Copperline Farms defeated Los Machitos El Refugio 12-18, and ran out the champions of the Iglehart Cup, in the final that was played on Saturday March 15, at Patagones Polo Club. The Iglehart Cup, that saw fifiteen teams up to 16 goals, in competition, forms part of the NPC 16-goal Championship (Wellington Polo Tour), and will come to an end with the big championship game due on Sunday April 13 at the National Polo Center (NPC), located in Wellington, Florida, United States.
Los Machitos El Refugio had a very strong and powerful start, leading all the way from the first chukka onwards; up to the fourth chukka, they were the dominating force, with a three goal lead – 7-4 – over Copperline Farms. However, history would change in the fifth chukka, when Copperline Farms made an impressive comeback and outscored their contenders 4-1, to tie at 8-all. Encouraged by such a remarkable performance, Copperline Farms seized the reins in an outstanding last chukka; they hold Los Machitos El Refugio back and produced four unanswered goals that led them to the 12-8 win and the title.
In other finals within the same tournament, Concord Equity Group and Flying H Polo were victorious at the George Haas Cup and the County Line Cup, respectively.
The Iglehart Cup is named after Philip L. B. Iglehart. He started to play polo at a very young age, and was rated at 7 goals, which he held for 13 years. Some of Iglehart’s accomplishments include a U.S. Open Polo Championship (1953), leadership at Meadowbrook Polo Club in Medford, New York, and the creation of Gulfstream Polo Club, in Lake Worth, Florida, currently defunct. Philip Iglehart was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 1993, Iglehart is not only a Hall of Famer, but bears one of the Hall of Fame’s highest honors in his name, as well, The Philip Iglehart Award, established in 2021, to acknowledge exceptional lifetime contributions to the sport.
The fourth and last tournament of the Wellington Polo Tour 16-goal NPC Polo Series is the Outback Cup, and will take place through March 18-April 6.
IGLEHART CUP – FINAL – SATURDAY MARCH 15
COPPERLINE FARMS 12-8 LOS MACHITOS EL REFUGIO
Copperline Farms: Ben Ketchum 0 (1 goal), Pipe Vercellino 7 (5), Lucas Criado Jr. 7 (4), Joao Pedro Aranha 2 (2). Total: 16.
Los Machitos El Refugio: Martín Vélez 2 (3 goals), Antonio Aguerre 3, Victorino Ruiz Jorba 7 (5), Jota Chavanne 5. Total: 16.
Score Copperline Farms: 2-3, 3-4, 3-6, 4-7, 8-8, 12-8.
MVP: Lucas Criado Jr.
BPP: LAC Sarah, ridden by Lucas Criado Jr.
Umpires: Héctor Galindo & Gastón Lucero.
Third man: Kimo Huddleston,
WELLINGTON POLO TOUR – 16-GOAL NPC POLO SERIES
Joe Barry Memorial Cup: Winnerss, Zapican BMW.
Ylvisaker Cup: Winners, Bientina.
Iglehart Cup: Winners, Copperline Farms.
IGLEHART CUP – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.