May 23, 2022

Europe, Polo News

23. May 2022

Park Place 13 – 11 Murus Sanctus The Castle Ground- Flemish Farm
Great Oaks LL 14 – 9 Vikings The Queen’s Ground

The last team to make their 2022 debut in the Cartier Queen’s Cup, Park Place, led by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres, wasted no time getting out to an early 3-2 lead against Murus Sanctus on the Castle Ground at Flemish Farm. Scoring three consecutive goals from the trio of Pieres, Francisco Elizalde and Will Harper, Park Place’s high-powered attack carried through the rest of the first half. Murus Sanctus’s Marcos Araya contributed his second field goal to keep his team within one, but the relentless attack of Park Place allowed them to extend their lead at half-time (7-4). Exchanging penalty goals in the fourth chukka, a second yellow awarded to Alfredo Cappella sent him off for two minutes and allowed Park Place to extend their lead further, holding a commanding 13-8 lead with one chukka remaining. Despite denying their opponents from the scoreboard for the first time in the match, Murus Sanctus’ final effort fell just short and was not enough to overturn an eight-goal performance from Pieres in a 13-11 victory for Park Place.

The second match of Sunday’s doubleheader featured a match-up between Dillon Bacon’s Great Oaks LL, in search of their first victory, against Siri Evjemo-Nysveen’s Vikings who have already registered a win. Converting six penalty each, the difference ultimately came down to Great Oaks LL’s ability to succeed from the field. With little separating the two teams in the first chukka, Great Oaks LL turned to their duo of Bacon and Cruz Heguy, who combined for three goals to take their first lead of the match and exit the second chukka ahead 5-3. Held to just two shots in the entire first half, Vikings relied on the penalty shooting of Juan Martin Zubia, who took advantage of two yellows to Juan Martin Nero to add two penalty goals and keep Vikings within two, trailing 7-5 at half-time. With the pressure mounting in open play and Great Oaks LL pushing Vikings into their own half, the fourth chukka saw Great Oaks LL finally break through, dominating possession to score five goals, including three penalty conversions for Heguy. Facing a six-goal deficit, Vikings attempted to pull back within reach, but were unable to generate enough chances from the field, finishing with just three field goals on nine shots. Receiving two field goals from all four players, Great Oaks LL secured their first victory with the convincing 14-9 outcome to end this first week of play in the 2022 edition of the Cartier Queen’s Cup.

Tuesday’s Fixtures

12pm – La Magdeleine vs Park Place Vaara at TBC
3pm – Dubai Polo Team vs Clinova at TBC

All games are being livestreamed by Guards TV in association with Polocam TV. Go to https://guards.polocam.tv/package

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

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Park Place 13 – 11 Murus Sanctus The Castle Ground- Flemish Farm Great Oaks LL 14 – 9 Vikings The Queen’s Ground The last team to make their 2022 debut…

Europe, Polo News

Cartier Queen’s Cup Day 5

23. May 2022

Twelve Oaks 12 – 10 King Power Noel Farm
UAE Polo Team 12 – 10 Monterosso Castle Ground- Flemish Farm

Twelve Oaks and King Power found themselves locked in a closely contested battle with the score remaining within one goal in all but the final chukka. Trading goals early in the match, King Power’s James Harper struck from the field, while Joaquin Pittaluga and Charlie Wooldridge combined to post two goals for Twelve Oaks. Despite being outshot by their opponents in open play, Twelve Oaks’s 57% shooting accuracy and consecutive goals from Cristian Laprida sent them into the half-time break with a narrow one-goal advantage. Continuing his strong play from the first half, Laprida opened the second half scoring on a good counterattack, with Pittaluga passing the ball forward for the goal. Fighting back into the game with an exceptional passing attack, King Power controlled the fifth chukka with two assisted goals and two penalty conversions to retake the lead and enter the final chukka ahead by one. Trailing by one with two minutes remaining, Charlie Wooldridge made his impact on the match, collecting his second assist of the chukka on a pass to Pittaluga that put Twelve Oaks ahead and they held off King Power in the final moments to claim their first victory 12-10.

The reigning Cartier Queen’s Cup champions UAE Polo Team made their long-awaited debut on The Duke’s Ground at Guards Polo Club without the services of young Lucas Monteverde Jnr, who was replaced by Juan Ambroggio. Poroto Cambiaso was playing once again for Monterosso too. Wasting little time, UAE Polo Team quickly established their early dominance, blanking Monterosso in the first chukka while Tomas Beresford and Bartolome Castagnola Jnr ignited an attack for a 2-0 lead. Awarded one goal on handicap, Monterosso ended their scoring drought when Matias Gonzalez hit the posts on a drive from the field and this kickstarted a run of four unanswered goals to race into the lead. Limited to just one more goal from Tomas Beresford in the remainder of the half, Monterosso was firing on all cylinders and headed into the half-time break with a 7-4. Regrouping during the break, UAE Polo Team’s Tommy Beresford delivered five penalty conversions in a six-goal fourth chukka that quickly turned a three-goal deficit into a three-goal lead. Fixing their foul troubles, Monterosso slowly worked their way back into the game behind the duo of Ignacio Toccalino and Cambiaso, but UAE’s advantage allowed them to withstand this late push from Monterosso and register a successful debut with a 12-10 win. This victory also ensured that the UAE team won the Royal Windsor Horse Show Cup, traditionally played on the first weekend of the Cartier Queen’s Cup tournament.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures

