King Power Gold Cup

Europe, Polo News

King Power Gold Cup 2019

29. October 2019

In the final of the King Power Gold Cup 2019 at the Cowdray Park Polo Club the teams VS King Power of Top Srivaddhanaprabha and Ali Albwardy‘s Team Dubai faced each other.

To commemorate their beloved patron Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash at Leicester City FC Stadium in October 2018, Team King Power put the VS addition in front of his name. For VS King Power, Vichai‘s son ‚Top‘ Srivaddhanaprabha played alongside Polito Pieres, Marcos di Paola and Juan Martin Zubia. Team Dubai started with 16-year-old Camilo Castagnola, team captain Rashid Albwardy, Bartolomé Castagnola and Ignacio du Plessis.

After VS King Power took the lead in the first chukker, the brothers Camilo and Bartolomé Castagnola scored three goals in the second run. With only one goal from Polito Pieres for VS King Power, the chukker ended with a 4-3 lead for Team Dubai. A fast and tough third Chukker equalised VS King Power, but Bartolomé Castagnola scored two goals to make Dubai 6-4 at the end of the first half.

In the fourth chukker, VS King Power was able to follow through with some successful actions to equal the score of 6-6. Another fantastic goal by Top Srivaddhanaprabha and a 30-yard penalty by Polito Pieres brought VS King Power into the lead 8-6. VS King Power also remained dominant in the fifth chukker and extended his lead to 10-7. But in the sixth round, the tide turned and Team Dubai passed their opponent 11-10 after scoring four goals. From now on, Rashid Albwardy and his team-mates did not let this lead be taken away.

With 13-12 Dubai finally won the King Power Gold Cup 2019. Jon Rudkin, director of Football for Leicester City FC, presented individual prizes to all players, referees and commentators before handing over the coveted Gold Cup to Rashid Albwardy.

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

© Thomas Wirth

In the final of the King Power Gold Cup 2019 at the Cowdray Park Polo Club the teams VS King Power of Top Srivaddhanaprabha and Ali Albwardy‘s Team Dubai faced…

Asia, Europe, Lifestyle, North America, Polo News, South America

Facundo Pieres changing to Ainsley MVP saddles

8. August 2019

Facundo Pieres joins Pelón Stirling as ambassador for the Ainsley MVP polo saddle. Facundo’s new saddles were baptized in the King Power Gold Cup and they will offer protection to his horses and a perfect platform for Facundo also in the Argentine and US high goal seasons. Facundo will benefit from a perfect, adjustable fit on all his horses, a wide gullet, ample space at the withers and sculpted panels protecting shoulders and backs, while placing Facundo in the ideal playing position. Like Pelón, Facundo will work with Ainsley Saddlery to ensure that the MVP continues to be the preferred choice for polo players demanding great performance from themselves and their horses. For more information on the MVP, and to read about the once in a lifetime chance to play a practice match with Facundo.

www.performance-polo.com/facundopieres

Facundo Pieres joins Pelón Stirling as ambassador for the Ainsley MVP polo saddle. Facundo’s new saddles were baptized in the King Power Gold Cup and they will offer protection to…

Europe, Polo News

Thrilling final of the King Power Gold Cup 2019

25. July 2019

Two exciting semi-Finals between VS King Power and Park Place and Dubai and Scone Polo saw victories for Top Srivaddhanaprabha’s VS King Power team and Ali Albwardy’s Dubai taking them to Sunday’s Final. The two sides last met in a Gold Cup Final at Cowdray Park in 2014.

VS King Power, who have added VS to the team’s name in memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who lost his life in a helicopter crash at Leicester City FC stadium in October 2018, altered their line-up for the Final. Vichai’s son ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha played at number 1 as usual, but Polito Pieres took the number 2 slot, Marcos di Paola moving up to 3 and Juan Martin Zubia playing at Back. Dubai kept their line-up unchanged with 16 year old Camilo Castagnola at 1, Rashid Albwardy at 2, Bartolomé Castagnola at 3 and Ignacio du Plessis at Back.

Chukka 1 opened with Pieres immediately on the attack, his first attempt at goal going wide. A couple of minutes of frantic action resulted in a penalty being awarded to Dubai which Camilo Castagnola sent from 30 yards to secure the opening goal of the match for his side. A lovely steal by Polito was the making of goal number 2, with Zubia picking up the ball and sending it between the posts. Polito won the ball from the throw in and tore all the way to Dubai’s end to make it 2-1 for King Power to close the chukka.

