THE HARCOURT DEVELOPMENTS QUEEN’S CUP FINAL
SUNDAY 13TH JUNE 2010 at the GUARDS POLO CLUB
Text By Joanne Hearn
Today’s final of the Queen’s Cup was the 50th Anniversary of this prestigious high goal tournament. Her Majesty The Queen first presented the Queen’s Cup in 1960 to Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, the patron of the Centaurs team.
Although during the week prior to Sunday, there had been a bit of rain, Sunday was dry and sunny and the ground was perfect for the match unlike 1997 when the rain was so heavy Her Majesty The Queen had to pour water out of the Queen’s Cup before she presented it to the winning team!
Playing for Dubai were No.1 Rashid Albwardy (1), No.2 Francisco Vizmara (2), No.3 Pablo MacDonough (9) and No.4 Adolfo Cambiaso (10) . Photo by Tony Ramirez. Please on the link below to view or purchase Tony's photos. http://www.imagesofpolo.com/gallery_337388.html
The two teams who had fought their way to the final were Dubai against Les Lions 11. Playing for Dubai were No.1 Rashid Albwardy (1), No.2 Francisco Vizmara (2), No.4 Adolfo Cambiaso (10) and No.3 Pablo MacDonough (9). The team for Les Lions 11 were No.1 Chris Mackenzie (3), No.2. Agustin Merlos (9), No.3 Sebastian Merlos (9) and No.4 Max Gottschalk (1).
The Band of the Royal Artillery entertained the crowds prior to the start of the match at 3pm on the Queens Ground. All eyes were on Adolfo Cambiaso, the world’s number one player, who was hoping to win today for a record seventh time. Adolfo, who having won this tournament six times previously, twice with Kerry Packer and Ellerston in 1998 and 1999, with Rick Stowe’s Geeburg team in 2000 and Ali Albwardy’s Dubai team in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Adolfo Cambiaso. Photo by Nigel Kaye.
The spectators did not have to wait long as Adolfo scored the first goal in the first few minutes of the first chukka, however, Les Lions were certainly in fighting form and had the brilliant partnership of Agustin and Sebastian Merlos and by the end of the third chukka and half time Les Lions were in the lead by 6-5.
However, at the start of the fourth chukka Pablo Macdonough scored a brilliant goal followed by another to put Dubai in the lead again 7-6. Although at the start of the sixth and final chukka it was all square again at 9-9, Sebastian Merlos scored to put Les Lions in the lead – could this be the end of Adolfo’s record – no Adolfo scored twice with three minutes to go and the final result was 12-10 to Dubai and a record seventh win for Adolfo.
The presentation of the Queen’s Cup was made by Her Majesty The Queen to Rashid Albwardy (his first at just 18 years of age) who later said at the press conference that he was no longer the black sheep of the family and was hoping to win the Gold Cup and carry on playing polo – his father, Ali Albwardy made the comment ‘What about school!’.
The ‘Most Valuable Player’ award went to Chris Mackenzie who played some terrific polo especially as he is only 17 years of age and three-goaler.
The ‘Best Playing Pony’ award went to Certain ridden by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third and sixth chukka and the ‘Best Retrained Race Horse’ went to Menina, a seven year old mare ridden by Augustin Merlos in the first and fifth chukka.
The score board. Photo by Nigel Kaye.