Lechuza Caracas
| Founded | Early 2000s |
|---|---|
| League | High Goal Polo Circuit |
| Location | Sotogrande, Spain |
| Owner | Víctor Vargas Irausquín |
The Lechuza Caracas Polo Club is a prestigious Venezuelan high-goal polo club founded by the banker and businessman Víctor Vargas Irausquín.
The team has competed in the most important tournaments of the sport's "Triple Crown," including the U.S. Open Polo Championship, the British Gold Cup, and the high-goal tournaments in Sotogrande, Spain.
History and operations
The team was founded in the early 2000s by Víctor Vargas, who has served as the team's patron and player throughout the years.
Originally based in Florida for the U.S. winter season and later in England for the European summer season, the club moved its primary operations to the polo hub of Sotogrande, Spain, around 2015 to avoid the rainy English season.[1][2]
The club is known for signing some of the best Argentine polo players on the international circuit, including 10-goal players like Juan Martín Nero and Adolfo Cambiaso (who played against them in the 2007 final).
High-goal titles and finals
Lechuza Caracas has secured significant victories in the most prestigious polo tournaments worldwide, demonstrating its relevance in the sport as an elite Latin American team.
Chronological titles and finals
| Competition | Country | Year | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.V. Whitney Cup | United States (Palm Beach) | 1999 | Winner | [3] |
| English Gold Cup (Veuve Clicquot) | England (Cowdray Park) | 2002 | Finalist | [4] |
| C.V. Whitney Cup | United States (Palm Beach) | 2002 | Winner | [3] |
| C.V. Whitney Cup | United States (Palm Beach) | 2007 | Winner | [5] |
| English Gold Cup (Veuve Clicquot) | England (Cowdray Park) | 2007 | Winner | [6] |
| USPA Piaget Gold Cup | United States (Palm Beach) | 2009 | Winner | [7] |
| English Gold Cup (Veuve Clicquot) | England (Cowdray Park) | 2010 | Finalist | [6] |
| US Open (U.S. Open) | United States (Palm Beach) | 2011 | Winner | [8] |
| Copa C.V. Whitney | United States (Palm Beach) | 2011 | Winner | [3] |
| Sotogrande Gold Cup (Alto Hándicap) | Spain (Sotogrande) | 2012 | Winner | [2] |
| Triple Corona (Consolidada) | Dominican Republic | 2016 | Winner | [9] |
| Copa de Plata (Maserati Silver Cup) | Spain (Sotogrande) | 2017 | Winner | [10] |
| Triple Corona (Consolidada) | Dominican Republic | 2017 | Winner | [11] |
| Copa de Plata (Maserati Silver Cup) | Spain (Sotogrande) | 2018 | Winner | [12] |
See also
References
- ^ "Sotogrande, el paraíso del polo". Marca (in Spanish). 2018-08-12. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ a b "Sotogrande Polo Magazine - Summer 2011". Hurlingham Polo Magazine. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ a b c "C.V. Whitney Cup Tournament History". National Polo Center. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
- ^ "British Open Polo Championship: Facts About the Tournament Everybody Wants to Win". Pololine. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ "CHUKKER CHUKKER". Martin Estevez Blog (in Spanish). 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ a b "Past Winners of the Gold Cup". Hurlingham Polo Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ "Lechuza Caracas win USPA Piaget Gold Cup". Polo Times. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ "Sunday's US Open Results". Polo Magazine. 2011. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
- ^ "Lechuza logra Triple Corona al conquistar la Copa de Oro". Listín Diario (in Spanish). 2016-03-20. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
- ^ "Lechuza Caracas, campeón de la Copa de Plata Maserati de alto hándicap". Real Federación Española de Polo. 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
- ^ "Lechuza Caracas se queda con la Copa de Oro". El Nuevo Diario (República Dominicana) (in Spanish). 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
- ^ "Lechuza Caracas, campeón de la Copa de Plata Appletiser de Polo". Ayuntamiento de San Roque. 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2025-09-30.