The Barnes International Open de France, or rather “les” Opens de France, as there is a women’s version, is the climax of the French season, which also marks the end of the European season. It is a title that the top French and Argentine professionals are keen to add to their palmarès. The 2024 edition promises to be as fiercely competitive as in previous years, with 11 of the world’s top 40 competing in Argentina’s emblematic “Triple Crown”, the pinnacle of the sport.
In France, this “pinnacle” is the Barnes International Open de France, Europe’s top grass-court tournament at the end of the season. The world’s greatest players, that is to say, from Argentina, have discovered this peaceful haven on the edge of the Trios-Forêts and return each year to enjoy both the competitive nature and friendly atmosphere of the tournament. There will be 11 champions in Chantilly this year who have played, won, or will be vying to qualify for the legendary Argentine Open. Among them, Nicolas Pieres (H8), who won the ‘Abierto’ in 2012 and became well acquainted with Chantilly last year… by winning the French Open with the French Kazak team.
“I found the French Open very competitive with 18 teams, which must be a record for a single tournament. That made Kazak’s victory even more valuable. It’s a huge club, and the competition was really well organized,” said Pieres.
This year, the organization has set the number of teams at 16, and, to the delight of the Chantilly public, this mallet artist will be back to defend his title with Kazak.
Argentine Stars
These star-studded teams hail from five different nations—the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, France and, of course, Argentina, the home base of French captain Arthur Madrid (La Fija Sandbox), who returns this year well-armed with two Abierto plays in his ranks: Rufino Benson (H7) and Fran Elizalde (H8). A solid duo, but who will have to face Guillermo Terrera (H8) playing alongside the young French players from Eternal J, Julien Reynes, and Louis Jarrige (H4). They’ll too have to contend with Diego Cavanagh (H8), a recent Queen’s Cup finalist and pillar of the La Baule team; Brittany Polo Club. H8 Argentines Jero Del Carril and Facundo FernandezLlorente are primed for the challenge with La Magdeleine, as they put forth the youngest of the Castagnola siblings (Barto and Jeta, reigning Argentine champions and still revered for their visit to Chantilly in 2020).
We’ll see more handicaps 7 or 8 for Esso (Toly Ulloa), Tédélou, where Juan-Gris Zavaleta will join his cousins Simon and Ramiro, and for Amanara with SantiagoChavanne, whose son Lorenzo (17) is one of Argentina’s most promising talents that we see progressing in Chantilly year after year with his Dutch team.
The remaining teams opted for more balanced compositions, with a mix of 4, 5, and 6-goalers respectively.
The Women’s Open, more international than ever.
The Women’s Open, established in 2011, was formed in response to a modern phenomenon in polo, the rise of female players in the sport. This tournament has no shortage of household names in the women’s division, where Lia Salvo (ARG and multi-time champion of the women’s Argentine Open and French Open), Great Britain’s Hazel Jackson (who holds several titles from Palermo and Chantilly), as well as Argentina‘s Milagros Fernandez Araujo, winner of this women‘s Abierto on four occasions with La Dolfina, are once again set to headline this 2024 edition. From September 17–22, the matches will also naturally feature several talented French players, such as the Venot sisters and Ambre Ploix, all trained at the Chantilly club. The tournament is just as international as its men‘s counterpart, where players from Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, the USA, and France will all meet on the field.
With the French Opens, September is a dreamy month for polo fans and those who wish to discover the sport with the Chantilly crème de la crème of polo. Throughout this month, Europe’s biggest club is transformed into ‘Argentine territory’, as Nico Pieres will attest: “Chantilly is very much the kind of club you’d find in Argentina, especially in Pilar, where we (Ellerstina) are based, there are many similar clubs. Maybe not as big, but with entirely the same spirit.” It’s a culture and atmosphere eager to be experienced during these three special weeks, where access is free for the public (match schedules can be found at www.poloclubchantilly.com or by downloading the ChukkerApp app).
