POLO - UK, High Goal 2020: King Power GoldCup, July 2020 - 8 teams - worlds top Polo Player - Scone , Monterosso, ParkPlace, Les Lions first victories - new normality post COVID-19 - NAANII GLOBAL Luxury/Quality Family Lifestyle MAGAZINE 'en Vogue' - NAANII GLOBAL Quality & Luxury Family Lifestyle - MAGAZINE 'en Vogue'-

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2020 - UK high goal Polo - The British OPEN Polo Championship, King Power Gold Cup, 1.-26.July 2020,
Cowdray Park Polo Club

8 teams - World's Top Polo Player

Team Monterosso and Team Scone capture victory
on Day 2 of King Power Gold Cup

The second day of the 2020 King Power Gold Cup featured two close games decided by one goal each as Monterosso narrowly defeated Thai Polo NW 10-9, while Scone had a successful debut against Polo Stud Schockemohle, claiming the 12-11 victory at Cowdray Park Polo Club.

The opening match featured a thrilling conclusion, with Thai Polo NW nearly sending the game to overtime, but they were unable to convert a safety to tie the game as time expired. Overcoming inaccurate 2 for 7 shooting from the penalty line, Monterosso excelled from the field with all four players scoring at least two goals each as part of an efficient team attack.
The foul-ridden game resulted in Thai Polo NW scoring five goals from the penalty line, but ultimately their 29% shooting from the field proved to be the difference in the 10-9 defeat.

A back and forth start to the game saw Monterosso struggle to take advantage of their opportunities from the penalty line, converting zero of their four attempts throughout the first half.
Jack Richardson and Ned Hine scored a goal each to open up an early 2-1 lead, with Juan Martin Zubia increasing Thai Polo NW’s lead further in the second chukka on consecutive goals.
Monterosso pulled within one by the end of the half due to the efforts of Jeronimo del Carril, who scored his second goal while also adding his second assist to leave the score at 5-4 in favour of Thai Polo NW.

Building on their momentum from the end of the first half, an organized Monterosso team scored three unanswered goals to begin the second half, including one goal from Alessandro Bazzoni.
Thai Polo NW’s struggles from the field continued as they failed to find the goal on three shots, facing a two-goal deficit with two chukkas remaining.
Five fouls for Monterosso in the fifth chukka provided an opening for Thai Polo NW, leading to two penalty conversions for Zubia, with an exciting final chukka remaining.

With multiple chances to tie the score, Thai Polo NW pulled back within one and with time running out, they received a safety opportunity to tie the game. Under a tense situation, the ball sailed wide, giving Monterosso the thrilling 10-9 victory.


A fast-paced second game between Polo Stud Schockemohle and Scone displayed end-to-end action as the two teams combined for 40 shots at goal and 50% shooting from the field.
An impressive nine goals from Nico Pieres in a standout performance of the tournament thus far, led Scone to victory while also Polo Stud Schockemohle off the penalty line the entire game. Three second half penalty conversions gave Scone the edge they needed to capture the one-goal victory.
Pieres began his strong performance in the opening chukka, scoring two goals to push Scone into the early lead, despite conceding seven shot attempts to Polo Stud Schockemohle.
Patrick Maleitzke’s second and third goals of the game restored the tie at 4-4 in the evenly matched contest. The fast pace continued to produce scoring opportunities for Polo Stud Schockemohle, but their inefficiency around goal left the score tied heading into halftime after Pieres and Henry Porter traded goals for their respective teams.
Equalling their foul total from the opening half, Polo Stud Schockemohle conceded a penalty goal to Nico Pieres, while Oliver Cudmore scored his first goal of the game, giving Scone a two-goal advantage.
Despite conceding two more penalty goals to Pieres, Polo Stud Schockemohle was unwilling to let the deficit grow as Diego Cavanagh was instrumental in a three-goal fifth chukka, leaving his team trailing by just one goal.
Maleitzke opened the scoring in the final chukka to tie the game at 10-10 to set the scene for an exciting conclusion. Back-to-back goals from Pieres and Cudmore sealed the victory for Scone, as a last second goal from Polo Stud Schockemohle was not enough in the 12-11 defeat.  



