Exciting British Polo Final

THE final of the three-week long tournament for the British Open Polo Championship saw Loro Piana lift the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at their third attempt, having narrowly lost to Lechuza Caracas in the 2007 Final.

Loro Piana's Italian patron, Alfio Marchini, knew that his side faced a tough match against opponents Ellerston, the team founded by Australian magnate Kerry Packer. They had been finalists in six previous British Open Finals and winners of the most coveted trophy in polo in 1995 and 1998.

Marchini, an experienced and competent player, held the No 2 position with Argentine 9 goaler David 'Pelon' Stirling at front, 10 goaler Juan Martin Nero at no 3, and Jamie Peel, a local Cowdray player making his Gold Cup debut at back.

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The Ellerston side comprised the strong central combination of Argentine brothers Gonzalito Pieres (9 goals) and Facundo Pieres (10 goals), American patron Tom Barrack replacing James Packer at back, and the 17-year-old English rising star Max Routledge in the No 1 position.

The match was both hard-fought and tactical with Stirling for Loro Piana first to score.

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette July 30