The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup resumed through Wednesday July 2 and Thursday July 3, two days that saw King Power MB, Bangash, Sujan Indian Tigers, UAE and Kazak victorious. The tournament, hosted by the historical Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex, and one of the three Grand Slams of Polo alongside the Argentine Open and the US Open, sees eighteen teams up to 22 goals, compete.
It’s worth to notice that Bangash was the big blow of the tournament up to date; in a great match against Dubai, on July 2, Bangash dominated the scoreboard and earned a significant win over such a powerful organisation.
These are the latest results and summary:
- Wednesday July 2
King Power MB 12-9 White Crane
Following a 2-all in the first chukka, King Power MB took off in the second chukka, and claimed a 5-3 lead. From then onwards, the match belonged to the Thai lineup, through a remarkable team play, with all the members scoring goals (Top Srivaddhanaprabha produced three), and dominated White Crane, who struggled unsusccessfully to come closer to the score.
Sujan Indian Tigers 11-10 Valhalla
Led by an outstanding performance delivered by Juan Martín Zubía, who scored eight goals, Sujan Indian Tigerss beat Valhalla. The Indian team was de dominating force until the fourth chukka; but in the fifth, Valhalla managed to overcome a 5-9 and tied at 9-all. But after a hard fought last chukka, luck was on Sujan Indian Tigers’ side.
Bangash 11-10 Dubai
Without doubts, the biggest surprise of the tournament up-to-date. Bangash, who lost to White Crane in their debut in the British Open, claimed a 11-10 win over the powerful Dubai; moreover, they only lost only the first chukka (6-7). But they bounced back quickly and they outscored Dubai by an impressive 5-0, that read an 11-7 in the scoreboard, with only one chukka remaining. Bangash managed to hold Dubai back in that last chukka; and although the Albwardys team won that last chukka 2-0, the damage has already been done.
- Thursday July 3
UAE 16-12 La Magdeleine
UAE continues on the winning path in the British Open, with all eyes already set in the quarter finals. They remained unbeaten after obtaining their third consecutive win against La Magdeleine. UAE displayed their best polo, earning considerable advantages that led them to a heavy 12-7 lead in the fourth chukka. Despite La Magdeleine never gave up, a handful of goals were enough for UAE in the two last chukkas, to win the contest.
Kazak 14-13 La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal
Sébastien Aguettant’s team had a very good first half, that started with a 4-1 lead in the first chukka; led by a remarkable Fran Elizalde – who scored eight goals – by the end of the fifth chukka they were 13-9 up. However, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal made a comeback in the last chukka to tie 13-13 and forced and extra chukka, when finally Kazak claimed the win.
THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE ENTIRELY STREAMED LIVE THROUGH COWDRAY TV, WITH THE PRODUCTION OF POLOLINE TV HERE.
The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will continue as follows:
- Friday July 4
11am: Aureus GV vs. Calatagan
3pm: Park Place vs. Jehangiri
- Saturday July 5
12pm: La Dolfina Scone vs. Bangash
3pm: Ferne Park vs. Sujan Indian Tigers
(UK times)
- Sunday July 6
Kazak vs. Valhalla
UAE vs. Gaston
(Times TBC)
The championship match of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup is due on Sunday July 20.
The tournament was established in 1956 by Weetman John Churchill Pearson, Third Viscount Cowdray and the man behind the revival of polo in England after the devastating Second World War, is most significant contest of the competitive English season. Thoroghout the years, the British Open saw a large number of stars of the sport in participation, and several had lifted the coveted golden trophy. This significant achievement has been shared by fathers, children and grandchildren on several occasions. The first lineup to claim the British Open, back in 1956, was an Argentine lineup, Los Indios, made of Jorge Marín Moreno, Pablo Nagore, Antonio Heguy and Juan Echeverz. Antonio Heguy was the first member of the legendary great family of polo who won the British Open, and his legacy continued with his grandsons – the first to make it were Eduardo and Ignacio Heguy, in 1996, with CS Brooks; then, Bautista Heguy, with Geebung (2000), in a foursome that saw him playing together with no less than Adolfo Cambiaso. The last member of the Heguy family to claim the British Open was Marcos Heguy, in 2004, with Azzurra.
More info and data about those who made history at Cowdray Park HERE.
British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Mark Beaumont.