2020 - Open de France UK

RICHARD MILLE BOUTIQUES

GENEVA PARIS LONDON MILAN MUNICH MONACO ISTANBUL ABU DHABI DUBAI DOHA RIYADH KUWAIT MOSCOW BEIRUT

THE FRENCH OPEN POLO TOURNAMENT

The grueling coronavirus lockdown will long be remembered by our polo players.

Many of us have experienced the harsh cancellations of training chukkers, tournaments and championships required by the government authorities because of the Covid-19 viral epidemic. It was 3 months of restrictive lockdown, with consequences particularly painful for our players, amateurs and professionals.

Our Federation has stood by the clubs and players on a daily basis throughout the sanitary crisis by intervening with the French and Argentine authorities.

I wish to thank, once again, all the clubs for having respected the constraints which were often imposed on them at the cost of sporting and financial sacrifices.

It is with great joy that we can attend the 20 th French Open in the superb settings of the Domaine de Chantilly Polo Club, which will again welcome teams composed by high-goal players.

To our greatest satisfaction, this 20 th French Open will be played again this year by both men and women, knowing that the number of young male and female polo players has been remarkably increasing every year.

The French Open is one of the most brilliant jewels of our Federation which, through its dynamism and regulations, has become an unmissable rendez-vous among the top-level French sports.

JEAN-LUC A. CHARTIER PRESIDENT FRENCH POLO FEDERATION

09 E ditorial

11 Polo Club Editorial

13 The French Triple Crown

14 Season 2020

20 11 champions and 8 teams for a 20 th anniversary

22 Memories: 15 captains for 19 victories…

28 Legends of the French Open

32 We are one

33 The five French Open horses that marked Brieuc Rigaux 37

TWENTY (20)... ALREADY!

Twenty (20)… It can evoke the number of sides of an icosagon, the vertices of a dodecahedron, or the nostalgia for the bygone days.

At a time when many discussions took place about a world before and the one after, this is without any doubt, a number that follows 19 and precedes 21. For us, polo enthusiasts and players, it's a 20 that heralds a 20 th … the 20 th edition of the French Open.

Created in 2001 by Mr. Patrick Guerrand-Hermès and the French Polo Federation, this tournament quickly established itself as one of the major competitions in the international circuit.

Therefore, it is an honor and pride for the Chantilly Polo Club to host, from September 4 th to 20 th 2020, one of the biggest events in our sport.

The level of the 20 th edition has been further improved, bringing together this year, 8 teams, 7 nationalities and 13 players with handicaps

from 6 to 9, including the young and very talented Barto Castagnola.

To meet the expectations of this event, special care has been taken in the preparation of the grounds... and of course the Gala on September 12 th, 2020! It is a formidable anniversary that does not call for nostalgia but for the greatest joy!

These few days will be filled with passion and delight. If we have ever thought during the troubled times, that "Friendships shares all sorrows but not all pleasures", we will try to make sure to enjoy with you all, the pleasure that the 20 th French Open has promised to offer.

With my best regards and in a sportive spirit.

ARNAUD DE CHÊNEVARIN PRESIDENT DU POLO CLUB DU DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY

Paris · Saint-Tropez · Cannes · Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

PARIS 16 : Dans le quartier de la Porte Dauphine, situé au 1er étage avec ascenseur d’un immeuble pierre de taille, appartement refait à neuf. Hall d’entrée, double réception, salle à manger, cuisine dinatoire, 3 chambres, salle de bains, douche hammam et 2 caves. DPE en cours. W-02HFSG. 3.150.000 €. Honoraires 5% TTC à la charge du vendeur.

NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE : Au cœur du quartier Saint-James, hôtel particulier entièrement rénové comprenant 8 pièces spacieuses organisées sur 4 niveaux avec 4 chambres et 3 salles de bains. Un appartement de service, une salle de sport, un hammam et un garage de deux places complètent ce bien. DPE : en cours. W-02EZM2. Prix sur demande. Honoraires 5% TTC à la charge de l’acquéreur.

CHANTILLY : Propriété datant du XIXème siècle comprenant cinq chambres et trois salles de bains, située à quelques minutes du centre, bénéficiant d’un jardin et d’une partie boisée à l’arrière de la maison. De nombreux aménagements sont possibles. DPE en cours. W-02IVMQ. 1.450.000 €. Honoraires 5% TTC à la charge du vendeur.

GASSIN : Au milieu des vignes bordant Saint-Tropez et à 5 minutes des plages de Pampelonne, villa provençale de 300 m² sur un terrain paysager de 2200 m² avec vue mer. Six chambres dont une suite de maître avec hammam et jacuzzi. Piscine. Appartement pour le personnel. Terrain adjacent de 2000 m² constructible et piscinable. DPE en cours. W-02JEW6. 8.000.000 €. Honoraires 6% TTC à la charge du vendeur.

Paris · 24 bis Rue de Berri · 75008 Paris · Téléphone +33 (0)1 45 64 30 30

paris@engelvoelkers.com · www.evparis.fr

THE FRENCH TRIPLE CROWN

The Deauville Int. Polo Club and the Polo Club of the Domaine de Chantilly, two important clubs in the international circuit, have joined forces over the years to offer the teams and the public, the best of international polo in France.

