Saturday, 16th May set the scene for the first high-goal final of the 2026 season, the Trippetts Challenge Cup. With the sidelines of Lawns 2 buzzing with excited spectators, reigning champions Gaston Polo Team rode onto the pitch to face newcomers Balanz Capital/La Hechicera.
Lining up for Gaston Polo Team were Jean Paul Luksic (0) at No.1, Beltran Laulhe (7) at No.2, David Stirling (8) at No.3, and 7-goaler Cruz Heguy at Back. For Balanz Capital/La Hechicera, Pablo Galante (0) started at No.1 for the first half before Felix Porcel (0) took over the position in the second half, at 2 was English 5-goaler Ned Hine, Lorenzo Chavanne (7) at 3, and 10-goaler Camilo Castagnola at Back.
The opening chukka proved evenly matched. An early foul awarded Heguy a spot hit, which he confidently converted, but a quick response from Castagnola levelled the scores at 1-1. A penalty one for La Hechicera, followed by an end-to-end goal from young Chavanne, pushed the newcomers ahead. However, a last-second penalty from Heguy left the score at 3-2 heading into the second chukka.
The second chukka saw fewer scoring opportunities, with only a 30-yard penalty from Chavanne extending La Hechicera’s lead to 4-2. The third chukka marked a major turning point. Eighteen-year-old Chavanne produced a world-class display of polo, scoring four consecutive goals to double La Hechicera’s tally. With Gaston managing just one goal in response, Balanz Capital/La Hechicera headed into halftime with a commanding 8-3 advantage.
The second half saw Balanz Capital/La Hechicera continue to showcase some of the finest high-goal polo in the world. Their strong defence prevented Gaston from scoring any field goals in the fourth chukka, while Chavanne added another and Porcel, having swapped in for Galante at halftime, struck an excellent goal of his own.
The fifth and sixth chukkas followed a similar pattern. Chavanne added five more goals to finish with an extraordinary 12-goal tally, while further goals from Hine and Castagnola completed their total. Gaston Polo Team, the 2025 champions, managed only three more goals as newcomers Balanz Capital/La Hechicera secured an emphatic 17-6 victory.
The Trippetts Challenge Cup was presented to Pablo Galante and Felix Porcel by The Marchioness of Milford Haven, in memory of her son James. The St. James’s Place Best Playing Pony Rug was awarded to V8 Back Home, played by Lorenzo and owned by Amanara Polo Team.