POLO+10 meet Nina Clarkin (10Goal) after a thrilling game and fantastic win at the French Open Polo Tournament 2023 in Chantilly.
The semi-finals of both the women‘s and mixed Open de France were so spectacular that we can only look forward to two great finals on Sunday (12 p.m. for the women, 3.30 p.m. for the mixed). Both competitions have taken another step forward this year.
The women will be kicking off Sunday’s competition with a clash between two English teams, those of 10-goalers Hazel Jackson and Nina Clarkin.
To access the final, Hazel Jackson, pillar of La Mariposa Polo Team, had to work hard as her team was being lead 4-1 in the second chukker. At this stage of the match, Lia Salvo and her Augustinus Bader team seemed to have the game in hand. Little did they know that the 4 goals were all they would mark today: the Mariposa Polo Team, and above all Hazel Jackson, scored 4 more goals in quick succession to emerge victorious with a 5-4 score. A cruel remontada.
Three outstanding French female players
In the other semi-final, French sisters Pearl and Lucie Venot put up a great fight, more than holding their own against the world‘s best player, England‘s Nina Clarkin, who had to fight hard to keep the score at 7-4, the smallest gap realized by TTR Sotheby‘s since the start of the tournament. Another piece of good news for French polo was the performance of the very young Margaux Guillemin, called in by Nina Clarkin to complete her team. At 14, Margaux is the youngest player in the history of this Women‘s Open and will be playing in the final in her first appearance at a tournament of this level, having even scored one of her team‘s seven goals. No doubt some of this talent is due to her genetics: her grandfather, Lionel Macaire, is still the best French player of all time.
Clash of titans
In yesterday‘s first final at the La Magdeleine club, the home team and their Kazak neighbors went head-to-head. For the first four chukkers, neither team was able to break away from the other; there was never more than a one goal difference with each team taking its turn at the lead. It all came down to the final chukker when Nico Pieres and his two young teammates, Antonio Heguy (20) and Beltran Laulhe (16), gave the all-important boost needed to win by two goals. “The talent of the young generation”, laughed Nico Pieres. It‘s true that my two teammates were more than valuable to me today. I used to be the youngest in my teams, and now I feel old. Well, not that old, despite being 32. But now I‘m looking at my son and I‘m already thinking about my succession.”
Nico, his captain Sébastien Aguettant and his two young warriors will meet a nice team, Amanara, in Sunday‘s final. Put together by Germany‘s Nicky Sen, the team played a magnificent semi-final game in Chantilly on Friday. A great moment of polo that would not have been possible without a fine opponent. And Essso, lead by Facundo Sola, fulfilled this role well, even if the final score of 11-7 might suggest otherwise. „No, no,“ clarifies Nicky Sen, „this game was very balanced, it was a very difficult battle, we were luckier, more successful, converting more goal opportunities. In any case, I‘m happy, so happy, to be in the final on Sunday, it is a dream come true. We have been coming here for three or four years with this goal in mind, and now we have achieved it.” The team’s pillar, Argentinean 7-goaler Santiago Chavanne, who graced the crowd with some incredible actions together with his son, was no less happy: „Chantilly is the most beautiful tournament in Europe at this level, by far. The grounds are magnificent and eighteen teams is something incredible. Today was complicated: it was a semi-final and we wanted to reach the final at all costs.” On Sunday, Santiago and his team will meet Nico Pieres, a winner of the Argentine Open, but the strategy for this final was not yet on the agenda: „We first want to savor this victory and this place in the final, which was our objective. Tomorrow, we‘ll start working out our strategy for Sunday.” One of the strong points of this team is Santiago‘s understanding with his son Lorenzo, who at 15 years of age is shaping up to be a great player of the new generation: „Yes, we don‘t need to talk much. Today, we have changed the positions on the field. He used to play up front, but we swapped positions with Benja (Panelo), who was more of an attacking player. Lorenzo played in the middle, hinging the ball to us up front, and he handled this new role wonderfully.“ This did not prevent the new No.3 from scoring four of his team‘s twelve goals.
Sunday will be a day of celebration for polo in France with these two finals, as well as the Trophée Castel final, a great 8-goal tournament. A village awaits visitors (free access) with fifteen exhibitors offering polo related gear and art as well as interior design, gifts, cosmetics and a few foodtrucks to enjoy this beautiful day from 11 a.m. There will also be a children‘s pony game (2 p.m.) followed by a roda (polo on a wheel) competition, and fifty vintage cars from the Rallye de l‘Open to admire.
Women‘s semi-final teams and progressions:
La Mariposa Polo Team : Annalise Phillips (USA 1), Nina Fruehaufn (GER 0), Rebecca Walters (GBR, 5) and Hazel Jackson (GBR 10, 5 goals)
Augustinus Bader : Paloma Lauro (LUX, 0), Anais Rezkallah (FRA 2) , Lia Salvo (ARG 9, 2 goals) and Lucia Heyes (GER 3, 2 goals)
La Mariposa Polo Team : 1-2 / 1-4 / 3-4 / 5-4.
