In a magnificent celebration of 150 years of polo in England, the home team played a blinding match to scoop victory over Brazil in a spectacular match at Guards Polo Club. A packed crowd watched England claim the Coronation Cup in emphatic style, with legendary author Dame Jilly Cooper among the spectators. Marking the sport’s historic roots, the teams were led onto the field by riders from the King’s Royal Hussars and the Royal Lancers, echoing the first recorded polo match in England, played in 1874 on Hounslow Heath between those same regiments.
From the first throw-in, England (receiving two goals on handicap) came out firing. Within 15 seconds, Tommy Beresford got the break and sent the ball to Max Charlton, who opened the scoring with a powerful goal against a strong ride off from Pedrinho Zacharias. Louis Hine followed up with a slick goal on his brother Ned's ex-racehorse, Secret Applause. A penalty conversion by Beresford, another lightning goal from Hine and a massive 80-yard strike from Charlton closed the first chukka at a stunning 7–0.
Brazil finally responded in the second chukka, with goals from Zacharias and Joao Paulo Ganon, narrowing the gap to 7–2. But England didn’t flinch, with a booming shot from Charlton keeping England firmly ahead with the score at 8–2.
The third chukka saw more of the same: Hine, Beresford, and Charlton added four more goals, stretching the lead to 12–2. England’s precision and teamwork overwhelmed Brazil, who couldn’t keep up with the pace or power of the home side despite some great efforts from the experienced visiting side.
Beresford added the only goal of the fourth chukka before Brazil rallied in the fifth, with a superb angled goal from Brazilian ace Rodrigo Andrade, making it 13–3, but Louis Hine answered immediately for England with another even tighter angle. Ollie Cudmore added another smooth goal, taking control from the boards, before Hine again scored off a rebound to make it 16–3 heading into the final chukka.
Brazil showed grit in the last stretch. Andrade struck early, followed by goals from Marcelo Camargo and Zacharias, closing the match at 16–7. Despite their late push, Brazil couldn’t dent England’s commanding lead.
The HPA was delighted to have Dame Jilly Cooper present the prizes, including signed copies of her classic works to the captains of each team. Other prizes included a four-night stay in the Sagrado Valley for each player on the winning team courtesy of Explora.
Explora Best Playing Pony: Lovelocks Glow Worm, played by Louis Hine, owned by Tommy Severn and bred by Charlie Hanbury.
Emerson & Watson Best Playing ROR: Hot Poppy, an 8-year-old mare owned by Tommy Beresford, bred by the Columella Partnership and raced under rules with John Gallagher before switching careers to polo.
The Rufino Lauhlé MVP Trophy: Louis Hine, presented by Gaston Laulhé
The Gabriel Donoso Trophy: awarded to Marcelo Camargo, presented by Lady Teresa Beresford
Prizes were also presented for the Whitbread Tankard, kindly supported once again by the Whitbread Family, which saw Young Argentina take the win in a brilliant rematch, this time coming out the winners 7-5.5. The standout star of this match was the 15-year-old León Donoso, picking up the Explora prizes for Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony with Flojura Pulpera. Zac Beim picked up the Emerson & Watson Best Playing Retrained Racehorse with Totzo – Tottie at home – at 12-year-old mare who raced for Paul D’Arcy before turning her hoof to polo.
Other attractions on the day included a display by the Hook Norton Brewery Shire Horses, who were presented with custom, Shire-size commemorative mallets produced for the HPA by Keelan McCarthy, and a fantastic live painting display by renowned polo artist Anna Cher, who provided the cover image for the programme and displayed her wonderful artwork in the HPA Enclosure. Anna also generously donated one of her works to Power Of Polo to be auctioned at a later date to raise money for the charity.
England: Louis Hine (5), Ollie Cudmore (5), Max Charlton (6), Tommy Beresford (7). Brazil: Marcelo Camargo (2), Pedrinho Zacharias (8), Rodrigo Andrade (8), Joao Paulo Ganon (7).
Young Argentina: Felix Toccalino (2), Leon Donoso (5), Manuel Prado (4), Javier Guerrero (6). Young England: Alfie Hyde (3), Will Harper (4), Ned Hine (5), Zac Beim (4).
Image copyright Art of Polo
