Prince WaLEs Talacrest championship cup of ’S

Monterosso drives hard to claim Talacrest title

Alessandro Bazzoni lifted the Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup for the first time, thanks to a narrow, 12–11 win over Ojo Caliente. Some excellent team-work from Jeronimo del Carril and Ignacio Toccalino, plus a goal from Bazzoni himself, ensured Monterosso team dominated the first half of this high-goal contest.

Goals from Facundo Sola, Matt Perry and Ana Escobedo, the latter firing through a wonderful goal from distance, kept Ojo Caliente in contention, but Monterosso were in the driving seat.

So everyone wondered what Ojo Caliente’s team manager, Glen Gilmore, said to his squad at the break when they returned to the field firing on all cylinders. John Paul Clarkin started Ojo Caliente’s comeback with a goal, followed by some lovely play between himself and Perry to put another on the scoreboard. Sola then found the flags with a minute left of the fourth period, while Clarkin finished the chukka with another goal to level the scores on the bell.

The many spectators at the Club were now treated to some epic horse races between Clarkin and del Carril which brought this game alive. With the clock ticking away in the fifth, Sola tried hard to find a clear shot to goal to level the scores once more but some great defensive play from Monterosso, especially from the Talacrest Most Valuable Player, Segundo Darritchon, proved impossible to negotiate.

There was still all to play for –especially when the sixth chukka started with a penalty conversion for Ojo Caliente, levelling the scores once more. Del Carril, riding the Talacrest Best Playing Pony, Lucky Lady, then raced to goal to give Monterosso the lead which he followed up with another from the next throw-in. Monterosso now resembled the team that had been so dominant in the first half. Tension started to show too, resulting in penalties for both Ojo Caliente and Monterosso. These shots put the score at 12–10 in favour of Monterosso with only two minutes of the match remaining. Sola converted another penalty for Ojo Caliente but time was in short supply and when the final whistle came it was Monterosso with the advantage, winning the game 12–11.

Bazzoni received the trophy from the tournament sponsor John Collins, founder of Talacrest Classic Ferraris. In a moment unique to this tournament, John Collins also awarded a prize to the Best Ferrari of the day. This went to Peter Hogan’s black, 1990 Testarossa. This car was one of 50 Italian Thoroughbreds that had come to the Club with the Ferrari Owners Club of Great Britain. These were not the only stunning Ferraris on show at Smith’s Lawn though as John had brought eight of his own magnificent cars to the Club.

In another unique moment, synonymous with the Talacrest competition, all the players were driven onto the field of play at the start of the match in these mighty Italian thoroughbreds. A wonderful spectacle and the perfect start to an outstanding game of high performance. u

The Teams

Monterosso: Alessandro Bazzoni (1); Segundo Darritchon (3); Ignacio Toccalino (7); Jeronimo de Carril (7). Ojo Caliente: Ana Escobedo (0); Matt Perry (5); Facundo Sola (7); John Paul Clarkin (6).

The Teams Vikings

Semper Anticus

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Los Quirones

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