TTR Sotheby’s : Margaux Guillemin (FRA 0), Laura Farell (GBR 1, 1 goal), Lucy Coddington (GBR 5, 1 goal) and Nina Clarkin (GBR 10, 5 goals)
Yves Delorme : Marie Louise Haupt (GER, 3), Maike Holty (GER, 4), Pearl Venot (FRA 5, 2 goals) and Lucie Venot (FRA 3, 2 goals)
TTR Sotheby’s : 4-0 / 5-2 / 6-2 / 7-4.
Teams and semi-final progressions 23rd Open de France mixed :
Kazak (16) : Sébastien Aguettant (FRA 0), Beltran Laulhe (ARG 3, 2 goals), Antonio Heguy (ARG 5, 3 goals) et Nico Pieres (ARG 8, 6 goals)
La Magedeleine (16) : Alexandre Garese (FRA 0), Elena Venot (FRA 1), Facundo F Llorente (ARG 8, 3 goals) et Tito Ruiz Guiñazu (ARG 7, 5 goals)
Kazak: 2-2 / 5-4 / 7-8 / 9-8 / 11-9.
Amanara (17) : Nicky Sen (ALL 0), Lorenzo Chavanne (ARG 4, 4 goals), Santiago Chavanne (ARG 7, 3 goals), Benjamin Panelo (ARG 6, 5 goals).
Essso (16) : Ian Gallienne (FRA 0), William Harper (GBR 4), Facundo Sola (ARG 7, 6 goals), Javier Guerrero (ARG 5 1 goal).
Amanara : 1-3 / 6-3 / 8-3 / 10-6 / 12-8.
It is the last week of the 2023 Open de France, leading up to the final on Sunday September 17th at 3.30 p.m. But before that, the road will take us through the semi-finals (Thursday and Friday), which look set to be „scorching“, given the show put on by the teams in the quarter-finals played on Sunday and Monday.
Thrilling games of top-level polo. It began with a hard-fought confrontation between Kazak, finalists in 2021, and Brittany Polo Club, winner of the Deauville Gold Cup in 2022. Two teams accustomed to top-level competition, participating in the great English season notably the Queen‘s Cup and the Gold Cup, the latter Brittany Polo Club, has won twice. The two teams‘ strongmen, Nicolas Pieres for Kazak and Diego Cavanagh for Brittany Polo Club,, put up one hell of a fight. For three chukkers, the teams gave blow for blow and then Nico Pieres moved up a gear, well supported by the very young Antonio Heguy and Beltran Lauhle. Actions worthy of the Argentine Open, which Pieres has won twice. From 7-6, the score rose to 11-7 in two periods, allowing Kazak to secure the first ticket to the semi-finals.
The first semi-final will be a remake of the 2021 final as Sébastien Aguettant‘s team will meet the other team from western Paris, La Magdeleine, this year‘s Queen‘s Cup finalists. They, too, had to fight hard to get the better of the Open de France 2022 champions Talandracas and their two prodigies Juan Martin Zubia and Rufino Bensadon, who were (slightly) outplayed in the last three chukkers after a big slump in which the score went from 4-1 in their favor to 5-7 against them in the fourth chukker: a 6-1 score in two periods! All this was thanks to the complicity between the two Abierto players Tito Ruiz Guiñazu (scorer of 6 of his team‘s 8 goals) and Facundo F. Llorente, but it was a woman, France’s Elena Venot, who scored the „break point“ goal for La Magdeleine.
The third quarter-final was even more dramatic with La Berta worrying Essso at the very end of the game, only to lose by a single goal. So close, yet so far from the semi-finals! The star players here were Jeronimo Del Carril and Facundo Sola, and it‘s the latter, twice a finalist in the Argentine Open, who will be up against Amanara on Friday.
Dutchwoman Nicky Sen‘s team qualified on Monday after another magnificent game against Jolly Roger King of Polo, the team of Sweden’s Niclas Johanson. There was plenty of pace in this match, with Palermo-style action led by Santi Chavanne, whose precise passing and perfect understanding with his son, Lorenzo, and their compatriot Benjamin Panelo, made this a game to remember. Simple polo with goals from one end of the field to the other in three passes. Simple but just beautiful to watch. Jolly Roger King of Polo held out with panache for three chukkers before the match got away from them, but with an identical idea of polo that explains the beauty of this last quarter final.
The Open de France also has its female version, and the competition kicks off on Tuesday with the first four qualifying games. The international teams include three of the world‘s top four female players. Among them is Lia Salvo, one of Argentina‘s 100 polo legends: a list just published by the country‘s polo federation, compiling the sport‘s greatest names – its most illustrious teams, its most exceptional players – since the beginning of the last century. (Tuesday at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m.).
