The third edition of The Gauntlet of Polo kicked off on Wednesday, February 17, with the first leg of the 22-goal series, the CV Whitney Cup. The series, which also includes the USPA Gold Cup and the US Open, is played at International Polo Club Palm Beach, and sees nine teams, split into three leagues, compete.
Pilot, champions of the 2019 series, claimed a hard fought 13-12 victory against Coca Cola, after Gonzalito Pieres scored the golden goal in extra chukka. The match saw Pieres brothers go head to head: Representing Pilot were Gonzalito and Facundo, while Nicolás represented Coca Cola. The match was very close, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. In the last two chukkas, the match was tied twice, at 10-10 and 12-12, the latter of which forced the match into extra chukka. That was when Gonzalito scored his fifth goal to seal Pilot’s debut win in the 2021 Gauntlet of Polo.
The final is scheduled for Sunday, March 7. Â
The Gauntlet of Polo is streamed live on GLOBAL POLO.
PILOT: Curtis Pilot 0, Keko Magrini 2 (1 goal), Gonzalito Pieres 10 (5), Facundo Pieres 10 /7). Total: 22.
COCA COLA: Gillian Johnston 1 (1 goal), Mackenzie Weisz 4 (1), Nicolás Pieres 9 (5), Julián de Lusarreta 8 (3). Total: 22
Score Pilot: 1-2, 3-3, 5-5, 8-7, 10-10- 12-12, 13-12.
The CV Whitney Cup resumes on Thursday, February 18:
11am: Cessna vs. Scone
3pm: Park Place vs. La Indiana.
IMAGES: AGUSTINA FONDA
CV Whitney Cup: Fixture & Teams