Valiente became champions of the CV Whitney Cup at the newly opened National Polo Center-Wellington in Florida.
The Wellington team scored 10-9 over reigning winners Pilot, despite the former title holders ending the first chukka 3-2 up.
However, Adolfo Cambiasa helped Valiente get in lead from the second chukka onwards, despite the goal difference being extremely close between the teams throughout the match.
Pilot was just a goal short at the end of the fifth chukka with 8-9 and tied 9-all during the sixth chukka. In the end though, Peke Gonzalez managed to score, helping Valiente to take home the title.
Polo Online described the victory by Bob Jornayvaz’s side as “one of the best comebacks of the 22-goal season in Palm Beach for the Colorado-based organisation”.
The CV Whitney Cup was previously known as the US Handicap when it launched in 1979 before its name changed nine years later. It was renamed in honour of three-time winner of the US Open Polo Championship Cornelius Vanderbilt ‘Sonny’ Whitney, who was also the son of Harry Payne Whitney.
Sonny Whitney was an avid polo player and owned a number of thoroughbred racehorses. He was also a businessman, film producer, writer, philanthropist, and government official before passing away at 93 years old.
The CV Whitney Cup now represents the first tournament of the Gauntlet of Polo. Twelve teams up to 22 goals compete in the match before going on to play in the USPA Gold Cup and the US Open Polo Championship.
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