Camilo and Bartolomé Castagnola produced three goals in chukka 2, and, with just one from Pieres for VS King Power, the chukka ended with Dubai 4-3 ahead. A fast and tough chukka 3 saw a spot penalty awarded to KVS King Power right in front of Dubai’s goal, which Polito sent through to equalize, but Bartolomé answered with two goals for Dubai and at the end of the first half the score stood at 6-4 in Dubai’s favour.

The massive crowd went out to tread-in, so large in fact that the commentators’ cries for them to return to their seats were swamped by the excited spectators’ comments. When the fourth chukka got underway, a fantastic piece of play saw Polito Pieres leave the ball for Zubia who obliged with a huge lofted shot to score goal number 11 for VS King Power. Rashid Albwardy won the ball from the throw-in but di Paola grabbed it back, Zubia stopped Bartolomé from snatching it while Marcos came through and passed to Top who made a superb goal to even the scores on 6-6. Another fantastic goal from Top and King Power were ahead. A 30 yard penalty awarded to King Power just as the chukka was drawing to a close enabled Polito Pieres to extend the lead to 8-6.

A frantic fifth chukka saw spot penalties produce a goal for each side before a fantastic shot, hit from way back, saw Polito Pieres take VS King Power on to 10-7. His next goal came from a 60 yard penalty and it was 11-7 in VS King Power’s favour. Dubai won the next throw-in but with Bartolomé challenged by Pieres, his young brother coolly slipped through and scored, the chukka ending at 11-8 to VS King Power. The sixth chukka opened with a swift goal from Camilo, then it was his brother’s turn to shoot a mighty goal. Camilo won the ball from the throw-in and there was a scramble in front of VS King Power’s goal which resulted in a whistle. Bartolomé calmly sent the ball through the posts from 60 yards and it was 11-11. The excitement in the crowd was palpable. VS King Power won the throw-in and Polito scored to take his side into the lead again. Top saved the ball from Dubai’s next attempt at goal, but, aided by the power of du Plessis, Bartolomé was able to find a way through and even the scores at 12-12 before the whistle blew.

The match went into a seventh chukka and started with a throw-in. Away went Zubia with the ball, but du Plessis was having none of it and struck out for the other end. Top made a great clearance, the ball taken on by Marcos di Paola, Polito Pieres and then Zubia who raced away to Dubai’s goal only to send the ball wide. In came the ball from the back line and off down the boards raced Bartolomé, the wonderfully intuitive combination with his brother which we have seen throughout this Gold Cup tournament coming to the fore as Camilo dived forward with the ball and put it through. Dubai had won the King Power Gold Cup on a score of 13-12 in truly breathtaking finish.

Jon Rudkin, Director of Football for Leicester City FC, presented individual prizes to all players, the tournament umpires and commentators before handing the coveted Gold Cup to Rashid Albwardy, son of the Dubai patron. The Most Valuable Player of the match award went to Polito Pieres of VS King Power, Open Chacota, owned and played by Top Srivaddhanaprabha, was voted Best Playing Patron’s Pony, and Rebalde, owned and played by Camilo Castagnola, was awarded Best Playing Pony of the match, with a rug presented by The Hon Lila Pearson.

Following the match, Ali Albwardy, patron of Dubai said, “It was such an exciting match. I’m proud of all the boys in this young team, they played fantastically – in fact, both teams had a wonderful match. The game was entertaining to watch, hard, fast and exactly what polo should be. I thank Cowdray Park Polo Club for their fantastic organization of the tournament.”

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

Photo: Mark Beaumont

Two exciting semi-Finals between VS King Power and Park Place and Dubai and Scone Polo saw victories for Top Srivaddhanaprabha’s VS King Power team and Ali Albwardy’s Dubai taking them…

Europe, Polo News

Cowdray Park Polo Club opens its 2019 season

8. April 2019

Cowdray Park Polo Club opens its 2019 season on 27^th April with over 400 thrilling matches taking place before the season ends on 22^nd September.

