A new league round took place on Sunday July 3, for the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, hosted by Cowdray Park Polo Club, set in Midhurst, West Sussex. UAE and Scone were the winners, with the latter claiming the traditional Argentine Ambassador’s Cup.  The tournament sees fourteen teams, up to 23 goals, compete.

After a very leveled start, that ended up with a 2-all in the opening chukka, UAE Polo took slights advantages over Thai Polo NP from the second onwards, and reaching a narrow 6-5 by half time, followed by a 8-all in the fourth chukka. Things would change in the fifth chukka, when Sheikha Maitha and the boys outscored Thai Polo NP 4-0, which almost left the deal said and done. UAE only added a couple of goals in the last chukka to secure the 15-10 win.

The following contest, between Scone and Murus Sanctus, was a very different story. The two first chukkas were a fierce battle between both lineups, that ended up in consecutive ties; but Murus Sanctus, commanded by an extraordinary Marcos Araya, who produced eight goals, made things quite difficult for Scone. By half time, Corinne Ricard and Co. reached a 7-5 lead, but Scone managed to tie in the fourth (7-7); Murus Sanctus bounced back and re-claimed the lead at the end of the fifth chukka. It seemed to be anyone’s game, indeed, but at the end of the day, luck was on Scone’s side – they outscored Murus Sanctus 2-0 in the last chukka to earn a hard fought 10-9 victory.

BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP – SUNDAY JULY 3

UAE 15-10 THAI POLO NP

UAE: HH Sheikha Maitha 0 (1 goal), Lucas Monteverde Jr. 6 (4), Bartolomé Castagnola 9 (4), Tomás Beresford 7 (6). Total: 22.

Thai Polo NP: Charlie Hanbury 4 (1 goal), Martín Podestá 7 *(2), Ned Hine 5 (6), Jared Zenni 6 (1). Total: 22.

Score UAE: 2-2, 4-3, 6-5, 8-8, 12-8, 15-10.

Umpires: Howard Smith & Ben Turner.

Third man: Jason Dixon

*Subbed in for Genaro Ringa 7.

SCONE 10-9 MURUS SANCTUS

Scone: Emily Johnson 0*, Rosendo Torreguitar 4 (3 goals), Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (2), Poroto Cambiaso 8 (5). Total: 22.

Musus Sanctus: Corinne Ricard 0, Marcos Araya 6 (8 goals), Facundo Sola 8 (1), Alfredo Cappella 8. Total: 22.

Score Scone: 1-1, 3-3, 5-7, 7-7, 8-9, 10-9.

Umpires: Jason Dixon & Tim Bown.

Third man: Ben Turner.

*Subbed in for David Paradice 0.

The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will resume on Monday July 4, and marks the first of the last three matchdates of the league stage:

12pm: Twelve Oaks vs. Dubai

4pm: Park Place vs. Monterosso

The final of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup is set to be played on Sunday, July 17. 

British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – Fixture & Teams

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British Open Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – Day 12