2020 Open de France

the Castagnola brothers on opposing teams – the eyes of the polo world have been firmly glued to the action at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. The qualifying rounds began just two weeks after the high goal action had come to a close in the UK, which saw Dillon Bacon’s Les Lions reach both The Prince of Wales and The King

Power Gold Cup Finals as well as ending their 2020 English season on a high with an impressive win at Guards Polo Club for The

Cartier Queen’s Cup. Whereas during the

English season both Castagnola brothers had played seamlessly side by side on the same team, in Chantilly the fraternal duo were divided with 19-year-old Barto Castagnola Photography by RB Presse lining up for Bacon’s Les Lions Panarea, while 17-year-old Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola was dressed to impress in Carmignac’s Talandracas pink. Both teams met on Tuesday 8 September in the qualification stage, and onlookers were treated to an epic display

Dillon Bacon & Nick Rogerson go head to head of polo, which saw an extremely narrow Double Bounce 15-14 win for Les Lions Panarea, so when it transpired that both teams qualified for the Final, there was anticipation and excitement for the showdown between both teams. The first chukka was a fast paced, excellent display of seamless polo, keeping the spectators for Bacon both at the Club and streaming the match remotely, on the edge of their seats, with the scores impossibly close. However, Les Lions Panarea managed to find their form and pull ahead, and by the penultimate chukka, led Victory for Les Lions Panarea 9-6. Despite the best efforts of Talandracas the final chukka remained goalless for them, while Les Lions Panarea secured an extra goal

Aside from the English season, the French Open was special in many ways, to safely take the title 10-6 – giving Dillon Open de France, played in the celebrating their Bacon and Barto Castagnola their second big beautiful setting of Polo Club 20th anniversary win in just a few weeks. du Domaine de Chantilly, is one with eight teams, of the most prestigious tournaments in 11 professional

Europe, with some of the best names in polo Argentine competing for the title. This year’s players, plus

Les Lions Panarea, winners of the 2020 French Open

Francisco Elizalde & Barto Castagnola

The French Open Final Teams

Where: Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, France

4SEPT FINAL20SEPT

Les Lions Panarea (17)

Arístide Faggionato (1) Dillon Bacon (2) Barto Castagnola (8) Tommy Beresford (6)

Talandracas (16)

Camilo Castagnola (7) Nick Rogerson (1) Francisco Elizalde (8) Edouard Carmignac (0)

Chukka Score: (0-1) 3-2, 5-2, 7-4, 9-6, 10-6 to Les Lions Panarea

BPP

Gastón Lucero & Rafael Silva

MVP Barto Castagnola

Best Playing Pony:

Federico, ridden by Barto Castagnola