NEWS

An expression of pure happiness was written across Nico Pieres’ face. "It's amazing and I'm very happy," Pieres said repeatedly to anyone who walked up to congratulate him on winning the Queen's Cup. Captaining Scone polo team (David Paradice, James Biem, Nico Pieres, James Harper), Pieres managed to defeat Park Place in the Queen’s Cup Final 9-5, winning one of the most important polo tournaments in the world.

"This is my first time playing in the final, so I'm happy we were able to take the win. It was also my first time playing with David Paradice, but I really didn't expect to win our first time out. We knew we had a fun team, but there is a long way to go from having fun to winning a tournament. There were so many good teams, it seemed almost impossible to win but we did!" Pieres said with excitement shortly after receiving the cup from Queen Elizabeth herself.

As soon as he dismounted his horse, his brothers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres were quick to congratulate him. "Before the match they gave me advice to continue playing like we had been because we were doing good," Nico Pieres revealed.

Of course, Pieres had a lot of people to thank. "I'm grateful for everyone, my family, the English who invited me to play, and Paradice who trusted me. I mostly knew Beim, who had previously played with my dad, but I did not know the others. They're all amazing people."

The final was a very difficult match for Scone as well who made their comeback after a rough start in the first. "We had a very bad first chukker and we fell a few goals behind, but then we started to stage a comeback and control the pace of the game,” Nico Pieres said. “It was very important for us to remain in the lead throughout the second half. It's always good to maintain a comfortable buffer against teams like these."

Moving into the second half of play, Pieres noticed that the team began to click. "I think throughout the fourth or fifth chukkers we started to improve, and then went on to lead by three or four goals,” Pieres said.

Unlike the majority of the teams competing, Scone did not have a 10 goaler on their roster. While the role of the captain is important, Pieres acknowledged that teamwork is even more important. "I think our biggest advantage was having a balanced team. I was the highest handicapped player on my team at 9-goals, but there was not just one leader,” Pieres said reflectively. “I think that was our biggest advantage, all of us had the same mindset. Who scored, converted the penalty or was named Most Valuable Player did not really matter, and that was very good for our team dynamic."

In regard to the upcoming Argentine season Pieres commented that the Queen’s Cup victory is a stepping stone to get ready for Argentina. “Argentina is a different beast. This tournament win helps to build confidence and it's great to improve overseas, but the Argentine season requires a different level of preparation,” Pieres said. “When we are done with the English season, then we'll focus on our strategy for Argentina."

12 GAUNTLET OF POLO™ players will continue on in the English season for the King Power Gold Cup that begins Tuesday, June 25, and runs through Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Cowdray Park Polo Club in West Sussex, England. Out of the 10 teams entered two of the teams competed in the Florida high-goal winter season. La Indiana team owner Michael Bickford, out due to an injury, will be substituted by Marc Ganzi. Similarly, an injury that sidelined Pelon Stirling has reworked the La Bamba de Areco team with the striking addition of both Adolfo Cambiaso and Poroto Cambiaso. Continue to follow the biggest hitters in our sport as they compete across the pond.

Click here to see the full schedule, rosters and results.