Polo Times Magazine Subscribe to Polo Times Home
HomeNewsTournamentsClassifiedsAbout usSubscribeContact
 
 
 
 

Mon 28th Sep 2015

All Eyes on Argentina

Argentine Season Underway with the Jockey Club Open

Back in England the summer season has come to an end and the chill of winter is coming on, but in Argentina the weather and the teams are just starting to warm up. Things kicked off with the Jockey Club Open, the first tournament out in Argentina where the high goal players start to flex their wings and try on their newly formed teams for size. The tournament got under way with wins from Ellerstina and Alegría in the Semi Finals against Magual and La Aguada Las Monjitas respectively. These two teams then faced each other in the Final on Saturday 26 September on the fields of the Argentine Polo Association in Pilar. The Final was a high scoring affair with both teams fighting hard. After an even start, Alegría were unable to hold on. Allowing Ellerstina into the lead in the fourth chukka meant disaster for the team in pink, as they were unable to claw their way back despite many goals. The Pieres family proved too much and with 10 goals from star player Facundo Pieres and solid offensive play by cousin Polito it was Ellerstina who walked away victorious, 21-16.

This tournament is a warm-up for the Triple Crown starting Tuesday 29 September with the Tortugas Open. Alegría have little time to rest as they play the opening match against another family line-up, this time in the form of the Heguys and their Chapaleufú side. The rest of the matches will take place over the following few weeks with the Final set for Saturday 17 October. Two teams, to be decided in qualifiers, will join the current six teams for the Hurlingham Open taking place shortly after the Final of the Tortugas Open. These eight teams will then battle it out in the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open Championship a little later. Each side is no doubt as determined as the next to defeat reigning Triple Crown champions La Dolfina, and prevent them from making this their third consecutive Triple Crown title. No team will be more determined than close second favourites Ellerstina. The new team made up of the three Pieres brothers Facundo, Gonzalito and Nico plus cousin Polito, will be keen to see their new family line-up beat long-time rivals La Dolfina, a feat they have been unable to achieve for the last two years.

The Argentine Triple Crown teams:

La Dolfina (40): Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David Stirling, Jr. (10), Pablo Mac Donough (10) & Juan Martín Nero (10)
Ellerstina (39): Polito Pieres (10), Nicolás Pieres (9), Gonzalito Pieres (10) & Facundo Pieres (10)
Alegría (35): Cristian Laprida, Jr. (8), Hilario Ulloa (9), Lucas Monteverde, Jr. (9) & Frederick Mannix, Jr. (9)
La Aguada Las Monjitas (35): Ignacio Toccalino (9), Sebastián Merlos (9), Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Jr. (9) & Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8)
La Aguada (34): Agustín Merlos (8), Guillermo Terrera, Jr. (8), Guillermo Caset, Jr. (9) & Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9)
Chapaleufú (34): Alberto Heguy, Jr. (8), Ignacio Heguy (9), Bautista Heguy (8) & Eduardo Heguy (9)

Photograph: The victorious Ellerstina team. By Matias Callejo


Follow Polotimes on Twitter
 

Other top stories


Mon 18th Mar 2024
USPA Gold Cup Semi Finals Set
Coca Cola vs Valiente & La Dolfina/Tonkawa vs Park Place

Tue 5th Mar 2024
Polo Times March Issue Out This Week
Snow Polo, SUPA Special & Start of Season Nutrition

Mon 4th Mar 2024
The 2024 Savile Cup
Mystery Creek take historic title

Wed 28th Feb 2024
U.S. Women’s Open Championship Final
Victory for Buena Vibra in thrilling match

Tue 27th Feb 2024
Dubai Gold Cup Final
First Gold Cup win for Habtoor in 12 years

Mon 26th Feb 2024
Valiente Are Back!
C.V. Whitney Cup Final

See all news in:


End of Polo Times news page

Advertiser information Contact us Subscribe Work for us All information is subject to copyright 2015

Highlights

Latest Classified

Latest Classified

 Get into Polo

Get started in polo

Information on how to get started in polo
 Destination of the Month

The global game

Holidays and breaks playing or following polo around the world
 Wallpapers

Online magazine

Login to read current and back issues of the magazine
 Find your nearest club

Club contacts

Find your nearest polo club
Cookies in Use