Cartier Polo Queens Cup is seen as the most prestigious polo tournament and cup in the Polo calendar not just in the UK but throughout the polo following world.
HM The Queen was accompanied by Arnaud M Bamberger, Executive Chairman Cartier Ltd, Laurent Feniou Managing Director Cartier Ltd and Jock Green-Armytage, Chairman of Guards Polo Club, in the Royal Box which sits perfectly on the enchanting green lawns of Guards Polo Club. In addition to her majesty Cartier invited guests from the worlds of stage, screen, sport, society, and literature into the Cartier enclosure, welcoming them to the sophisticated reception, serving Cartier champagne and a lunch created by Mosimann’s. These guests included HRH Princess Beatrice, Sharon Stone, Thandie Newton, Clare Balding, Katherine Jenkins, Adam Bidwell, Ben Fogle and Duffy to name a few.
‘The undisputed King of Jewellers’, Cartier, has a long-standing tradition of supporting polo, dubbed the true ‘Sport of Kings’. Cartier UK enjoyed 27 wonderful years of sponsoring polo through the Cartier International Day but last year saw the move to the prestigious high-goal Queen’s Cup tournament. Cartier is honoured to support this event for the second year. The tournament itself began on Wednesday 22nd May, commencing three weeks of electrifying high-goal polo. This world-leading tournament concluded with the historic final played in the presence of HM The Queen. With 16 teams entering this most prestigious of tournaments, including seven of the greatest exponents of the sport in the world- those illustrious 10-goal players – all anticipations were surpassed.
This Cartier Queen’s Cup final was not the only game of the summer’s day. In the morning, Talandracas defeated Les Lions in a close game in extra time to win the Cartier Trophy – the subsidiary final. With the scores at 10-all at the end of the sixth chukka, it was coincidental that extra time was on the cards and a golden goal was scored. This was secured by the only 10-goaler on the field, Juan Martin Nero, to give Talandracas victory and the opportunity for patron Edouard Carmignac to receive the Cartier Trophy from HM The Queen later in the afternoon.
Facundo Pieres adds his name to the Queen’s Cup Trophy for the first time and takes man of match award
Zacara had enthralled throughout the league stages of the competition and did not disappoint on the final. The Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres was the undoubted celebrated superstar of the final and was rewarded with the Most Valuable Player prize. He seemed more delighted though to receive the Best Playing Pony Award from HM The Queen for his horse Galatica whom he had played in two chukkas in the afternoon.
Such nail biting play did not go unnoticed by the several thousand people who were watching this match.
The winners Zacara where overwhelmed with joy as they received the prestigious cup which followed a well deserved party.
By Emb Hashmi