In 2017, the two clubs inaugurated the French Triple Crown, which was immediately won by the Argentine team Cibao La Pampa.

WHAT IS THE FRENCH TRIPLE CROWN?

The Argentine Triple Crown brings together the best teams in the world each year for three successive tournaments: the Tortugas Open, the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open. Following this model, Deauville and Chantilly joined forces to form the French Triple Crown. Therefore, the Silver Cup and the Gold Cup constitute the first two stages of this grand slam. To claim the Title, the double victorious team in Deauville will then have to win the French Open, which is played in September on the grounds of the Polo Club of the Domaine de Chantilly.

THE RULES

All the teams playing the Silver Cup, the Gold Cup and the French Open are presented in a general classification.

For each game, the victorious team wins 100 points.

Each team will receive 100 points if they reach the final. The winner will receive an additional 100 points.

The team that wins the 2020 French Triple Crown is the one with the highest score at the end of the French Open in September.

SEASON 2020

A brilliant victory today for Fredericka Dodge

After 3 first periods with just a one-goal difference, Hecla definitely dominated the last chukker by winning 7-5!

The

The 7 th edition of the Ladies Polo Cup was won by Grassfield after a clear round during the weekend, with the final score of 4-1 against Majoa Paris!

La Mariana - Gallops of Jordan dominated the EARL PHP Cup by winning 5-3 ½ against Opaline.

Hecla won the Coquetier d'Or Trophy!

Tellier and her teammates!

BPP: Machitos Montserrat (Machitos Opera / Open Cabernet), played by Martincito Aguerre and prepared by Santiago Agosto. This 8-year-old mare comes from "Los Machitos", the breeding stud of his uncle Mariano.

Polo Angels won the Chantilly Spirit Cup!

3 Venot sisters, accompanied by Paul Grabosch, won the game straight after 4 periods against Omedia Paris!

Finally, it was Black Mamba - Voltex who won the 6 th Aumale Cup with a golden goal in the additional period (6-5) against Omedia Paris.

BPP: Sea of light, a 10-year-old mare of Florent Garaud’s, groomed by Bérengère.

BPP: Machitos Vitamina (Machitos Viparita / Ellerstina Monaguillo), played by Martincito Aguerre and prepared by "Cabeza". This 11-year-old mare comes from the breeding stud of his uncle Mariano, a former 10 goaler, "Les Machitos" in Argentina.

Audaz won the Capitaine des Jeux Trophy!

It was with an (almost) flawless round that the Audaz team won the Capitaine des Jeux Trophy. Led by Brieuc Rigaux, Nicolas Constant's team is also accompanied by two young ladies, Adèle Renauldon and Agathe Mobian. They quickly established themselves to maintain the advantage till the end of the match and won it 9-6 ½.

Phoenix: Cyrille Costes (Cap), Adèle Renauldon, Edwin Robineau and Brieuc Rigaux. After being led by Cavok - Pantera for the first 3 periods, Team Phoenix fought back and tied the game (5-5) at the end of the 4 th chukker. It was a goal by Brieuc Rigaux after a few seconds of play during the additional period that secured the victory for his team.

La Victoire won the Haute Pommeraye Trophy!

Land Rover led the game during the first 3 periods, but the "machine" Martincito Aguerre set the team in motion, supported by the two Venot sisters Pearl and Eléna, not to forget their captain Tommy Rinderknecht. La Victoire ended up winning in the 4 th period, winning the game 5-4! The Trophy was offered to the Club in 1997 by André Fabre and was presented today by his daughter, Lavinia.

At the same time, the final of the Apremont Trophy was also played. In this match, the two teams finished tied and are happy to stay so! The winners are VFP and Twist - Los Playmos, bravo to both!

BPP: Mens Sana, a mare of Brieuc Rigaux’s and groomed by his petisero Juan. Unfortunately, this gorgeous thoroughbred has just left us after an accident in the meadow.

The EARL PHP - 2 nd during the Family Cup with Zoé Rollin - Lory Perrier - PHPLouis Jarrige.

Cavok won the Family Cup with Adrien Le Gallo - Arnaud de ChênevarinJules Mobian - Elior Gouault.

Omedia Paris with Ignacio Kennedy - Marceau Hue - Matthieu de la VillardièreJérôme Hue, finalist of the Aumale Cup and the Chantilly Spirit Cup.

Polo initiation with Yoann Maestri, Simon Jacquemus and their friends.

Los Indianos with Kim Grabosch surrounded by his 4 boys: Anton, Paul, Michl and Emil.

11 CHAMPIONS AND 8 TEAMS FOR A 20 TH ANNIVERSARY

Is it "the 20 th anniversary effect"? Or is it simply the reputation of the Domaine de Chantilly Polo Club and the well-known quality of its grounds?

As always, this special anniversary will be celebrated in the best sporting manner possible.

