The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup resumed on Thursday June 29, with another double matchday. UAE and King Power were victorious over Black Bears and Monterosso, respectively. The prestigious tournament is hosted by Cowdray Park Polo Club, set in Midhurst, England, and sees fifteen teams up to 22 goals in participation
UAE and Black Bears, the recent winners of the Warwickshire Cup, clashed in the day’s first contest. After two leveled first chukkas, UAE, who had Kayley Maria Smith subbing in for Sheikha Maitha, took off in the third chukka. They remained in the lead thoroghout most of the game, until they outscored Black Bears 3-0 in the last chukka to seal the deal, and claim a 12-7 win. It is worth to note Tomás Beresford’s remarkable performance, having scored seven goals.
Up next, King Power overwhelmed Monterosso during the first three chukkas; by half time, King Power had an impressive 11-5 advantage. However, Monterosso was far from giving up, and made a remarkable comeback until the fifth chukka, when Pelón Stirling managed to score twice, to close the gap to just one goal (12-13). Nico Pieres tied at 13-all, and when an extra chukka was expected, it was Nico again – he picked the ball after a throw-in and found the flags to score his eleventh goal that secured King Power the 15-14 win, within the last seconds in regulation time.
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, Thursday June 29
PARTIDO #1: UAE 12-7 BLACK BEARS
UAE: Kayley Maria Smith 0*, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9 (3 goals), Lucas Monteverde Jr. 6 (2), Tomás Beresford 7 (7). Total: 22.
*Subbed in for HH Sheikha Maitha.
BLACK BEARS: Guy Schwarzenbach 2 (2 goals), Antonio Heguy 5, Ollie Cudmore 6 (1), Juan Martín Nero 9 (4). Total: 22.
Score UAE: 3-3, 5-4, 9-4, 9-6, 9-7, 12-7.
Umpires: Henry Fisher & Jason Dixon. Third man: Howard Smith.
MVP: Tomás Beresford.
MATCH #2: KING POWER 15-14 MONTEROSSO
KING POWER: Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha 1*, Manuel Elizalde 6 (4 goals), Nicolás Pieres 9 (11), Jerónimo del Carril 7. Total: 22.
*Subbed in by Sam Wisbey.
MONTEROSSO: Alessandro Bazzoni 1, Ignacio Toccalino 7 (6 goals), Lucas Criado Jr. 6 (3), David Stirling 8 (5). Total: 22.
Score King Power: 5-1, 7-3, 11-5, 12-9, 13-12, 15-14.
Umpires: Tim Bown & Howard Smith. Third man: Jason Dixon.
MVP: Nicolás Pieres.
Action for the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will continue on Friday June 30 as follows:
1,30: Scone vs. BP Polo (Venue: Emsworth PC)
BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP: Fixture & Teams
PHOTO CREDIT: MARK BEAUMONT.