Cartier Trophy

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20. June 2023

Murus Sanctus 11 – 10 La Magdeleine The Queen’s Ground

Navigating through a deep field of 17 teams over four weeks of elite competition, Murus Sanctus and La Magdeleine went head-to-head on the historic Queen’s Ground to crown a new Cartier Queen’s Cup champion. Posting an early penalty conversion off the mallet of La Magdeleine’s Santiago Laborde to open the scoring, Murus Sanctus was then on the attack, hitting three in the first chukka, including a Penalty 2 from Alejandro Muzzio to take a 3-1 lead. Taking advantage of Murus Sanctus’s foul troubles in the second, three penalties from La Magdeleine’s Pablo MacDonough were answered by two goals in open play from a driving Polito Pieres to maintain Murus Sanctus’ narrow one-goal advantage. With a combined five field shots between the two teams in the third, the accuracy of these evenly matched opponents was on full display before the half-time bell. MacDonough and Facundo Fernandez Llorente found the goal in the third chukka, as Marcos Araya and Pieres delivered for Murus Sanctus. These deadlocked teams made their way into the tents tied 7-7 at the break.

Emerging with a charge, Murus Sanctus generated some much-needed air in the score to open the second half of play. Pieres and Muzzio worked beautifully in tandem from the field to combine for three goals and give Murus Sanctus a 10-7 lead. Generating only two shots with no opportunities to score from penalties, La Magdeleine was forced to make a late push in the sixth chukka. Rebounding on back-to-back goals from MacDonough and Santiago Laborde, La Magdeleine managed to cut their deficit down to one. Stifling La Magdeleine’s sudden momentum, a brilliant drive from Pieres was all Murus Sanctus needed to hold off MacDonough’s final effort and ensure Murus Sanctus held on for an electrifying 11-10 victory to capture their first Cartier Queen’s Cup title.

Murus Sanctus’s Corinne Ricard received Queen’s Cup from Cartier’s Managing Director Laurent Feniou. Not surprisingly, thanks to an impressive, seven-goal performance, including six in open play, Polito Pieres was named the Cartier Most Valuable Player. Meanwhile, the Cartier Best Playing Pony prize was awarded to Irenita La Kiosquera, played by Pablo MacDonough.

Earlier in the day, Vikings defeated Twelve Oaks 10-9 in the sub final for the Cartier Trophy on The Duke’s Ground. This was a stop/start game full of penalties, highlighting the tension and determination from both teams to secure a win on the last day of such a magnificent competition. A Cartier Most Valuable Player prize was awarded to Juan Martin Zubia of the Vikings team.

Photos by Pablo Ramirez

Murus Sanctus 11 – 10 La Magdeleine The Queen’s Ground Navigating through a deep field of 17 teams over four weeks of elite competition, Murus Sanctus and La Magdeleine went…

Europe, Polo News

Les Lions / Great Oaks find Cartier Queen’s Cup glory with a golden goal

12. November 2020

Dillon Bacon’s team, which had produced some wonderful team polo over three weeks in late summer, once again brought their impressive style of polo to the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club to win this coveted cup. They beat Andrey Borodin’s Park Place 9-8 in a sudden-death, seventh chukka.

Dillon, who was later named the Cartier Most Valuable Player, was thrilled with this win, describing it as a “dream come true”. Talking to Ebe Sievwright of Polocam TV after the game he said: ”I have dreamed of winning The Queen’s Cup ever since I came [to Guards Polo Club] with my father as a young kid. You see this level of polo – the players, the horses, the field – and you dream of being on that field and winning – so it really is a dream come true.”

Park Place, who received a goal on handicap, were in their third successive Cartier Queen’s Cup Final but struggled to find their form in the first half of this match. Les Lions/Great Oaks had clearly done their homework and were successful in preventing Facundo Pieres in particular from making his trademark, fast runs to goal. The winners were 8-5 ahead going into the final chukka, not least thanks to Barto Castagnola making the most of any space and younger brother Jeta firing through penalties with ease.

