Victor Ludorum Update

Photography by Mark Beaumont Both teams fought hard for the title

Murus Sanctus, winners of The Challenge Cup Final

18 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Challenge Cup Final – Sunday 6 September Number of teams: Four Winners: Murus Sanctus Points: 100

A foul-filled first chukka resulted in Ferne Park’s Joaquin Pittaluga opening the scoring on a penalty 2 conversion, but Murus Sanctus’ Guillermo ‘Sapo’ Caset responded with a penalty 2 of his own to tie the score at the end of the first chukka. Murus Sanctus enjoyed a strong second chukka, dominating possession and striding ahead. The two evenly matched teams provided consistent pressure to begin the second half, with neither team given an inch in what turned into a back and forth match. Trading penalty conversions, Murus Sanctus maintained their one goal lead but a determined Ferne Park continued to attack unabashed.

An impressive defensive play from Caset turned the ball over in front of the Ferne Park goal, giving Murus Sanctus the opportunity they needed to extend their lead. On receiving the end of a backhand pass, Facundo Sola executed a perfect nearside neckshot to give Murus Sanctus the two goal advantage with minutes remaining. Pittaluga converted another penalty 2 to give Ferne Park a chance to tie the score but Murus Sanctus held off the late charge to capture the 7-6 victory, securing their second consecutive 18 goal title after winning The Duke of Sutherland Cup earlier in the season.

The Vickers Trophy awarded for the Best Playing Pony went to Senora Melosa by Open Padrino out of M Honey, owned and ridden by Sapo Caset.

The Challenge Cup Final Teams:

Murus Sanctus (18): Corinne Ricard (0), Lucas Nottin (1), Guillermo Caset (9) & Facundo Sola (8) Ferne Park (18): Sam Browne (0), Marcos Araya (6), Joaquin Pittaluga (7) & Malcolm Borwick (5)

Guards Polo Club – The Out-Sourcing! Inc Royal Windsor Cup Final – Sunday 30 August Number of teams: 11 Winners: Four Quarters Orange Points: 100

White Crane, competing in their first Royal Windsor Final, were not intimidated by Four Quarters’ previous successes – Simon Arber’s team had won on their two prior Royal Windsor Cup Final appearances in 2014 and 2016 – and Jasmine’s team were 6-4 up at half-time and looking strong. This was thanks to some great play from Andrew Blake Thomas, Tom Brodie and James Harper. Four Quarters fought back in the fourth, putting themselves very much in contention with the score reading 7-7. With two more goals from both sides in the fifth chukka, extra-time was inevitable, so allowing Ignacio Negri to fire through the golden goal, securing Four Quarters Orange a 10-9 victory. The young Englishman Jack Hyde, who had been outstanding throughout this tournament, was named the Out-Sourcing! Inc. Most Valuable Player and received a kabuto helmet from Andrew Bentley, representing the The Royal Windsor Cup

Action from The Out-Sourcing! Inc Royal Windsor Cup Final

sponsors Out-Sourcing! Inc. which is in their third year of sponsorship of this prestigious trophy, which was first played for at Guards Polo Club in 1955. Negri not only received his winners’ prizes but also a trophy for the nine-yearold gelding Forestero, who was named the Out-Sourcing! Inc.

Best Playing Pony, which he played in the fourth chukka and scored two goals on. With 11 teams entered in this year’s competition, it was no surprise that the competition was equally fierce in The Out-

Sourcing! Inc Royal Windsor

Cup Subsidiary Final for The Mountbatten Trophy. Played in the morning at Flemish Farm, Alan

Four Quarters Orange with their array of Japanese prizes

Photography by ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Jack Hyde, Most Valuable Player, with his kabuto helmet

Mad Dogs, winners of the Subsidiary Final Mountbatten Trophy

Fall’s Mad Dogs had a comfortable win over Hilali Noordeen’s Casa La Vista Ibiza. Alan’s team last won this trophy in 2015 and looked confident throughout the five chukkas. They were 7-2 up at half-time, and despite some fast, flowing play in the second half from Casa La Vista Ibiza, they could not close the gap.

