International Ladies Polo Tournament
TWO of the country’s top horse sports will meet at the All Ireland Polo Club in aid of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund for the trong>19th Annual Ladies International Polo Tournament and tickets for the fundraising event have gone on sale online at http://www.ladiespolo.ie/
Featured on 18th August will be the main event in the Trainers versus Jockey polo match, managed by horse racing’s top trainers Noel Meade and Jessica Harrington with teams captained by renowned jockeys Kate Harrington and Paul Carberry, and line-outs will include champion amateurs Nina Carberry, Patrick Mullins, Charlie Swan, Lisa O’Neill and Sean Flanagan as well as thoroughbred industry entrepreneur Derville Mead and broadcaster Tracy Piggott, daughter of the legendary Lester Piggott.
Top jockey Sean Flanagan and two of the ladies he will take on in the Trainers vs Jockeys Polo Match, April Kent and Derville Meade along with top trainer Noel Meade at the All Ireland Polo Club.
“It is a lovely event and we are really looking forward to it,” said Irish Injured Jockeys Fund General Manager Michael Higgins. “The All Ireland Polo Club is a great venue and we thoroughly enjoyed last year. I think this year (the location) is much more central and it is fantastic having the jockeys involved.”
Fundraising events such as the International Ladies Polo Tournament are vital to the support of injured riders while they are recovering.
Horse racing’s Kate Harrington, Paul Carberry and Lisa O’Neill will take on the Ladies International Team at the All Ireland Polo Club in aid of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.
“We would be hoping that the tickets sell well because it is for the Irish Injured Jockeys,” Michael Higgins added. “Having the jockeys involved is a real bonus for the vital funds we need to raise.”
The fundraiser will be powered largely by former race horses that have been made over as successful polo ponies, due in part to the ‘Race Horse to Polo Pony’ programme.
Ireland’s best known professional dancer and ‘Dancing With The Stars’ judge Julian Benson will name the most stylish lady at the fundraiser which will be sponsored by the Design Centre. Julian will style the winner in a dress worth €1,000.
Ladies International Polo Team members Siobhan Herbst (l-r), April Kent and Derville Meade will take on some of horse racing’s top jockeys, including Sean Flanagan in aid of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund at the All Ireland Polo Club.
Tickets are on sale online at http://www.ladiespolo.ie/ and the early purchase admission fee of €130 will include a champagne reception to live jazz music followed by a sumptuous four-course lunch and an evening barbecue in the All Ireland Polo Club pavilion.
Main gates open at 11.45am on Saturday 18th August, and the first match will take place at noon.
The fundraiser for the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund will continue all day and late into the night with music and dancing.
