Action for the Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club’s premier tournament, resumed on Friday May 29, with three matches. The competition hosted by the club set at Windsor Great Park, England, sees nineteen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
It was also a very moving day – the first match featured Aureus and Cibao La Pampa Murus/Sanctus, and included a moving tribute to the founder and patron of Aureus, Sunjay Kapur, who sadly passed almost a year ago, while playing one of the subsidiary semifinals of the Queen’s Cup. On that subject, Guards established the Sunjay Kapur Trophy, and Sunjay’s widow, Priyanka Sadchev Kapur, was welcomed to present the award to Aureus team captain, Mark Tomlinson
Aureus 12-8 Cibao La Pampa/Murus Sanctus
Cibao La Pampa/Murus Sanctus had previously claimed a narrow win against Jehangiri, in a tough match that was decided in extra chukka. But this time they were unable to repeat – they lost to Aureus 12-8, with the former remaining unbeaten, as it would happen with La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal later.
Gaston 13-8 White Crane
In the second match of the day, played at Coworth Park, Gaston earned their second win against White Crane; both lineups were in need of a victory as they already a 1-1 record, each. 7-goaler, Gonzalo Ferrari, subbed in for Pelón Stirling who had broken his collarbone in the previous game; due to this, Gaston received one goal on handicap. Mounted on Pelon’s horses, Gonzalo played a remarkable match, and he was crucial to help Gaston built a 6-3 lead by half time. White Crane battled back to get in the game in the last chukkas, but the damage was already done, and Gaston were victorious.
La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal 16-10 Signet Segavas
The third and last match of the day was also Signet Segavas last game of the tournament, having lost their three previous contests. And although Signet Segavas, led by Tommy Severn, presented battle during five chukkas, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal’s Poroto Cambiaso was quick to produce goals to secure an impressive 13-8 lead in the fifth chukka, adding one more in the sixth, while Signet Segavas kept pushing – even Tmmy Severn delivered a great pass to Matías MacDonough Jr. who went on to score. But time was running up, and it was not enough for Signet Segavas, who at the end of the day were dropped from the tournament, while La Dolfina Marques de Riscal maintain their strong winning path.
The Queen’s Cup will return on the weekend with the following schedule:
- Saturday May 30
11am: Ferne Park vs. Black Bears
3pm: Ojo Caliente vs. Jindal Steel La Dolfina
4pm: Kazak vs. Dubai
- Sunday May 31
12pm: Park Place vs. Balanz Capital La Hechicera
3pm: Shoreline vs. Sujan Indian Tigers
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 FINAL OF THE QUEEN’S CUP WILL BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY JUNE 14.
The Queen’s Cup – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by The Art Of Polo – Priyanka Sachdev Kapur, Sujay Kapur’s widow, with Aureus Polo Team.