Updates from The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup
Two weeks into the tournament stages of The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, the stars of the game are rapidly making themselves known. Most teams have, by now, played three out of four of their set matches of this stage of the tournament. So far the strongest line-ups look to be Dubai, who have played and won all four of their matches already, King Power Foxes, who have won their first three matches and will face Salkeld on Tuesday 7 July, and UAE Polo Team, another three-win triumph, who face Thai Polo on Wednesday.
The weekend saw Apes Hill Club win 10-9 against La Indiana on Friday 3 July in an extra chukka. Michael Bickford’s La Indiana side, contesting their first Gold Cup, have yet to win a match but have played strongly, having met competitive teams King Power Foxes and El Remanso in their previous matches, losing 11-10 and 12-7 respectively.
The King Power Foxes vs Talandracas game promised great things and didn’t disappoint. A 13-8 win for the Foxes against this well-established side highlights just how influential King Power and King Power Foxes will be in this Gold Cup. King Power Foxes will now play Salkeld on Tuesday 7 July, while Talandracas face El Remanso, the young but experienced team, which unites George and Charlie Hanbury with Ollie Cudmore and 10 goaler Pelon Stirling.
There was only one game on Saturday 4 July, which saw the UAE Polo Team dominate over King Power, 15-6. Sheikha Maitha’s team must be making their patron very proud with their performance this tournament; they are yet to win a match by a margin of less than eight goals.
Sunday 5 July saw RH Polo lose to Dubai 8-6. RH Polo have had a mixed tournament so far; having lost out to the UAE Polo Team 14-6 in the very first game of the tournament, they then rallied to beat HB Polo 13-10. The results of this match, however, come as a surprise to many, who were expecting stronger play from Dubai.
In the last match on Sunday, HB Polo won against Thai Polo 10-7. The Pailloncy brothers were visibly delighted to be presented with the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup in front of a large crowd who had been guests of the Ambassador during the afternoon, sampling the best food, drink and products from Argentina in a super-chic reception in blazing sunshine. Harald Link was philosophical after the defeat that signalled the end of his Thai Polo Team’s Gold Cup hopes, honestly stating to Polo Times, “We should have played better.”
For full teams, times and tournaments, click here.
Photograph: The winners of the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup HB Polo pictured with The Ambassador of Argentina Alicia Castro, The Hon. Lila Pearson and the Thai Polo team. Courtesy of the Argentine Embassy Press Office
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