P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
A father’s pride
Lorenzo, 13, and Santiago Chavanne, 43, enjoyed winning an important cup together.
Santiago and Lorenzo Chavanne wrote their names in the long list of parents and children who won the República Argentina Cup. A triumph that once again certifies the inexhaustible renewal of the Argentine polo base. Polo must be one of the most familial sports in the world. Tradition and legacy. It is a common fact that it has had a wonderful new chapter in the last República Argentina Cup. The protagonists of this brand new conquest have been the Chavannes, Santiago and Lorenzo, father and son. With the Cuatro Vientos team they lifted the trophy after beating La Aguada, 12-9, in the final held in Palermo. The decisive duel was actually a meeting between two generations, since the formation of the Open Door club included Eduardo Jr. and Cruz Novillo Astrada. The current president of the Argentine Polo Association had already won this competition in 1990, together with his father Eduardo and two of his brothers, Miguel and Javier. In other words, whatever the outcome of the match had been, this article on parents and children would have been justified. The República Argentina Cup has been disputed since 1929 and the first winner was Dorrego. Most of the great champions in the history of the high 44 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
handicap have played it and even won it. Names such as Juan Carlos and Alfredo Harriott; Francisco and Gastón Dorignac; Antonio, Alberto Pedro, Horacio Antonio, Bautista, Eduardo and Ignacio Heguy; Adolfo Cambiaso; Bartolomé Castagnola; Pablo Mac Donough and David ‘Pelón’ Stirling, among others. If one asks the best Argentine polo players about their aspirations in their country, after the Triple Crown, the Cámara de Diputados Cup and the República Cup are the favorites. The truth is that for many players, appearing at the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo Opens are inaccessible. It is complex both because of the category of these competitions and because of the organization imperative to participate at that level. The Cámara de Diputados Cup is only one step below. Therefore, it is also a difficult barrier to overcome. The República Cup, on the other hand, is arguably more within reach. Although many of the participants make enormous efforts to be present, the teams do not have handicap limits, everyone can compete after qualifying in their respective circuits throughout Argentina and the most desired prize is to end up playing on Palermo’s Field No. 1—The Cathedral—in Buenos Aires. Moments after the final ended, Santiago
