Ferne Park, Ojo Caliente, Dubai, Balanz Capital La Hechicera and Shoreline were victorious in the Queen Cup’s matches, that were played through Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31. The club’s premier tournament sees nineteen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
In the meantime, the last league stage of the competition hosted by the club located in Windsor Great Park, England is due through Monday June 1 and Wednesday June 3, prior to the quarter finals, that will take place on Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7.
The summary of the matches played in the weekend:
- SATURDAY MAY 30
Ferne Park 11-10 Black Bears
Black Bears lost their unbeaten status following Ferne Park’s narrow 11-10 win. The result was decided after a hard fought matche that was decided in an extra chukka. Although Ferne Park dominated most of the contest, Estanislao Darritchon and Tomás Panelo produced goals for the Bears, enough to send the match into an extra chukka. Facundo Pieres scored the goal that secured Vere Harmsworth’s team their first victory in the tournament.
Ojo Caliente 11-10 Jindal Steel La Dolfina
The second game had the same final score and the same situation of the first – Ojo Caliente claiming their first win in the current Queen’s Cup. Ana Escobedo’s foursome managed to beat Jindal La Dolfina, under the command of their top scorer, Facundo Pieres, who produced eight goals. Jindal Steel La Dolfina took the lead in the fifth chukka, but at the end of the day, Facundo Sola, Min Podestá and Alfredo Cappella found the flags to give Ojo Caliente a significant first win.
Dubai 14-8 Kazak
The remarkable Dubai are the only team undefeated, having won four of four games, which put them on the way to the quarter finals. On this occasion, their “victims” were Kazak. And what’s even more remarkable is that Dubai had Antonio Heguy back on the saddle, after missing the previous matches due to an injury. And what a comeback he had! He produced no less than seven goals, that made him the top scorer. Kazak had a stronger start in the first two chukkas, but Dubai bounced back in the third, when they claimed a 7-5 advantage. From then onwards, Dubai did exactly what they know to do – attack, defense and build a strong advantage to win.
- SUNDAY MAY 31
Balanz Capital La Hechicera 12-7 Park Place
Balanz Capital and title holders, Park Place, played a fast game, both searching for their third win. But there was the super talented 18-years-old Lorenzo Chavanne, who was crucial to help Claudio Porcel’s foursome – Lorenzo scored eight goals; together with no less than Jeta Castagnola, they delivered another fantastic performance and demonstrated that the two of them are a major threat to every rival. So things turned in favour of Balanz Capital La Hechicera, who won 12-7 and took the much wanted third victory.
Shoreline 10-9 Sujan Indian Tigers
Shoreline and Sujan Indian Tigers closed a very busy weekend, in a very tough game that was only decided in the last minutes of an extra chukka. Jaisal Singh’s team played a great game, under the command of the outstanding Juan Martin Zubía, who was the top scorer (6). The Tigers were in the lead in the second chukka (4-2), but by the end of the fourth it was Shoreline who was up (5-4). The scores were leveled in the fifth (7-7) and sixth (9-9) chukkas, and an extra time was needed. An extra chukka that was a tough battle, indeed, and that ended with less than a minute to go, when Ed Banner-Eve ran to find the flags, to secure Shoreline their first win and the trophy of the day, the Richard Watt Cup.
The last league games of the Queen’s Cup will be played through June 1 and June 3, as follows:
- Monday June 1
11am: La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal vs. Jehangiri
1,30pm: Aureus vs. White Crane
4pm: Gaston vs. Cibao La Pampa/Murus Sanctus
- Tuesday June 2
11am: Ojo Caliente vs. UAE
1,30pm: Ferne Park vs. Jindal Steel La Dolfina
4pm: Black Bears vs. Kazak
- Wednesday June 3 (times TBC)
Sujan Indian Tigers vs. Balanz Capital La Hechicera
Park Place vs. Akasha
The Queen’s Cup was established in 1960, in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8 2022. Her Majesty was not only the longest serving monarch of Great Britain (February 1952-September 2022), but also the second longest in history, behind His Majesty Louis XIV, known as Le Roi Soleil (The Sun King), who ruled France during 72 years (1643 to 1715). Queen Elizabeth II was suceeded by her son, His Majesty King Charles III, who is also the current President of Guards Polo Club, a position he inherited from his father, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who founded the club on January 25 1955 and remained as the President until his passing, on April 9, 2021.
THE FINAL OF THE QUEEN’S CUP WILL BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY JUNE 14.
The Queen’s Cup – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by The Art Of Polo.