On Thursday, April 30, one of the most prominent events in Argentina’s interior polo scene came to an end at Cuarto Rincón Polo Club: the 36th Argentine Interior Championship with Handicap (CAIH), played for the Sesquicentennial Cup of the May Revolution in the city of Mercedes, Corrientes.
The tournament featured six teams with handicaps ranging from 9 to 12 goals, representing four provinces: two teams each from Corrientes and Entre Ríos, along with one from Santa Fe and one from San Luis. The event was organized by the AAP in conjunction with Cuarto Rincón Polo Club and C9 Polo Club de Caballería.
After advancing through the semifinals, Naimará La Madrugada (Corrientes) and Jockey Club Rosario La Famille (Santa Fe) faced off in the final, held on Cuarto Rincón’s main field. In a tightly contested match, the Corrientes side secured a 10–9 victory thanks to a decisive goal by Pedro Cabarcos, scored just ten seconds after the opening bell of the final chukker.
With the score tied at nine, both teams had chances from short penalties to take the lead, but neither Agustín Von Wernich nor “Pipe” Bargalló managed to convert. In the final play of the match, Cabarcos found the net to seal the win and spark celebrations among the large home crowd.
With this result, Corrientes claimed its third title in the tournament—and second in a row—adding to its previous victories in 2013 with Santa Catalina ERSA (a team that also featured Von Wernich, now a two-time CAIH champion) and in 2025 with Cuarto Rincón.
Meanwhile, Gustavo Usandizaga (h), Pedro Cabarcos, and Juan Facundo Morando each celebrated winning the Sesquicentennial Cup for the first time.
SESQUICENTENNIAL CUP OF THE MAY REVOLUTION
Naimará La Madrugada (Corrientes): Pedro Cabarcos 3 (1 goal), Juan F. Morando 2 (2), Agustín Von Wernich 3 (4), and Gustavo Usandizaga (h) 4 (3). Total: 12.
Jockey Club Rosario La Famille (Santa Fe): Ignacio Orsili 2 (2), Juan Banchero 4 (1), Felipe Bargalló 6 (6), and Juan P. Moreno 0. Total: 12.
Score progression (Naimará La Madrugada): 3–2, 6–2, 6–5, 7–7, 8–9, 10–9.
Umpires: Matías Baibiene and Cristóbal Durrieu.
Referee: Juan José Díaz Alberdi.
MVP – 36th CAIH Final: Gustavo Usandizaga (h) (Naimará La Madrugada).
MVP – Cavanagh Final: Blas Vallarino (La Justina Granazo).
AAP Blanket – 36th CAIH Final: Espi Regleta (Felipe Bargalló, JCR La Famille).
AACCP Blanket – 36th CAIH Final: Anay Sur Nany (Agustín Von Wernich, Naimará LM).
AAP Blanket – Cavanagh Final: Pili Nelly (Martín Riera, La Justina Granazo).
AACCP Blanket – Cavanagh Final: Che Raa Venenosa (Pablo Llorente (h), Cuarto Rincón).
Cover photo courtesy of AAP Press / Matías Callejo.