé Award to the Young Promise: Antonio Heguy.
Special plaques were awarded to umpires and flagmen.
132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo, by Matías Callejo / Prensa AAP.