Action kicks off in Cowdray with the Tyro Cup

The wait is over. The mist is beginning to clear, and in the distance, polo can be seen arriving in the United Kingdom. After nearly seven months of inactivity, the goalposts are back in place, and the grooms are preparing for a demanding season on British soil. Cowdray Park Polo Club, one of the most iconic polo venues in the region, is opening its gates and will host the kickoff of its first tournament of the season this coming Saturday: the Tyro Cup.

The season will run from April 26 until September 21, when it concludes with the Autumn Cup. During this period, 31 tournaments of different handicap levels will take place, with notable highlights including the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, the Trippetts Challenge, the Duke of Sutherland Cup, the Challenge Cup, and the British Ladies Open Championship.

For the opening tournament, the Tyro Cup, eight teams with up to 12 goals of handicap will take part. The format consists of two groups of four teams each, with every team playing three matches against the others in its group. The top two from each group will advance to the semifinals, while the bottom two will move on to the subsidiary semifinals.

Standout players in this edition of the Tyro Cup include Argentines Félix Esaín and Joaquín Pittaluga—the highest-rated player in the tournament—as well as english James Beim, the 2024 champion, and Edward Banner-Eve. Last year’s champion organization, Trinity Polo Stud, will not be participating, so a new champion will be crowned at the end of the tournament. It’s worth noting that the final will be held on Sunday, May 11.

 

TEAMS:

  • Nelson Polo: Kaspar Budd 1, Charlie Hanbury 4, Dominic Lodge 4, Tom Beim 3. Total: 12
  • Cowdray Vikings: Lila Pearson 0, Pedro Ferrero 2, Ollie Cork 4, Manuel Elizalde 6. Total: 12
  • Maíz Dulce: Daniel Bolt 0, Alfie Hyde 3, Will Harper 4, Will Emerson 5. Total: 12
  • Bamboleo: Christian Staubach 1, Nick Johnson 3, Glenn Sherriff 4, Chris Lund 4. Total: 12
  • Ferne Park: Jonathan Rothermere 0, Vere Harmsworth 0, Edward Banner-Eve 5, Joaquín Pittaluga 7. Total: 12
  • Tancredi Minerals: Orson Clarke 0, Toby Bradshaw 3, Beltrán Di Paola 3, Félix Esain 6. Total: 12
  • Blenheim: George Bladford 0, Tomás Willans 4, Pedro Harrison 5, David Ashby 3. Total: 12
  • HB Lions: Hugo Baldwin 0, Harry Muddle 2, Nick Clague 3, James Beim 6. Total: 11

 

Matches coming up:

  • Saturday 26/04

Nelson Polo vs Cowdray Vikings

  • Tuesday 29/04

Nelson Polo vs Maíz Dulce

  • Thursday 1/05

Bamboleo vs Maíz Dulce

Ferne Park vs Tancredi Minerals

 

Fixture and Teams HERE