The 128th HSBC Argentine Open

La Natividad Navigate Way to Success

Hurlingham & Argentine Open titles

The 128th Argentine Open Final Teams

La Natividad (36)

Camilo Castagnola (9) Polito Pieres (9) Barto Castagnola (9) Ignatius du Plessis (9)

La Dolfina Saudi (37)

Adolfo Cambiaso (10) Francisco Elizalde (9) David ‘Pelón’ Stirling (10) Alejandro Muzzio (8) Chukka scores: 3-1, 4-4, 6-4, 9-5, 10-6, 11-7, 13-9, 15-13 to La Natividad On Saturday 11 December, history was made in Palermo as youth triumphed over experience in The 128th HSBC Argentine Open Final between La Natividad and La Dolfina Saudi.

La Natividad started strong with an impressive 3-1 lead in the first chukka and although La Dolfina Saudi fought back in the second chukka to level the scores at 4-4, they were outscored 2-0 in the third chukka, widening La Natividad’s advantage to 6-4. The start of the fourth chukka saw Alejandro Muzzio, who was substituting for an injured Diego Cavanagh, score for La Dolfina Saudi, but once again La Natividad hit back with Jeta Castagnola converting three penalties, with a goal from Barto Castagnola before the end of the chukka, meaning that by half-time they were in the lead, 9-5.

Going into the Final, the teams were poles apart in Argentine Open Final experience, with La Natividad entering their first ever Argentine Open Final, while for La Dolfina it was their 21st Final out of 22 in the team’s history (it was only in 2004 that La Dolfina did not feature in The Argentine Open Final), with 14 wins and seven losses over that time. Meanwhile the individual player statistics were similarly stark, with Adolfo Cambiaso holding 17 titles and Pelon Stirling nine, while the La Natividad players had each yet to claim the illustrious title.

After such a thrilling fourth chukka, the fifth was more mellowed, with just one goal from each team, but some solid efforts from La Dolfina Saudi saw them pull back into the action, bringing the scores to 14-13 with just a few minutes left to play. Just before the final bell rang out, Jeta picked up a lost ball from Polito and scored his 47th goal of the tournament, making him the top goal scorer overall, and securing La Natividad their 15-13 win.

With a sensational game by Barto, author of six goals, the effectiveness of his brother Jeta in the execution of fouls (the tournament's top scorer), the solidity of Nachi Du Plessis and the strength of Polito Pieres, La Natividad achieved a sensational triumph that will remain in the history of polo after breaking La Dolfina Saudi’s eight year winning streak. 2021 has been an unusual year for La Dolfina as they have not achieved a single Triple Crown title, with La Natividad winning The Hurlingham Open and Argentine Open and Ellerstina securing The Tortugas Open.

Following on from their Hurlingham Open Final win, it is therefore little surprise to see Jeta, Barto and Polito all raised to 10 goals, a first for the Castagnola duo and a return to the top spot for Pieres. Jeta Castagnola is now the youngest 10 goal player in Argentine history at 18-years-old. An exciting new chapter is upon us and we can’t wait to watch more!

Photography by Alice Gipps

MVP, Barto Castagnola, closely followed by Pelón Stirling

12 NOV

11 DEC FINAL

Where: Palermo, Argentina

Fair Play Award: Jeta Castagnola

Rubén Sola Revelation Award: Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso Jr.

MVP

Gonzalo Heguy MVP Award: Barto Castagnola

BPP

BPP

Best Polo Argentino Bred Presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn. and Sociedad Rural Argentina Award: Open Easy Game, owned and played by Barto Castagnola

Lady Susan Townley Cup to the BPP: Monkey Puzzle, owned and played by Polito Pieres

Ignatius du Plessis, Barto Castagnloa & Polito Pieres celebrate their win

Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva

Top tournament goal scorer: Jeta Castagnola 47