An outstanding end for an outstanding tournament that, in addition, saw some extra spice – the clash of the Heguy cousins. On Sunday July 19, Gaston delivered a fabulous performance to beat no less than the powerful Dubai by a narrow 9-8, and won the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup, in the much anticipated championship match that took place at Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex, England. Gaston, with Cruz Heguy, won over his cousin, Antonio; the sons of the legendary Eduardo “Ruso” Heguy and Alberto “Pepe” Heguy, respectively, both of them winners at Cowdray Park as well as four times champions of the Argentine Open, with Indios Chapaleufu II.

With regards to the match for the coveted golden trophy, Gaston, who played this contest for the first time ever, fielded a 21 goal lineup and was awarded one goal on handicap, clashed against one of the most renowned organisations worldwide, Dubai, who won the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup six times – the last was in 2024 with Antonio within the lineup. Gaston had a stronger start, quickly marking a 3-0 in the first chukka. In the second, it was Dubai who outscored Gaston 2-1, to close the gap to just one goal, and by half time the scoreboard read a close 5-4 advantage for Gaston.

Dubai always remained on Gaston’s tail, led by the two top scorers, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. and Antonio Heguy, who produced seven goals between the two. Jean-Paul Luksic’s lineup maintaned their tight lead in the two following chukkas – 7-6 and 8-7 in the fourth and fifth , respectively. The match was still very close enough, indeed, the deal was not sealed and done yet, so a thrilling last chukka was expected.

And so it was. Determined to overturn the result and earn their seventh title at Cowdray Park, Dubai rolled up in the sixth chukka, Following a goal by Cruz Heguy, to widen Gaston’s lead to 9-7, Dubai replied quickly through Santos Merlos, who put Tariq Albwardy’s squad one goal behind, with only two minutes to to in regulation time. From then onwards, Gaston managed to hold their contenders back to avoid all of Dubai’s attempts to find the flags, which at the end of the day, ensured Gaston the hard fought 9-8 win to lift the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup for the first time and in their first final of the contest ever.

But regardless of the result, it’s worth noticing that this championship game, the most significant in English polo, saw the clash of the new generation of the Heguy family through the remarkable skills of Gaston’s Cruz and Dubai’s Antonio. The Heguys, who have been making polo history for more than 60 years, had the joy of seeing the new kids on the block playing one of the top polo tournaments worldwide, just like their forebears have done. Following the path that began 70 years before, in 1956, the first ever edition of England’s most prominent competition went to an Argentine lineup called Los Indios; a lineup that included a certain Antonio Heguy in the lineup – no less than Cruz’s and Antonio’s the great-grandather, and the man who kicked off the tradition of the Heguy family.

Polo is in safe hands, the legacy of the legendary Heguy family goes on.

ST. REGIS COWDRAY GOLD CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY JULY 19

GASTON 9-8 DUBAI

Gaston: Jean-Paul Luksic 0 (1 goal), Beltrán Laulhé 7 (3), Gonzalo Ferrari 7 (2)*, Cruz Heguy 7 (3). Total: 21.
*Subbed in for the injured Pelón Stirling.

Dubai: Tariq Albwardy 0, Santos Merlos 6 (1 goal), Antonio Heguy 7 (4), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9 (3). Total: 22.

Score Gaston: (1-0) 3-0, 4-2, 6-4, 8-6, 9-7, 9-8.

Umpires: Jason Dixon & Henry Fisher.

Third Man: Tim Bown.

MVP: Cruz Heguy.

BPP: Alberta Yaguara, ridden by Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.

BPP Patron: Vasca Se Buena, ridden by Jean-Paul Luksic.

PHOTO GALLERY by MARK BEAUMONT

THE ST. REGIS BRITISH OPEN POLO FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD WAS STREAMED LIVE ON COWDRAY TV WITH THE PRODUCTION OF POLOLINE TV.

New rules to qualify to quarter finals, CLICK HERE

70 YEARS OF HISTORY, TRADITION AND LEGACY OF THE ST. REGIS BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP, CLICK HERE

ST. REGIS BRITISH OPEN POLO FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP – Teams & Fixture  

Cover photo by Mark Beaumont.