Following a very hard fought match, Thai Polo claimed a narrow 11-10 win over Lovelocks Polo Stud and ran out the champions of the Warwickshire Cup, Cirencester Park Polo Club’s most important tournament. The final took place on Saturday June 20, at England’s oldest club, established in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, in 1894, and saw four teams up to 22 goals, partake.
Although Lovelocks Polo Stud kicked off with a slight advantage in the first chukka (3-2), Thai Polo, with siblings Milly and Louis Hine, seized the reins from the second chukka onwards, earning a 6-4 lead, which was extended to 9-5 and 10-7 in the two following chukkas. However, Charlie Hanbury & Co. never gave up – they outscored Thai Polo 2-0 in the penultimate chukka to close the gap to two goals (8-10). Lovelocks Polo Stud also won the sixth chukka 2-1, but the efforts didn’t pay off – Thai Polo, led by their most remarkable man and top scorer, Hilario Ulloa, only needed to find the flags once to seal the deal.
The Subsidiary went to Monterosso, who beat Jindal Steel La Dolfina 8-7.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – FINAL – SATURDAY JUNE 20
THAI POLO 11-10 LOVELOCKS POLO STUD
Thai Polo: Milly Hine 2 (1 goal), Louis Hine 6 (1), Hilario Ulloa 9 (8), Will Harper 6 (1). Total: 22.
Lovelocks Polo Stud: Charlie Hanbury 3 (2 goals), Juan Gris Zavaleta 5 (2), Carlos Ulloa 7 (5), Ollie Cudmore 5 (1). Total: 22.
Score Thai Polo: 2-3, 6-4, 9-5, 10-7, 10-8, 11-10.
Cover photo by Tom Reynolds.
Cirencester Park Polo Club, one of the oldest polo clubs in England, was founded in 1894 by the Seventh Earl of Bathurst, who was also the first Chairman of the club. The first Warwickshire Cup, a trophy presented to the club by the people of Leamington, was played that same year, and continued until 1913. After a break, the tournament came back in 1932, but in outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Ivy Lodge ground was ploughed up for the war effort. Polo returned to Cirencester in 1952, but it was not only until 1960 that the Warwickshire Cup was played again. In the 1920s, the first member of the Royal Family to play at Cirencester was the then Prince of Wales, David, later King Edward VIII, until his abdication in 1936. In 1966, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, won the Warwickshire Cup with his team, Windsor Park, and his son Charles, Prince of Wales, was a regular player at the club, competing in tournaments and charity events. The Prince of Wales’ sons, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex, also play at the club at charity games.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – TEAMS
Jindal Steel La Dolfina: Naveen Jindal 0, Mia Cambiaso 3, Poroto Cambiaso 8, Adolfo Cambiaso 9. Total: 22.
Thai Polo: Milly Hine 2, Louis Hine 6, Rufino Bensadon 7, Jerónimo del Carril 7. Total: 22.
Monterosso: Matías Maldonado 1, Lukin Monteverde 8, Diego Cvanagh 8, Tomas Willans 5. Total: 22.
Lovelocks Polo Stud: Charlie Hanbury 3, Juan Gris Zavaleta 5, Carlos Ulloa 7, Ollie Cudmore 5. Total: 22.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – FIXTURE
Monday June 15
1pm: Monterosso vs. Thai Polo
Tuesday June 16
Jindal Steel La Dolfina vs. Lovelocks Polo Stud
Semifinals – Wednesday June 18
Final – Saturday June 20