Victor Ludorum Update

Victor Ludorum Update HPA’s 2021 league has begun

The Hurlingham Polo Association’s (HPA) Victor Ludorum series, sees teams from across the country compete at Club’s the length and breadth of England from 22 goal to 4 goal. The Victor Ludorum season got underway in May, whereas the ladies Victrix Ludorum is yet to begin. Here we have a look at the results so far from the league, which has seen wins for Black Bears, Senzaltro, Ojo Caliente, Hascombe Stud and Dawson Group

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

Beaufort Polo Club – The Arthur Lucas Final – Friday 28 May Number of teams: Four Winners: Senzaltro Points: 30

At Beaufort Polo Club on Friday 28 May, Senzaltro and Noon Giraffe took to the field to fight for victory in The Justerini & Brooks Arthur Lucas Cup. Within the first chukka of the Final Noon Giraffe took a very early lead, after scoring three goals within the first seven minutes whilst only giving Senzaltro the opportunity to score one. During the second and third chukka Senzaltro revved up their engines creating a more levelled playing field. Meaning by the fourth chukka Senzaltro and Noon Giraffe had made the match nail bitingly intense as it was all to play for. In the end Senzaltro stole the cup after managing to score the final two goals, resulting in a score of 6-4, Alysia played by Juanchi Ambroggio was chosen as Best Playing Pony and Chris Fagan was named Most Valuable Player. The Subsidiary Final saw SONA Polo defeat Lodge Security with a score of 9-5. Beaufort Polo Club would like to thank Justerini & Brooks for their support and provision of prizes for The Arthur Lucas Cup.

The Arthur Lucas Final Teams:

Noon Giraffe (15): Chris Fagan (0), Charlie Walton (3), JP Clarkin (6) & Marcus Araya (6) Senzaltro (15): Jules VanVegchel (0), Luke Wiles (4), Juanchi Ambroggio (6) & Luke Tomlinson (5)

Photography by JRidley Art & Photography Action from The Justerini & Brooks Arthur Lucas Cup

Photography by Mark Beaumont

Both teams were evenly matched, reflected in the close 5-4 final score

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Dollar Cup Final – Monday 31 May Number of teams: Twelve Winners: Ojo Caliente Points: Yet to be ratified by HPA

Bank Holiday Monday saw Brooksfield bathed in sunshine for the Final of The Dollar Cup which was a rematch of the 2019 Final between Ana Escobedo’s Ojo Caliente vs Creighton Boyd’s Confido; both teams had already met in the qualifiers for this year’s tournament with Ojo Caliente taking a win by a goal in extra time, so there was all to play for in the Final. The Dollar Cup Final was the first of the Club’s six HPA tournaments this summer, and an energetic crowd were eager to cheer on the two teams. The match got off to a slow start, with the scores resting on 2-1 going into half-time. After a swift regroup the teams were back on the field and JP Clarkin was quick to score again for Ojo Caliente giving them a momentary two goal lead, however the scores soon levelled again and Ojo Caliente failed to capitalise on opportunities to gain the upper hand which put Confido in the lead, 4-3. A missed penalty shot was put through the posts by Jonny Good, evening the scores at 4-4 and with the clock ticking further pressured attempts at goal by both teams ensued, but with no change in scores, the match was pushed into extra time. The extra chukka began with a roll in 10 yards off Confido’s back line. After a tussle around the goal mouth and an attempt at goal by Ana Escobedo, Confido fouled giving Ojo Caliente a spot hit directly in front of the goal. JP Clarkin tapped it in to win the Dollar Cup for Ojo Caliente with a final score of 5-4. The X-Zony Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to Celtic Tiger, played and owned by JP Clarkin, and Zac Beim was awarded the Most Valuable Player prize. The Subsidiary Final for The Robert Fraser Cup was won by Hickstead with a 9-7 win against Gallagher.

