SCAPA
wins the final of the BMW Polo Masters Courchevel
After
two days of tough weather conditions the sun finally graced the
finals of the BMW Polo Masters Courchevel shining on the teams Doux
Joaillier and Scapa who fought for the magnificent K2 trophies. These
stunning bronze Mandala sculptures were offered by the prestigious
new hotel K2, the latest luxury hotel to grace the resort and our
main sponsor for the Courchevel stage of the tournament. The conquest
for these trophies was akin to scaling the 2nd
highest peak in the world, one of the toughest matches yet and
produced intense playing that was loaded with rebounds. The return of
the cold and dry weather enabled the horsemen to ride faster, with
continuous rapid attacks and counter-attacks, which were watched
closely by the masses of spectators who were shouting encouragement
from the sidelines and cheering at the sheer prowess of the players.
Cyrille
Costes, Doux Joallier’s team captain, attempted to repeat last
week’s victorious performance at the Megève BMW Polo Masters
without counting on the tenacity of the Scapa team, who had already
been finalists in the Val D’Isère BMW Polo Masters. Mickael
Redding, Scapa’s team captain, who was playing under his company’s
colours took a number of risks, engaging in some very combative moves
and succeeded in scoring 2 goals out of the 5 goals scored by his
team. After 2 chukkas in a row, Mickael Redding, one of the rare
captains with a handicap of 1, supported by the two young French
prodigies, Robert Stom and Clément Delfosse, succeeded in muscling
in with a score of 5 to 3. SCAPA, who lost out last year in the
finals by one point in the last few minutes were highly motivated for
this well-earned victory.
The
third and fourth-place play-off was between BMW, led by Laurent
Dassault and Courchevel with Alejandro Pastorio at the reins. Despite
the amazing performances of the BMW team and notably Patrick Paillol
one of the rising stars in French polo, it was Laurent Dassault’s
team, the 2011 title-holder who gained a point for a final score of 6
to 5.
This
second edition of the BMW Polo Masters Courchevel attracted a massive
public following, both around the pitch and in the polo village
tents. As usual during this tour VIP tents and public spaces were set
up to welcome spectators and also offered everyone the chance to
admire the new BMW collection. On Courchevel’s altiport,
transformed for the occasion into a polo pitch, you could even come
and admire a Pilatus PC 12 airplane.
The
Courchevel stage marked the end of the winter tournament of the BMW
Polo Masters Tour, which saw 3 captains from different teams win 3
stages. Gracing the podium were Matthieu Delfosse and the rising
French polo stars, Patrick Paillol, Robert Strom and Clement
Delfosse.
This
winter tournament, like the X Drive models of our sponsors BMW, has
succeeded in braving difficult weather conditions to offer top
quality performances in all the stages.
Rendezvous
for the next stage of the tour the 27th,
28th
and 29th
July 2012 for the BMW Polo Masters By Night in Saint Tropez/Gassin.
COURCHEVEL
PODIUM
1st
Scapa
2nd
Doux
3rd
BMW
4th
Courchevel
WINNERS
OF THE 3 TOURS
VAL
D’ISERE (Team
Barmes
de l’Ours)
Claude
Solarz
Matthieu
Delfosse
Patrick
Paillol
MEGEVE
(Team
Fermes
de Marie)
Cyrille
/ Edouard Costes
Brieuc
Rigaux
Adrien
Legallo
Patrick
Paillol
COURCHEVEL
(Team
Scapa)
Mickael
Redding
Clément
Delfosse
Robert
Strom