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Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup 2005
In the semi-finals yesterday, unfortunately, Dubai – winners in 2001 – lost their star play, Adolfo Cambiaso following a collision in the 4th chukka. Cambiaso fractured his right wrist and also following injury to team member Ryan Pemble, there were two substitutes today. The Dubai line up for the final was Tariq Albwardy (0) son of Patron Ali Albwardy, Lucas Monteverdi (8), Piki Diaz Alberdi (8) and at Back Agustin Nero (6). Their opponents, the Black Bears, are an experienced side having won the Gold Cup in 1992 and 2002 and also finaliststs in the Queens Cup this year had Eduardo and Javier (or as we call him Caviar!) Novillo Astrada (both 9) in the centre with Nicholas Antinolri (4) at Back and Patron Urs Schwarzenbach playing at No.1. Tick Tock – tick tock the Veuve Cliquot clocked tick and spectators clutching their champagne took their seats at 3 pm as the final commenced and within minutes Eduardo Astrada scored the first goal to put Black Bears in the lead. Following a tangle Antinolri was unseated but after treatment was back in the saddle. At the end of the 2nd chukka the score was 4-0 to the Black Bears and the spectators were starting to feel sorry for Dubai as they had 2 injured players. The 3rd chukka was fast and exciting and the score was 5-5 – then Eduardo Astrada was knocked off his pony – he too had to have treatment on his leg but he too remounted – and amazingly by the end of the 3rd chukka and half time Dubai took the lead 6-5. By the 6th chukka there was all to play for as the score was 9-8 to Dubai – substitute Monteverdi played so well – and the final score was amazingly 11-10 to Dubai. Arriba Arriba the crowd went wild! The Gold Cup was presented to Dubai by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. The ‘best pony’ was Indiana ridden by Piki Diaz Alberdi and the ‘Most Valued Player’ was Piki – all in all a fantastic day was had by everyone at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup day.
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On a blazing hot Sunday, 18,000 spectators came to Cowdray Park to watch the final of the British Open Championship, the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup. Eighteen teams entered the tournament this year, the highest number for 15 years with last year’s winners, Azzurra, suffering a surprise knock-out in the quarter finals. After hard fought semi-finals yesterday, the two teams in the final were Dubai (Green/White) against Black Bears (black/grey).
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