The championship match of the Queen’s Cup, one of the most remarkable tournaments of the international calendar of polo, will come to an end on Sunday June 18. The Queen’s Cup is hosted by Guards Polo Club, located in Windsor Great Park, England, and it is the club’s premier competition, established in 1960, in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. But for the first time ever, after 63 years, the legendary monarch, the longest serving monarch in British history won’t be present to present the trophy to the winners, following her passing last September 8.
Who will claim the coveted trophy? We still don’t know; but what’s for sure is that the cup will depart to France, because the Queen’s Ground will greet an all-French final between Corinne Ricard’s Murus Sanctus and Alexandre Garese’s La Magdeleine, with the latter having reached the semifinals last year.
It is worth to note that it is the third time a French team will win the Queen’s Cup. The first was in 2004, when the trophy was taken by the late Huber Perrodo’s Labegorce; Edouard Carmignac’s Talandracas was the second French lineup to win the Queen’s Cup, in 2011. In addition, of all the eight players who will compete for the trophy tomorrow, three of them already won it: Pablo MacDonough, Santiago Laborde and Polito Pieres. Meanwhile, Adolfo Cambiaso remains as the man who claimed the Queen’s Cup more than anyone else – no less than ten times.
Murus Sanctus had a spectacular Queen’s Cup, having reached the final undefeated. They won all their league games, as well as the quarter finals and semifinals against Twelve Oaks and UAE Polo, respectively. Corinne Ricard managed to set a powerful and competitive team together, by hiring Polito Pieres, Alejandro Muzzio and Marcos Araya. All of them fitted to perfection, swepping their opponents with their strong and balanced style of play.
With regards to Alexandre Garese’s La Magdeleine, the lineup have two crucial men – Pepe Heguy, the coach and one of the biggest stars of the sport, Pablo MacDonough, very well supported by two talented players, Facundo Fernández Llorente and Santiago Laborde. And this final will be very special for Facundo, who missed the tournament last year due to the visa issue. La Magdeleine had a very good league stage, having only lost to Scone 10-9 in extra chukka. Then, they beat Vikings in quarter finals, and managed to claim a fantastic win against UAE Polo, in a very tough semifinal contest.
So, on Sunday June 18, the Queen’s Cup will crown a new champion, the third coming from France. The championship match between Murus Sanctus and La Magdeleine is a promise of great polo, a thrilling, exciting contest and, perhaps, it won’t be decided until the last minute. Stay tuned and don’t miss it!!
THE QUEEN’S CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY JUNE 18
3,30pm, The Queen’s Ground, Guards Polo Club
MURUS SANCTUS: Corinne Ricard 0, Alejandro Muzzio 7, Polito Pieres 9, Marcos Araya 6. Total: 22.
LA MAGDELEINE: Alexander Garese 0, Facundo Fernández Llorente 7, Pablo Mac Donough 9, Santiago Laborde 6. Total: 22.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Jason Dixon. Third man: Tim Bown.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
MURUS SANCTUS
10-6 vs. Twelve Oaks
10-9 vs. Cibao La Pampa
10-9 vs. Vikings
15-10 vs. BP Polo
14-13 vs. Twelve Oaks (quarter final)
10-7 vs. King Power (semifinal)
LA MAGDELEINE
14-8 vs. Park Place Vaara
9-10 vs. Scone (OT)
10-8 vs. Sujan Indian Tigers
13-12 vs. King Power
12-8 vs. Vikings (quarter final)
9-8 vs. UAE Polo (semifinal)