All credit to Park Place though, who never gave up hope. They had the horsepower and the experience and so when Will Harper fired through an equalizer 8-8 in the final moments of the sixth chukka, extra time was inevitable, and Park Place were very much back in contention. Both sides then had chances in this extra, seventh chukka before Jeta blasted though the winner for Les Lions/Great Oaks.

It was a shame that such a wonderful final had to be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic that was sweeping the world in 2020. Although the Club did ensure that every moment of every match – some 30 games – was filmed by Polocam TV so that members and polo lovers around the world could still watch 22-goal polo at its absolute best.

The absence of spectators also meant the absence of Cartier’s always impressive hospitality. Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, title sponsor of this tournament since 2012, could not attend as he was self-isolating at home due to an overseas trip but did send a message to all the finalists. “It has been incredible to see such powerful games played by some of the very best polo players in the world, during this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo, despite the unprecedented turn of events this year. I am truly inspired by the resilience and talent of these wonderful players capturing the true essence and spirit of the sport.”

Although Cartier did make sure that all the players headed home with some impressive prizes, including Cartier Tank watches to the winners. One prize was the coveted Cartier Best Playing Pony prize, which this year went to the stallion Chalo Angelo. This magnificent horse was bred by Lolo Castagnola, who won the Queen’s Cup himself in 2003 when playing with the Dubai polo team and played by both of his sons in this final – Barto in the second and fifth chukkas and Jeta during that all-important extra time.

Despite the difficulties the pandemic has caused to the global polo community, 10 top teams had entered this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup tournament and earlier in the day Brian Stein, Chairman of Guards Polo Club, presented Alessandro Bazzoni of the Monterosso Polo Team with the Cartier Trophy.

This was the first time in the history of the competition that a Cartier Queen’s Cup match has been played between a husband and a wife. Alessandro was competing in this tournament for the fourth time while his wife Siri was making her Cartier Queen’s Cup debut with her MT Vikings squad. This was another close game, played over six chukkas, with Monterosso just stealing a 6-5 win in the final chukka. Alessandro was rewarded with the Cartier Most Valuable Player prize as well as heading home with the Cartier Trophy.

Ranking:

1^st place
Les Lions/Great Oaks (+23)
Camilo (Jeta) Castagnola (+7)
Dillon Bacon (+2)
Bartolome Castagnola Jnr (+8)
Santiago Laborde (+6)

2^nd place
Park Place (+22)
Andrey Borodin (0)
Will Harper (+3)
Gonzalo Pieres (+9)
Facundo Pieres (+10)

3^rd place
Monterosso Polo Team (+22)
Alessandro Bazzoni (+1)
Guillermo Terrera (+7)
Ignacio Toccalino (+8)
Jeronimo del Carril (+6)

4^th place
MT Vikings (+22)
Siri Evjemo-Nysveen (0)
James Beim (+7)
Sebastian Merlos (+8)
Juan Martin Zubia (+7)

Images: © Images of Polo

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”1107″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]www.guardspoloclub.com

Dillon Bacon’s team, which had produced some wonderful team polo over three weeks in late summer, once again brought their impressive style of polo to the Queen’s Ground at Guards…

Europe, Polo News

Les Lions / Great Oaks defeats Park Place in extra time in The Cartier Queen’s Cup 2020

24. August 2020

Les Lions/Great Oaks this afternoon received one of the sport’s most important trophies, the Cartier Queen’s Cup. They beat Park Place on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club in extra time. This tournament is considered one of the most prestigious and renowned events of the British sporting calendar and this year was celebrating its 60^th anniversary. HM The Queen personally gifted the Cup to Guards Polo Club in 1960.

Although today’s final was a little unusual as it was played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cartier proudly continues to sponsor this high-goal tournament. The Maison has been the honoured sponsor for the past eight years and a supporter of polo worldwide for more than 30 years. In addition, Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, could not attend as he was self-isolating at home due to a recent overseas trip but sent a message to all the teams taking part today.

“It has been incredible to see such powerful games played by some of the very best polo players in the world, during this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo, despite the unprecedented turn of events this year. I am truly inspired by the resilience and talent of these wonderful players capturing the true essence and spirit of the sport.”

