Current reigning champions, Black Bears, narrowly defeated Green Gates 13-12, and claimed the first spot in the semifinals of the Warwickshire Cup, that kicked off on Friday June 16. The traditional tournament is organised by Cirencester Park Polo Club, set in Gloucestershire, England. The 2023 edition of the competition sees four teams up to 22 goals, partake.
Cirencester Park Polo Club, one of the oldest polo clubs in England, was founded in 1894 by the Seventh Earl of Bathurst, who was also the first Chairman of the club. The first Warwickshire Cup, a trophy presented to the club by the people of Leamington, was played that same year, and continued until 1913. After a break, the tournament came back in 1932, but in outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Ivy Lodge ground was ploughed up for the war effort. Polo returned to Cirencester in 1952, but it was not only until 1960 that the Warwickshire Cup was played again. In the 1920s, the first member of the Royal Family to play at Cirencester was the then Prince of Wales, David, later King Edward VIII, until his abdication in 1936. In 1966, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, won the Warwickshire Cup with his team, Windsor Park. His son, the current monarch, His Majesty King Charles III, was a regular player at the club, competing in tournaments and charity events. The King’s two sons, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, also played at the club at charity games.
The Warwickshire Cup will resume on Monday June 19, with the contest between Semper Anticus and Confido. The semifinal matchups will be determined following the game, and are to be played on Wednesday June 21.
The final of the Warwickshire Cup is due on Saturday June 24.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – TEAMS
BLACK BEARS: Guy Schwarzenbach 2, Antonio Heguy 5, Ollie Cudmore 6, Juan Martín Nero 9. Total: 22.
SEMPER ANTICUS: Clarinda Tija-Dharmadi 0, Javier Guerrero Jr. 5, Alfredo Bigatti 8, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9. Total: 22.
CONFIDO: Creighton Boyd 1, Jack Richardson 6, Juan Britos 8, James Harper 7. Total: 22.
GREEN GATES: Noor Khadra 1, César Crespo 6, Francisco Elizalde 8, Isidro Strada 7. Total: 22.
WARWICKSHIRE CUP – FIXTURE
Friday June 16
12pm: Black Bears vs. Green Gates
Monday June 19
1pm: Semper Anticus vs. Confido
Wednesday June 21 – SEMIFINALS
12pm, Warwickshire Cup: Black Bears vs. TBA
2,3opm, Subsidiaria: Green Gates vs. TBA
Saturday June 24 – FINALS
11am: Subsidiary
2,30pm: Final Warwickshire Cup
Cover photo: Final Warwickshire Cup, in 2022, Black Bears vs. Thai Polo NP, by Tom Reynolds.