Guards La Aguada – International Youth Tournament
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
It has been truly great to see so many young talented international players taking to the top English pitches to play in tournaments in recent weeks. Last weekend it was Adolfito Cambiaso who was flying the flag for youth polo as he raced the length of the Duke’s Ground at Guards Polo Club (he also won MVP) at the Fifth Chukka Access Bank Charity Day. This Saturday 20th June, even the drizzle and subsequent rain that drove the proud parents and gathered spectators under the tents and back into their cars, could do nothing to dampen the enthusiasm and pride of all those gathered pitch-side on Ground 2 at Coworth Park to watch the 2015 La Aguada Guards International Youth Tournament.
As the asado was ready for post-match celebrations pitch-side, umpires (Will Emerson, Peter Webb, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Alex Brodie) took to the pitch on quite the most charming of umpire ponies I have ever seen to officiate over the true talent and determination that was taking place on the pitch between first the 10-14 year old young players, then over the most fun of chukkas played between the under 10 year olds. In the final four matches of the morning 14-18 year old players took to the field, clearly illustrating, like the younger players before them, that there is much skill and horsemanship amongst the international youth in the polo world, who will in the not too distant future be following in their parents hoof prints playing in the highest level tournaments on high goal pitches around the world.
Teams:
Under 10 year olds
La Aguada – Rufino Merlos, Beltran Laulhe, George Copcutt & Hector Copcutt
Guards Polo Club – Felix Toccalino, Shrey Rawal, Aramaya Sheikh & Jemima Walker
10-14 year olds
La Aguada – Mia Novillo Astrada, Mia Cambiaso, Capuchine Granchi & Andrea Sund
La Monjitas – Adolfito Cambiaso, Manu Novillo Astrada, Lucas Monteverde & Christo Brodie
Coworth Park – Simon Novillo Astrada, Segundo Darritchon, Luke Wiles, Kiki Severn & Beltran Di Paola
Guards Polo Club – Cruz Heguy, Santiago Di Paola, Benjamin Quiroga & Edward Walker
14-18 year olds
La Aguada – Charlie Cadogan, Jamie Grayson, Taimur Noon & Cruz Novillo Astrada
Las Monjitas – Justo Novillo Astrada, Hugo Taylor, Saif Noon & James Emlyn
Coworth Park – Karim Sheikh, Livi Alderman, Terence Lent & Santiago Llavallol
Guards Polo Club – Alex Webb, Charles Cooney, D’Artagnan Giercke & Nikita Van Gils
Results:
9.30am (10 -14 year olds) – La Aguada 3 v 4 Coworth Park
10.00am (10 – 14 year olds) – Guards Polo Club 5 v 4 Las Monjitas
10.30am (10-14 year olds runners up) – La Aguada 1 v 2 Las Monjitas
11.00am (10 – 14 year olds winners) – Guards Polo Club 3 v 2 Coworth Park
11.30am (under 10 year olds) – Guards Polo Club 1 v 0 La Aguada
12.00pm (14 – 18 year olds) – La Aguada 3 v 2 Coworth Park
12.30pm (14 – 18 year olds) – Guards Polo Club 2 v 1 Las Monjitas
13.00 (14 -18 year olds runners up) Coworth Park 2 v 1 Las Monjitas
13.30 (14-18 year olds winners) Guards Polo Club 3 v 4 La Aguada