Thirteen teams to contest the 2016 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship
Cowdray Park Polo Club announces that thirteen teams have entered the 2016 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship. The Draw to decide matchplay in the opening league phase of this year’s Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup took place on the evening of 6th June at the luxury watchmaker’s Boutique in Old Bond Street, London, in front of an audience which included representatives of every team.
Last year’s winners, King Power, return as King Power Foxes and ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha (Vice-Chairman of Premier League Champions Leicester City Football Club) has recruited 17 year old José Ramon Araya, who played so well for UAE in his debut in 2015 to join the side’s 10 goal stars Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres.
Sir Charles Williams lends the support of his Apes Hill Club, Barbados, to George Hanbury with their 2016 Apes Hill side featuring Mark Tomlinson, Jaeger-LeCoultre Ambassador Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Alec White. Britannia El Remanso is composed of four English professionals brought together by Charlie Hanbury – Ollie Cudmore playing off 5 goals, England captain James Beim (7 goals) and James Harper (6 goals) at Back. A Cowdray side returns for the first time since 2009 in the Gold Cup’s Diamond Jubilee year. George Pearson’s Cowdray Vikings team includes an exciting combination of young players in 6 goalers Jack Richardson and Chris Mackenzie with Alejandro Novillo Astrada adding many years’ experience to the team.
Local patron Nick Clarke re-enters the Gold Cup with a new name for his team – Clarke & Green. His side again includes Juan Gris Zavaleta and Jaeger-LeCoultre Ambassador Luke Tomlinson and they are joined by John Paul Clarkin making an evenly matched and powerful combination. The Pailloncy brothers’ HB Polo team has seen a significant change with the addition of 10 goaler David ‘Pelon’ Stirling playing alongside Cubi Toccalino in the middle order, the side now forming a 22 goal line-up. Michael Bickford’s La Indiana re-enters but with a completely new line-up comprising Julian de Lussereta, Agustin Merlos and Nic Roldan. Ben Soleimani’s RH Polo has retained the 9 goal skills of Nico Pieres and added a second 9 goaler, Brazilian player Rodrigo Andrade. Ali Paterson completes this powerful side.
USA patron Bob Jornayvaz, brings Valiente to the Gold Cup. With a team comprising Juan Martin Nero, Adolfo Cambiaso and young English player Ralph Richardson, the team is highly rated. Lyndon Lea has rearranged his Zacara team, retaining young English player Jack Hyde but bringing in Argentine heavyweights Lucas Monteverde and Pablo MacDonough who so nearly carried off a victory for UAE in 2015.
A trio of French teams enters the British Open: Edouard Carmignac retains Polito Pieres and ‘Sapo’ Caset, both 9 goals in the UK but 10 goals in Argentina, and has added Tommy Beresford to his Talandracas team. Jean François Decaux, who won the Gold Cup in 2009, makes a welcome return with his La Bamba de Areco side. He is joined by Cristian Laprida, Diego Cavanagh and Rodrigo Rueda. Corinne Ricard makes a Gold Cup debut with her Murus Sanctus side and is joined by Manuel Elizalde, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Capella.
Cowdray Park Polo Club Manager, Chris Bethell, commented at the Draw: “We are delighted to have thirteen teams competing for the most coveted trophy in polo, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, Tonight I am seeding the four semi-finalists of the Cartier Queens Cup; the four losing quarter finalists will also be seeded and placed. In the final phase of the tournament, the leading eight teams decided by points and goal difference, go forward to the quarter finals leading to the final knock-out phase of the British Open tournament.”
Zahra Kassim-Lakha, Director UK Market and Global Strategy says: “Zahra Kassim-Lakha, Director UK Market and Global Strategy of Jaeger-LeCoultre says: “2016 marks a sort of “triple crown” for Jaeger-LeCoultre in polo: first, the 85th anniversary of the iconic Reverso swivelling watch and the ultimate watch for polo champions; second, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship and, lastly, the 60th anniversary of the Gold Cup itself. This historic context will see us embrace Jaeger-LeCoultre’s historic connection to the sport of kings since 1931, while looking to the future of polo and celebrate great style in watchmaking.”
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship opens on Tuesday 21st June when the Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy will be played. Quarter Finals take place over the weekend of 9/10th July, Semi Finals on Wednesday 13th July and the Final on Sunday 17th July.