Semi-final 1 of the 23rd Open de France, Thursday at La Magdeleine:
LA MAGDELEINE:
Alexandre GARESE (FRA 0)
Elena VENOT (FRA 1)
Facundo F. LLORENTE (ARG 8)
Tito RUIZ GUINAZU (ARG 7)
KAZAK: Sébastien AGUETTANT (FRA 0)
Beltran LAULHE (ARG 3)
Antonio HEGUY (ARG 5)
Nicolas PIERES (ARG)
Semi-final 2 of the 23rd Open de France, Friday at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly:
ESSSO:
Ian GALLIENNE (FRA 0)
William HARPER (GBR 4)
Facundo SOLA (ARG 7)
Javier GUERREO (ARG 5)
AMANARA: Nicky SEN (NED 0)
Lorenzo CHAVANNE (ARG 4)
Santiago CHAVANNE (ARG 7)
Benjamin PANELO (ARG 6)
POLO+10 volunteer Laura Vele reports on her first visit to a polo tournament and during an interview with Sebastian Schneberger learns why you cannot stop playing polo once you have started.
The weekend started on Saturday under sunny skies and nearly tropical temperatures. Anyone is familiar with the weather in Münster will tell you that this is quite rare. On the sidelines there was a relaxed atmosphere. Instead of a picnic blanket, a group of visitors chose to bring tables and chairs. On the benches and blankets you could find everything you could think about indulging on. Cookies, fruit, sparkling wine – and laughter galore, of course. There even was bull riding, especially for kids’ entertainment. The polo picnic was far from being a stiff event. In the sponsors’ area, the spectators sat on picnic blankets, Fatboy bean bags and bales of straw while watching the polo matches. The audience in this area did not bring their own picnic kits with them, but could choose between all sorts of culinary delicacies. Offering the finest Lafina beef from Uruguay, grilled king prawns, caviar on mashed potatoes or simply fries and hot dogs, the wide range could satisfy any desire.
The visitors of the polo picnic did not only gourmandise, but also enjoyed international polo and exciting matches. As a polo newcomer, one is startled seeing how Eva Brühl (+2) of team Farid’s QualiFighting squeezes her adversary off the track with full use of her physical strength. It was also surprising to learn how many rules and notions there are in the sport of polo. The organisers of Münster made sure that everyone could understand and be informed of the polo rules. On the sidelines the polo newcomers could inform themselves of the rules of the game or variants of conducting techniques.
During the matches the commentators provided the spectators with the background information, for example, that up to 90 percent of all time outs are due to the right of way (line of the ball). This means: The line of the ball is the imaginary path the travelling ball is expected to take. This line may not be crossed by the opponent. A player who is going straight after a ball he has hit, or the first player to swing into the line of a rolling or flying ball, without hampering the others, may not be intercepted by any other player as this could harm the player or the pony. Between the chukkers the band Funny Fellows played some songs and the spectators were invited to the enter the grass to divot stomping aiming to kick and stomp back into place any pieces of turf that have been torn out of the ground during the match.
On Saturday night the players’ party took place under this year’s motto “Dirty Western”. The guests awaited the aforementioned bull riding, which was enjoyed by the kids during the day. Some even accomplished the highest level without being thrown to the ground. The band “Soulsneakers” from Heidelberg played soul and pop classics as well as current hits and made the squaws and cowboys dance.
Feasting, polo and party – these were the keywords of the last weekend at the polo picnic in Münster. Sunday afternoon we had occasion to talk to Sebastian Schneberger, the organiser of the event and player in team Los Nocheros.
POLO+10: Mr. Schneberger, which is your conclusion about the 10th anniversary edition of the polo picnic?
Schneberger: Brilliant! We have been having more visitors than usual and we have been increasing the attendances steadily over the years. Today (Sunday) it is even busier. The spectators are sitting in six to seven “picnic rows” behind one another and all are fully loaded with picnic provisions. It is fun to see them while walking along the rows. Together with my team Los Nocheros we finished up last place, in other words, the defence for the title was definitely backfired. But it still was delightful to play against our friends. That is the advantage of being friends with everyone who is here: lots of laughter.
POLO+10: How many spectators have come this weekend compared to the previous year?
Schneberger: About 2,500 daily, while last year it was nearly 2,000 visitors. I expect there will be nearly 1,000 more than in the past years. We ran a big advertising campaign and distributed many flyers.
POLO+10: When do you begin the preparations for the polo picnic usually? How many people work on the polo picnic?
Schneberger: We slowly begin the preparations half a year before the event. Three months away from it, the tough work starts it really starts in the six previous weeks every day there is something to do. The construction is performed by a main group of ten people, but with all the trimmings of course there are definitely more people who work on the polo picnic. My girlfriend Rhea Gutperle takes care of the preparations. For me it is a lot easier. I communicate all my megalomaniac ideas to her and she makes them real with a more down to earth perspective.
POLO+10: How do you manage with the dismantling after the final games this evening?
Schneberger: Firstly, we focus on the dismantling, and of course, the final numbers that the event left. After that comes our recovery and holidays. Next weekend I will attend the Youpooly tournament in Hamburg, but here in Münster we have closed for the rest of the year.
POLO+10: For how long have you been playing polo and how did you join in?
