On Saturday October 29, La Irenita Grand Champions and La Dolfina will go head-to-head for the second title of the coveted Argentine Triple Crown, the 129th. Hurlingham Open, the tournament that preceeds no less than the world’s most awaited tournament, the 129th. Argentine Open, at Palermo, due to begin on Tuesday November 1. The 129th. Hurlingham Open saw eight teams between 29 and 39 goals, in participation.
It is worth noting to give a look on how both contenders qualified to a final, that promises to be remarkable; definelty, the road to the final was very different for the two of them:
Let’s start with La Irenita Grand Champions, one of the three linepus the MacDonough family’s organisation provided to the 2022 Triple Crown. Pablo MacDonough, the man with nine titles at the Hurlingham Open, split between Ellerstina and La Dolfina (he was a runner up in 2021, with RS Murus Sanctus), hired Juan Britos, Francisco Elizalde and Juan Martín Zubía. The lineup has improved their performance significantly throroghout the Triple Crown up-to-date; perhaps the fact they are in the final could be taken as a surprise, considering it is a brand new team, whose members had to know each other and work hard to find their best form. And once they all fitted together, they were able to claim a win over the title holders, La Natividad, in semifinals. As a conclusion, yes, perhaps it is a surprise, because is the first final of the Triple Crown for a this foursome who are playing in the big leagues for the second time, being the first back in 2002; but at the same time, it is not quite a surprise, not only because of Pablo MacDonough’s experience and leadership but also because the remarkable skills of his team mates and La Irenita’s extraordinary horses. As a fact, two of the team members, Juan Britos and Juan Martín Zubía, will be playing their first ever final in the Triple Crown.
What can we say about La Dolfina? Unlike La Irenita, for the Cañuelas-based lineup, it was a lot much easier to earn a spot in the final. Last week, Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelón Stirling, Poroto Cambiaso and Juan Martín Nero, inflicted a big blow over Ellerstina in the semifinal, in a match that was almost a walk in the park for them. Although Ellerstina needed to produce five goals or more to qualify to the final following their defeat against La Ensenadada RS Murus Sanctus, indeed quite a bit complicated affair, no one expected La Dolfina would be able to sweep Ellersina by an impressive 14-6 score. Under the command of an extraordinary Poroto Cambiaso, who scored no less than 12 goals, La Dolfina had an unforgettable Sunday afternoon, and no problem at all to claim the second place in the championship match. In addition, it will be the first time Adolfo Cambiaso will play a final of the Triple Crown with his son, Poroto.
So, just a couple of days before the start of the Argentine Open, a spectacular final is expected on Sunday, to be played on the Lewis Lacey Ground, the Hurlingham Club’s main field. The match will start at 4pm. Get ready and enjoy!
129th. HURLINGHAM OPEN – FINAL – SATURDAY OCTOBER 29
4pm: LA IRENITA GRAND CHAMPIONS vs. LA DOLFINA SAUDI
La Irenita Grand Champions: Juan Britos 9, Francisco Elizalde 9, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Zubía 8 (1). Total: 36.
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10, David Stirling 10, Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. 9, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 39.
Umpires: Martín Pascual & Gonzalo López Vargas. Third man: José Ignacio Araya.