FRENCH OPEN

14/16 goals from September 4 th to 20 th 2020

Nicky

MARQUES

Alejandro

Luis

Santiago

MAJOA

Sam

Guillermo

SAINTE-MESME

8 teams will be competing for 3 sportive weeks at the highest level ever in France. Certainly, no match should be missed during these 20 days. We have teams coming from England, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and of course France. The French Open is an attractive title that arouses envy. And to aim for this trophy, the captains will not skimp on the means to hire some of the greatest Argentine professionals of the moment: handicaps 7 and 8 that usually shine during Argentina’s great season, from October to December.

To defend his title, Alejandro Aznar (Marqués de Riscal) from Spain, though already well equipped with Santiago Cernadas’s talent, called for a Copa Cámara winner: the handicap 8 Alejandro Muzzio. It is clear that Aznar wants to keep his trophy! French teams Sainte-Mesme and Le Pommeraye and Swiss Marquard Media are also counting on the former winners of this very tough Copa Cámara, respectively Clemente and Juan-Gris Zavaleta, as well as Martin Aguerre Jr.

In Argentina, all we are talking about now is the new generation of players who have stunned the international polo: 3 teenagers who are the pride of a Nation: Poroto Cambiaso (15 years old), the son of the great Adolfo, with whom he has just dominated the English season with Jean-François Decaux, winning in particular the mythical Gold Cup alongside his first cousins Barto (18 years old) and Camilo (aka Jeta) Castagnola (16 years old), who on their side, have just taken home the very prestigious Queen’s Cup. Amazing genetics! The two extraordinary Castagnola brothers will be in Chantilly this year: Barto will be playing for the team Les Lions Panarea and Jeta for Talandracas, who’s looking forward to coming back to the French Open.

Other regulars to the Argentine Open will complete the teams of this edition promised to be fabulous: Guillermo Terrera (h8), Fran Elizalde (h8), Alejandro Muzzio (h8), Santiago Chavanne (h7, used to be h9), Santiago Cernadas (h7), Martin Aguerre Jr, Juan-Gris Zavaleta et Clemente Zavaleta (h7) and Tito Ruiz Guiñazu (h7). (You can find more details about these great players in our article "Legends of the French Open" ).

The French polo will also present its best players, in particular the handicap 6, Pierre-Henri Ngoumou, who holds a French Open record after winning four titles for 4 different teams. Not to forget the handicap 5 Robert Strom, who did not hesitate to commit this year to the next edition of la Copa Cámara as well. A victory of the French Open with his teammate in this adventure, his brotherin-law Clemente Zavaleta, would certainly boost their confidence before heading to Argentina!

A 20 th French Open that is promised to be exciting, as each of the 8 teams all has players capable of winning the tournament… their horses will make all the difference.

THE OPEN TEAMS

AMANARA

MARQUARD MEDIA

SAINTE-MESME

LE POMMERAYE

MAJOA PARIS

MARQUES DE RISCAL

LES LIONS PANAREA

TALANDRACAS

MEMORIES: 15 CAPTAINS FOR 19 VICTORIES...

We reunited the 15 victorious "patrons" of the French Open since 2001 and asked everyone to rekindle their glorious memories in a few words. 15 comments with 15 sensibilities and 15 different approaches.

GAÉTAN CHARLOUX

LA CARDONE 2001

"It was a final with an incredible turnaround: against In The Wings, we were logically the underdogs with two ladies in the team. No one was surprised to see us down 6-2 at the beginning of the last period. That's when we started an incredible remontada and I equalized two seconds from the bell. During the additional chukker, André Fabre's team quickly got a penalty at 30 yards… Santiago Solari stopped the ball with his horse's neck which was still possible at the time. Standing behind him, I threw the ball back to him for a descent of anthology which ended with Celine’s winning goal".

ÉDOUARD CARMIGNAC

TALANDRACAS-GRASSFIELD 2002

"What a beautiful memory it is, the 2002 French Open. A very competitive tournament with lots of teams who witnessed the revelation of the two great players, Juan-Martin Nero, then handicap 6, and Pierre-Henri Ngoumou, still at 0".

PHILIPPE FATIEN

PIERRE-HENRI NGOUMOU

TALANDRACAS-GRASSFIELD 2002

Co-captain of this team, Pierre-Henri was then 15 years old and not yet the pro that we know today:

"Playing with Juan-Martin Nero was a great experience but above all a huge opportunity. My father told me at the time: ‘take this chance to play with him because in a few years he will be 10’. He was 6 at the time but already played with all the simplicity and ease of a 10".

CASTEL

2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007

"I'm still the only four-time winner of the French Open for now, but I think a team like Sainte-Mesme is able to break this record today. I have to say that, at the time I had a great organization around Matias McDonough and Timmy Welllington. I remember more specifically the first victory in 2003 when Matias was injured twice, getting back on the horseback each time: the first time he got hit on the back, then on the knee when, barely back on his horse, he went to score a magnificent goal. That day, I had to prevent Thibault Guillemin from going to defend on my pillar. Then, each victory in this event brought an additional dose of happiness".

