The Benson Cup final took place on Saturday the 29th June, with Hickstead taking on Maiz Dulce on a sunny Ambersham 2.
John Bunn (1) rode out at 1 for his Hickstead team, with Boyd Allen (1) at 2, Marcus cork (3) at 3, and Niall Donnelly (3) at Back. For Maiz Dulce sisters Giselle Barfoot (0) and Millie Barfoot (0) rode out at 1 and 2, with Alfie Hyde (3) at 3, and 4-goaler Bautista Sorzana at 4.
The closely matched game saw tremendous efforts by both teams, however the 8-goal Hickstead team ultimately came out on top over the 7-goal Maiz Dulce team, 4 goals to 3.5. In the first chukka a goal a piece for both Cork and Hyde meant Maiz Dulce retained their half-goal lead going into the second.
However strong defence from Hickstead in the second and third chukka meant Maiz Dulce’s goal tally stayed stagnant, despite both Donnely and Cork scoring for Hickstead, leaving them 3- 1.5 down going into the last chukka. A determined Maiz Dulce fought back in the last to see two brilliant goals by Hyde and Barfoot, however it wasn’t quite enough to fend off Hickstead who successfully converted a penalty to come out victorious over Maiz Dulce by half a goal.
John Bunn stepped forward to collect the Benson Cup from Pamela Sorzana, with the X-Zony Best Playing Pony Rug being presented to ‘Whithorn Midas’ played by Marcus Cork and owned by White Crane.
