An unforgettable finale. This is how the definition of Turkish Airlines Gold Cup that they gave us the sets of Calatagan And ATL Marine and Energy on field number 3 of the Ayala Los Pinos headquarters. With the aim of winning the title, culminating in the 53rd International Polo Tournament of Andalusia, everything was prepared to be experienced as what it finally was: a polo party. The chronicle would later indicate that the victory belonged to Calatagan, But the truth is that this meeting left a mark that will hardly be forgotten.
The parity between the two teams was constant, beyond the fact that both teams had moments in which they were able to obtain certain advantages on the scoreboard that allowed them to feel closer to victory. But everything ended the same way: the rival reached equality and even reversed the situation. Talk about the actions of Facundo Pieres and of Bartolome Castagnolaboth at the top of their 10-goal handicap, is repetitive, but they were truly unforgettable. Both guided and led their teams at all times, and were also very well complemented by their teammates.
In short, and in a match that seemed inevitably headed towards the extra chukker, a good combination of Calatagan, With the decisive contribution of Santiago Laborde and the subsequent completion of Antonio Heguy, he gave the title to the Philippine team Martin Romualdezwhich won the Turkish Airlines Gold Cup for the first time in its history, and which closed an unforgettable year 2024, which also included the conquest of the Sotogrande Bronze Cup.
It was also a day of definitions in the Low Handicap, where Calatagan and 1896 Polo faced each other for the third final of this 53rd International Polo Tournament of Andalusia: in the Sotogrande Bronze Cup, the winner had been 1896 Polo; in the Terralpa Silver Cup, the title went to Calatagan. On this occasion, it was necessary to wait for the extra chukker to know the winner, and it was then that in 1896 Polo decided history in his favor and won the victory. In addition, and also in the Low Handicap, Grupo Mendizábal beat CH Kazuki and won the Lacoste Cup.
After the final, it was the turn of the awards ceremony, in which, in addition to the protagonists, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Mayor of San Roque; José María Arrabal, Secretary General of Sports of the Government of Andalusia; Muzzafer Rifaioglu, General Director of Turkish Airlines in Malaga; Berk Eratik, Commercial Director of Turkish Airlines in Malaga; Lorenzo Nencini, European Representative of the US Polo Assn.; Carmen Morales, Founder of Casa Libertas; María Cruz Conde, Representative of Covetsol; Douglas Messias, CEO of Doma Eyewear; Rita Jordao, Marketing Director of Sotogrande; Juan Goti, representing the Argentine Polo Association; and Manuel Cereceda, Sports Director of the 53rd Andalusian International Polo Tournament.
Amanara wins in a medium handicap
They faced each other on Friday at Ayala Los Pinos Headquarters two teams that already knew what it was like to celebrate a title in the Medium Handicap category of the 53rd International Polo Tournament of Andalusia: Electric Polo, who won the Sotogrande Bronze Cup, and Amanara, recent winner of the Terralpa Silver Cup. And although in the qualifying phase the victory had gone to Electric Polo, this time the story was very different: Amanara imposed conditions from the beginning and won by 14 to 9.
The superiority of Nicky Sen’s team was such that after the first two chukkas, the advantage was 7 to 0. Amanara, who could not count on Lorenzo Chavanne, injured, had a substitute in Beltran Laulhé who at no time increased the responsibility of having to come in to play a final. A very good accompanist of Santiago Chavanne as a coach, Laulhé was also essential to play and make the team play, assisting Pedro Chaavnne on several occasions. In his second season in Sotogrande, Amanara quickly managed to complete the trilogy of titles, since in addition to the Silver and Gold Cups obtained in 2024, he won the Bronze Cup obtained in 2023.
After the final, it was the turn of the awards ceremony, which was attended, in addition to the protagonists, by Muzzafer Rifaioglu, general director of Turkish Airlines in Malaga; Paola Zóbel, president of the Ayala Polo Club; María Cruz Conde, representing Covetsol; and Berk Eratik, commercial director of Turkish Airlines in Malaga.
After the awards ceremony, and as happened throughout the day on Friday, the public was able to enjoy Last Chukker, the proposal that accompanies polo at the Ayala Los Pinos headquarters between fields 3 and 4, and which includes the Croft Twist drinks bar, supported by Cokko & Rosso; food trucks; the shops inside the central pavilion; and the Market, present every Friday and Saturday.
