The much anticipated Triple Crown in Argentina is due to start on Tuesday September 27, with the first leg, the Tortugas Open, to be played at Tortugas Country Club, the oldest country club in South America, founded by Antonio Maura y Gamazo in 1930. As usual, Tortugas will kick off with the quarter finals, and will see eight teams up to 39 goals, in participation, who will compete for the traditional Emilio de Anchorena Cup and the Subsidiary Sarmiento Cup.
The 2022 edition of the Triple Crown promises to be spectacular indeed, with very interesting news with regards to the team lineups. Two of the three top teams have maintained the same members as in 2021: La Natividad and current title holders, Ellerstina, with Nicolás Pieres back on the saddle in Argentinian high goal, after the serious injury he suffered while playing the Hurlingham Open last year. But it is perhaps La Dolfina Saudi who will bring the most significant additions – Adolfo Cambiaso will play his first ever Triple Crown with his son, the brand new 9-goaler, Poroto, in addition to Juan Martín Nero’s comeback to the Cañuelas-based foursome. Both La Dolfina Saudi and La Natividad are currently the highest rated teams (39), with the latter having three 10-goalers within the lineup – Barto and Camilo Castagnola, and Polito Pieres. Moreover, they have an extra motivation, as the Castagnola brothers, alongside their cousin, have recently claimed the Jockey Club Open Thai Polo Cup, last Saturday, with their cousin, Poroto Cambiaso.
Corinne Ricard’s RS Murus Sanctus have joined forces with La Ensenada’s Ernesto Gutierrez to form La Ensenada RS Murus Sanctus. Facundo Sola and Guillermo Caset have remained within the team, and hired former La Ensenada members Alfredo Bigatti and Jerónimo del Carril. Another remarkable news this season is brought by the MacDonoughs’ organisation, La Irenita, who will put no less than three teams together – La Irenita Grand Champions (36), La Irenita Clinova (31) and La Irenita GSquared (29). Pablo MacDonough will lead La Irenita Grand Champions, joined by Juan Britos, Francisco Elizalde and Juan Martín Zubía. La Dolfina will add a second team, as well, Cría La Dolfina, with three members of the former La Dolfina Polo Ranch (Guillermo Terrera, Jejo Taranco and Diego Cavanagh). The new recruit is the young and talented Tomás Panelo, who have a very successful career abroad and now he is making his debut in the Triple Crown.
The order of play of the opening day is as follows:
82° TORTUGAS OPEN – TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26 – QUARTER FINALS
1,30pm: La Natividad vs. La Irenita Clinova
La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 10, Pablo Pieres 10, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr 10, Ignatius du Plessis 9. Total: 39.
La Irenita Clinova: Facundo Fernández Llorente 8, Tomás Fernández Llorente Jr 7, Bautista Bayugar 8, Isidro Strada 8. Total: 31.
Umpires: Gonzalo López Vargas & José I. Araya. Third man: Hernán Tasso.
4pm: La Dolfina Saudi vs. La Ensenada RS Murus Sanctus
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10, David Stirling 10, Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. 9, Juan M. Nero 10. Total: 39.
La Ensenada RS Murus Sanctus: Facundo Sola 8, Alfredo Bigatti 9, Guillermo Caset 9, Jerónimo del Carril 8. Total: 34.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Rafael Silva.
The final of the Tortugas Open is set to be played on Saturday October 8.
82nd Tortugas Open – Fixture & Teams
Cover photo: Final 2021 Tortugas Open, by Matias Callejo.