England have won the Coronation Cup again. On Saturday at Guards Polo Club, the home side beat Brazil 16-7 in front of a packed crowd, in a match that celebrated 150 years of polo in England.
England take control early
England led 7-0 after the first chukka, with goals from Max Charlton, Louis Hine, Tommy Beresford and Hine again, including a penalty and an 80-yard strike from Charlton. Brazil narrowed the gap to 7-2 in the second, but England stretched it out again, and by the end of the third chukka they were 12-2 ahead. Brazil scored four times in the sixth chukka to make the final score a little more respectable.
- England: Tommy Beresford (7, captain), Max Charlton (6), Louis Hine (5), Ollie Cudmore (5)
- Brazil: JP Ganon (7), Rodrigo Andrade (8), Pedrinho Zacharias (8), Marcelo Camargo (2)
It was England’s fourth meeting with Brazil in the Coronation Cup, and their fourth win. Hine was named the Most Valuable Player, collecting the Rufino Laulhé MVP Trophy, and he also rode the Explora best playing pony, Lovelocks Glow Worm. Tommy Beresford’s Hot Poppy won the best playing retrained racehorse award, and Brazil’s Marcelo Camargo took the Gabriel Donoso Trophy.
The Whitbread Tankard
Earlier in the day, Young Argentina beat Young England 7-5.5 in the Whitbread Tankard, avenging last year’s defeat. León Donoso, who is 15, was named MVP and rode the best playing pony, Flojura Pulpera. Young England had Ned Hine, Will Harper, Zac Beim and Alfie Hyde, and Young Argentina were Chulo Guerrero, Manuel Prado, León Donoso and Felix Toccalino.
The occasion
The King’s Royal Hussars and the Royal Lancers led the teams onto the field, a nod to the first recorded polo match in England in 1874 on Hounslow Heath. Dame Jilly Cooper presented the prizes, and the day also included Hook Norton Brewery Shire Horses and live painting by the artist Anna Cher. Next year’s International Day is on 25 July 2026.
It was a perfect afternoon for English polo in the anniversary year, with a thumping win over a Brazilian side with a real pedigree. The HPA’s chairman said at the start of the year he wanted the sport to be well governed and well respected, and days like this are the best advertisement.
Sources: HPA, England dominate Brazil, Guards Polo Club
