First part of the season at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly just ended last Sunday on the particular note of the well-named “Coupe des Infatigables”! The parenthesis of August will still not be a period of rest for everyone since a large part of the teams will meet in Deauville while waiting for the event of the year at the Polo de Chantilly, the ladies and mixed French Opens starting on September 3rd.
Three weeks of competition for the men, one for the women, to win the two most prestigious title of the season here, in Chantilly.
The mixed French Open presented by Paprec (16 goals) saw the light during this century. It is the most important tournament played in Europe at this time of the year. Six teams will compete in a challenging tournament over 3 weeks. Four of them have already confirmed their presence, including the French formation of Sainte-Mesme (with France n°1 and handicap 6 Brieuc Rigaux), and two former winner of the tournament, Switzerland Marquard Media (holding title with the handicap 7 and talented Argentina Martin Aguerre Jr.), and La Quinta (team based in Chantilly, with another argentine h7 player, Dario Musso, and France h5 Pierre Henri Ngoumou). The club also received the enlistment of a British team, EFG Bank Aravali, lead by h7 and player for the British team, Max Charlton, alongside Chili h7 Jaime Huidobro, who is also accustomed to play in the Abierto de Palermo.
Games of the French Open presented by Paprec are breathtaking, fast and furious, fiercely disputed (many encounters ended last year with just a small goal scored during overtime). These matches can be enjoyed during the week, at the end of the day, where only other players and the petiseros are spectators, or over the week-end, when they are commented for a better understanding to an audience that is less expert. The day of the final culminates with a huge party around the Terrain d’Honneur.
Ladies polo: a “new” sport to discover absolutely.
Five years ago the most famous tournament in French Polo turned female with the launch of the Ladies’ French Open, dedicated entirely, as its name suggests, to female players who are on the increase. This polo is calmer and also more refined. However it is also fiercely competitive. In 2016 the level of the tournament is reaching a new point and passing to 16 goals (in female handicap); the tournament is now the ultimate, highest level championship outside the frontiers of Argentina. Four team have already made clear their intention to win the French title, among them, a strong German formation around handicap 8 (feminine) Hazel Jackson; and two French teams. One around a woman who was once the best lady polo player in mixed tournaments, Caroline Anier (handicap 6 and recent winner of the ladies Open de Paris), and the other one with Argentina Lia Salvo, handicap 9, who has lost count in ladies polo tournaments. Other interesting enlistment, the one of the Barbadian team, based in England, Huntington House/Apes Hill, with handicap 7 Tamara Fox, sister of Nina Clarkin (h10), who also considers participating in the prestigious Open in 2017, expecting a happy event this year. Feminine polo: a different sport to discover at any cost! (as of September 12th, final on the 18th as an opening of the mixed French Open final).
A show, a green outing and the little Argentina
To the spectators, polo is a glamorous and magical moment in a green and charming setting in the Ferme d’Apremont. During the week, mostly at sunset, it’s a special and calm instant in border of the field, but “hot” in the game. On the week-end, encounters are commented for a better understanding of the sport, but spectators will also receive a program in which all essentials rules will be explained: a polo match is finally no more difficult than a tennis game! Uninformed spectators will be fascinated by the speed of the game, horse’s agility and players’ skills. Areas around the field are opened to all, freely, and it’s even possible to organize picnics. The French Open is the best “rendez-vous” to discover this exciting sport.