AL HABTOOR ROYAL WINDSOR CUP FINAL
SUNDAY 20TH JUNE
GUARDS POLO CLUB
By Joanne Hearn
Clare Thomlinson. Photo by Nigel Kaye.
The Royal Windsor Cup Final, sponsored by the Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group for the third year, was the culmination of first class 12-15 goal teams who had entered the most prestigious medium goal tournament in England.
The teams for this final were Los Locos against Clarita. Playing for Los Locos was Clare Tomlinson (1), her youngest son Mark Tomlinson (7), Ignacio Toccalino (7) and George Gemmel (0). Clarita’s team were Chris Mathias (1), Roddy Williams (5), Tomas Garcia Del Rio (6) and Matt Lodder (3).
Spectators were treated to three games of polo on this finals day but obviously the main match was the final of the Royal Windsor Cup and although quite a chilly day for June, there was no rain and everyone was hoping that the sun would eventually shine and following the Band of the Irish Guards, the two teams came out onto the field promptly at 3 pm.
The first chukka was dominated by Los Locos primarily because of the partnership of Mark Tomlinson and Ignacio Toccalino who both played superbly and by the end of this chukka Los Locos was leading 3-0. The second chukka saw Clarita score to put them on the scoreboard followed by goals from both sides, however, by the end of the second chukka Los Locos were still leading 5-3. Clarita were never going to give in without a fight and in the third chukka they were actually leading by 6-6 until Los Locos scored within the final seconds of the chukka, so at half time they were all square at 6-6.
The band leader.
The fourth chukka belonged to Los Locos as the team played like demons and scored two goals to increase their lead to 8-6 but Clarita came out fighting again in the fifth and final chukka to score two goals but could not beat Los Locos who scored again and the final score was 9-8 to Los Locos.
Her Majesty The Queen presented the Royal Windsor Cup to Los Locos’s Clare Tomlinson. The ‘Best Playing Pony’ was Americano and Chris Mathias won the ‘Most Valuable Player’ award.
The subsidiary final for the Mountbatten Cup which took place prior to the Royal Windsor Cup was won by Jaeger Le Coultre 9-6. The Al Habtoor Challenge Match which was held in the morning and featured the 10 goal Pieres brothers, Facundo and Gonzalo, was won by Habtoor 1 4½-4.
At the end of the polo presentation, spectators were treated to a parade of the British Driving Society winners before lining up in front of the Royal Box for Her Majesty the Queen to present their rosettes.
Her Majesty the Queen. Photo by Nigel Kaye.