Schneberger: I have been playing polo for twelve years. Riding had been my lifetime activity, until my cousin Mathieu van Delden, who also participates in this year’s polo picnic, called to tell me that he had a polo coach willing make a polo crash test course for three friends, but all three were unable to participate when Mathieu had already sealed the deal. So I went to Bad Bentheim and did the training with him. After this I stopped playing polo for a short period of time, but attend countless tournaments of the English army together with Mathieu. Not because polo was exciting, but I liked the parties. By chance, during a tournament a player was stuck in a traffic jam and I provisionally stepped in. Along came two, four, and then six horses, and so polo became a part of my life.
POLO+10: I have heard from many players that polo is addictive – would you agree to that?
Schneberger: I think it is pretty difficult to stop playing polo. There is a saying: “There a two ways to stop playing polo: you either die or go broke.” But going broke is a lot more common.
POLO+10: Is Münster a good place to establish the sport of polo?
Schneberger: We have a lot of show jumping here und around Münster there is a huge scene of equestrian sport. Ingrid Klimke for example, Olympic champion in Military, comes from Münster – she has won everything. We also have a lot of classical equestrian sports around here, but polo still is not high in number. The only polo player in Münster is currently sitting here with you on this bale of straw.
The following links lead to our galleries on Facebook. You can also look at them without a Facebook-account.
Polopicknick Münster 2013 part I → click here
Polopicknick Münster 2013 part II → click here
It won‘t be the Rugby World Cup – we‘ll be right in the middle of it (it kicks off on the 8th of September ) – but it will be the biggest international French polo tournament ever seen in France: the 23rd Open de France will welcome 18 polo teams from the 1st to the 17th of September!
And that‘s not all: together with the French Polo Federation, the club will also be offering 3 other tournaments during this period: the Trophée du Capitaine des Jeux (level 0-4), the Trophée Castel (6-8) and the Women’s Open de France (women‘s handicap 12-16). In all, some 1400 horses will be housed on the Ferme d‘Apremont site. To accommodate them, 840 demountable stables have been added to the permanent ones. To look after these four-legged athletes, some 250 petiseros (or grooms) will be on hand.
In addition to the 18 Open teams, 32 others will compete in the aforementioned further tournaments, 50 teams in all, or some 200 players (slightly fewer, as some will play several tournaments at a time) representing 15 nations: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA!
Competitors will include 14 of the world‘s top 40, players who qualified for the Argentine Open, including a former winner of this “Wimbledon of polo”, Nico Pieres, and 3 of the top 4 female players, including world No. 1, England‘s Nina Clarkin.
A legendary name in Chantilly
Antonio Heguy will join the Kazak team. This name of Basque origin is more than famous in the world of polo. Antonio is named after his great-grandfather, who was the first of the Heguy dynasty to win the legendary Argentine Open in 1958, alongside his eldest son, Horacio. The current Antonio‘s grandfather, Alberto-Pedro, and his uncle, Horacio, went on to dominate the Argentine Open for over 20 years, losing only four times between 1959 and 1981.
After a short break, the next generation took the reins in 1989 with Horacito, Gonzalo (who died in 2000) and Marcos, with a first victory in Palermo with the Indios Chapaleufù I team before Bautista joined them.
From 1991 to 2004, this generation would lose just five times, alternating with cousins from Indios Chapaleufù II, whose striker was Pepe Heguy, Antonio‘s father, alongside Duardo and Igancio. Incredible „genetics“, since of the fifty or so 10-goalers produced by Argentine polo since the beginning of the 20th century, 9 bore the Heguy name! In 1986, 1992, 1993 and 1995, the Indios Chapaleufù I had a total handicap of 40 goals*, four brothers with a handicap* of 10, a unique fact in the history of the sport! Antonio Heguy, who we will be seeing in Chantilly, is only 20 years old, he is a 5-goaler, and perhaps one day, with his cousins Cruz Heguy and Rufino Bensadon (h7 also present in Chantilly), they will put together another great Indios Chapaleufù team?
But back to Chantilly where some 122 games will be played on the club‘s 8 fields, with occasionally 12 matches a day. All are open access! There will be games every day of the week, as well as festive days, notably on the day of the finals, September 17th, when a village of exhibitors and food-trucks will welcome the general public.
* For the record, the handicap is the value of the player established by the handicap commission of his country. A beginner is rated at -2, while the world‘s top pros are rated at 10. There are currently 7 handicaps 10 in the world, 6 Argentinians and 1 Uruguayan; 14 handicaps 9 and 20 handicaps 8. The two best French players are currently 6-goalers, whereas the brothers Stéphane and Lionel Macaire were 8-goalers in their day (80s-90s). The total handicaps of a team‘s players constitute the team‘s valuation (16 goals for the Open de France).
© RB Presse
Despite the rainy weather conditions, the Coupe d’Or Marta & Lucien Barrière final – and the Coupe de Bronze Engel & Völkers final – were able to take place. And what a final! The very Normandy weather did not dampen the spirits of the spectators, especially as the sun came out for the final: several hundreds of them packed the stands of the Deauville International Polo Club to applaud the victory of the Barrière Polo Team in the prestigious Coupe d’Or after a hard-fought battle.
