The Tournois Members Games, re-named as a tribute to one of the most remarkable personalities of polo in France, the late Yvan Guillemin, who passed away in late 2018, will open fire in Paris, the City of Lights, next weekend. This competition, that will feature members of the Polo de Paris, will be the kickoff of a very special season, as the club’s premier tournament, the Open de Paris Engel & Volkers, will celebrate its 125th. Anniversary.
Thoroughout its history, this colorful and glamorous club, set in the French capital, within the Bois de Boulogne and the place where the 1924 Olympic Games were held, has greeted some of the world’s most renowned polo players – current 10-goalers Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martín Nero are among them. It’s worth to note that one of the players of the Argentine Open, Facundo Fernández Llorente will be participating during the upcoming season. But La Ensenada’s man won’t be the only star player.
Some of the best French players will be in competition, as well, such as Robert Strom, who is the current title holder of the Open de Paris Engel & Volkers with his team, Sainte Mesme. The Parisian Triple Crown will also showcase Matthieu Delfosse, Clement Delfosse, Patrick Paillol, among others. In addition, Argentina’s Diego Braun will play his 26th. season in France, while Ramiro Zavaleta will maintain his family’s remarkable tradition within the history of polo in France.
The Polo de Paris will step into its most busy stage after the Tournoi Yvan Guillemin, due next weekend. The opening tournament of the Parisian Triple Crown, the Tournoi de Printemps, will feature four teams and the second leg, the Tournoi de la Ville de Paris, will be even more competitive, with six lineups. And more teams are expected to play in the culminating tournament: the 125th. Open de Paris Engel & Volkers.
PARISIAN TRIPLE CROWN
Tournoi de Printemps (8-10 goal): May 4-19
Tournoi de la Ville de Paris (8-10 goal): Mayo 25-June 9
125° Open de Paris Engel & Volkers (8-10 goal): June 15-30
2019 SEASON POLO DE PARIS
Tournoi Yvan Guillemin (4-6 goal): April 27-28
Open des Jeunes & Open des Dames: May 22-23
Tournoi d’Autumne (6-8 goal): September 7-22
Championnats de France de Polo (6-8 goal): September 28-October 6
TEAMS – TOURNOI YVAN GUILLEMIN
KAZAK-RED FALCON: Sébastien Aguettant (cap) 0, Laurent Dassault 0, Charles Letourneur 0, Patrick Paillol 5. Total: 5.
SAINTE MESME: Robert Strom 5, Willy Saget-Johnson 0, Jean-Claude Legrand 0, Birger Ström (cap) 0. Total: 5.
KAPPA: Anne de Contades 0, François Kayat (cap) 0, Stanislas Clavel 2, Bertrand Couturié 2. Total: 4.
MUNGO: Patrick Eisenchteter (cap) 1, Ulysse Eisenchteter -2, Laëtitia Macaire 0, Mathias Guillemin -1. Total: 4.
TEAMS – TOURNOI DE PRINTEMPS
LA CONCEPCION: Hans Spek -1, Topo Braun 4, Martin Joaquin 5, Jules Legoubin 2. Total: 10.
SAINTE MESME: Birger Strom 0, Robert Strom 5, Gregorio Gelosi 4, Charlie Thige 1. Total: 10.
LE POMMERAY: V & C. Smith -1/0, Charlie Le Galle/Caroline Anier 2, Facundo Fernández Llorente 7, Derek Smith 1. Total: 9/10.
RED FALCON: Laurent Dassault 0, Ramiro Zavaleta 4, Lucas Nottin 2, Matthieu Delfosse 4. Total: 10.