Ten world-class teams had entered this year’s tournament and have been playing over the past three weeks in a bid to reach today’s final. This afternoon, in a thrilling and competitive match Dillon Bacon’s Les Lions / Great Oaks defeated Andrey Borodin’s Park Place, adding their name to an illustrious cohort of teams for the first time. Les Lions were ahead in this game at half-time (4-3) but Park Place rallied in the second half to force the game into extra time. The 17-year-old Jeta Castagnola then fired through the winner for Les Lions / Great Oaks.

Dillon Bacon received the prestigious silver cup from Mr Brian Stein, the Chairman of Guards Polo Club. Dillon was also named the Cartier Most Valuable Player, while the stallion Challo Angelo, played by both Barto and Jeta Castagnola in this match, received the Cartier Best Playing Pony prize, a Cartier rug. Every member of the winning team received a Cartier Tank watch.

Earlier in the day Mr Stein presented Alessandro Bazzoni of the Monterosso Polo Team with the Cartier Trophy, which had been played for this morning. This was the first time in the history of the tournament that a Cartier Queen’s Cup match has been played between a husband and a wife. Alessandro Bazzoni was competing in this tournament for the fourth time while his wife Siri was making her Cartier Queen’s Cup debut with her MT Vikings team. This was a close game played over six chukkas with Monterosso just stealing a 6-5 win in the final chukka. Alessandro was rewarded with the Cartier Most Valuable Player prize in this Cartier Trophy match.

Lions/Great Oaks: Camilo (Jeta) Castagnola (7); Dillon Bacon (2); Bartolome Castagnola Jnr (8); Santiago Laborde (6). Park Place: Andrey Borodin (0); Will Harper (3); Gonzalo Pieres (9); Facundo Pieres (10). Park Place received 1 goal on handicap.

Monterosso Polo Team: Alessandro Bazzoni (1); Guillermo Terrera (7); Ignacio Toccalino (8); Jeronimo del Carril (6). MT Vikings: Siri Evjemo-Nysveen (0); James Beim (7); Sebastian Merlos (8); Juan Martin Zubia (7).

www.guardspoloclub.com

Photos by Tony Ramirez / IMAGES OF POLO

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Les Lions/Great Oaks this afternoon received one of the sport’s most important trophies, the Cartier Queen’s Cup. They beat Park Place on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club in…

Europe, Polo News

Cartier Queen’s Cup subsidiary quarter-finals

18. August 2020

MT Vikings 9 – 8 Polo Stud Schockemohle

Segavas 11 – 10 Park Place Vaara

text by diana Butler

Two close games today confirmed who would be playing Monterosso and Next Generation in Thursday’s subsidiary semi-finals. The first match today saw Siri Evjemo-Nysveen not only return to her MT Vikings team but score too. Their opponents this morning were a higher-handicapped Polo Stud Schockemohle team. Looking for their first win in this tournament the German-based team were playing the four-goaler Charlie Hanbury in place of their patron Ekard Joules. This new strategy appeared to be paying off for them in the early stages of the match. They were 2-1 up after the first chukka and were 4-2 up in the second. Failing to score at all in the third was the turning point in this game though. MT Vikings may have only added one further goal to their tally at half-time but the dynamics in this match had slightly shifted. MT Vikings levelled the scores to 5-5 in the fourth and not only pulled away in the fifth but managed to maintain that all-important one-goal advantage on the final whistle. This team performance has earned MT Vikings a date with Next Generation on Thursday at midday.

