Victor & Victrix Ludorum 2021 Series Finale

2021 Series Culminates

With the door to September 2021 firmly closed and autumn firmly upon us, it is time to bid farewell to another Victor Ludorum series. This year saw a plethora of teams playing at a variety of clubs across the country, from Rutland to Cowdray and Druids Lodge to Beaufort Polo Clubs, there is something for everyone with 4 goal up to the 22 goal. Cowdray Park Polo Club rounded off this year’s series with The Autumn Cup Final on Sunday 19 August, which saw yet another win for Ojo Caliente, securing them the 12 goal title.

12 Goal Victor Ludorum

Cowdray Park Polo Club – The Autumn Cup Final – Sunday 19 August Number of teams: 14 Winners: Ojo Caliente Points: 105

An impressive fourteen teams entered the final 12 goal tournament of the Club’s season, The Autumn Cup, also part of the HPA Victor Ludorum series. Christian Staubach’s Bamboleo/Madams Farm and Ana Escobedo’s Ojo Caliente met in the Final. Having won the Cup in both 2019 and 2020, Ojo Caliente were in pursuit of the hat trick.

Conceding half a goal on handicap due to Glenn Sherriff substituting for injured Chris MacKenzie, Ojo Caliente quickly took control of the game, outshooting Bamboleo/Madams Farm six to zero in the opening chukka. Jonny Good opened the scoring on an uncontested run to goal with all three teammates effectively keeping the defence away from him as he ran the ball in. John Paul Clarkin led the early attack for Ojo Caliente, contributing one goal and an assist, while helping Ojo Caliente carry their momentum through the rest of the first half. Unable to convert on their only field shot and penalty shot attempt, Bamboleo/Madams Farm saw their deficit grow as a relentless Ojo Caliente team continued to push forward. Clarkin added two more tallies, while Zac Beim completed the impressive first half, leaving Ojo Caliente with a commanding 5-½ advantage.

Ojo Caliente, winners of The Autumn Cup & the vL 12 Goal

With two chukkas standing between them and victory, Ojo Caliente’s defence kept Bamboleo/Madams Farm away from goal, creating turnovers to begin their counterattack. Clarkin and Jonny Good extended their team’s consecutive goal streak to seven for the seemingly unstoppable Ojo Caliente team. Nick Johnson finally put an end to the run in the third chukka, receiving a long pass and sending it through the posts for Bamboleo/Madams Farm’s first goal of the match. However, it was a brief reprieve from an outstanding Ojo Caliente performance as Good completed the victory with two goals in the final chukka to secure the 9-21/2 win. The X-Zony Best Playing Pony rug was presented to Centrickle, owned and played by John Paul Clarkin, who was also awarded the Most Valuable Player prize.

Earlier in the day, Ferne Park narrowly defeated Vendetta 5-4 in the Subsidiary Final, led by two goals each from Joaquin Pittaluga and Louis Hine. Taking an early 3-0 advantage in the first chukka, Ferne Park struggled with their shooting accuracy in the remainder of the game, converting just one of their final eight shot attempts. Vendetta’s comeback attempt was led by two goals from Matt Perry, but they ultimately fell one goal short in the 5-4 defeat.

Photography by Alice Gipps/Courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club

The Autumn Cup Final Teams: Bamboleo/Madams Farm (12):

Christian Staubach (1), Ben Crowe (2), Nick Johnson (3) & Glen Sheriff substituting for Chris Mackenzie (6) Ojo Caliente (12): Ana Escobedo (0), Zac Beim (2), Jonny Good (4) & John Paul Clarkin (6)

Victor Ludorum 2021 Results:

22 goal – UAE Polo Team (150 points) 18 goal – Emlor (135 points) 15 goal – Emlor Red (120 points) 12 goal –Ojo Caliente (215 points) 8 goal – Coppid Owls (160 points) 6 goal – Quel Domage (225 points) 4 goal – Timb-Ply/Trident (45 points)