POLO DEAUVILLE AND LAND ROVER

2008 and 2014

"It's a tournament that we have won twice and have been finalists three more times with the same pillar, Dario Musso. The first victory against André Fabre, under the colors of Polo de Deauville, was a great moment because we still had a small structure at the time. We have improved it over the years which made it possible to win a great final against the big organization of Sainte-Mesme in 2014. For the 20 th  anniversary, I will play this Open for the first time with my son and a player of the Top 10, Fran Elizalde alongside Pierre-Henri Ngoumou. This time the team will be called Majoa Paris".

ANDRÉ FABRE

IN THE WINGS 2005

"The French Open is a very good tournament, which always brings together good players and good game conditions. It was a great joy to be able to win it that year".

ALEXANDRE SZTARKMAN BIRGER STROM

SAINTE-MESME 2009

"The pleasure of winning in 2009 with Robert was enormous, because it already marked his maturity to play and it was our best tournament won with Christian Nordheimer, who had accompanied us from the youngest age of Robert. In 2018 I was injured but had the pleasure of watching Robert and Clemente to win the very competitive final. We were, in the two finals, accompanied by our formidable teammates".

HUGUES MORIN

TRES MARIAS 2010

"This tenth edition of the 2010 French Open had a special flavor: it went from 14 to 16 goals for the first time. My team, Tres Marias, who weren't even an outsider, has ramped up throughout this tournament. The talent of Olavo Novaes (h8) and his perfect organization of the team, with his brother João and a Pierre-Henri Ngoumou at their best, defeated the finalists HB Polo, considered however as the favorite team. Despite an inferior cavalry, Tres Marias offered the 3000 spectators an open game, a fast and particularly fair competition between the two teams. I was playing with two Brazilians and a Frenchman, which was noted by an Argentine polo magazine who later published a slightly chauvinist and bitter headline: ‘Tres Marías gana sin jugador de nuestro país (Tres Marias won without players of our country)’". MURUS SANCTUS

"This victory in the 2011 French Open is one of my best polo memories, if not the best. Philippe Perrier and his organization in Chantilly had everything prepared perfectly for this final, la cancha was formidable despite a cold rain worthy of November. The suspense kept the game going until the last second, the atmosphere in the tribune was palpable. Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella were making their debut, their talent was confirmed all the way to the top of the Palermo Open where we will meet them together in 2020… under the colors of Murus Sanctus. SUERTE"!

CORINNE RICARD JEAN-CHRISTOPHE DAVID

"After ten fantastic years spent within the great polo family, this unexpected victory in the final of the French Open remains one of the great emotions that I have ever experienced, surrounded by a team of formidable players, the Argentine Tomas Reinoso, the Frenchman Édouard Pan and the Englishman James Beim".

TOM TAILOR (ALL)

2013

"First of all, my sincere congratulations on the 20 th anniversary of the French Open. I’ve played in a lot of clubs around the world and I can say that Chantilly is not only a place with world class infrastructures, it’s just an exceptional club! I had the opportunity to win tournaments of different levels in Chantilly, but to play and to win this 16 goals tournament was a great honor. And if the Coronavirus isolated us this year, we will meet again soon".

UWE SCHRÖDER TOMMY RINDERKNECHT

JUAN PEPA

MARQUARD MEDIA (SUI)

2015 and 2016

"For me, the French Open has always been the highlight of the season for the past ten years with an exceptionally competitive polo. I won the Open twice in a row under the direction of Martin Aguerre Jr with a very harmonious team. Each of the tournaments has been an experience in itself. We will now do everything we can to win the Open for the third time".

CIBAO LA PAMPA (ARG)

2017

"It's a title I've always wanted to win, now it's done, we can come back to Chantilly and lose, it won't matter anymore. But beyond the victory, it was done properly to my greatest pleasure: the whole tournament took place in the best of spirits, a true gentlemen's competition… I was particularly happy that La Boxaderia was crowned the best playing pony in the final. This mare was born in Morocco at Patrick Guerrand-Hermès and this award recognized this breeding which produces so many good polo ponies. It is without doubt the most beautiful thing of this beautiful story. All my horses come from Patrick's stud".

"We won the French Open for the first time in 2009, I was 18 years old and it’s unforgettable as it is the first time that I won a tournament of this level, moreover, while playing with my father. It's a very competitive tournament and it took a lot of patience to get my hands on this trophy in 2018: it was also an important victory for me as I was inaugurating my handicap 5 that season. In between those two wins, there was that final lost in the dying seconds of 2014, the kind of game you don’t forget. It’s always a pleasure to play this tournament and it’s indeed one of the most important events of the year for the Sainte-Mesme team".

ROBERT STROM CLAUDE SOLARZ

ALEJANDRO AZNAR

MARQUES DE RISCAL

(ESP)

"We were in heaven. It was the first time that I came here with my team to play the French Open and we were genuinely overwhelmed. These facilities are very spectacular. Good weather every day… except on the day of the final".

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

LEGENDS OF THE FRENCH OPEN

Since the victory of La Cardone (the only winner in 20 years with two ladies) over In The Wings in 2001, the French Open has seen the parade of many big stars of international polo. Here let’s discover the 20 big names for the 20 years of the French Open!

