The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, the highlight of the season in England came to an end on Sunday July 21, at Cowdray Park Polo Club, with the much anticipated championship match between Dubai and La Dolfina Great Oaks. The decisive game, that took place on Lawns 2, in front of packed grandsstands and with the magnificient ruins of the Cowdray Castle as the perfect backdrop, saw the clash of Dubai and La Dolfina Great Oaks, with Jeta Castagnola and Poroto Cambiaso within the lineups, respectively.
Both teams remained undefeated, and were potential candidates to lift the golden trophy. But Jeta and Co. had other ideas in mind. Because Dubai got off to a very strong start outscoring La Dolfina Great Oaks 3-0 and 4-1, in the first and the second chukkas. The closest Dillon Bacon made up in the scoreboard was in the third chukka, when they were two goals behind. But the second half definetly belonged to Dubai, led by the indomitable Jeta Castagnola, very well supported by Antonio Heguy, in his first ever final of the Gold Cup. La Dolfina Great Oaks were definetly swept by a determined and powerful contender.
At the end of the day, and under the command of the remarkable Jeta Castagnola, the Albwardy’s lineup claimed an impressive 11-3 victory to earn their sixth British Open (the last was in 2019). Jeta, who was the tournament’s top scorer with 62 goals, won his second British Open; it was the fourth for Rashid Albwardy, and the first for both Beltrán Lauhlé and Antonio Heguy.
BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY JULY 21
DUBAI 11- 3 LA DOLFINA GREAT OAKS
Dubai: Camilo Castagnola 10 (8 goals), Rashid Albwardy 2, Antonio Heguy 5 (1), Beltrán Laulhé 5 (2). Total: 22.
La Dolfina Great Oaks: Dillon Bacon 2, Kian Hall 3, Diego Cavanagh 8 (1 goal), Poroto Cambiaso 9 (2). Total: 22.
Score Dubai: 3-0, 4-1, 5-2, 7-2, 10-2, 11-3.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Jason Dixon.
Third man: Tim Brown.
MVP: Camilo Castagnola
BPP: Alberta Gulfstream, ridden by Camilo Castagnola
BPP AMATEUR: Dubai Chalita, ridden by Rashid Albwardy
RELIVE THE FINAL OF THE BRITISH OPEN HERE (POLOLINE TV).
British Open Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Mark Beaumont.