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| The Labergorce team playing in red and white won the Queen's Cup Finals. From left to right: Luke Tomlinson (7), Carlos Gracida (9), young Freddie Mannix (6) from Canada and Hubet Perrodo (0). |
| Mrs. Mannix with her son Frederick before the match. |
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Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mannix.
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The final of the Hildon Queen’s Cup final took place on Sunday 13th June at Guards Polo Club. The Hildon Queen’s Cup has been played at Guards since 1960. This is a premier high-goal tournament and attracts the world’s leading teams and internationally renowned players.
This year’s final was between Azzurra and Labegorce. Labegorce have been runners-up in this competition for the past two years losing last year to Dubai by one goal and their captain Carlos Gracida despite having won the Gold Cup a record ten times, has played in seven Queen ‘s Cup finals but still had to add his name to the winners’ list of this tournament.
The Labergorce team playing in red and white were Hubet Perrodo (0), Carlos Gracida (9), Luke Tomlinson (7) and the young Freddie Mannix (6) from Canada. Azzurra playing in blue was Alejandro Novillo-Astrada (5), Juan Martin Nero(7), Marcos Heguy (10) and playing in his first Queens Cup Stefano Marsaglia (0).
To the sounds of the band of the Irish Guards and the cheering crowds clutching their bottles of complimentary Hildon water, the first chukka began and within minutes Juan Martin Nero scored the first goal putting Azzurra in the lead. Labergorce had great chances with Hubert Perrodo hitting the goal post and Carlos Gracida with a 40 yard hit but unfortunately pushed it wide. Gracida eventually scored the equaliser, which was a tremendous goal.
Marcos Heguy put Azzurra in the lead in the second chukka with a goal from 110 yards followed by a great goal from Carlos Gracida with the ball going right out into the car park. Another goal from Gracida put Labegorce in the lead for the first time. The second chukka ended with a penalty in favour of Labergorce with Gracida scoring from 30 yards out. The third chukka saw Gracida scoring once again to make Labegorce leading 5-3, minutes later Alejandro Novillo-Astrada scored and at the end of the third chukka and half time Labegroce were leading 5-4.
In the second half and the fourth chukka, Novillo-Astrada equalised for Azzura and Martin Nero scored to put Azzurra in the lead at 6-5. Young Freddie was well placed to score a terrific goal to draw 6-6 at the end of the fourth chukka. The fifth chukka saw Novillo-Astrada ‘s pony tripping over the perimeter board and both rider and pony falling. Luckily they were both OK and after a few minutes Novillo-Astrada continued to play. Gracida stroked the ball into the goal to put Labergorce into the lead once again at 7-6.
The sixth and final chukka saw a missed chance by Marcus Heguy and with minutes ticking the hard fought final was won by Labergorce – to the great cheers of the crowd and Carlos Gracida was so delighted he threw his stick in the air in triumph!!
| Frederick Mannix is presented with a medal from HRH The Queen. |
HRH The Queen, presented the Queen’s Cup to Labergorce and the award for the most outstanding player was chosen by the loudest clap of the crowds and went to Carlos Gracida with Freddie Mannix coming a very close second. I spoke to Freddie before the match and he was absolutely delighted to being playing in this tournament and was looking forward to the final as was his proud parents!
Congratulations Frederick! Well Done. - From your polo friends in the West Coast Polo Circuit.
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