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TA L K
I N T H E C H ÂT E A U ’ S P A R K , T H E S E T T I N G
C O U L D N O T H AV E B E E N MO R E A P P R O P R I AT E
F O R A W E E K E N D O F F R I E N D LY M AT C H E S
welcomed the Ambassador’s Cup as a part
of Courances’s rich polo history. He also
expressed his delight at being able to
continue the family tradition of polo
through such alumni as Paul de Ganay
– an ambassador himself, who inspired
many with his style and elegance. The family
wish to perpetuate this, with its committed
desire to make the Château de Courances
an important polo venue in Île-de-France.
The highly esteemed Trophée Paul de
Ganay, with distinguished past recipients
such as Patrick Guerrand-Hermès, was
awarded to Jean-Luc Chartier, president
of both the French Polo Federation and Polo
de Paris, for his many years of unwavering
service to the sport. He brought the dinner
to a close with his words of thanks and
guests departed with a special gift from
luxury watch and accessories maker Hysek.
On the final day, teams gathered on
the field at 11am and kicked off with the
round-robin matches, which included
Courances Red, Blue and Green. Despite
great play and valiant efforts, Courances
Blue were unable to make a comeback and
took fifth place, losing 1–3 to Courances Red.
Courances Green took third place, beating
Courances Red into fourth place 2–1.
The final took place between Courances
Yellow and Courances Black, as spectators
continued to gather. Despite a tightly
contested match until the last chukka,
Courances Black, with player of the
tournament Moritz Gädeke, finally
steamed ahead to a 4–1 victory.
As storm clouds gathered overhead,
Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers presented FIP
medals to each player at prize-giving in the
presence of former president Patrick
Guerrand-Hermès, and Serge and Lauraine
de Ganay. Casa Fagliano presented each
player on the winning team with a voucher
for a pair of their polo boots and thanks was
given to sponsors, including Crédit Agricole,
Île-de-France and Axa Insurance Cabinet
Ranson, Fontainebleau.
As soon as the field emptied of players
and spectators, the heavens burst open.
Not only had the weekend been rich in the
convivial and elegant sportsmanship that
Courances seeks to uphold, a guardian angel
had clearly been standing by in the wings.