11:30 am – Murus Sanctus vs Park Place at The Castle Ground- Flemish Farm
3:30 pm – Great Oaks LL vs Vikings at The Queen’s Ground

All games are being livestreamed by Guards TV in association with Polocam TV. Go to https://guards.polocam.tv/package

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

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Twelve Oaks 12 – 10 King Power Noel Farm UAE Polo Team 12 – 10 Monterosso Castle Ground- Flemish Farm Twelve Oaks and King Power found themselves locked in a…

Europe, Polo News

Cartier Queen’s Cup Day 4

23. May 2022

Dubai Polo Team 16 – 12 Thai Polo NP Coworth Park 1
La Magdeleine 14 – 11 Clinova Prince’s Ground

Looking to keep their early momentum flowing following a win against La Magdeleine, Dubai Polo Team was back in action in the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Coworth Park 1 against Thai Polo NP. Leading his team in scoring, Camilo Castagnola was quick to get Dubai on the scoreboard with two penalty conversions from the 30-yard line. A battle from the penalty line emerged as Thai Polo NP’s Ned Hine answered Castagnola’s success with two conversions of his own, followed by goals from brother Louis and Ignacio Negri. Accounting for five of Dubai’s first half goals, including four from the penalty line, the strong play of Castagnola saw Dubai take a narrow, one-goal lead going into the half-time break. In a match which saw 25 fouls between the two teams, Castagnola and Ned Hine once again traded conversions in the fourth chukka, with a drive from Matt Perry breaking the stalemate to keep Dubai ahead 10-8. In arguably the most defining moment of the match, Castagnola found some space to score three consecutive goals and put Dubai ahead by five. Despite a late push from Ned Hine with three goals in the final chukka, Castagnola finished his day with an astounding 11 goals, moving into second in tournament scoring and ensuring Dubai Polo Team remain undefeated, winning this match 16-12.

Last playing in the Cartier Queen’s Cup in 2018, Clinova returned to the high-goal stage with a 2022 debut on the Prince’s Ground. The team had changed from the published line up, with six-goal, American player Jared Zenni, making his Queen’s Cup debut and young Englishman Luke Wiles (4 goals) teaming up with Alejandro Muzzio and Malcolm Borwick. Their opponents this afternoon were a determined La Magdeleine team led by Pablo MacDonough. Searching for their first win of the tournament, La Magdeleine took an early lead after first chukka foul trouble for Clinova resulted in three penalty conversions for MacDonough. Responding for Clinova, a combined effort from Muzzio and Borwick kept the score tied at 3-all. With only 15 shots combined from the field in the first half of play, the success of both teams from the penalty line defined play, as Borwick’s five first half conversions pushed Clinova ahead by one, leading 8-7 at half-time. After nearly three minutes of goaless play to begin the second half, an exceptional knock-in for La Magdeleine sprung Ollie Cudmore on the breakaway to tie the match. Quickly adding two more to their tally, La Magdeleine surged ahead, but this closely contested match carried into the final chukka. Borwick opened the scoring for Clinova in the final chukka to bring the game level for the seventh time. Extra time now seemed likely. However, La Magdeleine turned to tournament-scoring leader Pablo MacDonough, who completed two crucial penalty conversions to secure a hard-fought 14-11 victory.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures – Saturday May 21

11:30 am – King Power vs Twelve Oaks at Noel Farm – SL6 2NW
3:30 pm – Monterosso vs UAE Polo Team at TBC

All games are being livestreamed by Guards TV in association with Polocam TV. Go to https://guards.polocam.tv/package

Photos by IMAGES OF POLO

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Dubai Polo Team 16 – 12 Thai Polo NP Coworth Park 1 La Magdeleine 14 – 11 Clinova Prince’s Ground Looking to keep their early momentum flowing following a win…

North America, Polo News

Oak Brook Polo Club Announces 2022 Summer Schedule, New Field Location, and Centennial Season

23. May 2022

OAK BROOK, IL (May 16, 2022) – It’s a year of celebration for the Oak Brook Polo Club (OBPC) who is proud to announce its 2022 summer schedule, a new field location, the launch of ticket sales on June 1^st and the club’s 100^th Anniversary! The Cecil Smith Field will mark Oak Brook’s centennial season of polo in addition to being one of the nation’s oldest polo clubs in operation today and the fourth oldest sports property in Chicago. On select Sundays, from June 26^th –September 25^th, fans can expect to experience adrenaline-fueled matches between some of the sport’s top players from local neighboring teams as well as from abroad.

