Lovelocks Polo Stud and Thai Polo will go head-to-head for the Warwickshire Cup, Cirencester Park Polo Club’s premier tournament. The contest, that sees four teams up to 22 goals, partake, is played in England’s oldest club, established in 1894 and set in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
In the semifinals, that took place on Thursday June 18, Lovelocks Polo Stud and Thai Polo earned narrow wins against Monterosso (12-11) and Jindal Steel La Dolfina (11-10), respectively.
Lovelocks Polo Stud andy Thai Polo will decide the Warwickshire Cup, on Saturday June 20. Jindal Steel La Dolfina and Monterosso will play the Subsidiary final.
Cirencester Park Polo Club, one of the oldest polo clubs in England, was founded in 1894 by the Seventh Earl of Bathurst, who was also the first Chairman of the club. The first Warwickshire Cup, a trophy presented to the club by the people of Leamington, was played that same year, and continued until 1913. After a break, the tournament came back in 1932, but in outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Ivy Lodge ground was ploughed up for the war effort. Polo returned to Cirencester in 1952, but it was not only until 1960 that the Warwickshire Cup was played again. In the 1920s, the first member of the Royal Family to play at Cirencester was the then Prince of Wales, David, later King Edward VIII, until his abdication in 1936. In 1966, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, won the Warwickshire Cup with his team, Windsor Park, and his son Charles, Prince of Wales, was a regular player at the club, competing in tournaments and charity events. The Prince of Wales’ sons, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex, also play at the club at charity games.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – TEAMS
Jindal Steel La Dolfina: Naveen Jindal 0, Mia Cambiaso 3, Poroto Cambiaso 8, Adolfo Cambiaso 9. Total: 22.
Thai Polo: Milly Hine 2, Louis Hine 6, Rufino Bensadon 7, Jerónimo del Carril 7. Total: 22.
Monterosso: Matías Maldonado 1, Lukin Monteverde 8, Diego Cvanagh 8, Tomas Willans 5. Total: 22.
Lovelocks Polo Stud: Charlie Hanbury 2, Juan Zavaleta 7, Carlos Ulloa 7, Ollie Cudmore 5. Total: 22.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – FIXTURE
Monday June 15
1pm: Monterosso vs. Thai Polo
Tuesday June 16
Jindal Steel La Dolfina vs. Lovelocks Polo Stud
Semifinals – Wednesday June 18, 12pm and 3,30pm.
Final – Sunday June 20, 11am.
Cover photo, Milly Hine (Thai Polo)