On Tuesday May 23, La Magdeleine, King Power and Sujan Indian Tigers got off to a great start after claming victories against Park Place Vaara, UAE Polo and Black Bears, respectively, in the first day of competition of The Queen’s Cup, organised by Guards Polo Club, located in Windsor Great Park, England. The club’s premier tournament sees seventeen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
La Magdeleine remains in the winning path. After winning the Trippetts Challenge, last Sunday at Cowdray Park Polo Club, the French-based team claimed a 14-8 win over Park Place Vaara. Up next, King Power – with Manuel Elizalde and Jerónimo del Carril subbing in for Will Harper and Gonzalo Pieres Jr., respectively – defeated UAE Polo by an impressive 12-7. The day came to an end with a surprising victory for Sujan Indian Tigers, newcomers into the English high goal; following a hard fought contest, they beat Black Bears by a narrow 9-8 in extra chukka, with Jaisal Singh producing the winning goal.
THE QUEEN’S CUP – TUESDAY MAY 23
MATCH #1: LA MAGDELEINE 14-8 PARK PLACE VAARA
LA MAGDELEINE: Alexander Garese 0, Pablo Mac Donough 9 (8 goals), Facundo Fernández Llorente 7 (4), Santiago Laborde 6 (2). Total: 22.
PARK PLACE VAARA: Varvara Borodina 0 (1 goal), Hilario Ulloa 10 (5), Mín Podestá 7 (1), Santos Merlos 6 (1). Total: 22.
Progresión La Magdeleine: 2-1, 5-2, 7-3, 10-5, 12-6, 14-8.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Ben Turner. Third man: Henry Fisher.
MATCH #2: KING POWER 12-7 UAE POLO
KING POWER: Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha 1 (1 goal), Nicolás Pieres 8 (4), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9*, Will Harper 4**. Total: 22.
*Subbed in by Jerónimo del Carril, 4 goals.
**Subbed in by Manuel Elizalde, 3 goals.
UAE: Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum 0, Lukin Monteverde 6, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9 (2 goals), Tommy Beresford 7 (5). Total: 22.
Score King Power: 3-0, 4-2, 5-6, 8-7, 10-7, 12-7.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Tim Bown. Third man: Howard Smith.
MATCH# 3: SUJAN INDIAN TIGERS 9-8 BLACK BEARS (extra chukka)
SUJAN INDIAN TIGERS: Jaisal Singh 1 (1 goal), Louis Hine 5 (1), Francisco Elizalde 8 (5), Bautista Bayugar 8 (3). Total: 22.
BLACK BEARS: Guy Schwarzenbach 2, Ollie Cudmore 6 (5 goals), Antonio Heguy 5 (2), Juan Martín Nero 9 (2). Total: 22.
Score Sujan Indian Tigers: 1-1, 3-4, 4-5, 7-9, 9-9, 10-9.
Umpires: Henry Fisher & Ben Turner. Third man: Jason Dixon.
The Queen’s Cup will resume on Wednesday May 24, with the following order of play:
12pm: Park Place vs. Dubai (Guards)
3pm: Marqués de Riscal vs. Monterosso (Flemish Farm)
The final of The Queen’s Cup is set to be played on Sunday June 18.