Some of these players were already established, but many have become legends, winners of the benchmark tournament - the "Wimbledon" of polo: The Argentine Open, also known as El Abierto de Palermo, the competition that any high-goal athlete dreams of winning, or even just participating.

In the second year of the French Open, the TalandracasGrassfield team of Captains Édouard Carmignac and Pierre-Henri Ngoumou won the tournament with a young handicap 6 named… Juan-Martin Nero. Today nicknamed Juanma, handicap 10, is unarguably the best defense player in the world, if not ever! He has won 10 titles in El Abierto de Palermo, 8 with La Dolfina and 2 with Ellerstina. Pierre-Henri Ngoumou, then handicap 0 at aged 15, was part of this team. He is now one of the two No.1 French players at handicap 6 and is one of the best in Europe as well. Pierre-Henri would later win the French Open 3 more times. 4 victories with 4 different teams: Talandracas-Grassfield in 2002, In The Wings in 2005, Polo de Deauville in 2008 and Tres Marias in 2010, record of the event.

Fran Elizalde h8.

Barto Castagnola h8.

Pablo MacDonough h10.

Jeta Castagnola h7.

4 ARGENTINE CHAMPIONS PLAYED AT CHANTILLY

Then, over the years, the French Open has seen other exceptional players, winner or ranked in this prestigious Argentine championship: In The Wings won the French Open in 2005 with a certain Lucas Monteverde (h10 ) * , 4-time winner of El Abierto with La Dolfina; Pablo MacDonough (h10), a 10-time champion in Palermo, including 8 for La Dolfina, also played the French Open for La Palmeraie, a team dear to Patrick Guerrand-Hermès; his brother, Matias McDonough (h9)*, a longtime pillar of Castel (4 French Open victories) was a finalist in Palermo. Now handicap 6, the Frenchman Brieuc Rigaux won the French Open alongside him in 2004, he was 21 and was then of handicap 3.

The Pieres family also went through Chantilly: Polito Pieres (h10), 2-time finalist in Palermo, for the Austrian Horsepower and especially Facundo Pieres (h10), 3-time Argentine champion for In the Wings. Francisco Bensadon (h9) * , a loyal pillar of In The Wings, after having won the French Open with Castel, became a semi-finalist in Palermo and a double winner of la Copa Cámara de Los Disputados, the antechamber of the Argentine Open. Whilst in 2011, Corinne Ricard with her team Murus Sanctus won the French Open with Facundo Sola (h9), finalist of El Abierto and Alfredo Capella (h9) who has been playing El Abierto for five years now.

* The handicaps with an * are the highest reached by these players at the peak of their career.

In 2010, the HB Polo Team unexpectedly lost the Chantilly final with Ignacio Toccalino (h9) * , also an El Abierto regular. Not to forget the phenomenal young Camilo (aka Jeta) Castagnola with team Château d'Aulne in 2017, 14 years of age at the time and today, the 16 years old Jeta has a handicap of 8 and will certainly win the Argentine Open in the near future, with his uncle and cousin, the Adolfo Cambiaso father and son, and his brother Barto, a handicap 9 at 18 years old!

Polito Pieres at Chantilly with Power Horse.

11 ARGENTINE CRACKS FOR THE 20 TH ANNIVERSARY

This year, the exceptional players present in Chantilly who also attend the Argentine high-goal polo, therefore international, are Barto Castagnola (h8), Camilo Castagnola (h7), Guillermo Terrera (h8), Fran Elizalde (h8), Santiago Chavanne (h7, used to be 9), Santiago Cernadas (h7), Alejandro Muzzio (h8), Martin Aguerre Jr, Juan-Gris Zavaleta, Clemente Zavaleta (h7) and Tito Guiñazu (h7). These players have all played in El Abierto or have won the famous Copa Cámara. The big news is of course the participation of Bartolomé (aka Lolo) Castagnola's two phenomenal boys: Jeta and his brother Barto, who will play for the first time in France. The two brothers are considered in Argentina as the cracks of the next decade. They caused a sensation

during the last Argentine Open and have just won the Queen’s Cup in England with team Les Lions.

For his part, Martin Aguerre Jr, who works with his uncle Mariano, winner of 9 Argentine Opens with 4 different teams, for Los Machitos stud. He will replace his uncle for this team in Palermo in November unless his team doesn’t qualify. Clemente Zavaleta wore the colors of La Irenita stud in Argentina, who has already participated several times in El Abierto with his cousin Juan-Gris and Tito Guiñazu (h7), who will also be seen in the French Open this year with Le Pommeraye. Next November, Clemente will play, alongside his French brother-in-law, Robert Strom (h5) la Copa Cámara

with the colors of Sainte-Mesme-La Aguada, the second "half-French" team in history to participate in this prestigious tournament. Not to mention Santiago Cernadas (h7), who carried Marques de Riscal to victory in the French Open last year and who will return to defend the title this year with the Aznar family and Alejandro Muzzio. Santiago notably won La Copa Municipalidad del Pilar, the preparatory tournament for La Cámara and has just won the Gold Cup in Dubai.

