Two finals on Saturday 16 May gave the UK high-goal season its first silverware, and they could hardly have been more different.
Prince of Wales Trophy: a golden goal
Cibao La Pampa/Murus Sanctus beat Jindal Steel/La Dolfina 9-8 in an extra chukka to win the Justerini and Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. The two teams were level at 8-8 after regulation time, and Juan Pepa scored the winning goal.
The champions were Juan Pepa, Toly Ulloa, Paco de Narvaez and Ollie Cudmore, and Cudmore was named MVP. Jindal Steel/La Dolfina were Naveen Jindal, Rufino Merlos, Gonzalo Ferrari and Adolfo Cambiaso. Losing on a golden goal is hard to take, especially with Cambiaso on your side, but the winners were a worthy champion in a tournament that began with 12 teams.
For Pepa, a two-goal player, scoring the winning goal in a 22-goal final is the sort of moment you remember for a long time.
Trippetts Challenge: Balanz Capital
At Cowdray Park, Balanz Capital/La Hechicera beat the defending champions Gaston 17-6 in the final of the Trippetts Challenge. Balanz led 10-3 after four chukkas and ran away with it. Lorenzo Chavanne, fresh from the Wellington season, was named MVP after scoring 12 goals. He also won the Polo Times best playing pony rug with his mare V8 Back Home.
Balanz Capital were Pablo Galante, Ned Hine, Chavanne and Camilo Castagnola, with Felix Porcel as reinforcement. Gaston, the team of Jean Paul Luksic, fielded Beltran Laulhé, David Stirling and Cruz Heguy. In the subsidiary final, Ojo Caliente beat White Crane.
What the results tell us
- Balanz Capital look the team to beat. With Chavanne and Castagnola as the core, they have a superb attack.
- Gaston lost heavily but are a proven team, and the Queen’s Cup draw will give them a chance to hit back.
- Cibao La Pampa have shown real character, winning tight matches in extra time.
Next up
The Cartier Queen’s Cup begins at Guards Polo Club on Tuesday 19 May, with 19 teams and a final on 14 June. Group matches will be shown free on Guards TV, so there is no excuse not to follow along.
The Queen’s Cup is the first of the major 22-goal tournaments to be played in the heart of the English season, and the field is the deepest we have seen. We cannot wait.
Sources: Polo Times (Prince of Wales Trophy), Polo Times (Trippetts Challenge), Polo Press
