Open de France Polo – Chantilly
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Semifinals of the 15th Open de France held all their promises on Friday, last week, with two games that have warmed the atmosphere! This promised a final more… caliente!
The rain and the wet fields did not slow the enthusiasm of the protagonists in these semi-finals of the Open de France of Polo. Both games were concluded with the smallest gap after a scenario that will have held the audience in suspense until the final bell stroke… And even beyond for the first game between Tom Tailor and St. Mesme I. The latter had however started well the match (2-0), but was soon overtaken by the team of the German Uwe Schröder thanks to a Chris McKenzie finally present. South African prodigy had been relatively in the shadow early in the tournament, but he was fully in the game for the semi-final; he is the one who has boosted the team which made the tie at the end of the fifth period, pushing St. Mesme overtime where the rule is simple: the first goal scored, the famous golden goal, means the victory. It was decided on a 60-yard penalty that Anglophones referees whistled for Tom Tailor and that Argentine Gaston Maiquez was delighted to transform.
The kickoff of the second semifinal between Marquard Media and Ganthoot Polo Club could only been given after the passage of flood of rain… a delicate field and under a beautiful rainbow in the sky! This field could benefit to Ganthoot led by British Luke Tomlinson (used to these conditions). It was a crossover too but the Argentine trio Martin Aguerre Jr – Jota Chavanne – Facundo Llorente handled perfectly. It was about to counter the false pace set by the excellent Luke Tomlinson. Martin Aguerre made the break in the fifth period (7-5), but Ganthoot didn’t let go and put its sixth goal while maintaining the pressure … which Marquard Media resisted qualifying for its second final in a row after the Golden Cup of Deauville last August. Will he team of Swiss Tommy Rinderknecht, based in Chantilly, win this title for the first time at home? The game happened on Sunday at 3:00pm, but the game was more difficult than expected against this Chris McKenzie who, as noted Brieuc Rigaux, “finally landed in France”!
Tom Tailor could make for his part a different kind of double achievement by winning both finals in this Open the France because Uwe Schröder’s daughters, Tahnee and Naomi, had qualified on their side for the final of the Women’s Open where she met Lowell, the Franco-British team of Françoise Spek, reinforced by one of the best players of all time, the French Caroline Anier (1:45 p.m.).
A festive and sporting Sunday afternoon that took place, around the field, with animations and a reception for all spectators, young and old: children’s playground, children’s game between the two finals, trade stands, champagne bar etc. (the Village and the Polo Lounge opened at 11:30). Admission was free and therefore an opportunity to discover the oldest equestrian sports team on the occasion of a final that promises spectacular.
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