Irish women line out for the Argentine Polo Open

by Kim Mullahey · Published March 13, 2021 · Updated March 13, 2021

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IRISH women’s polo will make history when two of Ireland’s highest ranked players team up for their first crack at representing the country in the Argentine Polo Open next autumn.

Siobhan Herbst (left) and April Kent will be the first Irish women to play polo in Argentina at the prestigious Argentine Polo Open in Palermo. Image credit: Polo Ireland Foundation

Top Irish players Siobhan Herbst and April Kent are on the road to represent their home country in Argentina at the prestigious Argentine Polo Open, scheduled to take place in November and December at the Argentine Polo Ground in Palermo Buenos Aires. The pair have teamed up in recent years, representing Ireland as hosts in the USA and across Europe, but the trip to Argentina will be their first and the first for Irish women’s polo in the Southern Hemisphere.

Top ranked Irish ladies polo player Siobhan Herbst (left), playing for Wicklow in a county championship against Tyrone. Image credit: Kim Mullahey

“Our life goal is to represent Ireland in the Ladies Polo Open in Argentina,” said Wicklow Ireland native Siobhan Herbst, in conversation with irishladiespolo.ie. “It is the ‘world cup’ of ladies polo and the highest level you can get in this sport.”

The venerable Argentine Polo Open established in 1893, just 20 years after the official founding of the All Ireland Polo Club in Dublin Ireland is an international test of skills similar to those of hockey or Irish hurling except on horseback and at speeds of up to 45kph. Its long history that in more recent years has been held at the ‘cathedral of polo’ in Palermo failed to rank a women’s team until 2017.

April Kent and Siobhan Herbst (left) have previously lined out for Ireland notably on the Keeling’s team at the All Ireland Polo Club in Dublin Ireland. Image credit: Kim Mullahey

“Ireland produces some of the best thoroughbreds in the world, many being retrained from the (horse racing) track and going on to play polo at high levels,” said April Kent, who hails from Laois Ireland. “We have the horses (and) the horsemen and we have the ball skills. Putting this together, we (women) should be making more of a mark on the polo world.”

April Kent along with Siobhan Herbst will be lining out as representatives on a European ladies team. The pair are currently organising a crowd-funding initiative to finance their historic venture, expected to be launched within weeks.