Two finals on Saturday and Sunday, one in Argentina and one in France, gave us fine matches.
Jockey Club Open: La Irenita
On Saturday 19 September, La Irenita beat Las Monjitas 13-9 in the final of the 61st Jockey Club Open at the Jockey Club of San Isidro. The two sides were level at 6-6 after four chukkas, but La Irenita pulled ahead in the fifth and led by four goals going into the last period.
La Irenita, rated at 33 goals, were Pablo Mac Donough, Beltran Laulhé, Paco de Narvaez and Matías “Vizcacha” Mac Donough. Las Monjitas, rated at 32, were Juan Britos, Rufino Bensadon, Lucas Criado and Jerónimo del Carril. Vizcacha Mac Donough was named MVP, and he also took the award for best registered player product of the Argentine breed with Irenita Ronda.
The semi-finals had been remarkable. On Wednesday 16 September, Las Monjitas beat the favourites La Natividad La Dolfina 16-15 after an extra chukka, with Rufino Bensadon converting the decisive penalty. La Irenita beat La Fe 11-4 in the other semi-final. Beating the best team in Argentina by a single goal is no small achievement, and Las Monjitas will take plenty of confidence into the Triple Crown, even after losing the final.
Open de France: Kazak and Why Not
At Chantilly, the 26th Open de France Barnes finished on Sunday 20 September. Kazak beat Akasha 10-9 in the final, with a team of Sebastien Aguettant, Pedro Chavanne, Leon Donoso and Teo Lacau. Akasha were Alexandre Garese, Ciro Urturi, Facundo Fernandez Llorente and Tommy Beresford.
Leon Donoso, a 16-year-old from Chile, was named MVP and is the youngest player ever to receive the award at the Open de France. Aguettant was the amateur MVP, and Irenita Risa, ridden by Fernandez Llorente, was best in show.
In the women’s final, Why Not beat Augustinus Bader 8-1. Hazel Jackson scored seven of Why Not’s goals and took the MVP award, while Lorena Renggli was the amateur MVP. Why Not were Allegra Barnaba, Lorena Renggli, Hana Grill and Jackson, and both finalists had been unbeaten in qualifying. It was a one-sided final but a high-quality tournament, with eight teams.
The Triple Crown starts tomorrow
The Hurlingham Open begins on Tuesday 22 September. La Natividad La Dolfina have a point to prove after their semi-final loss at San Isidro, and La Irenita will arrive with real momentum.
Sources: Polo Press (Jockey Club Open), Polo Press (Open de France), Polo Times (Jockey Club semi-finals)