This is the first victory in a 16-goal tournament* for French captain Isabelle Lerenaudie who has been playing at this level for only the second season. To get to this level, she put together a team made up of the Zavaleta family, which has remained the same since last year. Two brothers, Simon and Ramiro, who know each other by heart, led by a cousin, Juan Martin, a regular at the world‘s top level, taking part in the Argentine Open, the highest level tournament in the world. It was a complicated game for Barrière, who was led until the fourth chukker, sometimes by as much as 4 goals, „but I‘ve always reminded my players that a game is long and everything can happen very quickly in this sport, and that‘s what happened“, explained Juan Martin Zavaleta. Simon Zavaleta finally gave his team a first lead at the very beginning of the fifth (and last) chukker, before Barrière again fell behind, and it was on two penalties from Juan Martin that Barrière sealed its first victory in this major event. It was also the first victory for his cousin Simon (Ramiro had already won it) and captain Isabelle Larenaudie: „It‘s phenomenal“, jubilated the first woman to win the Coupe d‘Or. Winning with this family, with two Zavaleta who have never won it before, is huge. I still can‘t believe it. It was a very tough match, but tonight it‘s a big party.” The joy of Juan Martin Zavaleta, named most valuable player of the final (he scored 10 goals on Sunday), who has many other victories to his name, was no less happy: „It‘s incredible. Already, winning the Coupe d’Or is something you think about all the time. It‘s one of the most beautiful tournaments to be played in France, and to win it as a family… there are no words to express the emotion it creates. It‘s an important victory in one‘s career, and now it‘s done. Deauville is a tournament that will go down in the history of our sport.”
Swiss Victory in the Coupe de Bronze Engel & Völkers
The final of the Engels & Völkers Coupe de Bronze was just as exhilarating, requiring an extra chukker and a golden goal from Jaime Roberts to separate the two teams and see the Swiss team Standing Rock triumph over Mungo‘s four French players. A consolation for the team‘s captain and junior, Ulysse Eisenchteter, was being named best amateur player of the final, while his pillar, Pierre Henri N‘Goumou, was the tournament‘s top scorer with 25 goals.
The Barrière Deauville Polo Cup will be back next year of course, but France’s international polo season is not quite over yet as the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly awaits the six teams from Deauville’s Coupe d’Or as well as a further twelve for a 23rd French Open that promises to be particularly competitive. The first games will be played on Friday, with the Coupe d‘Or winner opening the competition. Only five days to recover from these strong emotions!
* The total of the handicaps of the players on a team constitutes the team‘s global handicap (i.e. 16 goals for the Coupe d‘Or). For the record, the handicap is the player‘s value as established by his country‘s handicap commission. A beginner is valued at -2, while the world‘s top pros are rated at 10. There are currently only 7 10-goalers in the world.
TEAMS AND PROGRESS
COUPE D’OR MARTA AND LUCIEN BARRIÈRE
Barrière Polo Team: Isabelle Larenaudie (FRA, h0), Simon Zavaleta (ARG, h5, 2 goals), Juan Martin Zavaleta (ARG, h7, 10 goals) et Ramiro Zavaleta (ARG, h4, 1 goal)
Los Dragones Rouges: Sam Sztarkman (FRA, h2), Jules Legoubin (FRA, h3), Baratolomé Bayugar (ARG, h4, 5 goals) et Bautista Bayugar (ARG, h8, 7 goals)
Progression Barrière Polo Team: 2/4 – 4/6 – 7/8 – 10/10 and 14/12
BPP (best horse of the final): Calidad played by Juan Martin Zavaleta
BPP AACCP Mejor polo argentino: Siempre Magica played by Bauti Bayugar
MVP (best player of the final): Juan Gris Zavaleta
Best amateur player of the final: Isabelle Larenaudie
Top scorer of the tournament: Juan Gris Zavaleta, 35 goals
COUPE DE BRONZE ENGEL & VÖLKERS
Standing Rock: Philipp Muller (h0), Nick Van Open (h1), Jaime Roberts (h3, 3 goals), Ignacio Gonzalez (h4, 5 goals)
Mungo: Ulysse Eisenchteter (h 0), Daphné/Noemie Eisenchteter (h -1), Jules Legoubin (h3, 2 goals), Pierre Henri Ngoumou (h6, 5 goals)
Standing Rock progression: 3/1 – 4/4 – 5/6 – 7/7 – 8/7
MVP (best player of the final): Jaime Roberts
Best amateur player of the final: Ulysse Eisenchteter
BPP (best horse of the final): Cassandra played by Jaime Roberts
A limited edition of 100 timepieces, specially adapted for The King‘s Man, the upcoming Kingsman origins film directed by Matthew Vaughn.
The newest film in the Kingsman series links past and present, going back 100 years to the origins of the Kingsman agency. So too has Jaeger-LeCoultre drawn upon its great historic mastery of ultra thin calibres to develop a new timepiece directly inspired by the celebrated 1907 ‚Couteau‘ (couteau is French for knife) pocket watch.