Les Lions/Great Oaks with Statement Victory to Begin King Power Gold Cup

The much-anticipated start to the 2020 King Power Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club began with an impressive 14-10 victory for Les Lions/Great Oaks over the highly touted Next Generation team featuring Adolfo Cambiaso and David Stirling to win the Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy.

The second match of the day featured an exciting finish with Park Place scoring four goals in the final chukka to claim the 10-9 victory over Park Place Vaara, concluding an exciting opening day.

All eyes turned to the opening game of the tournament and it did not disappoint with Les Lions/Great Oaks’ Bartolome Castagnola scoring an astounding nine goals, four of which came from the penalty line.
A strong team defensive effort from Les Lions/Great Oaks held Next Generation to just 40% shooting from the field, making the Cambiaso-led team work hard for every opportunity. Although they finished 6 for 7 from the penalty line, Next Generation could not keep pace with the potent Les Lions/Great Oaks offense in the 14-10 defeat.

The opening half showcased an evenly matched contest, with neither team able to build a large lead. Castagnola opened the scoring with a goal from the field and the penalty line, while Next Generation’s Adolfo Cambiaso and Stirling responded with a goal each, leaving the scored tied at 1-1.
Filling in for the injured Camilo Castagnola, Alejandro Muzzio made his impact in the second chukka, scoring his first goal, while also collecting two assists as part of a three-goal chukka, giving Les Lions/Great Oaks the slim 5-4 lead.
Scoring his third penalty goal of the half, Adolfo Cambiaso restored the tie, leaving the outcome to be decided in the second half.
Reorganized after a scoreless third chukka, Les Lions/Great Oaks came out strong in the second half behind the efforts of Castagnola. Executing a combination of runs to goal and passes, Castagnola was responsible for three of the six Les Lions/Great Oaks goals, while also adding two assists in the fourth and fifth chukka, leaving the Next Generation defence struggling to slow the quick attack.
Keeping their opponents pinned in their own half, Les Lions/Great Oaks build a commanding 12-7 lead with just one chukka remaining. A late push from Stirling was not enough to pull Next Generation within reach as Les Lions/Great Oaks completed the dominant 14-10 victory to begin the King Power Gold Cup.

The Carlos Gracida Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to 7yr old chestnut mare,
Calito Cielito, played by Ale Muzzio and owned by the Castagnolas.

A match-up between the two Park Place teams concluded the opening day of play in a thrilling finish. The efficiency of Park Place Vaara throughout most of the game gave them the advantage, shooting 54% through the first five chukkas, but a dominant finish from Park Place ultimately proved to be the difference. Gonzalito Pieres led all players with five goals, all from the field, while working seamlessly alongside Facundo Pieres to narrowly defeat Park Place Vaara 10-8.

A quick start from Park Place Vaara saw the prowess of 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa, who contributed on both goals, scoring on the first play of the game and then setting up teammate Juan Britos to hold the early 2-1 lead. A defensive style of play was seen throughout the remainder of the first half with field goals hard to come by.
Park Place shot just 2 for 10 from the field with Gonzalito Pieres the only player able to find the goal. Two missed penalty attempts kept Park Place Vaara from taking the lead, leaving the teams tied at 3-3 entering the second half.
While Park Place continued to struggle with their accuracy, Park Place Vaara found their footing, executing a two-man game effectively between Ulloa and Britos. A turning point in the match, the fifth chukka resulted in Park Place Vaara extending their lead to two, including Will Harper’s first goal, leaving Park Place facing a two-goal deficit entering the final chukka. Despite a stagnant offense through the first five chukkas, Park Place exploded for four unanswered goals on just five shots, highlighted by the game-winning goal from Andrey Borodin.



The next King Power Gold Cup matches will be played on Sunday 5th July at 12pm and 3pm.



The King Power Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, one of Europe’s leading tournament, opened on Wednesday 1st July at Cowdray Park, the Home of British Polo. The Final will take place on Sunday 26th July 2020.

Sponsored by King Power, the tournament is regarded as one of the top four polo competitions in the world, alongside the US and Argentine Opens and Gran Slam Sotogrande Gold Cup, SMPC Spain.
Normally, The Final attracted thousands of spectators annually who flock to the prestigious ‘Lawns’ polo grounds in West Sussex. However this year, due to current government restrictions on spectators at sporting events, the competition will be held behind closed doors.

