In a thrilling conclusion to the 2023 Sir Winston Churchill Cup, featuring some of the top teams and players in the UAE, Bin Drai Polo managed to narrowly edge Ankora-Lamar Polo 2-1.5 at the prestigious Al Habtoor Polo Club.
Both teams made the showpiece final after a challenging week of qualifying matches that thoroughly tested the skill and temperament of elite players. The finals between Bin Drai and Ankora-Lamar unfolded fiercely from the very beginning, with Ankora-Lamar scoring a half-goal during the first chukker.
Bin Drai got into the game during the second period and scored a goal to make it 1-0.5, with the third chukker belonging to Ankora-Lamar, who scored a goal this time to carry a slender 1.5-1 advantage going into the fourth and final chukker. It was always going to be a tough lead to defend and it proved just that as Bin Drai scored yet again to go 2-1.5 up. And with Ankora-Lamar not finding an answer it stayed that way until the final buzzer was sounded.
In the subsidiary final, Abu Dhabi Polo edged AM-Bangash Polo 2-1.
Martin Pederson, the Chairman of IFZA, one of the league's primary sponsors, presented the players and the winning team with
their prizes.
Martin Rozendal was honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Sir Winston Churchill Cup Finals, while Reliquia owned by Ankora-Lamar, ridden by Federico von Potobsky, received the distinction of being the Best Playing Pony.