Located at Butler National Golf Club’s practice golf range (at 700 Oak Brook Road), the Cecil Smith Field is widely known in the sport of polo as an historic and beautiful space located just 17 miles from downtown Chicago. It was referred to as a “masterpiece” by Oak Brook Polo founder and visionary Paul Butler in a 1962 Sports Illustrated article and embodies the Village of Oak Brook’s long and storied advocacy for sport and outdoor recreation, while being one of the nation’s best residential, commercial and entertainment destinations.

“Oak Brook Polo is undeniably the best secret of Chicago’s western suburbs and the Churchill Downs of polo,” explains Jim Drury, President of the Oak Brook Polo Club. “Oak Brook Polo gives people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while watching a thrilling sport with friends and family. We are excited to continue to offer spectators a safe and fun activity. It is our mission to make our matches accessible, affordable, and memorable for everyone who attends, and to reestablish Oak Brook as Chicago’s home for the sport of polo.”

Oak Brook Polo was privatized from the Village of Oak Brook in 2016 and is led and supported by Drury whose passion and ongoing commitment to polo is what’s kept the sport alive in Chicagoland for so long. With many iterations over the years, the first season dates back to 1922 when Butler first established the Oak Brook Polo Club. He expanded his polo operation to fourteen fields, plus built the necessary horse stables to serve visiting teams. Eventually, Oak Brook became one of the “polo capitals” of the world with Butler’s son – famed producer Michael Butler, and daughter -philanthropist Jorie Butler Kent, acting as the club’s stewards throughout the years. The summer polo seasons were not only the stomping ground for celebrities and notables alike for decades but also the destination for American Polo players and enthusiasts. Oak Brook was often referred to as “the town that polo built.”

Oak Brook’s team, led by Drury (position #4, handicap A) includes Tommy Colingwoode (position #3, handicap-5), Horacio Onetto (position #2, handicap-4), and Herdon Radcliff(position #1, handicap-3).

Oak Brook Polo’s 2022 summer schedule includes the following dates:

Sunday, June 26^th – Centennial Challenge (Season Opener)
Sunday, July 17^th – Chicago Polo Invitational (Intra Circuit Cup)
Sunday, July 24^th – General George S. Patton Jr. Cup
Sunday, July 31^st – General George S. Patton Jr. Cup Championship
Sunday, August 14^th – Midwest $50,000 Midwest Cup
Sunday, August 21^st – Oak Brook Polo Open*
Sunday, August 28^th – Oak Brook Polo Open*
Sunday, September 11^th – Butler Challenge/Coronation Cup
Sunday, September 18^th – Butler International Cup
Sunday, September 25^th – Butler International Cup Championship

*matches and tournament names are subject to change

New and returning sponsors include U.S. Polo Assn., Heineken, Beyond Shades, NeverAsh, Continental AutoSports, Northern Trust, One Oak Brook Commons, Hilton Chicago | Oak Brook Hills Resort, Tapville Social, Boodles Gin, and 1800 Tequila. Matches will include team “meet and greets,” team parade with introduction, National Anthem singer, and contests for both “best tailgate” and “best hat.” In addition, Oak Brook Polo Club will host a Centennial Celebration Gala on Friday, September 23, 2022, at Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort.

“Jim Drury (Pineoak Partners) have done a tremendous job preserving the legacy of polo in Oak Brook,” explains Gopal Lalmalani, Village of Oak Brook President. “Polo is such significant part of our history, and we are very excited to be celebrating 100 years of this illustrious sport in our Village. I would like to personally invite everyone to experience the grandeur and excitement of Polo in Oak Brook during this commemorative season!”

Oak Brook Polo Club ticket sales will begin on Wednesday, June 1^st and will include a variety of ticket options starting at $15/pp and include lawn seating; tailgating, VIP Saddle Club (elevated), and reserved field-side tables for 4 to 6 people. For groups of 20 or more, the Club offers small and large private field-side tented areas ideal for large families, corporate outings, birthday parties and other special events. For more information, including sponsorships, please visit www.oakbrookpoloclub.com or call 847.653. 6242 for details and availability. Ticket prices for special events may differ from traditional pricing. Subscribe to the e-bulletin for season updates and announcements or follow at Facebook -@oakbrookpoloclub or Instagram – @oakbrookpolo.

About Oak Brook Polo Club

Founded in 1922 by legendary businessman, Paul Butler, the Oak Brook Polo Club is an American Polo treasure and one of the oldest polo clubs in the United States. It was once the sport’s epicenter for elite professional polo in the United States and served as home to the U.S. Open Polo Championship for twenty-four straight seasons and other prestigious international and national polo tournaments. For decades, the Club has been a popular Sunday tradition and social scene known for entertaining Hollywood celebrities, dignitaries, royalty, and Chicago’s distinguished. Today, Oak Brook Polo Club hosts several Sunday matches and continues to attract thousands of fascinated spectators who marvel at the athleticism and majesty of this timeless sport.