Mon 1st Aug 2016A Trio of Triumphs Harrison, Holden White and Challenge Cup Finals
Liz Higgins reported to Polo Times from Cowdray Park Polo Club as the Club’s traditional Goodwood Week polo came to a close with the Finals and Subsidiary Finals of three HPA tournaments, the 15 goal Harrison Cup, 8 goal Holden White Cup and 18 goal Challenge Cup being played over the weekend of 30 – 31 July. Harrison Cup 13 teams entered the 2016 Harrison Cup with Kassem Shafi’s Shalimar and Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor teams making it through to the Final. Playing for Shalimar were Kassem Shafi (0), Pedro Harrison (4), James Harper (6) and Vieri Antinori (5), whilst Spencer McCarthy’s (1) side included his son James McCarthy (0), Alejandro Muzzio (7) and Nacho Gonzales (6), making up a 14 goal side and receiving a half goal advantage on the scoreboard. Shalimar made a great start with Antinori racing away from the first throw-in to score, and by half-time the scoreboard read 4-2½ in favour of Shalimar. However, Emlor looked like a different team in the second half, with a 30 yard penalty shot sent through by Muzzio, followed by a superb goal by Gonzales, which saw them take the lead for the first time. Shafi cleared a shot at goal by Spencer McCarthy, but Muzzio pounced on the ball and sent a lofted shot through the posts to score. Shalimar then benefitted from a penalty, which saw Harper’s mighty shot from 60 yards reduce Emlor’s lead to 5½-5. A penalty 1 in the final chukka gave Emlor a double measure of goals and the score moved on to 7½-5. With confidence rattled, Shalimar tried to get back into the match, but a drive forward by Emlor saw another goal on the board and a final score of 8½-5 in Emlor’s favour. Mrs Bridget McCarthy presented the Harrison Cup to her son James, plus a generous array of prizes from sponsors Casablanca Polo. Ale Muzzio’s stirling efforts were rewarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player award and his black mare Negrita was voted Best Playing Pony receiving the historic Brooke Joynson Cup as well as the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug. In the Subsidiary Finals, The Maidensgrove Cup, presented by Charles Roberts, was won by Simon Arber and his Four Quarters Orange, who beat the Ephson’s Poulton/Balvanera side 7-6½. The Aotea Cup was played between Guy Schwarzenbach’s Black Bears and Max Kirchoff’s Snake Bite, with Black Bears winning 10-9. Cowdray Park Challenge Cup Cowdray Park’s oldest trophy dating back to 1911 was entered by four teams in 2016 with Apes Hill and BHC making it to the Final. Playing for Sir Charles Williams’ Apes Hill were 13-year-old Luke Wiles (0), Nicolas Antinori (5), Mark Tomlinson (6) and Luke Tomlinson (7). Momin Sheikh’s (0) BHC saw three 6 goal players in a balanced line-up of Chris Mackenzie (6), Jack Richardson (6) and James Harper (6). Jack Richardson scored for BHC within the opening moments of the first chukka and solid, defensive play prevented Apes Hill from equalizing until the end of the chukka with a 30 yard penalty sent through by Luke Tomlinson. James Harper responded with a 30 yard penalty in the second chukka and a free hit saw Luke Tomlinson fire a big shot forward to young Luke Wiles who sent the ball home to level out the scores at 2-2. From the throw-in, Mackenzie charged off with the ball, fending off the Apes Hill defence, finally ending the chukka with a goal and BHC ahead, 3-2. A goal for each side in chukka 3 saw BHC remain 4-3 ahead. In the second half Mark Tomlinson seized the ball and raced all the way to the goal to level the scores 4-4 and following a brilliant pass from his brother, Mark was able to make another excellent field goal to take Apes Hill into the lead for the first time. Their attacking play continued to dominate the action and BHC were drawn into giving away a penalty which enabled Luke Tomlinson to score from 30 yards taking the scores to 6-4. The final chukka started with a throw-in in BHC’s half, but Luke Tomlinson secured the ball and weaved his way round Richardson to move Apes Hill’s score on to 7-4. After various attempts at goal, it was Richardson who swept it up and sent it through the posts, taking the score to 7-5. However, Apes Hill hung onto the lead and Sir Charles Williams fulfilled his long-held dream of winning the Cowdray Park Challenge Cup. Lila Pearson was delighted to present the historic Cup to Sir Charles and prizes sponsored by Casablanca to both teams. Mark Tomlinson won The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award and his pony Silk was awarded the Vickers Trophy for Best Playing Pony together with a rug from Polo Times. Holden White Cup From an entry of eighteen teams, Peter Barfoot’s Maiz Dulce side made it through to the Final to face Ahmad Aboughazale’s Sumaya. Still in hospital following his recent injury, Peter was replaced by Lottie Lamacraft (0), alongside Matt Pitts (2), Glenn Sherriff (5) and Kian Hall (1). Will Harper (-1), Ahmad Aboughazale (1), Nicolas Ruiz Guinazu (3) and Juan Pablo Villela (5) lined up for Sumaya. Sumaya made an impressive start with a fantastic goal sent through the posts by Guinazu. However, their advantage was soon lost by a 30 yard penalty awarded to Maiz Dulce which Sheriff sent home to equalise. Two penalty shots per side in the second chukka saw the score at 3-3 at half-time. Will Harper, the youngest player on the field, was responsible for the steal which enabled Guinazu to put through a super under-the-neck-shot to take Sumaya into the lead in the second half on 4-3, whilst Sherriff wasted no time in putting through a 30 yard penalty to level the score at 4-4. Kian Hall stole the ball from Villela following the throw-in, and hung onto it until he could off-load to Matt Pitts who scored to take Maiz Dulce into the lead again to end the third chukka. Sherriff was able to score once more from a 30 yard penalty taking the score on to 6-4. Hall made a great attempt at goal which just went wide before a whistle gave Sumaya the chance to score from a 30 yard penalty, but it was too late to prevent victory for Maiz Dulce with a final score of 6-5. Nicci Bethell presented the Holden White Cup to Matt Pitts on behalf of Peter Barfoot and both teams received a selection of high quality polo items from prize sponsors Casablanca Polo. Kian Hall was presented The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player award and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony award was presented to Idaho, owned by Peter Barfoot and ridden by Kian Hall. In the Subsidiary Finals of the Holden White Cup, Beaufort Blackhound won the Ruins Cup, and Feedmark took home the Ambersham Cup. Photograph: Maiz Dulce, winners of The Holden White Cup with Nicci Nethell. By Clive Bennett/www.polopictures.co.uk
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