MASTER ULTRA THIN KINGSMAN KNIFE WATCH
The aesthetic roots of the new watch are unmistakably those of Jaeger-LeCoultre‘s traditional pocket watches: the very broad bezel slopes gently from the sapphire crystal to the edge of the case, creating a fine profile reminiscent of a knife blade and the winding crown, protected by its triangular bow, is placed at 12 o‘clock. However, these timeless and traditional elements are brought right up to date with subtly modern details: simple index hour markers keep the dial refined and clean, while a finely drawn ring is repeated as a circular highlight on the bezel.
THE KING‘S MAN
As a collection of history‘s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in „The King‘s Man.
„The King‘s Man“ is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance.
„The King‘s Man“ is based on the comic book „The Secret Service“ by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, and the story is by Matthew Vaughn and the screenplay is by Matthew Vaughn & Karl Gajdusek. „The King‘s Man“ opens in U.S. theaters on September 18, 2020.
www.press.jaeger-lecoultre.com
More information about MR PORTER and the YOOX NET-A-PORTER group can be found at www.mrporter.com and www.ynap.com.
- Grey Cermet, Richard Mille’s new exclusive material
- The lightness of titanium meets the hardness of diamond
- Limited edition of 140 pieces
Grey Cermet, Richard Mille’s new exclusive material The lightness of titanium meets the hardness of diamond Limited edition of 140 pieces
True to the Richard Mille spirit, grey Cermet is the fruit of painstaking research conducted by the brand, which is unrelenting in its commitment to the creation of new materials. This exclusive Richard Mille material in watchmaking combines the lightness of titanium and the hardness of diamond.
The construction of the automatic movement gives pride of place to titanium.
Its functions notably include a GMT display that can be simply adjusted thanks to a pushpiece at 9 o’clock, a 24-hour flyback chronograph, and an annual calendar. The added grey Cermet is adapted to the pure aerodynamic lines of the iconic case, which measures 50 x 42.70 mm with a total thickness of 16.15 mm.
The Cermet owes its unique grey colour to the combination of a metallic zirconium matrix with high-performance ceramic inserts. Its implementation required a degree of rigour commensurate with that needed to create the materials themselves. Heating and pressing together very different kinds of materials at a high temperature without altering their respective qualities was a challenge.
It proved even more difficult to obtain a homogeneous whole, as nickel and cobalt, which are normally used in this family of hard materials, were excluded in order to adhere to REACH standards, which ensure safety in the production and use of chemicals in the European industry.
It took many years of development for Richard Mille and the IMI Group, specialising in microtechnology, to remove these undesirable binders and only retain suitable materials. The innovative procedure used for this solution pairs classic hot stamping with a series of powerful electrical current pulses to increase the sintering kinetics, a technique known as ‘flash sintering’.Its density of 4.1 g/cm 3 – less than that of titanium – and its hardness of 2,360 Vickers – almost the same as diamond’s 2,400 Vickers make Cermet a judicious choice for use in bezels that are very exposed to scratches, while maintaining overall lightness. Cermet’s physical properties are widely recognised, hence its frequent use in ballistic protection, external aerospace fuselage components, and in the brakes of competition vehicles.
The combination of a Carbon TPT ® caseband, a grade 5 titanium caseback and a grey Cermet bezel helps to significantly reduce the weight of the RM 11-05.
Limited to 140 pieces, the RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT will be available from July 2020.
Gallery:
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Real sports cars deliver extraordinary driving performance, but usually have a somewhat spartan appearance. For those unwilling to sacrifice any luxury, space or comfort, the Audi S8 has been available since 1996, and as regards acceleration, it can hold its own against the contemporary Porsche 911. The fourth generation of the racy luxury limousine came onto the market in early 2020, with a powerful V8 bi-turbo petrol engine delivering 571 hp (420 kW) and 800 Nm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h: 3.8 seconds! As such, it is faster than a current 992 model. But can it also compete with even faster super sports cars? With this comparison, ABT Sportsline comes into play with an extremely attractive performance upgrade.
The software of the high-tech ABT Engine Control unit has been precisely adapted for this model and can unleash a hefty 700 hp (515 kW) from the new S8. Maximum torque increases to 880 Nm. This amazing power is clearly reflected in the new performance figures: Now the traditional standard sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h is achieved in 3.4 seconds. For vehicles equipped with ABT Power and ceramic brakes, an optional top speed increase to 270 km/h is available. The 5.18-metre limousine, weighing over 2.3 tonnes, generally cuts a fine figure, even when cornering. This is down to the meticulously designed standard suspension. The chassis can tilt up to three degrees when cornering, and a camera constantly monitors the next 15 metres, to facilitate active response to any uneven surface.
