Teams revealed for the King’s Coronation Cup

England will play the Commonwealth for the King’s Coronation Cup, in an historic year to celebrating the crowning of King Charles III. Guards Polo Club will once again host this iconic tournament, and guests will be treated to two international matches, plus a chance to party the night away with a live concert and DJ.

The senior England team will be captained by Tommy Beresford, who in his first appointment as captain led the England team to victory against the USA for the Westchester Cup in March 2023. Captaining on foreign soil is no easy task, and Tommy did a remarkable job of bringing a team together, on borrowed horses, to upset the Americans on their home turf. One of England’s highest rated players at 7 goals, 27-year-old Tommy is undoubtedly a rising star and promises to become a household name in polo. When asked about his thoughts on the game, Tommy said, “I’m extremely proud to have been selected once again to represent England, and even moreso to be named as captain – to do it here in England on home soil will be a unique experience. I’m extremely happy with the team that’s been selected, having the experience of James Beim and James Harper is amazing. I played with Ollie [Cudmore] in America a few years ago and it will be great to play the Coronation Cup with him as well. The Commonwealth will be a strong side, well captained by Fred Mannix, and they’ve got a lot of experience in these games. England have played against the Commonwealth three times – they’ve won twice and we’ve won once, so we’re definitely keen and motivated to set the balance straight and make the most of the opportunity to get another win on the table.”

Joining Tommy to play for England will be James Harper (7), James Beim (6), and Ollie Cudmore (6). Harper, 43, captained the England side to defeat Uruguay in the Coronation Cup in 2022, and has bounced back from injury this season to play in this year’s tournament. James started playing polo at the age of 12, a self-confessed thrill-seeker who never looked back once he found he could combine chasing a ball and riding a horse. James will be making his fourth appearance for England in the Coronation Cup, and with two defeats and a win, ‘Harps’ will be looking to add another victory to his tally.

James Beim was part of the winning Westchester side with Tommy in 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the England team. Winning the Cowdray Gold Cup aged just 18 alongside Adolfo Cambiaso, by age 22 ‘Beimy’ had added the Prince of Wales and Queen’s Cup to his enviable record. He has played in the Coronation Cup for the past 13 consecutive occasions, with eight victories. This year’s match will mark the 43-year-old’s 14th cap for England in a Coronation Cup, leaving only the Hipwood brothers, Julian and Howard, with more appearances.

Ollie Cudmore, 33, is no stranger to the England team, having first played in the Coronation Cup in 2014, and returns to the team this year fresh from victory for Black Bears in the Warwickshire Cup. He’ll be seeking to finally get his name on the cup this year, having been beaten by Argentina both times he’s played for the Coronation Cup. In 2018, he played alongside Harper, Beim, and Charlie Hanbury to win the Gold Cup for El Remanso, and they become only the second-ever all British team to do so.

Leading the Commonwealth side will be Canadian ace and Hurlingham Polo 1875 ambassador, Fred Mannix. With a handicap of 7 goals, Fred, 39, is Canada’s highest-rated player, and was only the second Canadian in history to play in the Argentine Open. Horses run in the family; both Fred’s parents ride, his brother Julian also played polo, and his sister Vanessa is showjumping at the top level. Speaking from his native Calgary, Mannix said “Being named captain is a tremendous honour and I don’t take it lightly – I know I have a lot of responsibility, to all the people that have helped me personally get where I am today, and also to my teammates. It’s a fantastic day for polo and I’ll be giving it my best swing – we’re going to do everything we can to make it a very competitive match”. Mannix has played for the Commonwealth in the Coronation Cup three times before, winning both on his debut in 2002 – when the match went to an extra chukka – and again in 2016, before suffering a 7-1 defeat in 2017.

On the Commonwealth team, Fred will be joined by Chris Mackenzie (6), JP Clarkin (6), and Garvy Beh (5), representing the strength in depth of the Commonwealth nations. Chris Mackenzie will represent South Africa, having played in the Coronation Cup on two occasions. He was part of the team in 2012 – the only time South Africa have played for the Cup – and in 2016, when he was part of the winning Commonwealth team. 

John Paul ‘JP’ Clarkin hails from New Zealand and is one half of polo’s best-known power couple, married to the world’s top female player Nina Clarkin. JP is New Zealand’s top-rated player, playing off a handicap of 7 goals in his home country, and splits his time between his UK and New Zealand bases. 2023 will be the fifth time that JP will line up in the Coronation Cup, having played for New Zealand in 2006 and 2010, and then playing alongside Fred Mannix and Chris Mackenzie in 2016 and 2017.

Garvy Beh will be the sole Coronation Cup debutant this year, making history as the first Malaysian player to play in this historic tournament. Garvy combines his polo with an illustrious career in the tech industry, as the founder of healthcare app Doctor2U. Garvy is playing alongside his brother Joevy in the Gold Cup this year, so will be well-tuned and in full power to make a competitive game in the King’s Coronation Cup.