Women and “golden” players!

Women’s polo is flourishing all around the planet. Ever since the last Argentinean season, women’s tournaments have multiplied and attracted sponsors as well as media.

Deauville doesn’t not escape this movement: The first two weeks of the Lucien Barrière Polo Cup (in August) will be dedicated to women in the form of the first Beauty Cup. The world’s best (male) players will take over from August 15th for one of the most important tournaments on international level: the 61st edition of the classic Gold Cup.

Last year, Deauville had seen the first professional feminine Argentinean player. Lia Salvo (h7 on the women’s scale), the daughter of a former professional player (Hector, who played the Deauville Gold Cup about 30 years ago and is now a polo ponies breeder) who has made polo her occupation. Her talent is recognized in Argentina. This young woman has thus become one of the spokespersons in a sport that’s rather dominated by men. – A small revolution! When Lia participates in mixed matches, she keeps up with her masculine opponents, but it’s in clearly feminine matches that she can really demonstrate her talent. There couldn’t be a more charming ambassador of this sport.

Feminine polo is “softer”, rather based on sensitiveness but nevertheless just as fast as the game of its male counterpart and this first Beauty Cup – where we should find Lia guiding one of the teams – is likely to attract a new audience and to light up the curiosity of regular guests. Four, maybe six teams announced their participation in this completely new tournament that will be the main attraction of the first half of August. Last year, a team that was half made up of women won the Bronze Cup of Deauville. This year, some of the world’s best female players will be present in Deauville. From now on, women have their own handicaps and Deauville counts on the participation of certain players within the h9-range.

Women and horses, there is not a more seductive and elegant alliance.

Five tournaments!

The second half of August is traditionally dedicated to the Gold Cup, one of the four most important tournaments outside of Argentina. Some of the world’s best players can usually be seen on the field during this tournament. Those best players are the legendary “handicap 10s” (the highest grade in this sport) who are habitually present in the “Cathedral of Polo”, the arena of Palermo in Buenos Aires where legends are born in the run for the most sought-after title: the Argentinean Open. Last year, four Open players had come to Deauville. Talandracas, last year’s Gold Cup winner, had one of the Open champions amidst its players: Lucas Monteverde.

Three other tournaments will complete the month of August in Deauville: The Silver Cup, the Platinum Cup and the Bronze Cup. In other words: 500 horses, 100 players (24 of which will be female, at least) and about ten nationalities will make up the 2011 Lucien Barrière Polo Season.