Gauchos to VICTORY!
Dara Williams reports from the Sunset Polo Adolfo Cambiaso Day
Having won the latest editions of the Argentine Open, US Open and Queen’s Cup in the same season, Adolfo Cambiaso, the world’s top player, went on to win another prestigious trophy at Ham. This was, appropriately, the Adolfo Cambiaso Trophy, the prize for the Sunset Polo Day, which Cambiaso organised in aid of Ideas del Suir, a children’s charity in Argentina, of which he is a director.
Cambiaso led Gaucho, representing Argentina, onto the fi eld to meet Camino Real, otherwise the Rest of the World. The Camino Real line up included young Rashid Albwardy, who had played with Cambiaso in the Queen’s Cup. For Gaucho, Alan Meeker had fl own in especially, while Ernesto Gutierrez and his son, Fermen, had fl own in by helicopter to play on either side.
Benjie Davis, a well-known player at Ham, opened the scoring with a goal for Camino Real, to be answered by Ernesto Gutierrez. By the end of the third, and penultimate chukka, scores were level, 5-5.
Former Ham president Ali Albwardy, playing for Gaucho, sent through the deciding shot in the last chukka, to give Gaucho a 6-5 victory.
Photo: Mark Greenwood
A superb dinner and auction raised a considerable sum for Ideas del Sur. Mims Talton, from the USA, bought a saddle signed by every 10-goal player in the world, whilst a Cambiaso helmet, in the famous Argentine colours, was knocked down to Alan Meeker, who most generously returned it to the charity for another auction in the future.
The day featured an exhibition of Bicycle Polo, with members of Chelsea Bicycle Polo Club facing a Ham squad. There was also a demonstration of the Argentine game of Pato, which involves a handled ball being thrown between players, each of whom has to stoop from the saddle in an attempt to capture it.
A junior match saw Cambiaso and Pablo Mac Donough – who had played together for the fi rst time in high-goal polo this year – playing with youngsters.
The day was sponsored by La Dolfi na, Gaucho Restaurants and Camino Real Polo Club of Argentina.
44 Photo: Rory Merry
GAUCHO ARGENTINA: Alan Meeker, Ernesto Gutierrez, Ali Albwardy, Adolfo Cambiaso.
CAMINO REAL:
Benjie Davis, Fermen Gutierrez, Rashid Albwardy, Pablo Mac Donough.
Photo: Mark Greenwood Photo: Rory Merry
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