David “Pelon” Stirling Jr. is the only non-Argentine player to hold a 10-goal handicap in recent decades, a distinction that makes him one of the most remarkable figures in modern polo. Born January 4, 1981 in Uruguay, Stirling has won the Argentine Open, Hurlingham Open, and Tortugas Open, all in a country where the competition at the 40-goal level is dominated exclusively by Argentine-born players. His 10-goal rating as a Uruguayan is virtually without precedent.
Stirling announced retirement from high-handicap polo in late 2024, but his status for the 2026 Triple Crown season remains unclear. He is listed with Las Monjitas, and if he plays, he would join Juan Martin Nero (9-goal), Lucas Monteverde (9-goal), and Rufino Bensadon (8-goal) at a 35-goal total. The combination of Stirling and Nero, two former La Dolfina-era champions, would give Las Monjitas one of the most experienced cores in the competition.
Stirling’s career in Argentine polo is a story of sustained excellence against enormous odds. Uruguay, while a neighbouring country, does not produce polo players at the volume or quality that Argentina does. For Stirling to reach and maintain 10-goal in the Argentine handicap system, competing against the likes of Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo Mac Donough, and Facundo Pieres season after season, required a level of talent and determination that is difficult to overstate.
If Stirling competes in the 2026 Triple Crown, he would play in the Hurlingham Open at the Hurlingham Club, the Tortugas Open at Tortugas Country Club, and the Argentine Open at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Buenos Aires. At 45 years old in 2026, his continued inclusion in a 35-goal team speaks to the respect his ability commands. Whether the 2026 season marks Stirling’s final campaign or his retirement holds, his legacy as the lone non-Argentine at the top of the sport is secure.