SCAPA Wins BMW Polo Masters Courchevel, Last Tournament of the Winter BMW Polo Masters Tour
Photography by Pascal Renauldon - RB Presse, and Morgane Delfosse. Story by Florence Pezet Bertrand - Polo Masters Tour
After two days of tough weather conditions the sun finally graced the finals of the BMW Polo Masters Courchevel shining on the teams Doux Joaillier and Scapa who fought for the magnificent K2 trophies. These stunning bronze Mandala sculptures were offered by the prestigious new hotel K2, the latest luxury hotel to grace the resort and our main sponsor for the Courchevel stage of the tournament. The conquest for these trophies was akin to scaling the 2nd highest peak in the world, one of the toughest matches yet and produced intense playing that was loaded with rebounds. The return of the cold and dry weather enabled the horsemen to ride faster, with continuous rapid attacks and counter-attacks, which were watched closely by the masses of spectators who were shouting encouragement from the sidelines and cheering at the sheer prowess of the players…
Cyrille Costes, Doux Joallier’s team captain, attempted to repeat last week’s victorious performance at the Megève BMW Polo Masters without counting on the tenacity of the Scapa team, who had already been finalists in the Val D’Isère BMW Polo Masters. Mickael Redding, Scapa’s team captain, who was playing under his company’s colours took a number of risks, engaging in some very combative moves and succeeded in scoring 2 goals out of the 5 goals scored by his team. After 2 chukkas in a row, Mickael Redding, one of the rare captains with a handicap of 1, supported by the two young French prodigies, Robert Stom and Clément Delfosse, succeeded in muscling in with a score of 5 to 3. SCAPA, who lost out last year in the finals by one point in the last few minutes were highly motivated for this well-earned victory.
The third and fourth-place play-off was between BMW, led by Laurent Dassault and Courchevel with Alejandro Pastorio at the reins. Despite the amazing performances of the BMW team and notably Patrick Paillol one of the rising stars in French polo, it was Laurent Dassault’s team, the 2011 title-holder who gained a point for a final score of 6 to 5.
This second edition of the BMW Polo Masters Courchevel attracted a massive public following, both around the pitch and in the polo village tents. As usual during this tour VIP tents and public spaces were set up to welcome spectators and also offered everyone the chance to admire the new BMW collection. On Courchevel’s altiport, transformed for the occasion into a polo pitch, you could even come and admire a Pilatus PC 12 airplane.
The Courchevel stage marked the end of the winter tournament of the BMW Polo Masters Tour, which saw 3 captains from different teams win 3 stages. Gracing the podium were
Matthieu Delfosse and the rising French polo stars, Patrick Paillol, Robert Strom and Clement Delfosse.
This winter tournament, like the X Drive models of our sponsors BMW, has succeeded in braving difficult weather conditions to offer top quality performances in all the stages. Rendezvous for the next stage of the tour the 27th, 28th and 29th July 2012 for the BMW Polo Masters By Night in Saint Tropez/Gassin.
COURCHEVEL PODIUM
1st Scapa
2nd Doux
3rd BMW
4th Courchevel
WINNERS OF THE 3 TOURS
VAL D’ISERE (Team Barmes de l’Ours)
Claude Solarz
Matthieu Delfosse
Patrick Paillol
MEGEVE (Team Fermes de Marie)
Cyrille / Edouard Costes
Brieuc Rigaux
Adrien Legallo
Patrick Paillol
COURCHEVEL (Team Scapa)
Mickael Redding
Clément Delfosse
Robert Strom
"Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly" 
Rabii Benadada
