The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the 2015 British Open Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club – Day 16
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
The Quarter Finals
12:00PM Dubai 10 v 12 Zacara – Manor Farm 1
In what was to turn into an extremely surprising afternoon of polo the defending champions – Dubai (Josh Cork, Martin Valent, Diego Cavanagh and Adolfo Cambiaso) rode onto the ground at Manor Farm 1 to face the original Zacara line up (Jack Hyde, Lyndon Lea, Rodrigo Andrade and Juan Martin Nero) for the first of Sunday’s quarter finals. It seemed that somewhat rainy conditions could do little to damp the fire which had ignited in team Zacara, as midway through the first chukka the team in black were leading by two goals to Dubai’s zero. A slight stumble from Jack Hyde’s pony and a trip caused gasps amongst the gathered crowd, but, by the bell to mark the end of chukka one it was Zacara who continued to lead at 2 v 1.
Under the watchful eye of an ever increasing gathered crowd Dubai managed to equalise, rapidly followed by a masterful backhand from Rodrigo Andrade and the third goal for Zacara. With emotions running high on both sides, and many raised voices, Zacara were still in the lead 3 v 2 heading into the third chukka. In spite of great defence by Zacara with Lyndon Lea attempting to prevent a field goal by Diego Cavanagh, once again the score levelled at 3 all. Amidst whistles and shouts, it was still Zacara leading at the half time bell – Zacara 5 v 4 Dubai.
Opening with a classic long field shot through goal by Cambiaso, chukka four went to 5 all, but amazing defensive play from Zacara continued to keep team Dubai in a huddle for much of the play, until Dubai found goal number six putting them into the lead for the first time in the game. It was however only to be for a few minutes, with Zacara equalising at 6 all and a penalty in their favour putting them back into the lead 7 v 6.
Chukka five – and a goal rolled across the line for Dubai, meaning a score-line of 7 all, and as El Remanso trucks departed to Lawns 2 in the background, more nail-biting moments played out on the pitch as Dubai took the lead, which was quickly equalised. With Rodrigo Andrade walking his horse off the pitch it was pony changing time for all around the ground, followed by a Zacara team on fire heading into the final chukka – Zacara 10 v 8 Dubai.
With a score line of Zacara 11 v 8 Dubai, Juan Martin Nero also lead his pony off the pitch, whilst Josh Cork took advantage of a pause in play to retrieve a lost shoe and hand it to an umpire. In what was to be the first surprising result of the day, Dubai only managed to find two more goals, whilst the youngest player on the pitch, 18 year old Jack Hyde, found goal number twelve for his side. Meaning Zacara (who had played some quite phenomenal polo, and were the only team in Sunday’s quarter finals to have qualified without four straight league match wins) headed into a Wednesday semi-final at 4pm against King Power Foxes, having beaten Dubai by 12 goals to 10.
3:00PM El Remanso 8 v 9 Apes Hill – Lawns 2
With both teams decided for one of Wednesday’s Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup semi-finals, spectators departed to Lawns 2 to see who would be facing UAE at 12pm on the 15th July. Where commentator John Kent introduced seven English players – for El Remanso, Charlie and George Hanbury and Ollie Cudmore, joined by the only non-Argentine ten goaler – Uruguayan Pelon Stirling, and for Apes Hill – Ralph Richardson, Mark Tomlinson Eduardo Novillo Astrada (who was born in the UK) and Tom Morley.
It was all the ones on the scoreboard at the end of chukka one, with El Remanso having been the first to score. As the Hanbury brothers and team El Remanso went into the lead by a goal at the start of the next chukka, play was paused as Pelon Stirling suffered a fall, but he was soon back on his pony and fantastic ‘gentlemanly polo’ continued to unfold on the pitch, with El Remanso in the lead 4 v 2 Apes Hill at the end of chukka three.
Amidst John Kent commentating on both the progress of the chukka at Cowdray and the number of sets being won at Wimbledon, some great running polo took place across Lawns 2, with the teams equalising at 7 all in chukka five. An eighth goal from Eduardo Novillo Astrada then put Apes Hill into the lead for the first time in the match, with a broken stick punctuating play for Pelon Stirling, Apes Hill once again took the lead 8 v 7.
In the second match of quite the most exciting polo, play equalised at 8 all and speculation began to mount of a possible seventh chukka. Jumping the boards, Ollie Cudmore’s pony lost his footing and threw him off the pitch, after a brief check by the ambulance crew, Ollie remounted and play resumed. As both teams raced to find the winning goal, it was eventually Apes Hill (the team put together at the last minute and backed by Barbados based Sir Cow Williams) who put a nine on the board, won the Centenary Cup and the final place in the quarter finals against UAE. Best playing pony of the match was awarded to Pelon Stirling’s chestnut mare – Stamwell.
Upcoming Matches:
Monday 13th July
3:00PM La Indiana- v -Thai Polo – Jack Gannon
Tuesday 14th July
3:00PM King Power- v -VPS Healthcare Sifani Ashton Silver Cup
Wednesday 15th July – Semi Finals
12:00PM UAE v Apes Hill – Ellerston Cup Semi Final
4:00PM King Power Foxes v Zacara – Tramontana Cup Semi Final