Cartier Queen’s Cup Final 2022 – Great Oaks Bring The Cup Home
The Cartier Queen’s Cup is one of the most prestigious polo tournaments in the world. This 22-goal tournament saw 15 world-class polo teams battle it out in a total of 39 games played at Guards Polo Club. It has been an intense journey for these teams and bets could have been put on many of them. The two finalists were Park Place Vaara and Great Oaks LL playing on the Queen’s ground on Sunday, June 12th, 2022.
Park Place Vaara:
- Hilario Ulloa 10
- Santos Merlos 4
- Josh Hyde 0
- Juan Britos 8
Great Oaks Les Lion:
- Dillon Bacon 2
- Juan Martin Nero 10
- James Beim 7
- Cruz Heguy 4
Both teams were undefeated up to this point and hungry to bring the prestigious cup home. The boys in blue and yellow started the first chukker with a lead and kept that advantage throughout the game until the last seconds of the 6th chukker, where Cruz Heguy playing for Great Oaks LL closed the gap to 8-8 and took the teams into an overtime chukker.
It got a little sticky and tricky in that extra chukker, with a few fouls and expensive mistakes made by both teams, everyone’s nerves were high. Finally, James Beim took a spot penalty and converted it into a beautiful goal that brought home the Queen’s Cup to the English team, who also won it in 2020.
The Great Oaks LL camp roared with excitement and cheer as tears of joy streamed down the player’s faces and this polo family’s members hugged and lifted each other.
James Beim riding off from his goal celebrating the win
Juan Martin Nero was awarded MVP of the game and Hilario Ulloa’s mare Lavinia Ambar was awarded Best Playing Pony.
Jason and I watched most of the game from our friends Michaela and Chris Weber’s pitchside tent, one of the many great traditions at Guards Polo Club.
