The Midhurst Town Cup Sunday 2nd July Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup: La Bamba de Areco vs King Power
In the second major upset of this year’s Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, La Bamba de Areco defeated the reigning champions King Power Foxes on 2nd July in a long-drawn out battle that saw delays for injury and a change of players.
The first two chukkas were played at a breathtaking pace, a 30 yard penalty apiece starting the scoring for each side. Three goals to each team had piled onto the scoreboard by the end of chukka 1 and it was 5-5 at the close of chukka 2. Cavanagh achieved three field goals in the third chukka, unanswered by King Power. Laprida, forced to leave the field injured, was replaced with 8 goal player, Fran Elizalde, who obliged with the fourth goal of the chukka and La Bamba went into half time ahead 9-5.
King Power pulled back two goals in the fourth chukka but failed to score at all in the fifth. With the score at the start of the sixth chukka 11-7 in La Bamba’s favour, Facundo Pieres brought out all his 10 goal magic to score three excellent field goals. Awarded a 30 yard penalty, Gonzalito put the ball accurately between the posts and King Power had levelled the scores on 11-11 forcing the game into a seventh chukka. It did not take long for Diego Cavangh to race away to score from an amazing angel and deservedly achieve a surprise win for La Bamba.
The Midhurst Town Cup was presented by Nick Ferrier of Jackson Stops, who also presented the award for Best Playing Pony to Nueve Chicago, owned and played by Facundo Pieres in the sixth chukka. Mrs Mariya Burton of Aspinal London presented prizes of luxury leather bags to all the players.
Photo credits: Clive Bennett
