Reports Victor Ludorum Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club The John Prestwich Trophy Final – Saturday 11 June Number of teams: 6 Winner: Clarita Points: 90
Photograph courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club
The John Prestwich Challenge Trophy saw a six team line-up. Fast and furious polo was the order of the day for the Final, as the opening chukka of the game saw the two teams flying from end to end on goal scoring missions. Matias Benoit found the posts three times for the Ayrana team whilst Garbarini, Plaza and Mathias all found the posts for their side. The second chukka saw the pace slow a little with just a goal a piece, and at half-time the scoreboard read 4½-5 in favour of Clarita. The start of the third chukka saw Ayrana up their tempo and some great team play allowed Benoit to score a further three times, taking his side 2½ goals ahead, with no reply from Clarita. However, the last minute of the third chukka saw Benoit sin-binned, which allowed Clarita back into the game and they scored twice in the last minute of the chukka taking the score to 7½-7. The opening minute of the fourth chukka saw Clarita score once more, taking full advantage of Ayrana only having three players on the field. With Benoit back and finding his team trailing by ½ a goal, he promptly set Araya up with the ball to score and Ayrana took back the advantage. Unfortunately for Ayrana, Clarita had found their rhythm and scored a further two goals and Benoit’s final score didn’t quite bring the game back in their favour as Clarita ran out the winners 10-9½. The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award was presented to Claire Mathias for her brilliant team play and providing great support to her teammates. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award was presented to Tonina, a 10-year-old bay mare owned, played and bred by Manu Plaza. Sadly, Maggie Prestwich was unable to be there for the Finals so the trophy was duly presented by RCBPC Chairman, Jamie Morrison.
Cowdray Park Polo Club – Dollar Cup Final – Sunday 29 May Number of teams: 17 Winners: BHC Points: 100
Seventeen teams competed in the 12 goal Dollar Cup, with 2015 winners Poulton Balvanera again making it to the Final, this time taking on BHC. Poulton Balvanera were first on the ball, but BHC soon gained possession. Jack Richardson’s first 60 yard penalty shot went wide and the resulting hit in from the back line by Iriarte enabled Poulton Balvanera to battle forward to BHC’s end and achieve the first goal. However, all too soon Poulton Balvanera gave away another penalty and this time Richardson didn’t miss. Just as the chukka was drawing to a close, Van Reenan escaped and ran the ball all the way down the pitch for a lovely goal, which gave BHC a lead of 2-1½ to end the first chukka. The action tore along in the second chukka, although Poulton Balvanera could not find the form of earlier matches. A 60 yard penalty by Jack Richardson saw BHC’s lead increase. Iriarte and De Alba combined well to make Poulton Balvanera’s second goal, but two splendid field goals from Dirk Van Reenan and a brilliant run to the goal by Mo Sheikh saw BHC well ahead at the close of the chukka with a score of 6½-2. The action went back and forth in the third chukka with good defensive play by Ralph 58
Polo Times, July 2016
and Jack Richardson keeping Iriarte at bay. There was simply no luck running for Poulton Balvanera as Ludo Ephson had a couple of good chances, but sent the ball wide of the goal posts. No goals came for BHC, but a 30 yard penalty finally gave De Alba the chance to pull one back for Poulton Balvanera and the chukka ended at 6-3½ in BHC’s favour. Hope stirred for Poulton Balvanera when Patrick Ephson seized a chance and made a shot at goal for 4½-6, whilst a 60 yard penalty saw Jack Richardson move BHC’s score on to 7-4½. A hit awarded to BHC saw Jack Richardson tap the ball and then send a long shot to Van Reenan, who raced all the way to score his third goal giving BHC an 8-4½ lead. Another field goal came from Jack Richardson and then yet another terrific run ahead of the whole field saw Jack Richardson send through his fifth goal of the match and achieve an impressive victory for BHC with a score of 10-4½. Clare Milford Haven presented the Dollar Cup to a delighted Mo Sheikh and individual prizes sponsored by Casablanca. The Polo Splice Best Playing Pony Award, went to Princess, owned and played by Jack Richardson. Jack also picked up the The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player. Dollar Cup Final teams: BHC: Momin Sheikh (0), Ralph Richardson (2), Dirk Van Reenen (3) & Jack Richardson (6) Poulton Balvanera: Patrick Ephson (1), Ludo Ephson (2), Juan Jose De Alba (3) & Tomas Iriarte (5)
The John Prestwich Trophy Final teams: Clarita: Claire Mathias (0), Jamie Grayson (1), Manu Plaza (6) & Tomas Garbarini (5) Ayrana: Daoud Zekrya (0), Alfonso Pieres (4), Jose Araya (1) & Matias Benoit (6)
Photograph by Alex Jacob
12 Goal Victor Ludorum
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