Latest news from France, Germany and Switzerland
June has been an exciting month on the continent, with action at Chantilly for the Coupe Laversine, the 17th Anniversary Tournament at Polo Club Saint-Tropez and things now revving up for the Legacy Pollo Cup (31 July – 2 August) at the Legacy Polo Club, Switzerland, not forgetting Berenberg German Polo Masters 2015, which commences on Friday 24 July, with the Final scheduled Sunday 2 August.
The spring season at Chantilly ended on a high note on Sunday 28 June, with an outstanding Final of the Coupe Laversine. A 13-10 win for Swiss side Marquard Media over La Quinta saw exciting play from both teams, most notably from Argentina’s Martin Agurerre Jr. from the winning side and Edouard Pan from La Quinta. Both players exhibited excellent shots at goal, which were responsible for the high finishing score. Thoroughbred mare Marie Lys, ridden by Agurerre, was nominated Best Playing Pony.
The two other Finals played this week at Chantilly included the 4 goal Coupe des Archanges, won by Santa Cruz, and the Champlâtreux Trophy, which went to the Parisian team Mungo.
The 17th Anniversary Tournament at Polo Club Saint-Tropez on Sunday 28 June was this year won by Team Sezz, who beat Team Eleven Eleven 7-6, despite having lost out to them 4-3 in the preliminary rounds. The hitherto undefeated Team Eleven Eleven, led by Piero Dillier, staged a hard fight against the opposition but ultimately missed out in the final stages.
Still to look forward to, the Berenberg German Polo Masters, Sylt, tournament will be taking place from 24 July – 2 August 2015. The tournament promises exciting fast-paced polo at the grounds in Keitum. This year there will be several new faces on the teams, with team König Immobilien Sylt picking up Luxembourg-born player Estelle Wagner (0) plus Susi Rosenkranz (0) will be taking her place on team Mr. Porter alongside the Argentinean 6 goaler Eduardo Anca, who holds the highest handicap of the tournament.
Title sponsor Berenberg will be starting a well-rehearsed team containing father-son duo Jo (0) and Sven (3) Schneider, as well as Argentinean 4 goaler Tatu Gomez, with Peter Kienast (1) filling the fourth spot. However, they face stiff competition in the shape of Germany’s best polo player, Thomas Winter (4) and his team of Matthias Grau (0), Christian Grimme (0) and Agustin Kronhaus (3), who play together as Team Lanson.
Now in its second year, the Legacy Pollo Cup at Legacy Polo Club is a new low goal tournament in Switzerland. Held this year over the weekend of July 31 – 2 August, the tournament will see international teams compete at the beautiful grounds. The Club, founded in 2012 by the Rocinante Polo Team, seeks to provide avid players with a central location in which to train, but also to encourage youngsters to be inspired by professional standard sport.
Photograph: Action from the Berenberg German Polo Masters. By Holger Widera
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