The Out-Sourcing! Inc Royal Windsor Cup Final Teams:

Four Quarters Orange (15): Jack Hyde (4), Ignacio Negri (6), Felipe Dabas (5) & Simon Arber (0) White Crane (15): Jasmine Calvert-Ansari (0), Tom Brodie (4), Andrew Blake Thomas (4) & James Harper (7)

The Out-Sourcing! Inc Royal Windsor Cup Subsidiary Final Teams:

Mad Dogs (15): Alan Fall (1), William Harper (3), Juan Ambroggio (6) & Will Emerson (5) Casa La Vista Ibiza (16): Louis Hine (2), Hilali Noordeen (0), Joaquin Pittaluga (7) & John Paul Clarkin (6)

15 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The County Cup Final – Sunday 13 September Number of teams: Two Winners: Noon Giraffe Points: 35

The tournament was run as a one-off Final, with no league games or Semi Finals played prior. Silvertown Properties and Noon Giraffe were the two teams playing against each other and both were eager to win the

Noon Giraffe, winners of The County Cup Final

trophy, with Jason Dixon and Tim Bown umpiring. As the sun was beaming down onto Peddington with a slight breeze, the game began with two goals from Chris Fagan in the first couple of minutes of the first chukka. Shortly after, Tommy Severn scored a third goal for Noon Giraffe ending the first chukka on 3-0. Unfortunately, Silvertown Properties were struggling to get the ball near the goal, and Marcus Araya managed to score for Noon Giraffe just as the chukka was ending. Max Hutchinson from Silvertown Properties scored an incredible goal after taking control of the ball midfield,

The County Cup Final was bathed in sunshine

this put the score to 3-1, at the end. Chris Fagan scored another goal and ended the game 4-1 to Noon Giraffe. John Paul Clarkin was named Most Valuable Player and Fantoche, played by Marcus Araya, was awarded the Best Playing Pony prize.

The County Cup Final Teams:

Noon Giraffe (15): Chris Fagan (0), Tommy Severn (3), Marcus Araya (6) & John Paul Clarkin (6) Silvertown Properties (15): Olivia Clowes (0), Max Hutchinson (3), Ollie Cudmore (6) & Luke Tomlinson (6)

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

The Royal County of Berkshire Polo

Club – The John Prestwich Trophy Final – Sunday 6 September Number of teams: Four Winners: Tempest Points: 70

The John Prestwich Trophy this year saw four teams compete, double the number that competed in the 2019 tournament which had only two team entries. As with many other tournaments during this unusual 2020 season, due to the delayed start to the season The John Prestwich Trophy Final was delayed until September, whereas the Final is usually played for towards the start of the season in June. The teams enjoyed some late September sunshine on the day of the two Finals, with Tempest defeating Clarita 6-5 to take home The John Prestwich Trophy, while

Conosco, winners of The John Prestwich Trophy Subsidiary Final in the Subsidiary Final Consoco defeated home team RCBPC 7-4. Tempest’s Rosendo Torreguitar was awarded the Most Valuable Player prize in the Final.

The John Prestwich Trophy Final Teams:

Clarita (12): Chris Mathias (0), Tom Brodie (4), Richard Tyrone (5) & Freddie Horne (3) Tempest (12): James Mann (2), Rosendo Torreguitar (4), Ryan Pemble (5) & Gustav Rausing (1)

The John Prestwich Trophy Subsidiary Final Teams:

Conosco (12): Jeremy Pemberton (1), Alfie Hyde (1), Pedro Harrison (5) & Will Emerson (5) RCBPC (12): Raph Singh (0), Lance Anderson (4), Callum Anderson (5) & Jamie Morrison (3)

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Autumn Cup Final – Sunday 20 September

Number of teams:

Winners: 13 Points: 110

The final 12 goal tournament of the season at Cowdray Park Polo Club didn’t disappoint, with Ojo Caliente narrowly defeating Gallagher 5-4 on Lawns Ground 2. Gallagher opened the scoring on an impressive team play, beginning with Clare Milford Haven running the ball in front of goal, followed by a deft backhand to set up Bautista Sorzana for the first goal of the match. Despite receiving three penalty attempts, Ojo Caliente were only able to manage one field goal from Jonny Good, but it was enough to tie the score at 1-1 at the end of the first chukka. After conceding a penalty 4 to Sherriff, Ojo Caliente’s John Paul Clarkin responded with a penalty conversion of his own, while Good’s second goal gave Ojo Caliente the slim 3-2 lead at half-time. Jumping on each loose ball, Gallagher fought their way back into the game, hitting a series of backhands that eventually resulted in Sherriff converting a shot under pressure for his second goal. Holding Ojo Caliente off the scoresheet in the third chukka, Gallagher remained deadlocked in a 3-3 tie entering an exciting fourth and final chukka. With the pressure increasing in the final chukka, Ojo Caliente struck first after Clarkin intercepted

