Kielder Agro Group: an English victory!

It may not have been the most beautiful match of the week, but when the final is on the line the only appealing result is a win. Today, polo was a sport of strategy, combat, and patience: and Britain’s Max Charlton proved to be the strongest at this game. All the talent of Raul Laplacette could do nothing about it, despite being named best player of the match.

Kielder Agro Group winner of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2024: Nacho Gonzales and Max Charlton (left) Jaime Robert and Philipp Mueller (right) surround athlete Mujinga Kambundji after his return from the Paris Olympics. ©Der Rote Drache / Kathrine Gralla

It was a defensive final which, naturally, concluded with a low score of 6-5. It was unbearable suspense until the end, with each team returning goals blow for blow. With only two minutes left on the clock, a remarkable individual play by Raul Laplacette leveled the score once again, and with mere seconds to go, Max Charlton took advantage of another 60-yard penalty. It was the goal that ultimately determined the match.

“Yes, it was a tough fight played out on penalties,” the Briton admitted. “We won today because we were a little bit luckier than Gstaad Palace since both teams were on equal footing. But I’m particularly pleased to have won here, for Phillipp [Müller, his captain]. It’s amazing!”

©Der Rote Drache / Kathrine Gralla

J. Safra Sarasin landed on the third step of the podium.

Today’s opening match, the final for third place, was clinched by French captain François Okala’s team, donning the distinctive J.Safra Sarasin colors, after an action-packed second chukker. Argentinian handicap 6 Horacio Fernandez Llorente led the charge, capturing four goals. The “blues” dominated the match from start to finish, after measuring up the pitch they only discovered last Thursday.

“Actually…not quite,” Tete Fanelli was keen to point out. “This is the third time I’ve played here. I’ve been a finalist twice before but lost on both occasions. I thought this would be my year, so I’m not completely satisfied with third place. That doesn’t stop me from enjoying this tournament enormously—the organization, the environment, the atmosphere. So I’m looking forward to coming back here and leaving with the watch!”

So, maybe next year from August 21-24. The date has already been set for this one-of-a-kind tournament, whose teams continuously express their satisfaction before they return home. This edition was no exception, an extraordinary celebration of polo that couldn’t possibly be spoiled by a little cold on Sunday.

Final for 3rd & 4th place

J. Safra Sarasin: Françoise Okala 0, Bautista Fanelli 3 (2 goals), Horacio
Fernandez Llorente 6 (4 goals) and Tete Fanelli 5 (2 goals)

Hublot: Jurgen Schröder 0 (1 goal), Juan Correa 3 (3 goals), Pedro Fernandez
Llorente 5 (1 goal), Manuel Fernandez Llorente 6 (1 goal)

Progression J. Safra Sarasin: 3-1 / 7-2 / 8-3 and 8-6

FINALE

Gstaad Palace: Fabio Meier 1 (1 goal), Luca Meier 1, Adrian Laplacette 6 (1 goal) et
Raul Laplacette 6 (3 goals)

Kielder Agro Group: Philipp Mueller 0, Jaime Robert 3 (1 goal) Nacho Gonzales
4(1 goal) and Max Charlton 6 (4 goals)

Progression Kielder Agro Group: 1-1 / 2-2 / 4-4 et 6-5

Tournament top scorer: Max Charlton (Kielder Agro Group) with 17 goals
Best professional player of the final: Raul Laplacette (Gstaad Palace)
Best amateur player: Luca Meier (Gstaad Palace)
Best horse of the final: Germania, a 9-year-old bay mare bred in Argentina by Colo
Germano, owned by Fabio Meier and played by Raul Laplacette