Sadly, spectators will not be permitted to attend matches, however all games will be live streamed via Cowdray TV. The Club has collaborated with Polo Cam and InPlayer, the world’s leading pay per view subscription solution, to bring the sport to fans all over the world in the comfort and safety of their own homes. For full details click here.

Roderick Vere Nicoll, Chairman of Cowdray Park Polo Club, commented: “We are living in unusual times and it is terrific that we have 8 strong teams in the tournament. The two best players in the world, Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres, are playing along with some rising young stars. It should be an exciting tournament and I hope you enjoy the Gold Cup on Cowdray TV!”

Eight teams will take part which will see some of the best players in the world in action. The tournament will be played with the usual speed and skill of high-goal polo, under modified rules which adhere to HPA (Hurlingham Polo Association) and government regulations.

Encouragingly for the future of the sport, 2020 sees the highest number of British players entering the tournament in recent years. Among the young British players is 18-year-old Will Harper who resides in Midhurst. Harper junior is likely to meet his father, James, on the pitch as they are rival team members.

The opening game, played for the Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy on Wednesday 1st July, is much anticipated and will see Adolfo Cambiaso returning to the UK having been absent for the 2019 UK High Goal season. Cambiaso (10 goals) and his son Poroto (4 goals) will play for ‘Next Generation’ alongside David ‘Pelon’ Stirling (9 goals) of Uruguay and French patron Jean-François Decaux. They will go head to head against Cambiaso’s nephews, Bartolomé (7 goals) and Camilo Castagnola (7 goals) who will play for ‘Les Lions/Great Oaks’ aided by Santiago Laborde (6 goals) and American Dillon Bacon. Bartolomé and Camilo won the Gold Cup with Dubai in 2019 in a thrilling final against VS King Power.

We welcome back ‘Scone’, the team of Australian patron David Paradice, winners of the Queen’s Cup in 2019 and Semi Finalists in the Gold Cup 2019. David will be joined by Nico Pieres (9 goals) and England teammates, Ollie Cudmore (6 goals) and James Harper (7 goals).

New to the competition is ‘Polo Stud Schockemöhle’ which will see Echard Jules in the number one shirt alongside fellow German player Patrick Maleizke (4 goals), Jaime Huidobro (7 goals) and Diego Cavanagh (8 goals), who also makes a return to the UK High Goal season after a break in 2019.

World number one, Facundo Pieres (10 goals) will play alongside his brother Gonzalito (9 goals), for Andrey Borodin’s ‘Park Place’ team with another promising young English player, Kian Hall (3 goals). The Pieres brothers won the tournament together three times when playing for King Power in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

An exciting second Park Place team, ‘Park Place Vaara’, has also entered the competition. English young guns, Zac Beim (1 goal) and Will Harper (3 goals) will play in the number one and number two shirts respectively, backed up by Juan Britos (8 goals) and Hilario Ulloa (10 goals).

Alessandro Bazzoni returns with his ‘Monterosso’ side to play his fourth consecutive season in the UK High Goal. He is joined again by Ignacio Toccalino (8 goals), as well as Guillermo Terrera (8 goals) and Jeronimo del Carril (6 goals) who will be new to the team for 2020.

Harald Link’s ‘Thai Polo’ team will also be making a comeback and will feature two English players in the form of Ned Hine (3 goals) and England team member, Jack Richardson (6 goals), with Juan Martin Zubia (7 goals) and Rodrigo Rueda (6 goals).

There will be two groups in the competition with Park Place, Next Generation, Scone and Les Lions/Great Oaks seeded into each group and the remaining teams having drawn for places in either group at the recent King Power Gold Cup Draw which took place live on Cowdray TV on Tuesday 23rd June. View the tournament schedule and the teams.

Chris Bethell, Cowdray Park Polo Manager commented:
“We are very much looking forward to play commencing.  It has been a challenging start to the season.  The grounds are in peak condition; there are some exciting Gold Cup team entries and 2020 has the potential for new talent to shine and perhaps provide an unexpected winner.”



FIXTURE / Schedule