SEVENTEEN TEAMS FOR THE
2013 VEUVE CLICQUOT GOLD CUP
Cowdray Park Polo Club announces an
impressive entry of seventeen teams for the 2013 Veuve Clicquot Gold
Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, the world’s premier
polo tournament at 22 goal level. The Gold Cup for the British Open
Polo Championship was launched at Cowdray Park in 1956 and ranks
alongside the Argentine and US Opens in world significance. It has
been sponsored by leading champagne house Veuve Clicquot since 1995.
The sport’s leading players,
including seven10 goal players – the highest ranking a polo player
can achieve – will be seen in action at Cowdray Park over the four
week period of the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup tournament starting on
25th June, leading to quarter finals over the weekend of
13/14th July, semi-finals on 18th July and the
prestigious final of the most coveted trophy in polo on Sunday 21st
July.
Adrian Kirby brings a new line-up to
defend the title of British Open Champions, having won the Veuve
Clicquot Gold Cup in 2012 at his sixth attempt. Playing in the team
is 9 goal player Eduardo Novillo Astrada, an Ambassador for the
iconic watchmakers Jaeger-LeCoultre, and the team will bear the new
name Cortium Jaeger-LeCoultre. Co-finalists in the 2012 Final, El
Remanso return with a new line-up, having lost Charlie Hanbury to
Jerome Wirth’s Enigma team because of handicap changes.
Zacara, winners of the Veuve Clicquot
Gold Cup in 2011, return with a strong team which includes 10 goal
player Facundo Pieres. His 10 goal brother, Gonzalito Pieres,
remains in the La Bamba de Areco side of Jean-Francois Decaux playing
alongside Polito Pieres (8 goals) and young English player Ollie
Cudmore. England captain Luke Tomlinson, at 7 goals one of England’s
highest handicapped players, joins Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor side,
Spencer entering the Gold Cup for the first time. James Beim, also a
7 goal England player, plays a third season with Nick Clarke’s
Salkeld team; Nick’s new line-up also includes Miguel Novillo
Astrada and English player Max Routledge.
Always a front-runner, the Dubai team,
returns with the patron’s son, Rashid Albwardy, a competent two
goal player, playing alongside Adolfo Cambiaso, arguably the world’s
greatest player, Nico Pieres (7 goals) and Australian player Alec
White, (3 goals). Black Bears, winners in 1992, 2002 and 2006, make
a welcome return with their young patron Guy Schwarzenbach forming a
strong and balanced team with Patrick O’Dwyer (4 goals), Nachi du
Plessis (8 goals) and New Zealand captain John Paul Clarkin (8
goals).
Also in the frame are Les Lions,
Sumaya, Talandracas and Thai Polo, while EFG Aravali re-enter with a
new patron, John Muse. Patron Stefano Marsaglia has meanwhile
re-named his team ‘Twelve Oaks’. Two brand new teams enter the
competition – HB Polo with French brothers Ludovic and Sebastien
Pailloncy playing alongside Ignacio Toccolino and Pite Merlos, and
UAE Polo Team is brought into the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup for the
first time by HH Sheika Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
The Draw for the Veuve Clicquot Gold
Cup takes place on 10th June when Patrons, players and
Team Managers gather to take part in an open draw which decides
matchplay in the league phase of the tournament.