Reigning champions, Park Place, and Dubai were victorious following the double matchdate, for the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, that took place on Sunday July 2. The tournament, hosted by the historical Cowdray Park Polo Club, set in Midhurst, West Sussex, England, sees fifteen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
Park Place made a successful debut, with a win against King Power, in the clash of the Pieres brothers – Park Place’s Facundo and King Power’s Nicolás. Park Place dominated the two first chukkas, when they reached a comfortable 5-1 lead by the end of the second. Although King Power were able to level the scores in the two following chukkas, a determined Park Palce foursome, with James Harper back on the saddle and recovered from an injury during the Prince of Wales Trophy, reinforced their attack, led by a brilliant Facundo Pieres, who produced ten goals, to seal the 12-10 victory in the last chukka.
Up next, Dubai claimed their second victory, this time against La Magdeleine, the runner up of the last Queen’s Cup. Despite Pablo MacDonough’s remarkable performance (he scored no less than ten goals for La Magdeleine), Dubai managed to remain in the lead thoroghout the six chukkas of play; they were leading by six goals (13-7) at the end of the fourth chukka, a gap that had the contest almost said and done. However, Alexandre Garese & Co. never gave up, but the efforts didn’t pay off, and Dubai took the 14-12 win home.
The final of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup is due on Sunday July 23.
THE 2023 BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP IS STREAMED LIVE ON COWDRAY TV, WITH THE PRODUCTION OF POLOLINE HERE.
British Open, Sunday July 2:
MATCH #1: PARK PLACE 12-10 KING POWER
PARK PLACE: Andrey Borodin 0, Matt Perry 5 (1 goal), Facundo Pieres 10 (10), James Harper 7 (1). Total: 22.
KING POWER: Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha 1 (1 goal), Manuel Elizalde 6 (2), Nicolás Pieres 9 (3), Jerónimo del Carril 7 (4). Total: 22.
Score Park Place: 2-1, 5-1, 5-6, 8-6, 11-7, 12-10.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Ben Turner. Third man: Jason Dixon.
MVP: Facundo Pieres.
MATCH #2: DUBAI 14-12 LA MAGDELEINE
DUBAI: Camilo Castagnola 10 (7 goals), Rashid Albwardy 2 (3), Beltrán Laulhé 3, Rufino Bensadon 7 (4). Total: 22.
LA MAGDELEINE: Alexandre Garese 0, Facundo Fernandez Llorente 7 (1 goal), Pablo Mac Donough 9 (10), Santiago Laborde 6 (1). Total: 22.
Score Dubai: 5-1, 7-4, 10-7, 13-7, 14-10, 14-12.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Henry Fisher. Third man: Peter Wright.
MVP: Rashid Albwardy.
The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will be back on Monday July 3, with a single match, Monterosso vs. Black Bears, at 2pm.
BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP: Fixture & Teams
CRÉDITO FOTO: MARK BEAUMONT.