The Dollar Cup Final Teams:

Ojo Caliente (12): Ana Escobedo (0), Zac Beim (2), Jonny Good (4) & JP Clarkin (6)

Confido/Madams Farm (12):

Ed Hitchman (3), Creighton Boyd (1), Richard Tyrone (5) & Shaun Brokensha (3)

Photograph by Angie Lock

Luke Wiles runs to goal for Hascombe Stud

8 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Gerald Balding Final – Sunday 23 May Number of teams: Eight Winners: Hascombe Stud Points: 60

The Final of The Gerald Balding was played on Savannah on Sunday 23 May on an overcast, windy day. Despite the poor weather conditions, the game was fast-paced and exciting with Mikey Henderson taking the first goal of the Final for Coppid Owls within the first few minutes of chukka one. Tommy Severn was hot on his heels and in the last minute of the chukka brought the score to 1-1, scoring for Hascombe Stud. A 30-yard penalty in favour of Coppid Owls was taken by Mikey Henderson in the second chukka, scoring another goal for his team. Throughout the chukka the score was kept even, with Emma Wood tapping the ball nicely into the goal and Tommy Severn scoring again for Hascombe Stud just at the sound of the first bell. Going into the third chukka the score was 3-3 and goals were scored from both Tristan Phillimore for Coppid Owls and Luke Wiles and Tommy Severn for Hascombe Stud, ending the chukka on 6-4 to Hascombe Stud. As the rain started to fall and the wind picked up, the teams were quick to start the final chukka with tension rising. Three goals scored early on for Coppid Owls by Mikey Henderson put Coppid Owls in the lead, shortly followed by another goal for Hascombe Stud. With 20 seconds left of the chukka and an extra chukka looking to be on the horizon, a 40yard penalty was awarded to Hascombe Stud. Tommy Severn, who was later named Most Valuable Player, shot a perfect goal, winning The Gerald Balding Final 8-7, seconds before the second bell rang. Luke Wiles’ Kimberley was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug.

The Gerald Balding Final Teams:

Hascombe Stud (8): Luke Wiles (4), Olivia Lamphee (0), Arabella Oppenheimer (0) & Tommy Severn (4) Coppid Owls (8): Emma Wood (1), Tristan Phillimore (1), Tamara Fox (2) & Mikey Henderson (4)

Photograph by Jon Hankin

Dawson Group, winners of The Stoneythorpe Trophy

Photography by Catherine Varney

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

Action from the Final between CANI & Dawson Group

Dallas Burston Polo Club – The Stoneythorpe Trophy Final – Saturday 22 May Number of teams: Five Winners: Dawson Group Points: 60 Dallas Burston Polo Club opened the 6 goal Victor Ludorum series with The Stoneythorpe Trophy, with five teams competing over two weeks. The weather was against them but the grounds held up well. League matches were hard fought by all teams. Dawson Group came first in the league stages with two wins and Bob Music, CANI and Quel Domage all winning one game each. Semi Finals were held on 20 May and in spite of the rain, spirits were not dampened; with Dawson Group beating Quel Domage 4-2 for a spot in the Final and CANI storming through 11-6½ to Bob Music.

The Finals were held on Saturday 22 May under turbid skies. The Subsidiary Final was hard fought between La Rosada and Quel Domage. A closely fought match saw Hugh Humfrey’s Quel Domage team coming out the winners 6-5 with great team play from both sides.

The main Final was held on the immaculate Red ground in front of the Clubhouse. The first chukka started strongly for CANI with Matias Amaya scoring two goals. As the sky turned darker Dawson Group came back in the second with a good goal from Ollie Conway. Strong play from Tamara Fox levelled the score with CANI 2-2 in the third, with Ollie Conway putting Dawson Group into the lead 3-2 at the end of the chukka. The last chukka was fought hard by both teams and despite strong play from Matias for CANI they could not come back and Dawson Group managed to maintain their 1 goal lead and won 3-2.

The Stoneythorpe Trophy Final Teams:

Dawson Group (6): Tamara Fox (2), Freya Dawson (0), Oliver Conway (0) & Mikey Henderson (4) CANI (5): Louise Jebson (0), Emily Johnson (0), Charlie Peagram (0) & Matias Amaya (5)

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