Signet Thai Polo, White Crane, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal and Calatagan were victorious in the games played through Saturday June 28 and Sunday June 29, for the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup. The historical tournament, highlight of the season in England, and hosted by Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex, one of the three Grand Slams of Polo, alongside the Argentine Open and the US Open, sees eighteen teams up to 22 goals, partake.
The summary of the matches played during the weekend:
- Saturday June 28
Signet Thai Polo 11-10 Dubai
Saturday’s opening contest saw Signet Thai Polo leading 2-1 in the first chukka. Following a 2-all tie in the second, Dubai seized the reins and managed to earn a 8-4 advantage at the end of the fourth chukka. But Signet Thai Polo bounced back in the fifth chukka, and outscored the Albwardy’s family team 4-1, which meant that the scoreboard read a 9-all with only one chukka left. Although Dubai claimed a 2-1 in that last episode, at the end of the day, luck was on Signet Thai Polo’s side.
Camilo Castagnola was the top scorer – he produced nine goals. Meanwhile, Dubai had to changes within their lineup – Alfie Hyde and Félix Toccalino subbed in for Rashid Albwardy and Hazel Jackson, respectively.
White Crane 16-13 Bangash
White Crane played their second match, against newcomers Bangash. The former had no trouble at all to dominate the match and the scoreboard, leading thoroghout the six chukkas of play, led by a fantastic performance delivered by Polito Pieres. White Crane’s Lorenzo Chavanne was replaced by Felipe Dabas.
- Sunday June 29
La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal 14-8 Valhalla
Alejandro Aznar’s foursome closed the first chukka with a tight 3-2. But from the second chukka onwards, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal seized the reins, and took control of the match, by earning wide advantages chukka after chukka. With only one chukka left, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal had a comfortable 11-8 lead. Far from slowing down, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal outscored Valhalla 3-0 in the last chukka that led them to the impressive win.
Calatagan 5-3 La Dolfina Scone
Calatagan earned their first victory in a match that saw just a handful of goals (barely eight), and with Facundo Pieres producing four of Calatagan’s five goals. Calatagan’s Martín Romualdez was subbed in by Brigitte Boher.
THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE ENTIRELY STREAMED LIVE THROUGH COWDRAY TV, WITH THE PRODUCTION OF POLOLINE TV HERE.
Action for the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will resume on Monday June 30 and Tuesday July 1, with the following schedule:
- Monday June 30
10,30am: Kazak vs. Ferne Park
12,30pm: La Magdeleine vs. Jehangiri
- Tuesday July 1
12pm: Aureus vs. Signet Thai Polo
3pm: Park Place vs. Gaston
(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.