The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the 2015 British Open Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club – Day 7
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
12:00PM RH Polo 13 v 10 HB Polo Group C – Trippetts
Following a Tuesday of no high goal from Cowdray, the 1st July brought with it not only an increase in temperature, but also the first win for RH Polo (Ben Soleimani, Francisco Elizalde, Nico Pieres & Santiago Von Wernich) in their second game, having previously lost to UAE Polo (14-6) in the opening match of the 2015 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup. Sadly for HB Polo (Ludovic Pailloncy, Cristian Laprida, Ignacio Toccalino & Sebastien Pailloncy) this meant the team in blue and red faced their third loss of the tournament (having lost 7 -19 Dubai and 3-12 UAE)
With RH Polo taking the lead at 2 v 0 goals initially by the end of chukka one the teams were drawn at 2 all. This was however the only time in the match that HB Polo were level, as RH Polo kept up the goals – keeping their lead despite goals being put on either side of the scoreboard throughout chukkas two and three, at the half time bell it was RH Polo 9 v 6 HB Polo. Chukka four brought with it double figures for RH Polo, with HB polo joining them in chukka six. Despite ever rising goals on either side, at end of play the final scoreboard reading was RH Polo 13 v 10 HB Polo.
4:00PM King Power 9 v 17 Dubai Group C – Billingbear
Play moved back up the M3 for the second game of the day with Dubai meeting King Power on their home ground at Billingbear. After Temi Willington suffering an injury in King Power’s opening match of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup and being substituted (reports are he broke his collar bone and required surgery) seven goaler Ezequiel Ferrario joined teammates (Tal Srivaddhanaprabha, Alejandro Muzzio and Marcos Di Paola) on the pitch to face the might of Adolfo Cambiaso, Josh Cork, Martin Valent and Alejo Taranco).
With Dubai gaining a three goal lead at the end of the first chukka, by half time the Billingbear scoreboard was reading King Power 4 v 8 Dubai. Heading up the penultimate chukka 11 v 5 in favour of Dubai, things did not seem to be going the home team’s way, and it was to be a final scoreboard reading King Power 9 v 17 Dubai, meaning Dubai have won three out of three league games.
Things might not have gone King Power’s way on the field, but pitch-side I saw the most fantastic sight. It was a true highlight of the 2015 high goal season for me to see the excellent pony welfare laid on by the ‘behind the scenes’ King Power ‘team’. Both management and grooms worked exceptionally hard in sudden extreme summer temperatures to ensure ponies playing were well cared for. Tall fans and water spray (which I am reliably informed from a key member of the team were personally collected from London that morning) were placed near trees, with all ponies washed down with wet sponges and covered in wet towels (separate, but equally cool wet towels were also provide for the players necks).
Matches on Thursday 2nd July
12:00PM Zacara- v -VPS Healthcare Sifani Group A/B – Ambersham 2
2:00PM El Remanso- v -Salkeld Group A/B – Brooksfield
Matches on Friday 3rd July
11:00AM Apes Hill- v -La Indiana Group A/B
1:00PM King Power Foxes- v -Talandracas Group A/B