Aesthetically, the Audi S8 maintains an elegant, understated appearance. Therefore, upon request, ABT Sportsline adds just one discreet carbon fibre rear spoiler. Additional sporty trappings include 20-inch ABT GR or FR wheels. The latter is also available in 21-inch, as featured on the pictured vehicle. The design is a particularly attractive interpretation of the classic five-spoke design. Its diamond-machined outlines and mystic black finish provide an interesting colour contrast. In turn, the GR features a striking concave rim well and a glossy black painted wheel chassis contrasts with a diamond-machined rim flange. The sporty and elegant wheel is also available as an alternative in matt black with an entirely diamond-machined finish.
From inside too, the owner can drop subtle hints to his passengers that they are not travelling in a standard S8. The ABT start-stop-switch-cap and ABT shift knob cover make this possible. A step on the accelerator will remove any doubt.
*The engine performance data is in accordance with the stipulations of EWG/80/1269. The process and dynamometer manufacturer have been certified and authorised by the vehicle manufacturer.For further details, visit www.abt-sportsline.com/performance-measurement.
Guest article from Michael Husted, Performance Polo
Let the games begin!
Both players arrived in the UK yesterday in time for their first practice with the Next Generation team, also comprising Pelon Stirling and Jean Francois Decaux. We have equipped both Cambiasos with HPA approved Instinct Polo helmets, hand painted by Eddie Kennedy in Cambiaso‘s tradtional design.
© Thomas Wirth
The Kusnacht Practice is the world’s most luxurious Rehab & Treatment Centre and a high-quality centre for mental health and addiction treatment.
Teamwork, the pursuit of excellence, and l’esprit de corps: these are among the values that animate the sport of kings, and both players and spectators of polo well understand the game’s finer qualities. They are also values shared by The Kusnacht Practice, an institution located not so far from Zurich’s Polo Park & Country Club which, for some years now, has been providing best-in-class care and rehabilitation services to a discerning clientele.
Since its founding The Kusnacht Practice has rightly won a reputation as the world’s most luxurious rehabilitation clinic, assisting high net worth individuals to overcome the challenges of mental ill-health and addiction with the expertise and discretion for which Swiss care has long been renowned. And it’s perhaps no coincidence that The Kusnacht Practice’s CEO, Eduardo Greghi, is himself a dedicated and talented polo player.
“Nothing can be more luxurious than expert care today,” says Mr Greghi, “and no other clinic offers treatment and rehabilitation services to a standard higher than The Kusnacht Practice. Our psychiatric and medical teams comprise the world’s best-trained clinicians, and we provide best-fit care.”
Nor is the Practice’s location a coincidence: Zürich enjoys a storied past as the crucible of psychiatric expertise, with Carl Jung and Eugen Bleuler among the eminent figures to have practiced in the city. There is tradition but at The Kusnacht Practice there is also innovation, and most importantly of all there is quality, discretion, privacy and luxury.
“From the first contact we are highly responsive and attentive to clients, our clinicians listen empathically to learn about a person’s needs, and – very importantly – we give them hope,” Mr Greghi adds. “We treat the underlying causes of symptoms so that clients are healed to their essence, and we provide them with tools and skills to lead healthy, happy and fulfilled lives.”
Clients arriving at the Practice are ushered from the airport to their own private residence, each benefitting from a live-in counsellor who is available 24/7 to assist the client with arising issues, plus an in-house chef who devises and implements a diet plan. These are among the building blocks of a treatment plan which through the Practice’s clinical teams – today counting 60 full-time staff with a further roster of 100 therapists – is tailor-made for each client in every case. Care plans fit the client’s needs as would a bespoke suit or ballgown, both for the duration of the client’s stay (typically six weeks but often longer) and beyond.
As polo competitors know, sport can be extremely demanding on the mind, body and soul, and recovery is an absolutely vital partner to play. The same applies in the game of life itself: each of us know just how demanding modern life can be, and the stresses it can place on individuals. That’s also why the Kusnacht Practice excels in providing both psychiatric care – for issues including substance and behavioural addictions, mental illnesses including schizophrenia, borderline personality, bipolar, obsessive-compulsive and eating disorders – along with medical care. Instant access to the best of Switzerland’s clinical facilities is available under the leadership of medical director Dr Konrad Hitz in collaboration with the Practice’s partner Double Check medical partner.
“Our clients are all too familiar with demanding much of themselves to achieve their goals,” says Dr Hitz. “Creativity and self-belief are no strangers to them: they are resourceful and resilient individuals, typically high achievers who have had to face challenges without the sufficient inherent resources to cope. When a downward spiral ensues, we step in.”
And then there’s the innovation we learned of above. Clients at The Kusnacht Practice soon come to feel better in Switzerland’s rarefied air, enjoying beautiful views from their private residences overlooking Lake Zürich, with up to eight therapeutic sessions per day – conducted, naturally, in private – providing for their needs. Alongside the fundamental therapeutic processes of psychiatric monitoring, psychological and psychotherapeutic support, medical management and physical wellbeing the clinic applies an impressive range of complementary therapies. These include including hypnotherapy, rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation), neurofeedback, EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), somatic experiencing and Satori Chair plus yoga, reflexology, meditation, reflexology, acupuncture, massage and many more.
