POLO ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA – ST TROPEZ!!
By Susan Stovall
The parade.
Home of over 200 foot yachts, the 50 year anniversary of the discovery of Brigitte Bardot, beautiful beaches and people, polo pony parade through the village of St Tropez, the launching of Tequila Triunfo in France and the best polo during the month of July on the European mainland. Eight – 15 goal teams were in the International Cup and ten – 15 goal teams in the Open de Gassin were hosted by the Polo Club St Tropez and owner Corinne Schuler. Players from USA, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Argentina, Brazil and France played hard fought games with the Wasabi team lead by Guillermo Willington (7), Marcos Mocoroa (4), Pablo Lllorente(4) and team patron Karen Brink were the winners of the International Cup. Andre Fabre (0) team patron for the In the Wings team and happens to be the leading thoroughbred trainer of France with Pancho Bensadon (8); Santiago Irastorza(4) and Ignacio Tejerina(3) captured the Open de Gassin over Tres Marias which had Southern California winter player, Pierre Gnoumou(4)on the team – a first for a 3-man French team in the finals with Olavo Novaes(8) of Brazil, the captain.
From California Geoff Palmer had his Antelope shirts on his team with another winter California player, Caroline Anier(2), and Martin Garrahan(7) and Fati Reynot (6) rounding out his team. Both in the International Cup and the Open de Gassin, Geoff Palmer was the leading amateur scorer – one game making 7 goals. Fergus Gould – another Southern California import is the head umpire for the season.
Special parties were given by Corinne Schuler including a cocktail party on her family boat moored in the harbour of St Tropez and an Asado by the resort Tupungato of Argentina. Argentine beef was specially flown in for the party of over 400. The August month hosts 12 goal teams and the club has just started lower goal polo with 4 teams competing the last two weeks of the month. The polo school instructor, Juan Martin Garcia-Laborde (5), has also started a very popular coaching chukker program that has brought in several new players.
Next season the club will have two more field and will look forward to an even more successful season. Please see our website at www.polo-st-tropez.com.