The Royal Salute Coronation Cup – Meet the team
Words: Patrick
In South America, polo is part of the wider culture – it’s where the greatest players are born, bred and trained. As we in England hang onto every sniff of news unfolding from the Premier League, so the Argentines immerse themselves in every aspect of the game of polo from a very young age. It is covered in their mainstream news and a celebrity lifestyle of glitz and glamour follows the swashbuckling saddle stars – the likes of Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres.
Going up against them is, therefore, never to be taken lightly. A team of equal measure is required. Such is the demand at The Royal Salute Coronation Cup, where England takes on a 27-goal South American team, captained by 7-goal player James Beim, a graduate of the North Cotswold Pony Club and a maestro with a mallet in hand.
“The Coronation Cup is one of the most prestigious trophies in polo and to challenge a team with as much experience and talent as South America is always going to make for an exciting match,” James says. “We are looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd and after being defeated last year we are determined to regain the Coronation Cup title.”
Wearing the same strip as James will be Mark Tomlinson, Luke Tomlinson, James Harper (reserve), The Earl of Tyrone (reserve) and 25-year-old Max Charlton – the latter of whom is one of England’s up and coming young players, with this being his Coronation Cup debut. The self confessed adrenaline junkie – as he described himself in our current issue – currently has a 7-goal handicap and a string of accolades to his name. In 2012 he was presented with the Best Young Player award by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Guards, and he also won the Best British Professional Player at the Polo Awards in 2014 and 2015.
Speaking of the imminent summer showdown, Max said: “I am thrilled to be selected to play for England on Coronation Cup Day for the first time. My main aim is to get myself really well mounted for the match because the horses will be crucial.”
As is widely publicised in polo, a refined horsemanship is the most vital tool in any player’s armoury, something that this England team can boast. It is set to be a thriller.
The Royal Salute Coronation Cup takes place at Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park on Saturday 25th July 2015. Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to book your tickets visit www.coronationcuppolo.com or call +44 (0) 1784 437 797.
Images courtesy of www.imagesofpolo.com
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