The Chantilly French Open, as we can see, is a fairly well attended competition! Obviously, it is even more so when it comes to its 20 th anniversary edition.

Alejandro Muzzio h8.

Santiago Chavanne h7.

WE ARE ONE

The "WE ARE ONE" exhibition will be open from the 12 th to the 20 th September in the Orangery at the Polo Club de Chantilly.

Well known within the polo world for her captions of exquisite polo action scenes as well as portraits of people and horses, Evelina Jakovlevskaja has a series of exciting new pieces that were created especially for the French Open event.

Eva’s work is a perfect combination of her artistic talent and her knowledge of horses. She is able to capture the essence of the horse during polo matches and turn it into beautiful Fine Art images.

THE FIVE FRENCH OPEN HORSES THAT MARKED BRIEUC RIGAUX

Before being the excellent player that we know, Brieuc Rigaux is above all a horseman. A passion, almost a real obsession: not only, as a player, is he in constant search of the best horse possible, but he is also a formidable observer. He knows practically every single one of the 600 horses evolving in Chantilly.

So much so that in a match, when he sees his opponent entering the ground with a specific horse, he will go as far as to change his own horse for a more adapted one. Same thing in Palermo, Brieuc knows every horse he spots in the Open: their origins, pedigree, qualities and flaws.

Brieuc won his first French Open in 2004 with Castel, Philippe Fatien’s team. Since then, he has been observing all the horses that took part in this major competition.

Five special horses marked him in particular.

FANNY (IN THE WINGS), 2005

"This product of the Ellerstina stud (Pieres family) was notably played by Lucas Monteverde when In The Wings won the French Open in 2005. She had everything that we look for in a good horse and was extremely easy. Then, this chestnut mare went to the breeding stud in Argentina where she gave birth to a horse that Adolfo Cambiaso plays in the 26-goal tournaments in the United States".

VICKY (CASTEL AND IN THE WINGS), 2006

"This chestnut mare started in France with Pancho Bensadon. At Castel, Philippe Fatien bought her from Martin Aguerre senior - then with In The Wings - André Fabre then bought her when Castel was dissolved. She was a very complete mare, very athletic with a lot of strength and despite which she was still an easy horse. With Pancho, she was invincible. She then went to breed in Argentina where she gave birth to a foal, with which Pancho won La Copa Republica which is the big autumn tournament there".

CUERDA (CASTEL AND IN THE WINGS), 2007

"Another mare bought by Philippe Fatien at Matias McDonough's breeding stud, who became Pancho Bensadon’s favorite mare. She came to France as a young horse, it was in Chantilly that she progressed and revealed herself. Juan-Martin Nero even played her in England. She was formidable with Pancho, she was able to play three periods in a single match without batting an eyelid and at an incredible speed. She has an extraordinary health. Today, she is the broodmare at La Palmeraie at Patrick Guerrand-Hermès, but her foals are still too young to be judged on the grounds for now".

BLACK (SAINTE-MESME), 2014

"What’s interesting about this beautiful mare that’s almost black, is that her background is entirely French. She was born in Sainte-Mesme and her whole educational process was carried out in France. She's packed with qualities and I'm sure she's contributed a lot to bringing Robert Strom to where he is today".

GARGANTA (MARQUARD MEDIA –THE VICTORY), 2015

"This pretty brown-bay mare comes from the breeding stud of Los Machitos of Mariano Aguerre and is obviously ridden by his nephew, Martin, for the Marquard Media team. Polito Pieres played with her in Palm Beach. She is a complete mare and what stood out for me was the 2015 final where she played three chukkers without a problem, obviously winning the title of the best playing pony that day".

WOMEN'S FRENCH OPEN

Stronger than ever.

Women are asserting themselves more and more in the mixed Chantilly polo tournaments, regularly winning competitions with 1, 2 or even 3 female players who are not at all intimidated by men on the ground. The Women's French Open, as its name suggests, is exclusively reserved for the ladies.

The games will be very exciting this year with 4 teams committed, in which we will find in particular, the winner of the last Argentine Open and who also holds the record of victories in the French Open (4 wins) in Chantilly: Lía Salvo (fh 10 in Argentina). However, the rivalry is fierce as well: the Venot sisters (including Elena, fh 6) associated with Caroline Anier (who had a mixed handicap of 4 at the peak of her career) - this will clearly be the team to beat.

FRENCH OPEN

THE CASTEL TROPHY

France-Germany!

In recent years, the game level and the speed of the "6-8 goals" have been on the rise. The matches are extremely spectacular with patrons who are more and more competitive. 12 teams in this Castel Trophy with players that we see more often in medium goal polo - or more: the Argentine Manuel Elizalde (h6), pillar of the German team Berlinosos, Mariano Uranga (h6, REI ) or the remarkable Valentin Novillo Astrada (h6, Los Nocheros ) a serial champion in Chantilly. It should be noted that 9 French teams are committed this year, 4 are entirely composed by French players, including the one of the Chantilly Polo Club President Arnaud de Chênevarin! There are also 3 German teams in this competition, especially the one composed by 4 members of the same family: the Grabosch father and sons.

