Adrian Kirby took part in the Veuve Cliquot Cup six times, but the +6-scorer never made it to the final of the British Open Polo Championship. After 40 matches in partly extreme weather it has been made: together with Francisco Elizalde (+6), Pablo Pieres (+8) – he just played his first polo season in England – and Jaime Carcía Huidobro (+9) of the local team Cortium Adrian Kirby stood in the finale at Cowdray Park against Team El Remanso with the brothers George Hanbury (+2) und Charlie Hanbury (+4), Guillermo Terrera (+7) and +9-scorer David Stirling the most highly handicapped player of the tournament.
Already in the beginning it was a very equal and close fought game. In the sixth chukker it seemed as if El Remanso had the victory safe already. But in the very last minute the outstanding Pablo Pieres activated everything and lead his team to the victory. Final result: 10:9 for Cortium.
Adrian Kirby, patron of Team Cortium said after the final: ”We can not realize our victory right now. It is a great day for Cortium Sports and an amazing victory for our team. Despite some really hard matches we never gave up. Thanks to everyone at Cowdray Park who made such a terrific tournament possible despite the bad weather conditions.“
”Most Valuable Player“ became +8.scorer Polito Pieres (Team Cortium). His stallion Rollinga – co-owned by Hernan Pieres – was decorated as ”Best Playing Pony“.
Top scorer with 46 goals in the tournament became Facundo Sola (+7) of Team Sumaya.
Photo gallery:
[nggallery id=55]
