The Hurlingham Open, the oldest polo tournament in the world (founded in 1893), is celebrating its 132nd edition with the highest standard of competition and an additional layer of anticipation: in 2025, it is the first chapter of the Argentine Triple Crown, ahead of Tortugas and Palermo.
The action began on September 24th at the Alfredo Lalor Grounds in Pilar (AAP), following a one-day postponement due to heavy rain, and will culminate with the final on Saturday, October 4th at the historic Hurlingham Club, a venue that has been the stage for more than a century of polo greatness.
The major storyline of this season is the debut of La Natividad – La Dolfina, the only 40-goal team in the draw, bringing together the legendary Adolfo Cambiaso, his son Poroto Cambiaso, and the prodigious Castagnola brothers, Camilo and Bartolomé. This combination represents the fusion of two dynasties and already showcased a dominant brand of polo in their first outing.
Teams
• La Natividad – La Dolfina (40): A. Cambiaso (h.), Poroto Cambiaso, Camilo Castagnola, Bartolomé Castagnola.
• Ellerstina – Indios Chapaleufú (36): Facundo and Gonzalo Pieres, Cruz and Antonio Heguy.
• La Irenita – La Hache Clinova (37): Hilario Ulloa, Francisco Elizalde, Pablo Mac Donough, Ignatius du Plessis.
• UAE Polo (37): Polito Pieres, Lucas Monteverde (n), Tomás Panelo, Juan Martín Nero.
• La Ensenada (34): Rufino Bensadón, Gonzalo Ferrari (replacing injured Sapo Caset), Juan Britos (h.), Jerónimo del Carril.
• Sol de Agosto (32): Facundo Sola, Benjamín Panelo, Juan Martín Zubía, Paco de Narváez.
• Los Machitos – El Refugio (32): Victorino Ruiz Jorba, Alfredo Bigatti, Diego Cavanagh, Teo Lacau.
• La Hache Cría & Polo (32): Bautista Bayugar, Carlos Ulloa, Joaquín Pittaluga, Ignacio Laprida.
Quarterfinals – Extended Match Reports
La Natividad – La Dolfina 29–4 La Hache Cría & Polo
The debut of the 40-goal machine was nothing short of historic. From the very first chukker (5–0), the outcome was inevitable. Camilo Castagnola led the charge with 11 goals, Poroto Cambiaso added 9, Barto scored 7, and Adolfo (h.) chipped in with 2, orchestrating play with his trademark vision.
La Hache Cría & Polo, despite fighting bravely, could only score off fouls in the second and fifth chukkers. The sheer pace, accuracy, and relentless attack of La Natividad – La Dolfina overwhelmed them. This 29–4 scoreline will be remembered as one of the most lopsided victories in recent Triple Crown history.
• Chukker progression: 5-0, 8-1, 11-2, 13-2, 17-3, 20-4, 25-4, 29-4.
• Fouls: La Natividad 4; La Hache 11.
• Penalty conversions: 4 of 5 for Cambiaso/Castagnola; La Hache 2 of 4.
• Field goals: La Natividad 25 (84% accuracy).
Ellerstina – Indios Chapaleufú 13–6 Los Machitos – El Refugio
Ellerstina displayed tactical discipline throughout, anchored by Facundo Pieres, who scored 7 goals (3 from the penalty line). The key incident came in the fifth chukker, when Antonio Heguy was injured and replaced by Nicolás Pieres, but the team managed the situation seamlessly.
Los Machitos started with intensity, but by the third chukker Ellerstina had pulled away (9–2) thanks to Facu’s brilliance and Cruz Heguy’s defensive pressure. The final margin of 13–6 reflected Ellerstina’s control, if not fireworks.
• Chukker progression: 3-1, 4-2, 9-2, 9-3, 10-4, 11-5, 13-6, 13-6.
• Fouls: Ellerstina 7; Los Machitos 10.
• Penalty conversions: Facu 3/4; Cavanagh 2/3.
• Field goals: Ellerstina 8; Los Machitos 4.
La Irenita – La Hache Clinova 14–11 Sol de Agosto
This was the tightest and most dramatic quarterfinal. La Irenita started comfortably, building a 9–3 lead after three chukkers. But Sol de Agosto, led by Juan Martín Zubía and Benjamín Panelo, fought back and narrowed the gap to 10–9 in the sixth.
