The Open de France 2021 has already kicked off

Sep 03, 2021

One of the biggest polo tournaments in Europe is about to get started! After the success of the 2020 Engels & Volkers Open de France, expectation for the 21st edition of the competition is higher than ever. 

Last year we saw the Castagnola brothers, Barto and Camilo, go head to head in the final representing Les Lions Panarea and Talandracas. At the end, Les Lions Panarea came out on top. This time, Talandracas has a chance to win against the other nine teams that will compete in the 2021 Engels & Volkers Open de France. 

The competition is the third leg of the French Triple Crown. It takes place from the 3rd of September to the 19th at Chantilly Polo Club, the same spot where the Polo Riders Cup took place. 

The Teams of the Open de France 2021

The ten teams that will participate at the tournament are:

1. BRITTANY POLO CLUB: Jean-François DECAUX 1, Brieuc RIGAUX 6, Rodrigo RUEDA 6, Thierry VETOIS 3.
2. KAZAK: Sébastien AGUETTANT 0, Patrick PAILLOL 5, Jero DEL CARRIL 7, Santiago IRASTORZA 4.
3. MAJOA POLO TEAM: Sam SZTARKMAN 1, Jota CHAVANNE 5, Martin JOAQUIN 5, Nicolas CORTI MADERNA 5.
4. MARQUARD MEDIA: Ignacio KENNEDY 5, TBA, Martin AGUERRE 7, Tommy RINDERKNECHT 0.
5. MUNGO: Patrick EISENCHTETER 1, Juan José STORNI 5, Simon ZAVALETA 4, Pierre-Henri N’GOUMOU 6.
6. LA MAGDELEINE: Alexandre GARESE 0, Lucas NOTTIN 2, Facundo Fernández LLORENTE 7, Tito RUIZ GUIÑAZU 7.
7. SAINTE-MESME: Robert STROM 5, Clemente ZAVALETA 7, TBA, TBA.
8. TALANDRACAS: Edouard CARMIGNAC 0, Hugues CARMIGNAC 1, Tommy BERESFORD 7, Camilo CASTAGNOLA 8.
9. LE POMMERAYE: Victoria SMITH 0, Rufino BENSADON 7, Juan GRIS ZAVALETA 7, Derek SMITH 1, Clément SMITH 0, Caroline ANIER 1.
10. POLO TEAM SCHOCKEMOHLE: Daniel DEISTLER 0, Antonino MENARD 5, Clément DELFOSSE 5, Patrick MALEITZKE 5.

Who should we focus on?

Besides Camilo (Jeta) Castagnola, seven other Argentinian players have confirmed their spot: Martin Aguerre Jr, Jero del Caril, Clemente Zavaleta, Tito Ruiz Guiñazu, Rufino Bensadon, Juan-Gris Zavaleta and Facundo Fernández Llorente. 

They will be playing together with some of the best French polo players. We should pay special attention to Brieuc Riaux from Britanny Polo, Pierre-Henri Ngoumou from Mundo and Patrick Paillol from Kazak. 

Also, the best French female player of all times, Caroline Anier from Le Pommeraye, will be attending the 2021 Engels & Volkers Open de France. She started playing when she was 14 and by when she was 18 years old became the best women player in France, a title she still holds to this date. 

If you are interested in going and would like to know basic etiquette, terminology and what to wear, we have the perfect article for the occasion.