G U T T E R C R E D I T I N H E R E
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A C T I O N
A L I C E G I P P S E Q U I N E P H OTO G R A P H Y
managed to defeat more experienced and
higher rated rivals.
The final of the Hurlingham Open was
the 42nd derby between Ellerstina and
La Dolfina. Both teams played a fast,
impressive game, displaying high quality
teamwork as well as individual skills. The
first half belonged to La Dolfina, renowned
for their mental speed, but included several
unnecessary fouls by the Pieres. However,
a determined Ellerstina foursome regrouped
in the fifth chukka, scoring seven
unanswered goals, which allowed them to
win 12-11, and retain the title for the third
consecutive year.
Last in the series is the Argentine Polo
Open Championship, the most important
polo tournament in the world. It is played on
the same terms as the Hurlingham Open,
and in a way there are two disguised
competitions.There are three teams rated
between 37 to 40 goals, which aim to lift polo’s
most coveted trophy, and seven lineups
between 28-32 goals, who play in order to
earn the points and a place in the ranking to
enter directly in next year’s Triple Crown, and
avoid the qualification.
As a result, the games between the lower
rated teams were more riveting as they
displayed good polo, with an average of four
goals for the winners.The highlight goes to
La Dolfina II – their second place within their
league took them to a fourth place in the
general ranking, which earned them a spot
to play the complete Triple Crown in 2019.
With regards to League B, Las Monjitas and
Ellerstina played to advance to the final. As
a result, it ended up being the best match of
the tournament, displaying high quality polo,
speed and, most importantly, the players put
heart and soul into the game. Las Monjitas
emerged as the biggest surprise of all, with an
impressive 18-16 win over Ellerstina,meaning
the latter missed the championship game
they have been playing for.
There was a lot of expectation for the final
of the 125th Argentine Open, and nobody
knew how the reigning champions would play
against a debutant rival, hungry for glory.
La Dolfina played brilliantly and Las Monjitas
was only present in the first two chukkas,
where a good level of polo was observed.
Cambiaso played one of the best
games of his career and was very well
supported by his teammates, Stirling being
the best of them.
The combination of all this made the
result, 17-12, one of the highest scoring
games in the history of the Argentine Open.
Opposite page:
La Ensenada, from
left: Juan Martín Zubía, Facundo
Fernández Llorente, Juan Britos and
Jero del Carril.
This page:
Adolfo
Cambiaso after winning in Palermo
