Thursday 18 July 2024
What would a polo season be without this traditional stop in Deauville? The Barrière Deauville Polo Cup is more than just a tournament, it’s a cornerstone of the international circuit and a monument to polo’s heritage. Polo has been played in Deauville since the beginning of the last century (1907 to be exact), and since 1951, the Coupe d’Or has been a trophy that elite players are keen to add to their rankings. Back for another year of action, the world’s greatest polo sensations will be battling it out at the Hippodrome de Deauville – La Touques. The stage is set for this emblematic competition, to be held from August 3 to 25.
The Barrière Deauville Polo Cup is likely the only tournament in France to attract a loyal public each day of its three weeks. The venue is flooded with spectators who, for years, have never missed this famous polo event, but also newcomers who, on their way to the races, cross the track out of curiosity when the lively sport on the racecourse lawn catches their eyes. This is how many fans become introduced to the oldest team sport, captivated by the Argentine magicians – and all the big names who have brought the Coupe d’Or to life for over 70 years.
First and foremost, these household names belong to the Argentine professionals who will compete at the end of the year in the world’s ultimate polo competition, the Triple Crown, including the highly coveted Abierto, i.e., the Argentine Open. The tournament is held in Buenos Aires, at the immense Palermo stadium. Among these polo stars to be present in Deauville is handicap 9 Sapo Caset, twice a finalist in Palermo and already a winner of Deauville in 2016 with Talandracas. Yet this time, we’ll find the Argentine champion with the Spanish team, Marques de Riscal. It’s an exciting welcome for the Spanish team, who are coming off an excellent English season.
Talandracas also enjoyed a highly successful English season, with a historic second victory in the prestigious Queens Cup. The trophy was presented to Édouard and Hugues Carmignac by King Charles III (photo). The latter will probably not be in Deauville, but the Carmignacs are unfailingly loyal. This year, they will present the exact line-up that won the Open de France in 2022, with the same infamous duo of Rufino Bensadon (H7) and Juan-Martin Zubia (H8). The sporting chemistry between these two young players always makes for a great show.
Isabelle Larenaudie, captain of the title-holding Barrière team (Tédélou, the rest of the year), has reaffirmed her confidence in the Zavaleta family: Simon and Ramiro, with whom she has just won the Polo Nations Cup and the Trophée du Coquetier d’Or in Chantilly. The team is in good form, joined too by their cousin Juan-Gris (H7), a regular player of Abierto.
Eternal J is a team where French captain Jean-Claude Le Grand, replaced in Deauville by Alexis Morange, is keen to get young French professionals playing. However, for this level of 16 goals, you need to call on an Argentinian powerhouse. So, as has been the case for the past two years, the tricolors Louis Jarrige (H4) and Julien Reynes (H4) will once again have the chance to play alongside La Dolfina player, handicap 8 Guillermo Terrera.
The fifth team entered, Mungo, organized around French professional Pierre Henri Ngoumou (H6), has opted for balance by engaging the young (19) and talented Lolo Bayugar (H4) and handicap 5 Ricardo “Aiti” Garros.
For this French team, Patrick Eisenchteter, the father, will play in the Coupe d’Or (August 12 to 25), while Ulysse, his son, will play in the Coupe d’Argent (August 3 to 11), where four of these teams are competing.
Polo for all
Coupe d’Or, Coupe d’Argent, but also Coupe de Bronze, at the 6/8 goals level, is where we’ll see six teams competing, comprised of talented young French professionals such as Jules Legoubin (winner of the Polo Nations Cup with Tédélou), Elouan Badarello, who has only lost a single tournament in final in 2023, but also players from Argentina, of course, Chile, the Netherlands (Anky van Adel, the Dutch n°1), the United States and Spain.
Five excellent teams are entered in the Ladies Polo Cup – Diane Barrière, headlined by the winners of the Abierto ladies edition, Argentina’s Lia Salvo, a veteran of Deauville who has already won three times in Normandy (Augustinus Bader), and England’s Millie Hine (Mc Do Deauville), both handicap 8. They will have their work cut out for them against the French team helmed by sisters Elena (H7) and Pearl Venot (H5).
These young ladies will go head-to-head in a women’s test match pitting France against the ‘Rest of the World’. Blue attire and a tricolor flag are a must for the public, who will (re)discover that women’s polo has reached a whole new level! See you on August 11th, ahead of the Coupe d’Argent final!
The beach will once again host a beach polo match on August 7 at 4:30 pm (near the Deauville dike at low tide). All weekdays are free to the public, with only weekends and August 15 requiring a €10 entry fee (€20 on August 25th for the Coupe de Bronze and Coupe d’Or finals). It’s a good idea to come early and leave late, as this is your chance to stroll around the village, have a drink in the friendly polo bar, take home a souvenir from the polo boutique… and rub shoulders with the players.
PRATICAL INFORMATION
Highlights :
• Coupe d’Argent: August 3 to 11 – Finale the 11th
• Beach-Polo: August 7 at 4:30 pm (near the Deauville dike at low tide)[1]
• Ladies Polo Cup – Diane Barrière: August 6 to 10 – Finale the 10th
• Ladies Test-match France vs. the world: August 11
• Coupe de Bronze: August 12 to 25 – Finale the 25th
• Coupe d’Or: August 12 to 25 – Finale the 25th
Access
Matches take place in the center of the Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques. Entrance is via Boulevard Mauger, and once inside the racecourse, access to the grounds is on the left.
On race days, passage is subject to fixed timetables, which you can find on the Polo Club website every race morning. While waiting for the track to open between races, cars must park in the designated lane.
The Official Village opens its doors 30 minutes before the start of the matches.
Tariffs 2024
Parking free.
Free admission on weekdays (except August 15th, 10€),
10€ on weekends and August 15.
20€ for the Coupe d’Or final.
Info and Reservations
+33 (0)6 46 55 58 18 – contact@deauvillepoloclub.com – www.deauvillepoloclub.com