Les Lions down Thai Polo in British Open league

Les Lions down Thai Polo in British Open league 


By Herbert Spencer

Joachim Gottschalk’s Les Lions defeated Harold Link’s Thai Polo by 17 goals to 10 in their Group A match of the British Open Championship for the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Friday.


The veteran Les Lions team had the advantage of playing on their home ground at Les Lions Farm in Berkshire, considered one of the best private grounds in the country. Thai Polo, fielded by Link who owns the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Thailand, are newcomers to the English high goal scene.


For the first two chukkas, Thai Polo held their own against the more experienced Les Lions team. Les Lions scored first, with patron Gottschalk finding the posts twice, and went ahead 3-1 by the end of the first chukka. In the second period, Thai Polo outscored Les Lions with four goals by their Pite Merlos against two by Les Lions’ Agustin Merlos and South African Chris Mackenzie and the chukka ended with a 5-5 tie.


Les Lions pulled out the stops in the third period, holding Thai Polo scoreless and building an 11-5 lead. The home team outscored the visitors in the fourth and fifth periods to lead 16-8.


Thai Polo outscored Les Lions in the sixth and final period, with patron Link scoring the last goal of the match, but Gottschalk’s side were the winners by a wide margin.