Segavas have secured a subsidiary semi-final game on Thursday against Monterosso after beating Park Place Vaara at Coworth Park this afternoon. In addition to winning this match, this team also won the Gerard Leigh Trophy, presented in memory of a former Chairman of Guards Polo Club, Col William Gerard Leigh. He was Chairman of the Club from 1955 until 1981. The match had looked as if this was going to be Park Place Vaara’s game. They arrived at Coworth Park fresh from a surprising win over Les Lions/Great Oaks last Wednesday and everyone wondered if they had now found their spark. It seemed they had in the first few minutes – leading 4-1 in the early stages of the second chukka. Their game then stalled, while Segavas piled on the goals, taking the lead 6-5 at half-time. Park Place Vaara had not given up quite yet, remaining only a goal behind the leaders for the rest of the match. It was great to see such competitive play from both teams. Segavas will now play Monterosso in the second subsidiary semi final on Thursday. These two teams have already met in this year’s tournament, Monterosso coming out best last Tuesday. Segavas will be hoping to turn the tables on Alessandro Bazzoni’s team and win a place in Sunday’s subsidiary final, where the winning team heads home with the Cartier Trophy.

www.guardspoloclub.com

Photos by Tony Ramirez / IMAGES OF POLO

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MT Vikings 9 – 8 Polo Stud Schockemohle Segavas 11 – 10 Park Place Vaara text by diana Butler Two close games today confirmed who would be playing Monterosso…

Europe, Polo News

34th Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz starts on Friday

22. January 2018

Thrilling matches and many novelties at the 34th Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz on 26–28 January 2018. The 34th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is set to become a top event par excellence. A laid-back Polo Bar in St. Moritz’s legendary restaurant Chesa Veglia and the “Baku Moritz Polo Award” are two new additions to this year’s fixture. Given the excellent make-up of the underlying ice, construction of the extensive infrastructure on the frozen lake has begun just over a week ago. Demand for tickets to this year’s event is exceptionally high. Tickets to the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday are almost sold out; the exclusive Polo Gala night has been sold out for some time. The partner hotels also report high bookings. Some 15,000 spectators from around the globe are expected to attend the world’s only high-goal polo tournament on snow — admission to the action-packed tournament is free, as ever.

Four top-tier teams studded with players from nine countries will once again compete for the coveted Cartier Trophy this year. The competition kicks off with a riveting encounter on Friday noon. Rommy Gianni (+1) and his top-class Team Cartier – the winner of 2016 and 2017 has old hands Chris Hyde (+5), Dario Musso (+6) and Juan Cruz Greguoli (+4) at his side – will face the runners-up of 2017, Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel around captain Melissa Ganzi (0). The US American player is entering the competition with a first-rate team, lining up with the only Swiss player, Tito Gaudenzi (+2), very well known in the Engadin Valley, and the Argentine polo legend Alejandro Novillo Astrada (+8).

Friday’s second game promises no less excitement. Zhanna Bandurko (0), the Russian player making her debut at the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, and her sterling Team Maserati will face last year’s newcomers Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire with captain Elchin Jamalli (+3). Bandurko has teamed up with the professional players Robert Strom (+5), Gerardo Mazzini and Hissam al Hyder (both +6). Rashad Hasanov (+2) and the two professional players from Argentina Lala Laplacette (+5) and Adrian Laplacette Jr. (+6) complete the ambitious team from Azerbaijan.

The sport of polo originated more than 3,000 years ago in Azerbaijan, guest country of last year’s Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. In its capital Baku, international polo tournaments have been held since 2013 thanks to the support from St. Moritz. Jointly, both parties have now created the “Baku Moritz Polo Award” which means to recognise outstanding achievements in polo. Reto Gaudenzi, Vice-ˇpresident and CEO of Evviva Polo St. Moritz Ltd, together with Elchin Guliyev, President of the Equestrian Federation of the Azerbaijan Republic, Dr. Piero Dillier, FIP’s Vice President, Birgit Hügli-Hermann, owner of the Polo & Luxury magazine and initiator of the award, and Yves Gardiol, CEO of Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, sit on the judging committee. The prize will be awarded for the first time at the “Baku Moritz Polo Gala” held at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel on Saturday 27 January 2018. Another attractive novelty is the Polo Bar at the St. Moritz cult location Chesa Veglia. The bar, which will open its doors on Wednesday 24 January 2018, is bound to become a hotspot on the weekend of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. Last but not least, the polo ponies will move into remodelled stables, courtesy of the city of St. Moritz who invested CHF 3.5 million in the renovation;; the ponies are due to arrive on 22 January 2018.

