John Smith Ayala defeated Nairobi by 9 goals to 8 to win the medium goal 50th Anniversary Gold Cup on Friday, August 27, at Santa María Polo Club. The 50th Anniversary Gold Cup marks the third and final stage of the 50th Anniversary Torneo Internacional de Polo by La Reserva Club de Sotogrande.

The match was very tight throughout the six chukkas of play. While John Smith Ayala were able to widen their advantage to three goals on two occasions, Nairobi managed to push back and tie the score on two occasions. Alejandro Muzzio was the main man for John Smith Ayala, and Juan Zubiaurre was Nairobi’s leader – but it was Gabriel Aguirre who picked up the ball in a crucial moment to score the goal that secured the title for John Smith Ayala. It has been a fantastic season for the organisation, who also won the Terralpa Silver Cup.

Prior to the main final, Santa Quiteria and Hodro played for the La Reserva Club Sotogrande – The Seven Cup. The trophy went to Santa Quiteria, who claimed a 10-8 victory.

The awards presentation was attended, among others, by La Reserva Club de Sotogrande’s Oscar Checa; artist Jesús Arnedo Bedoya, who presented a painting to Marc Abele, winner of the Fair Play Award; and Spain’s polo legend, Pedro Domecq, winner of Sotogrand first ever Gold Cupe, back in 1971.

The 50th Anniversary Gold Cup resumes on Saturday, August 28, with the high goal final between Marqués de Riscal and Ayala.

Sotogrande’s 50th Anniversary tournament is being played at Ayala Polo Club, Santa María Polo Club, and Dos Lunas Polo & Dressage. The tournament sees twelve teams, split into two categories, compete. The high goal is for 18-20 goal teams, while the medium goal is for 12-14 goal teams.

BOTH THE HIGH GOAL 50th ANNIVERSARY TORNEO INTERNACIONAL DE POLO BY LA RESERVA CLUB DE SOTOGRANDE AND THE MEDIUM GOAL SEMIFINALS AND FINAL WILL BE STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV HERE. 

FINAL  – 50th ANNIVERSARY GOLD CUP – MEDIUM GOAL: JOHN SMITH AYALA 9-8 NAIROBI

JOHN SMITH AYALA: Gabriel Aguirre 0, Gregorio Gelosi 4, Alejandro Muzzio 8, Nicolás Álvarez 2. Total: 14.

NAIROBI: Grace Cariss 0, Hernan Pieres 3, Santiago Schweitzer 5, Juan Zubiaurre 6. Total: 14.

Umpires: Esteban Ferrari & Matías Baibiene.   

Third Man: Guillermo Villanueva. 

MVP: Juan Zubaiurre. 

BPP: Chapaleufú Plateada, ridden by Juan Zubiaurre, owned by Dos Lunas.

Fair Play Award: Marc Aberle.

FINAL – LA RESERVA CLUB SOTOGRANDE  – THE SEVEN CUP: SANTA QUITERIA 10-8 HODRO

SANTA QUITERIA: Germán López Madrid 0, Jaime Serra 2, Ignacio Negri 7, Santiago Tanoira 5. Total: 14.

HODRO POLO: Marc Aberle 0, José Trenor 2, Mariano González (h) 7, Malcolm Borwick 5. Total: 14.

The 50th Anniversary Gold Cup resumes on Saturday, August 28, with the high goal final:  

6,30pm, ground 3, Santa María Polo Club: Marqués de Riscal vs Ayala 

THE 50th ANNIVERSARY GOLD CUP (HIGH GOAL): Fixture & Teams

THE 5oth ANNIVERSARY GOLD CUP (MEDIUM GOAL): Fixture & Teams

PHOTO CREDIT: MATÍAS CALLEJO.