All to play for as the Irish summer polo season opens in Wexford
THE opening tournament of the Irish summer polo season kicked off with the first weekend of June in Wexford Ireland, welcoming eight teams to beautiful purpose-built grounds beside the River Slaney at Bunclody Polo Club. In the highlight of the tournament over two days, besides the higher goal win by LHK Insurance against CJ Law/Workpal and Wexford’s lower goal win over Curraghmore, respectively for the Perpetual Glass Trophy and the Quinlan Cup was the presentation of the Most Valuable Player award.
Wexford captained by Paddy Casey (centre) went on to win the lower goal tournament against Curraghmore at Bunclody Polo Club
Sidelines action is just as important as what happens on the polo ground when goals scored must be accurately recorded and time well kept in each chukka
A successful polo club requires a great team and with Jimmy Keane (left) supplying ponies and grandchildren, Nick Murphy to keep the show on the ground and Chairperson Robert Hogg, Bunclody Polo Club Wexford Ireland is on a winner
It’s the evening refreshments that keep a polo tournament going and the firepit turns out spectacular barbecue pork at Bunclody Polo Club Wexford Ireland
Sponsored by KM Mallets of Northern Ireland, the inaugural award went to the young Tommy Tagle of Bishopland Polo Club in Kildare Ireland. At just 12 years old he is the first and most likely will be the youngest ever to receive the hand mallet, a perfect tool for practising his swings at the ball while on foot.
Pictured here is the LHK Insurance team, Michael Connolly (left), Tommy Tagle, Luca Moore and Colm Kelleher, winners of the higher goal Perpetual Glass trophy
The lower goal Quinlan Cup winners received their trophy from Bunclody Polo Club Chairperson Robert Hogg (left), who presented to the Wexford team’s Kieran Doyle, Sienna and Tara Moore, and Paddy Casey
Tommy Tagle (left) was named the season’s opening tournament Most Valuable Player, receiving a hand mallet courtesy of KM Mallets and presented by Bunclody Polo Club Chairperson Robert Hogg
Horseware (in green) converge on the ball in play in their final against Bunclody
For more about playing polo in Ireland contact the Federation of Irish Polo Clubs (FIPC) Chairperson David Stone on the All Ireland Polo Club (AIPC) Facebook page.
Tags: Bunclody Polo Club #kmmallets #Wexford #VisitIreland #IrelandTourism
