Mascor Africa wins the Eagle Challenge Cup

Mascor Africa team lead by Captain Craig Millar (left with a microphone) after they received their prizes for winning Eagle Challenge Cup at Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil on October 22,2023.[ Ben Ahenda,Standard]

Mascor Africa withered the storm to win the Eagle Challenge Cup as curtains came down on the three-day competition at Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil, on Sunday.

Mascor Africa defeated the star-studded Crown Paints 6-5.5 in a tough match that saw Mascor captain and man of the match Craig Millar's pony crowned as the Most Valuable Pony of the tournament.

The 12-year-old-pony christened 'Smash' impressed the panel of selectors. Millar scored all the goals for his spread in all the four chukkas.

"It has given good services since I acquired it three years ago. It's a good horse and believe you me, it's a good horse and we are determined for it to give me better results in future," Millar (Craig) told Standard Sports.

Millar scored all the goals for his spread in all the four chukkas.

In return, Jamie Murray scored four and Jose Craig another for Crown Paints in the mouthwatering competition that open doors for the Jamhuri and Christmas competitions at the Same venue in December.

During the prize giving ceremony, KPA President Griffiths (Pete) announced handicaps of seven players, the youngest being international Jadini Nzomo who moves from handicap 1.5 to 2.

"I now settle down to rightly prove that i earned the handicap in my future matches and that does not mean that i must buy new horses," Jadini told Standard Sports in jubilation.

And Davis and Shirtliff team of Mike Mwirigi, Bobby Kamani, Daisy Oldenburg and Josephine Gauld won the Subsidiary Cup in the four-team- round robin serie with maximum points.

Dudutech Nemguard team of Fredd Kambo, Tom Mason, Charlotte Mason and Natalie Yanda were runners up pof the Subsidiary Cup.

"It's a lovely weekend of polo after I scored crucial goals and most importantly the winning goal in the finals. It was total teamwork that ensured we won," Mwirigi said in a post-match interview.

He said the good display open doors for him improving in future matches.

THE EAGLE CHALLENGE CUP - Mascor Africa

SUBSIDIARY CUP - Davis and Shirtliff

MOST VALUABLE PONY - Smash of Craig Millar