The one of the biggest tournaments of the European season is preparing for action! Following the success of the 2020 Engels & Volkers Open de France, where great teams and organisations fought for the trophy, there is much expectation surrounding the 21st edition of the competition. Last year’s final is still fresh in mind: a game that saw the Castagnola brothers, Barto and Camilo (“Jeta”), go head to head, representing Les Lions Panarea and Talandracas, respectively. After a spectacular final, the former came out on top.
Ten teams are set to compete in the 2021 Engels & Volkers Open de France, the third leg of the French Triple Crown. The tournament will take place from September 3 to 19 at Chantilly Polo Club. Some of the best players on the international circuit are set to play, such as Jeta Castagnola, who will once again represent Edouard Carmignac’s Talandracas, and Chilean-Irish player Tommy Beresford, winner of the 2020 French Open and runner up of the prestigious Cámara de Diputados Cup in Argentina last December.
Alongside Jeta, seven other Argentine players have confirmed their participation: Jero Del Caril (Kazak), Martin Aguerre Jr (Marquard Media), Clemente Zavaleta (SainteMesme), Rufino Bensadon and Juan-Gris Zavaleta (Le Pommeraye), and Tito Ruiz Guiñazu and Facundo Fernández Llorente (La Magdeleine).
Some of the best French players will also be playing for the title: Brieuc Rigaux (Britanny Polo), Pierre-Henri Ngoumou (Mungo), Patrick Paillol (Kazak), Clément Delfosse (Schockemöhle), Caroline Anier (Le Pommeraye) – the best French female player of all time, and the young Sam Sztarkmann (Majoa Polo Team).
The Open de France is an opportunity to enjoy a great time while watching good polo. The club boasts eight grounds with beautiful views. There is also the Tacos Bar, the polo food-truck, available for all to enjoy, and on weekends, commentators guide spectators into the games. On Fridays, the club offers its famous aperifi at the Orangerie in the VIP area. On finals day, there will be a village with stores and more entertainment, with the Orangerie turning into a lavish restaurant and champagne bar. There will also be wonderful picnic areas. So stay tuned – the Open de France is an extraordinary opportunity to discover an adrenaline fuelled sport in a friendly and relaxed surrounding!
The Engels & Volkers Open de France will be STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
OPEN DE FRANCE – TEAMS:
BRITTANY POLO CLUB: Jean-François DECAUX 1, Brieuc RIGAUX 6, Rodrigo RUEDA 6, Thierry VETOIS 3.
KAZAK: Sébastien AGUETTANT 0, Patrick PAILLOL 5, Jero DEL CARRIL 7, Santiago IRASTORZA 4.
MAJOA POLO TEAM: Sam SZTARKMAN 1, Jota CHAVANNE 5, Martin JOAQUIN 5, Nicolas CORTI MADERNA 5.
MARQUARD MEDIA: Ignacio KENNEDY 5, TBA, Martin AGUERRE 7, Tommy RINDERKNECHT 0.
MUNGO: Patrick EISENCHTETER 1, Juan José STORNI 5, Simon ZAVALETA 4, Pierre-Henri N’GOUMOU 6.
LA MAGDELEINE: Alexandre GARESE 0, Lucas NOTTIN 2, Facundo Fernández LLORENTE 7, Tito RUIZ GUIÑAZU 7.
SAINTE-MESME: Robert STROM 5, Clemente ZAVALETA 7, TBA, TBA.
TALANDRACAS: Edouard CARMIGNAC 0, Hugues CARMIGNAC 1, Tommy BERESFORD 7, Camilo CASTAGNOLA 8.
LE POMMERAYE: Victoria SMITH 0, Rufino BENSADON 7, Juan GRIS ZAVALETA 7, Derek SMITH 1, Clément SMITH 0, Caroline ANIER 1.
POLO TEAM SCHOCKEMOHLE: Daniel DEISTLER 0, Antonino MENARD 5, Clément DELFOSSE 5, Patrick MALEITZKE 5.