on Opening Sunday of the St. Regis British Open Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup
Midhurst, West Sussex
The St. Regis British Open Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup welcomed more than 6,000 spectators to Cowdray Park Polo Club on Opening Sunday, making it the second-largest attendance day in the British polo calendar and marking a spectacular start to one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.
The annual Midhurst Town Cup once again celebrated the local community and surrounding countryside, offering visitors a vibrant day of world-class polo alongside a wide range of family entertainment. The event showcased the very best of the Cowdray Estate joining the polo club to create a memorable day for visitors of all ages. Guests enjoyed live music, artisan food and drink, shopping, countryside displays and family activities throughout the day.
The day’s opening fixture saw UAE Polo Team face Park Place in the Jack Gannon Trophy on Lawns 2. The closely contested match went into overtime before Lucas Monteverde Jr. converted the winning penalty to secure an 11–10 victory for UAE.
Following the match, the Jack Gannon Trophy was presented to UAE patron Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum by Natalie Winkworth Smith, founder of Saicho Sparkling Tea and one of the tournament’s valued partners.
Between the two polo matches, spectators enjoyed a traditional parade by the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt before witnessing an exhilarating performance from the Knights of Middle England. Their spectacular display of horsemanship and medieval stunt riding captivated audiences of all ages and proved to be one of the highlights of the afternoon.
Attention then turned to the prestigious Midhurst Town Cup, where families lined the sidelines with picnics to watch tournament newcomers La Hechicera take on La Dolfina/Marqués de Riscal on Lawns 1. In a fast-paced match showcasing some of the finest polo in the world, La Hechicera produced an outstanding team performance to secure a convincing 14–9 victory, announcing themselves as serious contenders in this year’s championship.
Following the final whistle, Richard Watts, Chairman of Midhurst Parish Council, presented the Midhurst Town Cup to Pablo Galante, winning patron of La Hechicera.
Group 1901 Best Playing Pony award was presented to V8 Grappa, played and owned by Lorenzo Chavanne. Rebecca Nightingale of Gusbourne presented the MVP, Captain Camilo Castagnola, with a magnum of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs, while the Gusbourne Rosé prizes were awarded to umpires Ben Turner and Peter Wright. Additional prizes for the Midhurst Town Cup were generously provided by Whisky 1901 and Aspinal of London.
Opening Sunday once again demonstrated why the St. Regis British Open Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup remains one of the highlights of the British sporting and social calendar. The tournament continues throughout July, semi finals will take place on Wednesday 15 July and the final on Sunday 19 July.