Action for the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, the most significant competition of the season in England, hosted by Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex, resumed through Monday June 30 and Tuesday July 1. The tournament, one of the three Grand Slams of Polo – being the other two the Argentine Open and the US Open – sees eighteen teams up to 22 goals, partake.
Summary, British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, June 30 – July 1
- Monday June 30
Ferne Park 15-12 Kazak
Ferne Park and Kazak played a very tight contest, that didn’t see a clear winner until the last chukka; however, Ferne Park led all the way by a close gap. But they made an impressive comeback in the last chukka, commanded by Joaquin Pittaluga – who produced seven goal – and outscored their contenders 3-0, that determined the final result – 15-12.
Ferne Park’s Jonathan Rothermere was subbed in by Vere Harmsworth.
Jehangiri 13-10 La Magdeleine
Under the command of an inspired Gonzalo Pieres Jr., who scored seven goals, Jehangiri earned their first win in the tournament against La Magdeleine – who had Emily Johnson filling in for Muhammad Jehangiri. The winners got off to a strong start, earning an impressive 3-1 lead in the first chukka. La Magdeleine closed the gap to one goal in the second chukka, but Jehangiri seized the reins from the third chukka onwards; by the end of the fourth chukka, they had a heavy 10-3 lead.
- Tuesday July 1
Gaston 8-7 Park Place
Seems that things aren’t going that well for Park Place, the recent winners of the Queen’s Cup, who lost their second match, this time against Gaston. In another match with just a handful of goals, Gaston dominated the scoreboard since the kickoff; the deal seemed to be said and done by the end of the fifth chukka, with Jean-Paul Luskic’s lineup had a commanding 7-4 lead. But Park Place didn’t give up – they outscored Gaston 3-1 in the last chukka, but the efforts didn’t pay off.
Park Place’s Andrey Borodin was replaced by Matías Maldonado.
Signet Thai Polo 13-11 Aureus GV
A second win for Signet Thai Polo in the Gold Cup, this time against Aureus GV, who had beaten King Power MB in their debut. The Thai team was the dominant force thoroghout the six chukkas of play, leaving Aureus GV struggling. Aureus GV’s Benjamin Panelo was subbed in by Gonzalo Ferrari.
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 on Wednesday July 2 and Thursday July 3, with the following order of play:
- Wednesday July 2
11,30pm: White Crane vs. King Power MB
1,30pm: Valhalla vs. Sujan Indian Tigers
4,30pm: Dubai vs. Bangash
- Thursday July 3
3pm: La Magdeleine vs. UAE
3pm: La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal vs. Kazak
(UK times)
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.