Hailed as “a jewel in the Polo calendar”, if the rules are relaxed, polo enthusiasts can witness the semi-final and final, which will be held from June 23-27.
The Cartier Queen’s Cup is a 22-goal polo tournament at the Guards Polo Club in England. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was also a polo enthusiast, had said: “There is something about the outside of the horse that is good for the inside of the man.” People have always been fascinated by horses. The aristocracy and the royal family were also impressed by the speed, strength and grace of the horses. In the UK, this admiration is shown through many equestrian events, including the Royal Ascot, Olympia Horse Show and The Grand National. The epitome of these equestrian tournaments is the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final.
The staple of the summer season, Cartier Queen’s Cup is one of the Queen’s favorite royal events. Her Royal Majesty presented the Queen’s Cup to the Guards Polo club in 1960 and to date attended the final to award the Silver Cup. A string of top polo players, including His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, whose team Les Diables Bleus won the Cup in 1986, have taken part.
Regarded as “the jewel on the polo table” by British weekly Country Life, it is one of the top 22-goal polo tournaments in the world. According to Beau Monde Traveler magazine, “The pinnacle of equestrian tournaments in the world, let alone in Britain, is the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final. Here’s the most coveted date on the sports and social calendar where Europe’s wealthy, from royals to industry titans, to A-list celebrities, enjoy the day.”
Organized every year by the Guards Polo Club, the Cup is the pinnacle of Great Britain’s polo season. This is the club’s leading tournament, featuring top players from all over the world, with their elegant and impressive ponies. This is an exciting three-week tournament that delivers a fast and breathtaking polo with every chukka.
It has been sponsored by Cartier since 2012. The association of the famous watchmaker and jeweler gives the sport context in the luxury space. Sharpening perfection and luxury, The House of Cartier conveys a message that resonates throughout the brand. Their iconic panther symbolism tenacity and elegance. The same attributes can also be seen in the Cartier Queen’s Cup.
The prevailing fashion at the tournament isn’t about couture dresses, but about a more reserved, ingrained style associated with the royalty. Celebrities are spotted here enjoying the sporting event. Actors such as Jenna Coleman and Eleanor Thompson were often seen in the finale. The Polo Magazine praised the tournament as the ‘most prestigious polo club in the world’. The finals are worth watching as the best teams in the world go head to head in a fierce battle. The adrenaline is running high and the tension is nail-biting. However, due to Covid-19, many activities have been moved or suspended. But this has not been a disappointment, because even in times of crisis the tournament has been able to develop.
David Cummings, CEO of Global Polo Entertainment, a wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary of USPA Global Licensing and Incorporated, spoke to CLICKPOLO USA about pay-for-view arrangements in times of social isolation due to the pandemic. He said: “Currently, most sports organizations do not allow spectators. On the one hand, live streaming is a great advantage because it offers the polo enthusiast the opportunity to watch the best polo, the best players and their horses via the internet. On the other hand, there are costs involved: pay-per-view.” Continuing with the pay-per-view insights, he said, “I believe pay-per-view is here to stay. The AAP began the live streaming, pay-for-view process with the Argentine Open in 2019, followed by the XPL games, and Cowdray Polo Club (King Power Gold Cup) and Guards Polo Club (Cartier Queen’s Cup) followed in the 2020 season. Without pay-for-view we would have missed some of the most exciting games of the season.”
This year, 15 teams participated in the tournament, including some great polo players such as Adolfo Cambiaso Senior (Scone Polo), Facundo Pieres (Park Place), Hilario Ulloa (King Power) and Juan Martin Nero (BP Polo). If there are opportunities to relax the rules, the club promises to open doors to non-members as well, and polo enthusiasts can witness the semi-final and final of the Cartier Queen’s Club, to be held from June 23-27.
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