2010 Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup

The 2010 Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club last Sunday (18th July) was the culmination of this year's Veuve Cliquot sponsored series and promised to be a full-on 6 chukka match between The Dubai Polo Team and Lachuza Caracas.Having won their Queen's Cup victory last month, and still the sporting the astounding Adolfo Cambiaso in their line-up, The Dubai Polo Team had to be the favourites going into the match.But the six chukka match was no walk in the park for Ali Albwardy's team. Play was fiercely contested from end to end with high scoring keeping everyone on the edge of thier seats.The game only showed signs of flagging slightly in the scorching Cowdray sunshine in the final chukka as a session of technicalities slowed play with both sides having heated discussion with the umpires.Player of the match Adolfo Cambiaso remonstrates with an umpireDespite the change of pace Dubai managed to hold the lead and the extra goals to take them to a score of 14 to 12 in the final chukka.The Veuve Cliquot tent was also an attraction for the celebrity VIP guests (as well as a broad swathe of photographers from all areas of the press). Most of the guests were happy to oblige and stop for a polite few frames.The full set of images of the 2010 Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club are here.
2010-07-18 Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup - Images by SLIK Images Sports PhotographyI also stayed for the second game of the day: The John Cowdray Trophy. The light was better, the play was in many cases just as good and, there was still cake in the press tent. I'm glad I did hang around as the improved light and lack of other photographers meant that some of the shots I got of this game, and subsequent prize giving, are among my personal favourites of the day. Young England and Young New Zealand played an excellent game. The final score saw Young England win by six goals to two but this scoreline doesn't give credit to how hard and well both team played in the afternoon heat. A full selection of John Cowdray Trophy images are here.
2010-07-18 John Cowdray Trophy - Images by SLIK Images Sports Photography