An early highlight is the Trippetts Challenge for the James Wentworth Stanley Cup played as the first fixture of the UK ‘high goal’ season. As the name implies, ‘high goal’ is the highest level of polo and spectators will get their first view of the leading international players in action when the Trippetts Challenge opens on 9^th May leading to the Final on 19^th May.

The King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, Europe’s leading tournament, opens on 25^th June with nine different trophies being presented during four weeks of full-on action. One of the trophies to be played for is the Midhurst Town Cup on Sunday 30^th June, when brilliant polo and a family day out are offered to local spectators for a special price. Admission is just £5 per adult, under 12s free, and a selection of entertainments, stalls, food and bars make for a great introduction to the sport. Newcomers to polo can expect a warm welcome and a fun, informal day.

Gold Cup action ramps up through the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup on 7^th July, Quarter Finals, including the Hungarian Ambassadors Cup and the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Cup, over the weekend of 13^th/14^th July, Semi Finals on 17^thJuly and the high octane Final on Sunday 21^st July. Finals day is a gala occasion when you can expect to find a fabulous shopping village, carousels, food outlets and bars as well as pre-match entertainment. Picnics and fizz are very much the order of the day! The all-important British Ladies Polo Championship also reaches its conclusion on Saturday 20^th July.

The season continues with hard-fought matches over the weekend of 3^rd/4^th August when three Finals and six subsidiary finals in the Harrison, Holden White and Cowdray Challenge Cups are played. And don’t miss Friday night polo on 7^thJune and 16^th August when you can watch an exciting match at 5.30 pm, access to the Members Bar and food stalls and fantastic live music with Brando and The Tommy Guns respectively,. Admission at the gate for non-members is £5 on the night.

Polo continues every weekend right up to the season’s close so why not take a picnic and enjoy everything that the thrilling sport and the club’s amazing location have to offer?

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

Cowdray Park Polo Club opens its 2019 season on 27th April with over 400 thrilling matches taking place before the season ends on 22nd September. An early highlight is the Trippetts…

Europe, Polo News

Cowdray launches Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Cup

4. December 2018

Following the tragic loss of King Power Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash at the King Power football stadium in Leicester on Saturday 27^thOctober, Cowdray Park Polo Club announces the launch of the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Cup in 2019.

The new trophy will be presented for the first time to the winning team of the Quarter Final match in the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship taking place at 3.00 pm on Sunday 14^thJuly 2019, and thereafter annually.

The King Power Foxes polo team won the Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017, having first entered the Gold Cup in 2014. In 2018 Cowdray Park Polo Club was delighted to see King Power take over sponsorship of the prestigious 22 goal British Open in a three year contract.

Club Chairman Roderick Vere Nicoll comments: “We know that Vichai Srivaddhahaprabha loved being at Cowdray Park with his King Power team that included his sons ‘Top’ and ‘Tal’ in alternate years. We are honoured to be marking his polo legacy by playing for his trophy during the Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship.”

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

Photo: Mark Beaumont

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with his sons ‘Top’ and ‘Tal’ alongside Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres.

Following the tragic loss of King Power Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash at the King Power football stadium in Leicester on Saturday 27th October, Cowdray Park Polo Club announces the…

Europe, Polo News

Epic win for El Remanso in the King Power Gold Cup

23. July 2018

Epic win for El Remanso in the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship. Approaching 15,000 spectators gathered to watch the Final of the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship at Cowdray Park on Sunday 22^nd July in arguably one of the most thrilling Finals of recent times.

Following two spectacular Semi Final matches four days earlier, the Hanbury family’s El Remanso team faced up to Jean-François Decaux’s La Bamba de Areco and few would have been confident enough to predict the outcome. El Remanso comprised the close-knit line-up of four Englishmen, Charlie Hanbury, Ollie Cudmore, James Beim and James Harper, playing to the same line-up as 2017 when they reached the Final but lost to King Power. Jean-François Decaux’s La Bamba de Areco side comprised the enormous talent of 3 goal player Byron Watson, with Polito Pieres substituting for an injured David Stirling and 10 goaler Juan Martin Nero at Back. The popular home-based El Remanso team had come through the tournament without dropping a match but it was not to be plain sailing for the Englishmen as the game changed fortunes between the first and second halves.

The Patron, Charlie Hanbury, playing the match of his life, stormed away from the first throw-in to mark the scoreboard with the opening goal. His second goal of the match gave El Remanso a 3-2 lead to close the first chukka. With no answers from La Bamba during the second chukka, El Remanso went into the third with a lead of 4-2, consolidating the lead at 6-4 at half time.

