Cuvée 450 Arena Gold Cup
On Saturday 29 February, arena polo fans gathered in their droves at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club for the thrilling Final of The Cuvée 450 Arena Gold Cup. Saturday’s Final was between the German powerhouse team Schockemöhle Polo Stud and RCBPC regulars, Regal Warriors. From the off, it was a fast and furious match with powerful plays between the two strongest players on the sand, Regal Warrior’s 10 goal Max Charlton and Schockemöhle Polo Stud’s Patrick Maleitzke.
At half-time, Regal Warriors had the lead 13-9, thanks in part to exceedingly strong play from Charlton’s teammate Marcus Cork, but it was the second half when Cork, later named the British Polo Gin Most Valuable Player, really came into his own, riding circles around his higher handicapped opponents. The fourth and final chukka saw Schockemöhle Polo Stud’s Clement Delfosse in heightened defence, battling furiously against the blue shirts of Regal Warriors, but as the chukka, and thus the Final ended, Regal Warriors rode away the 2020 victors, 22-18. Vida, played by Patrick Maleitzke and owned by Los Machitos, was named the Polo Times Best Playing Pony. In The Silver Cup Final, Cuvée 450 defeated Ojo Caliente 18-16. The April issue of Polo Times will have a full report from The Cuvée Arena Gold Cup, so please make sure you renew your subscription here now.
The Cuvée Arena Gold Cup Final Teams:Regal Warriors (15): Raph Singh (2), Marcus Cork (3) & Max Charlton (10)Schockemöhle Polo Stud (13): Estelle Wagner (2), Patrick Maleitzke (5) & Clement Delfosse (6)
Photograph: Regal Warriors secure The Cuvée Arena Gold Cup. Courtesy of Raph Singh