Equine arsenal gives King Power Foxes the edge
The all-British El Remanso were defeated by the wealthy King Power Foxes, who took the title for the third year running at Cowdray Park
Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup final, Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex
IT was the most English of summer days, with thousands of undeterred picnickers taking shelter from the rain under gazebos and umbrellas. The first all-British team in the final since 1969 was certainly the draw — and the reason that so many people braved the weather.
There cannot be many occasions when one reaches the final of the Jaeger-LeCoultre
Gold Cup and gets married in the same weekend. Yet this is what happened to El Remanso’s Charlie Hanbury, who got married on Saturday and played in the Gold Cup final on Sunday. It was not the typical pre-match preparation to the most important game of his career to date. While most newly-weds sip champagne in bed the next day and enjoy a leisurely brunch, Hanbury was preparing himself to take on the mighty, wealthy, incredibly well-mounted King Power Foxes.
In the end, it was the sheer horsepower of the King Power side that made the difference and gave them their Gold Cup hattrick — aside, of course, from the two Pieres 10-goalers and the two young one-goalers who proved a steal off their handicaps.
El Remanso were the crowd favourites; a team of talented Brits, the three professionals on the team having got to where they are with hard graft, dedication and horsemanship. Despite their talents and attractive, flowing style of play, it was difficult to play on even terms with a team that had some 60 horses at the
game; changing ponies every couple of minutes.
The other topic of conversation was the substitution of the patron, Top Srivaddhanaprabha with the talented Hugo Taylor. This has become something of a theme in some teams, with the patron being substituted in important games (and in this case the final) with a younger, uber-talented player, who plays well above their handicap.
A SEASON HIGHLIGHT
THE game itself was a season highlight. Fast, open play with brilliant displays of skill meant that the crowds soon forgot about the weather (as did the half-time streaker...).
It was El Remanso's Hanbury who opened the scoring to much adulation, and the all-British team took an early lead in the first chukka, 2-1.
But as the second chukka got underway, King Power's Facundo Pieres found his feet, going flat out to the delight of onlookers with a scorching run down the field to find the posts.
Jimbo Fewster belied his one-goal handicap by scoring a spectacular nearside backhand for King Power, and some textbook interaction between Facundo and Gonzalito meant yet another goal. By half time it was 6-3 to King Power. When Gonza scored again, followed up by Fewster, it looked like King Power were running away with the title, 8-3.
James Harper relit the hopes for El Remanso and scored (8-4), but Facu returned the favour, 9-4. Ollie Cudmore then had a great run, got hooked, and James Beim cleaned up and scored, 9-5.
HORSEPOWER PAYS
THE sheer number of horses on the King Power side was beginning to show, as Harper scored again on a brilliant but tiring pony, 9-6.
Facu scored a 30-yard penalty and play quickly turned back to El Remanso as Beim hit it out of the air twice towards goal, amid impassioned commentary from John Kent, but it just went wide.
Fewster scored a staggering run from the halfway line, preceded by two quick goals
‘While most newly-weds sip champagne in bed the next day and enjoy a leisurely brunch, Charlie Hanbury was preparing
himself to take on the mighty, wealthy, incredibly well-mounted
King Power Foxes’
from Facu, ending the hope for the valiant El Remanso — their two goals were not quite enough, ending 13-8.
“We were really well prepared,” said Facu on his victory. “We had watched a lot of match videos prior to this. Gonza and I have not won a major trophy since the Hurlingham Open in November last year, so we wanted this."
The most valuable player title went to King Power Foxes’ one-goaler Fewster and the best playing pony was New Jersey, played by Gonza.