The pressure was immense, but Hilario Ulloa showed nerves of steel, scoring 8 goals (6 from penalties) and guiding his side to a hard-fought victory. Pablo Mac Donough’s experience was crucial in slowing the game down when Sol de Agosto threatened to overturn the result.
• Chukker progression: 3-1, 7-3, 9-3, 10-7, 10-8, 11-9, 12-10, 14-11.
• Fouls: La Irenita 9; Sol de Agosto 12.
• Penalty conversions: Ulloa 6/7; Zubía 3/5.
• Field goals: La Irenita 6; Sol de Agosto 8.
UAE Polo 21–13 La Ensenada
UAE Polo confirmed their rise as a serious contender with a commanding performance. They blitzed to a 4–0 lead in the opening chukker and never looked back. Polito Pieres was the standout, scoring 10 goals (5 penalties), while Juan Martín Nero anchored the defense superbly.
La Ensenada, missing the injured Sapo Caset, leaned on Jerónimo del Carril, who scored 7 goals, but they were always playing catch-up. UAE’s balance—Panelo and Monteverde providing energy and goals—made the difference.
• Chukker progression: 4-0, 8-3, 11-6, 14-8, 16-9, 18-11, 20-12, 21-13.
• Fouls: UAE 6; La Ensenada 14.
• Penalty conversions: Polito 5/6; Del Carril 2/4.
• Field goals: UAE 16 (76% accuracy).
Top Scorers (Quarterfinals)
Player Team Total Goals Penalties Field Goals
Camilo Castagnola La Natividad – La Dolfina 11 1 10
Poroto Cambiaso La Natividad – La Dolfina 9 2 7
Barto Castagnola La Natividad – La Dolfina 7 0 7
Hilario Ulloa La Irenita – La Hache 8 6 2
Facundo Pieres Ellerstina – Chapaleufú 7 3 4
Polito Pieres UAE Polo 10 5 5
Jerónimo del Carril La Ensenada 7 2 5
Juan Martín Zubía Sol de Agosto 5 3 2
Semifinals
• La Natividad – La Dolfina vs Ellerstina – Indios Chapaleufú (Saturday 27 September, Pilar).
• La Irenita – La Hache Clinova vs UAE Polo (Sunday 28 September, Pilar).
• Final: Saturday 4 October at Hurlingham Club.
Drysdale Cup (Subsidiary):
• La Hache Cría & Polo vs Los Machitos – El Refugio.
• Sol de Agosto vs La Ensenada.
Tactical Insights
1. La Natividad – La Dolfina: devastating field goal efficiency (84%), relentless high press, lightning-fast transitions; clearly the team to beat.
2. Ellerstina – Indios Chapaleufú: organized in defense, Facu Pieres central; Antonio Heguy’s injury raises questions.
3. La Irenita – La Hache Clinova: Ulloa’s reliability from penalties (86% accuracy) is key, but they lack punch from open play.
4. UAE Polo: the most balanced unit after La Natividad, with Nero commanding the back and Polito executing in front.
5. Youth movements: Sol de Agosto and La Ensenada showed energy and promise, proving the future pipeline is strong, though consistency is lacking.
Historical Context
The Hurlingham Open is not only the oldest active polo tournament in the world, but also the cradle of many dynasties: the Heguys, the Pieres, and of course Adolfo Cambiaso, who in 2025 still competes while his son has already emerged as a generational leader. The fusion of La Natividad and La Dolfina adds a new, almost mythical chapter to this saga.
Broadcast
• Disney+ (Premium Plan) across Latin America.
• AAP Live worldwide (single-match or full Triple Crown passes).
• Live updates on official AAP channels and team social media.
Conclusion
The 132nd Hurlingham Open is more than a tournament—it’s a living chronicle of polo’s past, present, and future. La Natividad – La Dolfina’s dominance hints at a new era of supremacy, yet Ellerstina still harbors hopes of spoiling that script. On the other side, La Irenita and UAE promise a semifinal full of tension and tactical contrasts.
Meanwhile, younger outfits like Sol de Agosto and La Ensenada show that Argentine polo is not only about tradition but also about generational renewal.
On October 4th, when the final ball is thrown in at Hurlingham Club, the world will witness another unforgettable chapter in the most distinguished sport Argentina has ever given to the world.