MUNGO – winner of the 2019 Castel Trophy.

BERLINOSOS

CAVOK

LOS

POLO GENERATIONS

Polo, a sport - to be practiced as an amateur or in competition - but above all a universe, with its very own values. Among which, a sharing spirit and a deep desire to pass on the passion through generations. Illustration on the grounds at the Polo Club of the Domaine de Chantilly.

It’s hard to imagine having such a haven of greenery, within just a 40-minute drive from the Eiffel Tower and the dazzling City of Lights. And yet, nestled in the heart of a princely forest surrounding Paris, on the grounds of the Apremont Farm, the Polo Club of the Domaine de Chantilly spreads out its 230 hectares. Pictured in 1996 by Patrick Guerrand-Hermès, today the Club can boast of its 9 competition grass grounds and 2 arena fields for training in all weathers, on which some of the greatest players from all over the world get together regularly. Infrastructures that have earned the merit to host a world championship and twice the European championship. Beyond the prestigious location, the Chantilly Polo Club also stands out for its polo school for all levels, the largest one in France. Not to mention the polo ponies, accessible to toddlers, so they can get to know the animal and the competition from the very young age of 5. So powerful is the will to transmit, within the school, but not only. As polo is a family affair, and the fact that we can seemingly get into the game quickly. To understand

it, all you have to do is open your heart and listen. Listen here and there to the testimonies of the regulars on the grounds, at the Club House or in the club's restaurant – L’Estancia, a glance of the land of gauchos, where polo is one of the most popular sports. For example Florent Garaud, bitten by the passion with his father, he made his debut at the pony club and now plays for the French National Team; or Benoît Perrier, Director of communication and Polo Manager at the Chantilly Polo Club: “my father used to be a racehorse breeder, he brought two polo ponies to the stables in 1982 and started to play with friends. It soon became a passion that we all share. Today this passion has been passed on to all generations: my children, my wife and my sisters as well". And yes, polo is a sport also practiced by many women. From generation to generation, the love of horses goes on and on. But not without a certain authenticity - since as elegant as the sport could be, polo is out in the open air, inviting you to navigate among the matches in nature and to bath in a cozy atmosphere, halfway between

the British chic and the authentic Argentine pampa. In all its facets, polo is so much more than just a sport, it’s a universe or even, a state of mind. More than 30 years ago, Christian Völkers, founder and CEO of Engel & Völkers fell under the spell and created the Engel & Völkers Polo School. David Scheffler, President of Engel & Völkers France, Belgium and the Netherlands was also convinced by this sport, which he considers "an athletic discipline with in common, the team spirit and our approach to high-end real estate, based on the competence and the passion in which we invest with our clients on a daily basis". A discipline which he started to practice in Spain, and continues today in France, accompanied by his children. The oldest team sport in the world, formerly practiced by the Royal Guard, today in the Chantilly Polo Club, we count nearly 420 members from all over the world, enthusiasts aged from 5 to 77… and more!

LES VENDREDIS DE CHANTILLY

Save the date

September 4-18

MOËT & CHANDON cocktail party with DJ set and Asado by L’Estancia on Friday in Chantilly during the matches of the French Open starting 6.00 pm.

#lesaperosdupolo

TACOS BAR

Every weekend during September, enjoy the games commented at 5.00 pm Saturday and 3.00 pm Sunday with the TACOS BAR at the edge of the polo fields.

#tacosbarchantilly

NAM’S CUP

The Nam’s Cup, sponsored by Frederika Dodge Tellier since 2014, will take place for the first time in Chantilly. This competition brings together all the 0/4 goals teams before the France Cup (La Coupe de France) at the end of September.

BANASSA - ENGEL & VÖLKERS

Victor

Charlotte

Marie-Astrid Garaud

Florent Garaud

Garaud Christophe Garaud

POLO ANGELS

Elena Venot CAP

Pearl Venot

Paul

Julie Raoul CAP

Matthieu de la Villardière

Rémy de la Villardière

Nicolas de la Villardière

Villardière

CARMELO POLO

SURAZO

Marie-Jeanne Kappweiler CAP

Lucie Venot Mario Sander

Le

3 1 1 -1 0 0 2 3 0 -1

Jérôme Anier 3 -1 3 1 0 1 -1

43

THE POLO RIDER CUP

Olivier Godailler

What is the sporting principle of the POLO Rider Cup, the essence of its rules?

The POLO Rider Cup is an international competition (10-12 goals) which aims to bring together the best clubs in the world on the same site for 10 days playing with the same rules, because this competition is under the aegis of the FIP.

Over the years the POLO Rider Cup would be held in a different country, but for the first two years we will be at the Polo Club de Chantilly. Allow me to take the opportunity to thank its President, Arnaud de Chênevarin, and its Managing Director, Philippe Perrier, to welcome us and to believe in our project.

Who are the first teams that have joined before the Covid-19 crisis?