But recognising the truism that we are what we eat, a decisive pillar of The Kusnacht Practice’s approach is the use of Biomolecular Restoration (Bio-R) treatment, led by Nutritional Director Dr Antoinette Sarasin and delivered to clients every day by their personal chef. This highly individualised medical approach corrects imbalances and stress factors in body and brain biochemistry, providing a one-of-a-kind formulation which is as unique as a client’s fingerprint. Biomolecular restoration strengthens physical and emotional wellbeing and energy, promotes successful weight management, sleep, rejuvenation, anti-ageing and immune system support, and restores crucial micronutrients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids.
“This approach allows us to detect the true root of health problems and symptoms, and provides personalised tools and solutions for a significant gain in sustainable health, vitality and happiness,” says Dr Sarasin.
Not unlike a wise sport manager, the Practice’s team of clinicians and therapists work together to take a long view of a client’s health – spotting the inner rhythms and invisible tensions and devising strategies for wellness that lead the client to the ultimate goal of returning to a happy and healthy life. As sport can sometimes achieve the heights of art, so The Kusnacht Practice turns rehabilitation and wellbeing into the finest of crafts – perhaps as close as medicine itself can come to art.
“We provide what is necessary to treat the entire person in the most personal way possible, and we have been polishing this approach for 10 years, continually bringing in the best professionals, and our success rates are exemplary,” Mr Greghi notes.
Recovery begins when clients arrive in Kusnacht but it doesn’t end there. Research has demonstrated that the longer an individual can commit to residential treatment, the greater the likelihood that they will experience sustained recovery; of equal importance is the onward journey and that’s why families and loved ones are encouraged to visit the Practice to learn strategies for maintaining the client’s ongoing health.
“Recovery is a long-term process and main predictors of success are a client’s engagement during their stay, and ongoing support from family and loved ones as well as our clinicians after they depart,” says Mr Greghi. “We strongly encourage family and loved ones to visit us, and we equip them with the skills to support the client as they progress through the stresses that life can bring.”
A testament to the quality of The Kusnacht Practice’s care is that clients often leave deeply changed: healed in body, mind and soul and enabled to lead their recovery with the tools they need to ensure a healthy, content and productive lifestyle. They depart freed from harmful behaviours, reliance upon medical pharmaceuticals and with balance restored to their biochemistry, neurochemistry and self-perception, empowered to lead a full and happy life.
“As practitioners as well as people we are altruistic first and foremost,” concludes Mr Greghi. “No matter how hopeless a situation looks or feels to an individual, we can help. In fact, where everyone else gives up is where we start.”
The results of its exceptional work demonstrate why The Kusnacht Practice is regarded as one of the most successful treatment centres in the world: the ultimate in care and treatment in one destination.
© Kusnacht
The Kusnacht Practice in Zollikon.
Beautiful views from the residences overlooking Lake Zürich – first-class care and Swiss excellence.
Eduardo Greghi, CEO.
Left: World-class treatment facilities.
Right: The Practice’s Medical Director Dr med. Konrad Hitz.
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Oliver Winter, President | German Polo Association DPV
© Bernhard Willroth
Dear friends of POLO+10, dear Polo friends,
the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences influence our everyday life during these weeks. The first concern of course is for our families and friends. Protecting their health and limiting the spread of the virus still is our greatest common obligation.
We are all asked to adapt to the current circumstances, follow the restrictions in our sport and the advice for personal distancing where necessary.
And we can see that in following official advice we are successfully fighting Covid-19. As a result in more and more countries the strict measures will be eased in the upcoming weeks, a return to limited training slowly is possible. Polo clubs and stables affected from the restrictions have mastered the special challenges very well. Despite the sometimes limiting possibilities, the care for the horses was and is always upheld. And fortunately the good and close cooperation with the authorities has made it possible to quickly implement individual training plans.
Our Polo clubs and all their staff have made the best of the situation so far, for which I thank them on behalf of all Polo players!
But despite these positive experiences, the Corona virus has also affected our sport noticeably. Especially those of us who live from and with Polo, the coaches, referees, grooms, but also professional players and tournament organizers, have been hit economically by the effects of the pandemic.
We see that individual training in many clubs is possible again, that many of us can continue their work with the horses. Many clubs are currently preparing for a reduced season, so unfortunately we will not see every tournament originally scheduled for this year. Main events such as the European Polo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan and various big national tournaments are already postponed to 2021. And the training of young people will probably only be possible to a very limited extent in this 2020 season.
Still we should be optimistic for the second half of this year. As soon as possible we will see small tournaments being considered in many places and later in the year we all hope for further liftings of the sanctions and maybe some High Goal events. Polo is a mesmerizing and dynamic team sport. It is our passion to live it and to share it with our family, friends and the many fans and spectators.
We are experiencing strong solidarity in the Polo family and I am very happy to see the support and help offered everywhere. I hope you enjoy this edition of POLO+10 and that we will meet again soon at a Polo ground. Please stay healthy and take care!
Let‘s enjoy Polo!
Oliver Winter, President | German Polo Association DPV