The second half opened with a hit-in from Watson for La Bamba de Areco, Beim returned the ball which Nero tried to secure but Harper won the ball and his neat back-hand shot took El Remanso on to 7-4. However, the tables began to turn as exciting play from Watson for La Bambe de Areco, strong attacking play by Pieres and the gift of two 30 yard penalties which Juan Martin Nero had little difficulty in sending through, saw La Bamba finally ahead at 12-10 by the close of the fifth chukka.

The action raced on through the final chukka, with El Remanso fighting for every ball. Awarded a 30 yard penalty, Ollie Cudmore sent the ball between the posts to pull the side up to within a goal of their opponents. Beim won the ball from the throw-in and great teamwork saw Harper move it on and Hanbury then leave it for Harper who coolly sent it between the posts. To an enormous cheer from the crowd, the scores were level on 12-12. Cudmore took the ball away from the throw-in and, challenged by Decaux, he carried on going but the ball went out. Nero for La Bamba de Areco passed the ball to his patron but Decaux failed to get the goal they desperately sought. Harper brought the ball in and sent it to Beim who, despite being challenged, calmly turned it and found Cudmore who sent it between for posts for El Remanso as the final bell sounded. It was the sweetest victory for El Remanso and the crowd went wild.

A new prize for the Best Playing Patron’s Pony, donated by sponsors King Power, was presented by Marcos di Paola of King Power to Charlie Hanbury’s pony Lovelocks Sex, the award for Best Playing Pony of the match, presented by the Hon Lila Pearson, went to Blanca Nueve, owned by Pelon Stirling and played by Polito Pieres. Jon Rudkin, Director of Football for Leicester City Football Club, owned by sponsors King Power, stepped forward to present individual and team prizes on behalf of King Power. Charlie Hanbury was voted Most Valuable Player of the Final with four brilliant goals to his credit. As well as generous prizes to both finalists and winners, John Rudkin also presented gifts to the four umpires who had done stirling work through the four weeks of the British Open campaign. The commentators, Karl Ude Martinez and John Kent, were also presented with gifts. Corinne Ricard, on behalf of Pernod-Ricard, presented a Jeroboam of Perrier-Jouët, Cowdray Park’s Official Champagne, to the winning Patron, Charlie Hanbury. Finally Jon Rudkin presented the Gold Cup to a proud Charlie Hanbury who shared the moment with his parents Christopher and Bridget.

Roderick Vere-Nicoll, Chairman of Cowdray Park Polo Club said: “This was a tremendous day for the club – a great crowd, great sponsors, great weather, a wonderful vibe and superb polo from both sides. If it was a Hollywood script, we couldn’t have written it better.”

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

Epic win for El Remanso in the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship. Approaching 15,000 spectators gathered to watch the Final of the King Power Gold Cup…

Europe, Polo News

12 Teams for the King Power Gold Cup at Cowdray Park

21. June 2018

12 Teams compete at the King Power Gold Cup at Cowdray Park from 26 June to 22 July 2018. The Draw for the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship was held in the historic surrounds of Cowdray House on the evening of 11 June. The recent signing of Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor team brings the number of entries for the 2018 British Open Polo Championship, to twelve.

Last year’s finalists El Remanso return with the same all-English player line-up of Charlie Hanbury, Ollie Cudmore, James Beim and James Harper. Michael Bickford’s La Indiana returns with the addition of Facundo Pieres, and with Alec White also a newcomer to the side. Nic Roldan continues as the team’s number 3. Past winner Jean-Francois Decaux has a completely new team with Pelon Stirling, Juan Martin Nero and Byron Watson joining his La Bamba de Areco side. Ben Soleimani retains Rodrigo de Andrade and adds Sapo Caset and Min Podesta to his RH team.

Talandracas returns with Hugues Carmignac replacing his father Edouardo and a new line-up comprising Fran Elizalde, Julian de Lusaretta and Alejandro Muzzio. Alessandro Bazzoni’s Monterosso is back with Ignacio and Santiago Tocccalino and the addition of Juan Martin Zubia. Harald Link brings back Thai Polo with Guillermo Terrera, Joaquin Pittaluga and Jaime Huidobro. Playing alongside Spencer McCarthy in the Emlor team will be Agustin Merlos, Diego Cavanagh and team regular Nacho Gonzales. Park Place is the team of Andrey Borodin who enters the Gold Cup for the first time with Hilario Ulloa, Juan Britos and Tommy Beresford.

