Barnes Open de France and Women’s Open Finals: promises kept at the Polo Club Chantilly

La Fija Sandbox wins the 24th Barnes Open de France © Justine Jacquemot

After thirty-one matches in the Barnes Open de France and thirteen in the women’s tournament, and most notably two thrilling finals, the champions of the 2024 edition have been crowned at the Polo Club Chantilly: Yves Delorme (Chantilly) in the women’s competition and La Fija Sandbox (Argentina) in the mixed competition. These two finals were a resounding success, played out against a magnificent backdrop accompanied by music from the Garde Républicaine.

The qualifying and knockout rounds this year were particularly competitive, with plenty of last-minute surprises and some spectacular performances from top players. These athletes will now head to Buenos Aires for the climax of the world polo season, the Tripla Corona.

Both finals lived up to the excitement of the qualifying rounds and delivered on their promises.

Women’s Final: Yves Delorme’s Redemption

In the women’s final, the match was a rematch between the Yves Delorme team, considered underdogs, composed of three players from the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly—Charlotte Garaud, Margaux Perruchot, and Adèle Renauldon—reinforced by Anglo-Australian Milly Hine, reigning Argentine champion. They faced Augustinus Bader, the Luxembourg-based team led by Argentine star Lia Salvo, a two-time winner of the Argentine Open.

Yves Delorme had already beaten Augustinus Bader 11-5 in the group stages, and this proved to be an advantage, as they dominated once again in the final, though this time with a closer scoreline (9-7). The victory was largely attributed to the team’s cohesion and the remarkable performance of Milly Hine, who capitalized on the strengths of her teammates.

“When I arrived here,” said Milly Hine, “I was lucky to meet three girls who knew each other well, who had played and won together, and who knew their horses. We quickly bonded and became friends. That team unity was crucial. The other key to our success was the fantastic horses provided by Brieuc Rigaux.” Despite being nervous at the start of the tournament, Hine overcame her stage fright and will finally be able to sleep soundly after the win.

The rivalry between Hine and Lia Salvo was another highlight of the final, and the two will likely meet again at the Argentine Open on December 7, where another rematch is in the cards.

Mixed Final: La Fija Sandbox Prevails

In the mixed competition, the French Mungo team, also from the Chantilly Polo Club, took on the solid Argentine side, La Fija Sandbox. After dominating early in the match, Mungo fought back and led 10-8 by the fourth chukker. However, a game-changing moment came when Fran Elizalde was injured and substituted by Alfredo Capella. With this high-profile substitution, La Fija Sandbox surged to a 4-0 run in the final chukker, clinching the title 12-10.

The team’s secret to success, according to their French captain Arthur Madrid, was similar to that of the women’s champions: harmony among the players. “We played six fantastic games, and the final was probably the toughest. I congratulate our opponents, four incredibly fast players. Our secret? The chemistry between us. We barely knew each other before this tournament, but we became close friends quickly, and that bond made us strong on the field.”

Fran Elizalde added a more technical insight, explaining that they were up against a strong team and had to be patient and play their own style of polo. Despite a long season, their horses were still in top form. The combination of Elizalde and Rufino Bensadon produced some of the most beautiful moments of this 24th edition of the Barnes French Open.

As this exciting French polo season draws to a close, there’s a touch of nostalgia. However, it isn’t entirely over yet, as the French Championships begin next week. Some Argentine players will stay in Chantilly for a couple more weekends, while the others, including top handicapped players (7 and 8 goals), will head to Argentina to compete in the alta temporada, starting with the Abierto de Hurlingham. All eyes will be on Fran Elizalde and Rufino Bensadon as they compete for top honors once again.

Final Results

13th French Women’s Open

• Yves Delorme: Margaux Perruchot (1 goal), Adèle Renauldon, Charlotte Garaud, and Milly Hine (8 goals, 6 penalties).
• Augustinus Bader: Mendoza Houben, Paloma Lauro (2 goals), Ambre Ploix (2 goals), and Lia Salvo (3 goals, 2 penalties).
  Progression: 3-2 / 7-3 / 9-4 / 9-7
• MVP: Ambre Ploix (Augustinus Bader)
• BPP (Best Playing Pony): Irenita Galan, ridden by Milly Hine

24th Barnes Open de France

• La Fija Sandbox: Arthur Madrid, Francisco Elizalde (3 goals), Rufino Bensadon (7 goals, 3 penalties), Nicolas Tomasevich. Substitute: Alfredo Capella (1 goal).
• Mungo: Ulysse Eisenchteter (2 goals), Lolo Bayugar (4 goals), Alti Garros (6 goals, 2 penalties), and Pierre Henri Ngoumou (1 goal).
  Progression: 3-2 / 6-4 / 8-7 / 8-10 / 12-10
• BPP: Oriental Griega, played by Bartolome Bayugar (Mungo)
• MVP: Rufino Bensadon (La Fija Sandbox)
• MVP Amateur: Ulysse Eisenchteter (Mungo)
• Fair Play Award: Mungo

The French polo season concludes with a mix of satisfaction and nostalgia, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

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