Kazak, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal, La Dolfina Scone and Ferne Park are through the semifinals of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, following their respective wins in the semifinals of the tournament, that took place through Saturday July 12 and Sunday July 13. The competition, hosted by Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex, is the highlight of the season in England.
The summary of the quarter finals of the British Open:
- Saturday July 12
Kazak 12-11 Gaston
The clash of the French organisations saw Jean-Paul Luskic and Co. leading 2-0 in the first chukka. But Sébastien Aguettant and his boys bounced back in the second chukka, and outscored their contenders by an impressive 3-0. However, from then onwards, the match became a fierce battle between the two lineups, that saw a tie in the third chukka and Kazak back on the lead by just one goal (6-4), in the fourth. Surprinsingly, Gaston made a huge comeback in the fifth chukka – they outscored Kazak 5-2, and remained two goals behind (8-10), with one chukka remaining. And after a tough last chukka, Kazak managed to hold Gaston back, and claimed a 12-11 win to earn the first ticket to semis.
La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal 11-10 UAE
In another very leveled match, even more than the first, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal and UAE played a tough contest, at least until half time, with UAE 5-4 up. Sheikha Maitha’s team seemed to have everything under control in the next two chukkas, when they were able to widen their lead; but La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal unveiled the trump card in a tight last chukka, to win by a narrow 11-1o.
- Sunday July 13
La Dolfina Scone 10-4 Aureus GV
La Dolfina Scone, with Adolfo Cambiaso and his daughter Mia, had no trouble at all to defeat Aureus GV. After winning the first chukka 3-1, they retained a 4-1 lead until half time; in the three last chukkas of play, the match belonged to La Dolfina Scone, earning significant advantages. At the end of the day, it was a walk on the park for La Dolfina Scone who claimed an impressive10-4 victory.
Juan Martín Zubía subbed in for Aureus GV’s Benjamín Panelo.
Ferne Park 11-10 White Crane (extra chukka)
The first chukka closed with White Crane leading 2-1, but the two following chukkas, Ferne Park were the dominant force, under the command of their star player, Joaquín Pittaluga, who produced seven goals. However, White Crane never gave up – they managed to tie the two last chukkas (9-9 and 10-10), and sent the contest to an extra chukka. At the end of the day, luck was on Ferne Park’s side, and secured the last entry to semfinals.
Both teams featured changes in their lineups – Vere Harmsworth filled in for Ferne Park’s Jonathan Rothermere, while Felipe Dabas replaced White Crane’s Lorenzo Chavanne.
THE TOURNAMENT IS ENTIRELY STREAMED LIVE THROUGH COWDRAY TV, WITH THE PRODUCTION OF POLOLINE TV HERE
The semifinals of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup are due on Wednesday July 16, with the following order of play:
12pm: Kazak vs. La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal
3pm: La Dolfina Scone vs. Ferne Park
(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.