Article presented by Us Polo Assn.
An outstanding end for an outstanding tournament that, in addition, saw some extra spice – the clash of the Heguy cousins. Gaston delivered a fabulous performance to beat no less than the powerful Dubai by a narrow 9-8, and won the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup, in the much anticipated championship match that took place at Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex, England. Gaston, with Cruz Heguy, the son of the legendary Eduardo “Ruso” Heguy, won over his cousin, Antonio, the son of Ruso’s brother, the also legendary Alberto “Pepe” Heguy. It’s worth remembering that both Ruso and Pepe are four times winners of the Argentine Open with Indios Chapaleufu II.
With regards to the match for the coveted golden trophy, Gaston, who played this contest for the first time ever, fielded a 21 goal lineup and was awarded one goal on handicap, clashed against one of the most renowned organisations worldwide, Dubai, who won the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup six times – the last was in 2024 with Antonio within the lineup. Gaston had a stronger start, quickly marking a 3-0 in the first chukka. In the second, it was Dubai who outscored Gaston 2-1, to close the gap to two goals and by half time the scoreboard read a 6-4 advantage for Dubai.
Although Dubai managed to stay in the game, led by the two top scorers, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. and Antonio Heguy, who produced seven goals between the two, Jean-Paul Luksic’s lineup widened their advantage in the two following chukkas – 8-6 and 9-7 in the fourth and fifth chukkas, respectively. But the match was still very close enough, so the deal was not sealed and done yet, so a thrilling last chukka was expected.
And so it was. Determined to overturn the result and earn their seventh title at Cowdray Park, Dubai rolled up in the sixth chukka, And despite Tariq Albwardy’s squad scoring one goal, Gaston managed to hold their contenders back and avoided all of Dubai’s attempts to find the flags. With around one minute and a half left, an assist from Gonzalo Ferrari ended in a terrific goal by Cruz Heguy, to ensure Gaston the hard fought 9-8 win to lift the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup for the first time and in their first final of the contest ever.
Regardless of the result, it’s worth noticing that this championship game, the most significant in English polo, saw the clash of the new generation of the Heguy family through the remarkable skills of Gaston’s Cruz and Dubai’s Antonio. The Heguys, who have been making polo history for more than 60 years, had the joy of seeing the new kids on the block playing one of the top polo tournaments worldwide, just like their forebears have done. Following the path that began 70 years before, in 1956, when the Gold Cup was established at Cowdray Park, by John Weetman Pearson Third Viscount Cowdray, the crucial man of the return of polo to England after the devastating Second World War. And precisely, that first ever edition of England’s most prominent competition went to an Argentine lineup called Los Indios; a lineup that included a certain Antonio Heguy in the lineup – no less than Cruz’s and Antonio’s the great-grandather.
Polo is in safe hands, the legacy of the legendary Heguy family goes on.
ST. REGIS COWDRAY GOLD CUP, FINAL SUMMARY, SUNDAY JULY 19
GASTON 9-8 DUBAI
Gaston: Jean-Paul Luksic 0 (1 goal), Beltrán Laulhé 7 (3), Gonzalo Ferrari 7 (2)*, Cruz Heguy 7 (3). Total: 21.
*Subbed in for the injured Pelón Stirling.
Dubai: Tariq Albwardy 0, Santos Merlos 6 (1 goal), Antonio Heguy 7 (4), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9 (3). Total: 22.
Score Gaston: (1-0) 3-0, 4-2, 6-4, 8-6, 9-7, 9-8.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Henry Fisher.
Third Man: Tim Bown.
MVP: Cruz Heguy.
BPP: Alberta Yaguara, ridden by Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.
BPP Patron: Vasca Se Buena, ridden by Jean-Paul Luksic.
Source: PoloHUB Read More