www.snowpolo‑stmoritz.com

Team Cartier

1 Rommy Gianni	+1	ITA
2 Chris Hyde	+5	ENG
3 Dario Musso	+6	ARG
4 Juan Cruz Greguoli	+4	ARG

Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire

1 Elchin Jamalli	+3	AZE
2 Lala Laplacette	+5	ARG
3 Adrian Laplacette Jr.	+6	ARG
4 Rashad Hasanov	+2	AZE

Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel

1 Melissa Ganzi	0	USA
2 Tito Gaudenzi	+2	SUI
3 Alejandro Novillo Astrada	+8	ARG
4 tbc	+6

Team Maserati

1 Zhanna Bandurko / Raya Sidorenko	0	RUS
2 Gerardo Mazzini	+6	ARG
3 Hissam al Hyder	+6	PAK
4 Robert Strom	+5	FRA

Programme:
Thursday: January 25, 2018

Time	Event	Location
13.00h – 16.00h	Polo training sessions	Polo field on the lake or on stables field. (small catering on the lake)
18.30h	Players’ and sponsors’ presentation with cocktail party (by invitation only)	Sunny Bar at Kulm Hotel
20.00h	Fondue Night (by invitation only, limited tickets available)	at Hotel Steffani

Friday: January 26, 2018

Time	Event	Location
10.30h	Press conference	VIP lounge on the lake
11.00h	Polo village opens	Lake of St. Moritz
11.30h	VIP tent opens	Lake of St. Moritz
12.00h	Polo Game 1: Cartier vs. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel	Lake of St. Moritz
13.00h	Prize-giving ceremony The Winston Cup	Lake of St. Moritz
14.15h	Polo Game 2: Maserati vs. Azerbaijan Land of Fire	Lake of St. Moritz
15.15h	Prize-giving ceremony The Carlton Hotel Challenge	Lake of St. Moritz
16.30h	Polo village and VIP tent close	Lake of St. Moritz
18.30h	Meet the Stars More Info: www.maserati-event.ch/en/meetthestars	Maserati Showroom
19.30h	Individual Sponsor Dinners in St. Moritz (by invitation only)

Saturday: January 27, 2018

Time	Event	Location
11.00h	Polo village opens	Lake of St. Moritz
11.30h	VIP tent opens	Lake of St. Moritz
12.00h	Polo Game 3: Maserati vs. Cartier	Lake of St. Moritz
13.00h	Prize-giving ceremony Maserati Cup	Lake of St. Moritz
14.15h	Polo Game 4: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel vs. Azerbaijan Land of Fire	Lake of St. Moritz
15.15h	Prize-giving ceremony Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Challenge	Lake of St. Moritz
15.30h	Trois Pommes Fashion Surprise	VIP Tent
16.30h	Polo village and VIP tent close	Lake of St. Moritz
19.15h	Cocktail Reception (black tie)	Lobby Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
20.00h	The Snow Polo Night Gala Dinner “Baku Moritz Night” (black tie, tickets available, +41 79 901 75 00)	Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
23.30h	Polo After Party King’s Club (open end)	King’s Club
23.30h	La Martina Snow Party @Vivai (open end)	Vivai

Sunday: January 28, 2018

Time	Event	Location
11.00h	Polo village opens	Lake of St. Moritz
11.30h	VIP tent opens	Lake of St. Moritz
12.00h	Finals 3rd place	Lake of St. Moritz
13.00h	Prize-giving ceremony La Martina Cup	Lake of St. Moritz
14.15h	Final Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz	Lake of St. Moritz
15.15h	Prize-giving ceremony the CARTIER TROPHY	Lake of St. Moritz
	Prize-giving: Best Player presented by Cartier	Lake of St. Moritz
	Prize-giving: Best playing Patron presented by Deutsche Bank Wealth Management	Lake of St. Moritz
	Prize-giving: Best Horse presented by Polo Times	Lake of St. Moritz
17.00h	Polo village and VIP tent close for 2018	Lake of St. Moritz
19.00h	Farewell Party (by invitation only, limited tickets available)	King’s Club