The Autumn Cup

Photography by RCBPC Tempest, winners of The John Prestwich Trophy Final

a backhand and dribbled to goal, giving his team the one goal advantage. Jumping on a loose ball, Johnny Good sealed the 5-4 victory for Ojo Caliente, as a lastminute goal from Sherriff wasn’t enough to complete the comeback. Nova, owned and ridden by John Paul Clarkin was named as the Best Playing Pony.

The Autumn Cup Final Teams:

Ojo Caliente (12): Ana Escobedo (0), Terence Lent (2), Jonny Good (4) & John Paul Clarkin (6) Gallagher (12): Clare Milford Haven (0), Dominic Lodge (2), Glenn Sherriff (5) & Bautista Sorzana (5)

8 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Gerald Balding Final – Saturday 5 September Number of teams: Nine Winners: Saracens Points: Yet to be ratified by the HPA

Nine teams competed in the tournament across two groups, but ultimately it was Hascombe Stud and Saracens who went head to head in the Final. It was a sunny day but with a cool breeze as the game started, with Nick Pepper and Caspar West umpiring. The Final began with Hascombe

Stud taking the lead in the first chukka with two goals. As the second chukka began, Saracens quickly evened out the score to 2-2, as Hascombe Stud wasted precious time playing several fouls. When the game broke for half-time, the sun continued to shine, and the pressure continued to rise now that the game was nearing the end. The last two chukkas were fast paced, and tension was building between the two teams. Arabella Oppenheimer and Zac Beim both scored a goal each in the third chukka, but unfortunately for Hascombe Stud,

Saracens vs Hascombe Stud in The Gerald Balding Final

Lucho Aguirre was quick on their tails, scoring two more goals for Saracens in the last chukka. The game finished on 6-4 to Saracens, with Nico Fontanarrosa the Most Valuable Player and Britney, played by Zac Beim, the Best Playing Pony.

Hascombe Stud (8): Arabella Oppenheimer (0), Zac Beim (1), Tommy Severn (3) & Tom Beim (4) Saracens (8): Matt Green-Amitage (0), Kristina Karailieva (0), Lucho Aguirre (4) & Nico Fontanarrosa (4)

Photography by Mark Beaumont Ojo Caliente vs Gallagher in The Autumn Cup Final

Photograph by John Hankin

Action from The Kingscote Cup Final

6 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cirencester Park Polo Club – The Kingscote Cup Final – Sunday 20 September Number of teams: Six Winners: Noon Giraffe Points: 90

The Kingscote Cup Final was a very windy yet sunny day on Peddington, but that did not distract the teams from the Final that laid ahead. Umpiring were Caspar West and Ben Turner, and the third man was Tom Meyrick. The game began with two goals in the first chukka from Charlie Walton for Noon Giraffe, shortly followed by several fouls from both Jules Van Vegchel and Christian Chaves of Tafia Mafia/Senzaltro. As the game moved into the second chukka, more fouls from Tafia Mafia/Senzaltro gave away a few 60 yard penalty shots, allowing Noon Giraffe to score three more goals, ending the second chukka on 5-0. In the third and fourth chukka, Tafia Mafia/ Senzaltro began to make a comeback, by scoring three more goals but unfortunately this was not enough. Tommy Severn, later

Photograph by CPPC Noon Giraffe (L-R: Charlie Walton, Tommy Severn, Siobhan Fagan & Chris Fagan)

awarded the Most Valuable Player prize, then scored a sixth goal for his team, ending the game 6-3 to Noon Giraffe. Dave, played by Noon Giraffe’s Charlie Walton was awarded the Best Playing Pony prize.

The Kingscote Cup Final Teams:

Noon Giraffe (6): Siobhan Fagan (0), Chris Fagan (0), Charlie Walton (2) & Tommy Severn (4) Tafia Mafia/Senzaltro (6): Jules Van Vegchel (0), Dom David (0), Christian Chaves (3) & Jonny Coddington (3)

Editor’s Note: The 4 Goal Victor Ludorum tournament at Druids Lodge as well as the 6 Goal Victor Ludorum tournament at Kirtlington Park Polo Club were both cancelled.