The first clubs to have joined this new competition are:

• Le Polo Club de Chantilly (France) – Host club

• Polo Club de Saint-Tropez – Deauville International Polo Club – Polo de Paris (France)

• Moscou Polo Club (Russia)

• Zurich Polo Club - Saint-Moritz Polo Club (Switzerland)

• Gestut Schockemohle Polo Club - Hambourg Polo ClubBerliner Polo Club (Germany)

• Villa A. Sesta – Roma Polo Club – la Mimosa Milano Polo Club (Italy)

• Mallorca Polo Club - Dos Lunas Polo Club (Spain)

• Guards Polo Club – Cowdray Polo Club - Ham Polo Club (England)

Normally for 2021, the majority of these clubs will be present, we hope to welcome other international clubs from England, the Emirates or the United States.

"The POLO Rider Cup is an international competition which aims to bring together the best clubs in the world on the same site."

What is the marketing concept, why did you create this new event and what are the ambitions in terms of visibility?

In terms of marketing and through our various past experiences in the world of sport we try to set up in addition to the classic benefits (advertising page, publicity boards, tickets,…), activations where the partner can be integrated into the event such as the "MVP", the "Best Scorer", the "MVP Pony", etc…

We will also have a large village with high-level hospitality, for this we have partnered with the company DAIMANI, for the marketing of our various hospitality packages. On the other hand, the ground will be uniform with all the panels of our partners of the same color, in order to have a quality look & field for all the players, spectators and online viewers.

What is the strategy to achieve this? Media partners?

To achieve all this, we need strong media partners and we have signed with the Figaro Group for 2 years (2021-2022), which offers us a strong media coverage of the event on all their press, magazine & digital media and match broadcast on their Figaro/Sport24 digital platform. We have advanced discussions with two billboards, radio stations, chic cultural magazines and also all the polo and sports press. The media system that will be put in place will surely meet the expectations of the event!

Regarding the media coverage of the POLO Rider Cup, we signed a 3-year contract with Pololine as our producer and broadcaster on their digital platform PololineTV as well. We will commercialize the 20 matches produced and broadcast on digital and TV platforms, to broadcasters around the world. We already have agreements in England, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Russia and advanced discussions with channels in the Emirates, Asia, the United States, Argentina and other countries.

Who are the sponsors of this new competition?

Regarding the partners, we are working to have a dozen high-level partners, I can already tell you that we have agreements ready with a hotel partner, a car partner, a champagne partner, a clothing partner, an airline partner, a cosmetic partner, a watchmaker partner, a financial institution partner, a luxury partner and a real estate partner.

Those are the categories we are working on and maybe there will be more surprises!

GALLOPS OF JORDAN

27 th of March to the 3 rd of April 2021

After two unforgettable first editions in the sumptuous Omani and Moroccan desert landscapes, followed by a colorful adventure in the heart of the eternal and fascinating region of Rajasthan in India, this time the 4 th edition of the Gallops will immerse you deep into the Kingdom of Jordan. Following in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia and Indiana Jones, participants will discover the enchanting Wadi Rum desert and the lost mythical Nabataean city of Petra.

This Gallops edition has the privilege of being held under the high patronage of Princess Alia bint Al-Hussein, sister of King Abdullah II, and president of the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation. This adventure will take you back in time. The cradle of many civilizations, Jordan is nowadays considered as the jewel of the Middle East thanks to its many historical and natural wonders. On the back of the precious Arabian thoroughbred, who is nicknamed the "King of the Desert", the riders will have the chance to venture into wild, lunar and Mars-like landscapes in flamboyant colors. With its amber colored sands and rocks sculpted by time, crossing

the Wadi Rum desert will be an essential stage in this edition. A wonder listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, will truly transport riders to an extraordinary world. It is a world that cinema is fascinated with and where Hollywood's biggest successes have been filmed, including the latest installment of the Star Wars saga. Breath-taking scenery and wonder await the participants.

And remember, "The Gallops" is the combination of an incredible horse-riding trek and an extraordinary human and cultural experience in sublime and distant lands. Since its creation by Bady Kebir and Benoît Perrier, "The Gallops" offers an original equestrian concept. Like the "Paris-Dakar", it is an endurance and orienteering race divided by teams of 5 riders each, in 5 stages across 200km of desert terrain, and with only one orientation tool: a GPS. Each year, 100 riders come together.

To live a magical experience and let yourself be surprised by the splendors and history of Jordan, join us from the 27th of March to the 3rd of April 2021!

www.gallopsofjordan.com

THE

POLO CLUB

RECOGNITIONS

OF THE DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE TOWARDS:

The French Polo Federation as well as all the institutions and partners.

Special thanks to Jérôme Hue and the whole Omedia Paris team; Pascal Renauldon, the RB PRESSE team and their photographers; Joanna Binkowska, Hélène Cruden, Antoine Delaporte, Justine Jacquemot, Evelina Jakovlevskaja, Laure Philippine, Matias Callejo and Yoko Yu Qiu for the elaboration of the programme.

Passion.

Notre univers est aussi varié que vos exigences.

Les concilier est notre compétence - depuis 40 ans.