The championship match of the Queen’s Cup, that took place on Sunday June 14, belonged to just one name – Balanz Capital. Claudio Porcel’s foursome, who already had the Trippetts Challenge under their belt, are having the time of their lives during the current season in England. And they demonstrated their terrific skils with an overwhelming 17-7 victory over Aureus, to claim the most important competition of the club set in Windsor Great Park. Much of the credit of this impressive win goes to the team’s lethal combo – Jeta Castagnola and the man of the hour, Lorenzo Chavanne.
After a 2-all in the first chukka, Balanz Capital seized the reins in the second with a narrow 5-4 lead. And that was it – from the third chukka onwards, Claudio Porcel & Co became the dominating force. By half time, they outscored Aureus 5-1 that put them in a comfortable 10-5 lead. Balanz Capital proved to be a heavy headache for Aureus, especially through Jeta and Lorenzo; together, the two of them found the flags no less than 15 times – Jeta, 7 and Lorenzo, 8. The second half saw Balanz Capital at their best, and by the time to play the last chukka, the scoreboard read an almost decisive 15-6.
Balanz Capital sealed the deal in the last chukka with two goals, that earned them a remarkable win by an astonishing gap of ten goals, 17-7, that allowed them to lift one of the most coveted trophies of the international calendar of polo. A very well deserved title for Balanz Capital, who remained undefeated thoroghout the whole tournament. And it is worth to note that 18-years-old Lorenzo Chavanne is already one of the biggest emerging stars- if not the big – of 2026. He already secured two of the three tournaments of The Gauntlet Of Polo in Palm Beach – USPA Gold Cup and US Open, both with Pilot; now, he is shining in England, where he added another two trophies to his collection – the Trippets Challenge and The Queen’s Cup. Watch out, because there’s plenty more to see of Lorenzo in the near future!
In the meantime, the Subsidiary Subsidiaria Cartier Cup went to Akasha, who beat Gaston 10-9, in extra chukka
THE QUEEN’S CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY JUNE 14
BALANZ CAPITAL 17-7 AUREUS
Balanz Capital: Claudio Porcel 0, Ned Hine 5 (2 goals), Lorenzo Chavanne 7 (8), Camilo Castagnola 10 (7). Total: 22.
Aureus: Jake Coventry 2, Mark Tomlinson 5 (2 goals), Diego Cavanagh 8 (3), Teo Lacau 7 (2). Total: 22.
Score Balanz Capital: 2-2. 5-4, 10-5, 11-5, 15-6, 17-7.
Umpires: Howard Smith & Gastón Lucero.
Tercer hombre: Tim Bown.
MVP: Jeta Castagnola.
BPP: Machitos Mamushka, ridden by Camilo Castagnola.
Mejor Producto Polo Argentino: Machitos Mamushka, ridden by Camilo Castagnola.
PHOTO GALLERY by THE ART OF POLO
The Queen’s Cup was established in 1960, in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8 2022. Her Majesty was not only the longest serving monarch of Great Britain (February 1952-September 2022), but also the second longest in history, behind His Majesty Louis XIV, known as Le Roi Soleil (The Sun King), who ruled France during 72 years (1643 to 1715). Queen Elizabeth II was suceeded by her son, His Majesty King Charles III, who is also the current President of Guards Polo Club, a position he inherited from his father, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who founded the club on January 25 1955 and remained as the President until his passing, on April 9, 2021.
The Queen’s Cup – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by The Art Of Polo.