Thu 24th Sep 2026La Irenita take The Jockey Club Open Young team start the Argentine season in strong form
And so concludes the first of the Argentine high goal season tournaments, with a win for la Irenita in The 61st Jockey Club Open on Saturday 19 September. The long-established organisation has formed part of the Argentine rosters for many years and is a familiar face on the team lists of every major Argentine tournament. Led by Pablo MacDonough, who wins this trophy for the fourth time personally, La Irenita last won 16 years ago. Joined by and young guns Matias MacDonough Jr, Paco de Narváez and Beltrán Lauhlé, La Irenita defeat Las Monjitas 13-9 to take the title.
Up against La Monjitas, whose last second win over La Natividad La Dolfina had them pegged as Finals favourites, the game started evenly with all things level 6-6 after the fourth. With both sides playing strong, open polo, neither team were able to make a significant difference on the scoreboard until the fifth chukka when La Irenita seemed to click into place. Taking control of the game in this pivotal chukka, all four players combined superbly, playing their best polo of the match and contributing evenly to the scoreline as they began to move ahead.
Gaining confidence, they extended their advantage further in the sixth chukka to take a four goal lead into the final period. Las Monjitas created several opportunities to reduce the deficit, but La Irenita defended strongly and maintained their advantage to complete a 13-9 victory, the first for both Matias MacDonough and Beltrán Lauhlé.
The season continues with The Hurlingham Open up next, starting next week with eight teams lining up to battle it out for the first of the Triple Crown titles.
The 61st Jockey Club Open Final teams:
La Irenita (33): Pablo Mac Donough (10), Beltrán Laulhé (8), Matías Mac Donough Jr. (7) & Paco de Narvaez Jr. (8)
Las Monjitas (32): Juan Britos (8), Rufino Bensadon (8), Lucas Criado Jr. (8) & Jerónimo Del Carril (8)
Photograph: La Irenita secure the first title of the Argentine season. By Matias Callejo
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