El Remanso wins on handicap, Dubai dominates newcomers in first Queen’s Cup matches
By Herbert Spencer
The 50th anniversary Queen’s Cup tournament at Guards Polo Club kicked off on Tuesday (18 May) with the English Hanburys’ El Remanso narrowly winning on handicap, 10-9, in their opening match against Frenchman Edouard Carmignac’s Talandracas.
There are 14 teams in the 17-22 goal tournament which runs to 13 June.
El Remanso, featuring brothers Charlie and George Hanbury, are a 21-goal team against Talandracas’ 22 goals, so they started the match with a goal on the scoreboard.
El Remanso jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first chukka and stayed well ahead through four of the six chukkas: 5-0, 7-1, 8-2 and 10-3. Their Uruguayan No. 3, 9-goaler Pelon Sterling, put in an outstanding performance and both the Hanbury brothers scored goals, George looking under-handicapped at 1 goal.
Then Talandracas rallied and held El Remanso scoreless for the last two periods. In the sixth chukka, two penalty conversions by Luke Tomlinson brought the match scoring equal, but El Remanso came out the winners on handicap.
In another match between the Albwardys’ Dubai and and The Telegraph, played at Dubai’s private grounds, Dubai got off to a slow start before dominating their opponents 13-6. The Telegraph, newcomers and the only all-pro side in the tournament, were outclassed by Dubai led by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso.