June 2021 Polo Players' Edition - A Father’s Pride

Lorenzo, 13, and Santiago Chavanne, 43, enjoyed winning an important cup together.

Santiago and Lorenzo Chavanne wrote their names in the long list of parents and children who won the República Argentina Cup. A triumph that once again certifies the inexhaustible renewal of the Argentine polo base.

Polo must be one of the most familial sports in the world. Tradition and legacy. It is a common fact that it has had a wonderful new chapter in the last República Argentina Cup. The protagonists of this brand new conquest have been the Chavannes, Santiago and Lorenzo, father and son. With the Cuatro Vientos team they lifted the trophy after beating La Aguada, 12-9, in the final held in Palermo. The decisive duel was actually a meeting between two generations, since the formation of the Open Door club included Eduardo Jr. and Cruz Novillo Astrada. The current president of the Argentine Polo Association had already won this competition in 1990, together with his father Eduardo and two of his brothers, Miguel and Javier. In other words, whatever the outcome of the match had been, this article on parents and children would have been justified.

The República Argentina Cup has been disputed since 1929 and the first winner was Dorrego. Most of the great champions in the history of the high handicap have played it and even won it. Names such as Juan Carlos and Alfredo Harriott; Francisco and Gastón Dorignac; Antonio, Alberto Pedro, Horacio Antonio, Bautista, Eduardo and Ignacio Heguy; Adolfo Cambiaso; Bartolomé Castagnola; Pablo Mac Donough and David ‘Pelón’ Stirling, among others.

If one asks the best Argentine polo players about their aspirations in their country, after the Triple Crown, the Cámara de Diputados Cup and the República Cup are the favorites.

The truth is that for many players, appearing at the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo Opens are inaccessible. It is complex both because of the category of these competitions and because of the organization imperative to participate at that level. The Cámara de Diputados Cup is only one step below. Therefore, it is also a difficult barrier to overcome. The República Cup, on the other hand, is arguably more within reach. Although many of the participants make enormous efforts to be present, the teams do not have handicap limits, everyone can compete after qualifying in their respective circuits throughout Argentina and the most desired prize is to end up playing on Palermo’s Field No. 1—The Cathedral—in Buenos Aires.

Moments after the final ended, Santiago Chavanne, 43, could not hide his expression of great satisfaction as he observed the immense joy of 13year-old Lorenzo. In the semifinals they had just pulled off a major coup by eliminating the heavy favorite, Sauveterre-Monterosso, a team that had none other than David Stirling as the leader. The nine-time Palermo Open champion, 10 handicap and one of the best in the world, was accompanied by Ignacio Toccalino (8) and Santiago Stirling (5), his younger brother.

Standing at the Back position, for Santiago this victory also tastes a bit like personal revenge, a return to the spotlights of the main stage. Champion of this competition in 1996, playing with La Martina, 15 years later he defended, attacked, ordered and above all, guided his son in his first big steps in polo, on no less than the grass of the most important field in the world.

Santiago is a former 8 handicap (9 abroad) with an important past in the Triple Crown. In 2004, he was called by Adolfo Cambiaso to join La Dolfina. Teammates since they were teenagers when they participated together in several tournaments, Cambiaso added him to the Cañuelas organization after the departure of the brothers Sebastián and Juan Ignacio Merlos. The 2002 champion, after losing three finals (2000, 2001 and 2003), Adolfo was looking for a change that would allow him to once again lift the most significant title of all.

Bartolomé Castagnola remained on the team while Chavanne and the Mexican Carlos Gracida, champion with La Espadaña and Ellerstina, were incorporated. The foursome never really worked, did not win any of the Triple Crown tournaments and, as the seasons went by, it would be the only formation of La Dolfina that would not reach the final of the Argentine Open between 2000 and 2020. The Cañuelas team quickly turned the page and the following year, having incorporated Lucas Monteverde and Mariano Aguerre, it returned to be a regular on the highest place of the podium, a privilege it still holds today.

Chavanne was also a member of El Metejón, Chapa I and Pilará. In 2010, he made the decision not to play in Argentina anymore because there had been no competitive project options to follow. Abroad, he continued to play with patron Nicky Sen. But over the years, and the growth of his children— Lorenzo, Pedro (11) and Alexia (6)—the desire to share a field with them and start competing as a family increased his enthusiasm.

At the moment, his eldest son, who plays at the No. 1 position, is the recipient of most of his instruction. His remarks are usually energetic and Santiago himself confesses, “I talk to him all the time, he is used to me talking to him, sometimes not in the best way, but the truth is that he takes it well. It is a polo code and it is what will happen to him when he starts to play a little more seriously.”

For his part, Lorenzo cannot hide a logical and understandable excitement, despite his young age. “I’m still a kid, but the truth is that I would love to be a professional. Obviously, I have to work really hard to become one,” he said. “Anyway, I don’t think that I'll dedicate to anything that is not related to polo. I think I’ll do anything, but for sure it will be related to horses.”

And his desire has strong and tenacious roots. After all, Santiago says, “We live in the countryside, in a polo club, and the truth is that polo is basically everything. They are very fanatical about it, so am I, and we enjoy it and are very motivated.”

The big question then is whether he is tempted by the possibility of returning once again to the main stage of the Triple Crown.

“No, I’m done. I’m well into the kids. I’m happy like this. This is another moment and mine in high goal polo is over,” he said. “I’m happy playing with the kids and that’s what I’m here for, to try to make the breeding improve and for them to have better horses. That’s what I’m all about today.” •