Gonzalo Pieres and his sons of Ellerstina won the 43rd Jockey Club Open in Argentina.
The outstanding victory of Ellerstina (31 goals) against Loro Piana (29 goals) by 13-9 was a golden closing of the 43rd Jockey Club Open Tournament of Buenos Aires, Argentina. They played on the sensational field 1 (Alfredo Lalor) in San Isidro.
The outstanding winning team of this important tournament, made up by Gonzalo Pieres who played for the first time with his sons Gonzalito, Facundo and Nicolás, obtained the “300 years old San Isidro Cup.” In the first semi-final game in which they beat Coronel Suarez by 14-8, due to the excellent tactics used in the second chukker, by isolating Juan Martín Nero and Eduardo Novillo Astrada, the versatile men who played for the losing team’s middle game, and who had given Ellerstina trouble during the first chukker and part of the second one. The rhythm of the third chukker gave rise to brilliant movements by Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres who found a good response in their father and the youngest son, Nicolás, who elaborated technical and tactical variables that were impossible to neutralize by Loro Piana during most of the game.
During the fifth chukker, two goals scored by Nicolas and Facundo deserved the best applauses of the afternoon, just like most of the Ellerstina’s collective movements with Gonzalito as pivot, playing his role as a real born play-maker, always finding the best ways to go in order to get to the opposite goal post. In this way, number 3, arrived with short hits of the ball with Facundo, very difficult to stop by the players of Loro Piana team who, nevertheless, always maintained the game quality associated with this tournament’s reputation.
The award ceremony included the organizer of the APA (Argentine Polo Association). The notary Guillermo Alvarez Fourcade had special words addressed to Gonzalo Pieres and to the rest of the players of this tournament who were responsible for its success. The Intendant of San Isidro, Dr. Gustavo Posse, gave Gonzalo Pieres the “300 years of San Isidro” Cup and his wife, María Fernanda Posse, presented the trophies. The Vice-President and the President of the Jockey Club’s Race Commission, Emilio Dumais, gave the Jockey Club Cup to Ellerstina team and the President of the APA, Francisco Dorignac, presented the trophies. Meanwhile, the President of the Internal Commission, Dr. Diego Quirno, gave the finalists a distinction. The Jockey Club instituted the Gonzalo Tanoira award for the most valuable player of the last three Opens, which was given to Santiago Araya by Gonzalo Tanoira (Jr). The Dominican Republic award for the high-scorer of the final was given to Facundo Pieres who scored six goals (three of them were penalties). The award to the best polo pony was awarded to Open Magnolia, raised and trained by Gonzalo Pieres and riden by Facundo Pieres, daughter of Rainbow Corner and Margarina. Bary Pieres and his wife received a Cup in commemoration of the success obtained 25 years ago by four members of the Pieres family who also won this tournament. Finally, Guido Simonetti from La Martina gave the La Martina award to the two finalist teams.
The Teams and goals scored by each player:
Ellerstina: Nicolás Pieres 4 (scored 2 goals), Gonzalo Pieres 7, Gonzalo Pieres (h) 10 (scored 5) and Facundo Pieres 10 (6 goals, 3 were converted penalties). Total: 31.
Loro Piana: Alfio Marchini 3 (scored 2), Juan M. Nero 8 (scored 6, 4 were converted penalties), Eduardo Novillo Astrada (h) 9 y Milo Fernández Araujo 9 (scored 1). Total: 29.
Score by the chukker 1-1, 2-3, 6-4, 8-6, 11-7 and 13-9.
Umpires: Daniel Boudou and Juan José Díaz Alberdi and Juan José Alberdi.
Loro Piana (29 goal team): Alfio Marchini 3 (scored 2 goals), Juan M. Nero 8 (scored 6, 4 were converted from penalties), Eduardo Novillo Astrada 9 and Milo Fernández Araujo 9 (scored 1 goal).
Score by the chukker: 1-1, 2-3, 6-4, 8-6, 11-7 y 13-9.
Jockey Club Open Teams . . .
El Paraíso: Facundo Sola 5, Rubén Sola 7, Bautista Heguy 10 and Sebastián Merlos 9. Total 31.
Ellerstina: Nicolás Pieres 4, Gonzalo Pieres (h) 10, Gonzalo Pieres 7 and Facundo Pieres 10. Total 31.
Santa María de Lobos: Guillermo Caset (h) 7, Mark Tomlinson 7, Jaime García Huidobro 8 and Luke Tomlinson 8. Total 30.
La Irenita: Jorge Donovan (h) 6, Pablo Mac Donough 9, Matías Mac Donough 9 and Tomás Gándara 5. Total 29.
Coronel Suárez: Sugar Erskine 7, Gastón Laulhé 7, Santiago Araya 7 and Diego Araya 8. Total 29.
Loro Piana: Alfio Marchini 3, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (h) 9, Milo Fernández Araujo 9 and Juan Martín Nero 8. Total 29.