One of the oldest fixtures in British polo returned on Saturday 23 July, when England beat Uruguay 11-9 in the Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park. It was the first Coronation Cup in two years and the first time Uruguay had ever played for the trophy.
A return after two quiet years
The Hurlingham Polo Association confirmed in January that the match would come back to the calendar after a break of two years. The trophy dates back to 1911, and the HPA’s international day, with its mix of age-group finals and a headline match between national teams, is a highlight of the English season. The 2022 event was set at 24 to 26 goals.
The match
England were captained by James Harper, with Tommy Beresford, Louis Hine and James Beim in the side. Uruguay were handicapped slightly higher, so England started with a goal on the board. Uruguay’s team included Alejo Taranco, Santiago Stirling, Ignacio Viana and Juan Ignacio Curbelo, who replaced David Stirling in the line-up. Reports from the day name Beresford as England’s top scorer with five goals and as the Most Valuable Player, with Viana scoring five for Uruguay.
Why the date matters for Uruguay
For Uruguay, the Windsor trip was also part of their preparation for a bigger event. They had qualified for the FIP World Polo Championship for the first time, which is due to be played in Florida from late October. Facing an English team at this level, on grass in England, was a useful test.
It was also an opportunity to show Uruguayan polo to a British audience. The country has a long tradition of producing excellent players and horses, and a match like this puts them in front of a new crowd.
Our view
We like the way the HPA has revived this fixture. A national-team match gives the English season something to look forward to beyond the club tournaments, and an 11-9 scoreline shows how even it was. With the World Championship only a few months away, we will be watching to see how these players carry their form forward.
Sources: Hurlingham Polo Association, Montevideo Portal