Three other teams feature young English players. The Alfi Investments polo team of Alshair Fiyaz, entering the Gold Cup for the first time, sees Jack Hyde playing alongside cousins Polito Pieres and Nico Pieres. Adolfo Cambiaso features in Bob Jornayvaz’s Valiente side along with Christian Laprida and Englishman Hugo Lewis. The Murus Sanctus team sees Corinne Ricard, the only woman playing in the Gold Cup, joined by Facundo Sola, Gonzalito Pieres and English player Ed Hitchman.

The Draw saw the four semi-finalists in the Queens Cup drawn and placed at the head of Leagues A,B,C,D. A representative of each team entered in the King Power Gold Cup then came forward to draw a place within the Leagues.

Highlights of the Draw may be seen on cowdraypolo.tv. The King Power Gold Cup opens on Tuesday 26 June with Quarter Finals on 14/15 July, Semi Finals on 18 July and the Final on 22 July. The schedule of matchplay will follow shortly.

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

King Power Gold Cup Teams

King Power Gold Cup 2018 match schedule

12 Teams compete at the King Power Gold Cup at Cowdray Park from 26 June to 22 July 2018. The Draw for the King Power Gold Cup for the British Open…

Europe, Polo News

Season opens at Cowdray Park Polo Club

19. March 2018

Cowdray Park Polo Club’s 2018 season opens on 28^th April with a wealth of exciting tournaments ahead. The opening matches in the 8 goal Barrett and 12 goal Tyro Cups get underway on the first day of the season and well over 400 matches are predicted thereafter.

Cowdray is first off in the UK high goal fixtures for 2018 with the Murus Sanctus Trippetts Challenge played for the James Wentworth Stanley Cup starting on 8^th May. An entry of six teams is anticipated.

An exciting British Open Polo Championship is forecast with at least twelve teams entered for the King Power Gold Cup and many of the high goal patrons and players basing themselves within the area. There are plans for a week of activities at the Lawns grounds to celebrate the final week of the 2018 King Power Gold Cup.

To demonstrate the growing importance of women’s polo, the Final of the British Ladies Polo Championship, previously held at Ambersham, will take place on Lawns 1 on Saturday 21st July. With a new format encompassing two handicap levels, the Championship has already attracted substantial entries.

The club’s 12, 15 and 18 goal tournaments attracted high entries in 2017. King Power, who are not competing in any high goal polo in the UK have, however, signalled their entry for the Duke of Sutherland and Harrison Cups this season. Six HPA tournaments played annually at Cowdray Park as part of the nationwide Victor Ludorum accolade are spread across the whole season and attract large entries from non-domestic teams keen to challenge Cowdray teams on their home turf in tournaments ranging from 8 to 18 goal handicaps.

Cowdray offers plenty of polo at every level with 4 goal, 6 goal and 8 goal available every month. Weekend Polo returns with its all-inclusive approach. Players from any club affiliated to the HPA are offered the chance to enjoy a taste of polo at Cowdray Park Polo Club which is now also offering a Weekend Polo membership. During 15 weekends last year around 40 matches were played. Players of varying ages and experience booked in – from juniors stepping up from Pony Club, players and patrons practising between tournaments, Academy players moving up a level and even England captain James Beim playing his younger ponies alongside visitors from other clubs. The Polo Club is located within Lord Cowdray’s 16,500 estate within the South Downs National Park. As well as some lovely holiday cottages, there is golf, clay pigeon shooting and wonderful walks in the local countryside.

Polo Manager Chris Bethell says: “Entry levels are looking good and there will be much for the club’s membership, both playing and non-playing, to enjoy. Lawns 2 was stripped off and re-seeded towards the end of the 2017 season and is looking really good. It has been possible to mow all our other grounds throughout the winter and they are in great shape. Personally, I can’t wait for the season to start.”

www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

Cowdray Park Polo Club’s 2018 season opens on 28th April with a wealth of exciting tournaments ahead. The opening matches in the 8 goal Barrett and 12 goal Tyro Cups…