Summer season opens at the All Ireland Polo Club in Dublin
THEY came from every corner of Ireland for the first of the new season’s tournaments at the historic All Ireland Polo Club in Phoenix Park, Dublin, and the teams brought some of their youngest players ever to face the throw-in ball in Europe’s oldest polo club in the largest walled park.
Every polo tournament begins when the ball is thrown in by the umpire, and resumes after each goal scored
A player from the LHK/Keelings team on her own while an opposing team member attempts to catch up
Played similarly to the Irish sport of hurling or ice hockey while on horseback and without a permanent goalkeeper, the four-a-side higher goal LHK/Keelings team won the coveted Presidents Cup. On the team was Michael Connolly, one of the strongest hitters in the country who noted the emerging young players who played to win in their first tournament this season at the AIPC.
Denis Connolly of Tandem Whiskey, Hannah Brady-Smith, Jenna Starrett and Denis’s son Michael Connolly, who played the higher goal tournament on the LHK/Keelings team
Veteran polo player and former AIPC Polo Manager, Lar Sheeran presents the Presidents trophy to Caroline Keeling of the LHK/Keelings team
“It was great to see young Irish players coming through and even better, it was all Irish horses,” said Michael Connolly when he spoke with Pynck.com just after the tournament final. “The idea for me was to pass it (the ball) to one of the three (teammates). It was great to see new teams coming up and hopefully they will continue to push us.”
Paul Ronan and his son Paul of Curraghmore Polo Club in Waterford Ireland, and AIPC Polo Manager David Stone, chatting on the sidelines at the tournament
Racehorse trainer and top-rated polo player John Flavin (left), AIPC past President Johnny Kavanagh and Bunclody Polo Club Wexford President Paddy Casey, pictured beside the All Ireland Polo Club in Dublin Ireland
Alongside the higher goal was the lower goal tournament for the Mumms Cup, open to teams with an average handicap rating of 0 goals. Teams were formed from among individual players registered at a -2 goal handicap up to 1 goal, the weaker teams earning set handicap goals before each match began and the Moores beat Tyrone on 6 goals to 3.
Tags: All Ireland Polo Club #poloireland #aipc #nipc #phoenixpark
Image credits: Kim Mullahey
