Irish ladies are set to break new ground at the Argentine Open
IRELAND’S lady polo players Siobhan Herbst and April Kent are doing what none before them, man or woman has done in the long history of the Argentine Open at Palermo, Buenos Aires.
The pair left for Argentina just last week following a massively successful celebratory lunch (31 October) on winning bronze last September in the Ladies European Open and have set their sights on bettering that result in December at Palermo Polo Club.
SebastianVexana (l-r), HE Moira Wilkinson and Trade and Investment Agent for the Embassy of Argentina in Ireland Andres Guinazu at Polo Wicklow for the fundraising lunch
Ladies Argentine Open sponsor Jacqueline O’Neill, CEO of Pynck.com (l-r), veteran Irish polo player Lar Sheeran and Polo Wicklow’s Wendy Herbst
Bishopsland Polo Club’s Hazel Valentine (l-r), Steve and Emma Hayes and the fundraising lunch at Polo Wicklow for the Ladies Argentine Open team
Senior Irish players James Connolly (back row left) and Ladies Argentine Open Irish representative Siobhan Herbst guide beginners through and exhibition match in the arena at Polo Wicklow
While this will be the fifth instalment of the prestigious ladies tournament, Ireland’s debut has formed a Euro-African team including Germany’s Eva Brühl playing off a 6-goal handicap and South Africa’s Jeanine Menendez playing off 5; Ireland’s April Kent and Siobhan Herbst round out the team at 4 goals each.
The campaign to break new ground for Irish polo players at the ‘Olympics of Polo’ in Argentina began in November last year and culminated in the celebratory lunch at Polo Wicklow Ireland. Admission fees, auction and raffle prize sales raised funds towards around €39,000 required to make the trip, a fee that included flights and accommodation.
Ladies Argentine Open team member April Kent and professional player James Connolly demonstrate the hook manoeuvre, European Ladies Championship medallist Caroline Keeling looking on at an exhibition polo match, part of a fundraiser for the Ladies Argentine Open
Bunclody Polo Club in Wexford Ireland was well represented by Nick Murphy (l-r), Robert and Margaret Hogg and Elaine Foley at the celebration lunch for the Ladies Argentine Open
The lovely Mary Laverty, flanked by top Irish players Michael Connelly and her son Dan Laverty
Professional polo player Tom Small, Bunclody Polo Club’s Jennifer Doyle, Sinead Doyle and Jack Nolan of Redmills at the celebration lunch in Polo Wicklow Ireland
“We are so grateful for all the support to reach our target,” said April Kent, speaking with Pynck.com at the celebratory lunch. “It was November last year we first talked about it and even last summer we were being told (that) there is always next year but this was the year to do it and we have, and that is thanks to everyone who supported us.”
Unlike eventing, polo is one of the many horse sports in Ireland that does not receive the benefit of government funding. Anyone wishing to play polo at a competitive level either leaves the country or forms competition teams for tournaments such as the European Championship, which has garnered gold, silver and bronze for the men while the Irish ladies debut earlier this year earned bronze.
Hannah Brady Smith (left) and Jenna Starrett at the celebratory lunch in Polo Wicklow Ireland
Polo players Paddy Casey and Tara Moore
Martine Grogan (l-r), Caitriona Arnott, Niamh Fawl, Vivienne Nyhan and Geraldine Kane were ladlies who lunched at the celebration in Polo Wicklow Ireland
Irish businessman John Sinnott (l-r), Martine Fox, TV personality Gerald Kean, who called the auction to raise funds for the Ladies Argentine Open team; Ellen Sinnott and Mark Congdon
Fundraising for the Ladies Argentine Open team has been extensive through private donations and the recent celebratory lunch, highlighted by an auction for lucrative donated prizes called by Irish TV personality Gerald Kean along with generously donated raffle prizes met travel and accommodation requirements in Argentina.
“Thank you all for your support of these wonderful girls,” said Gerald Kean at the finish of his auctioneering duties, “the first to represent Ireland on a team.”
Sponsors on the journey to the Ladies Argentine Polo Open including the celebratory lunch were Pynck.com, Red Mills, Berney Bros Ireland, Irish Polo Foundation, Polly’s Abbeyleix, KM Mallets, Powerscourt Hotel, Resort, Spa; Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Herbst Software and Oilbe Belfast.
Tags: #irishladiespolo #irishpolofoundation #allirelandpolo #racehorsestopoloponies #argentinepoloopen #buenosairestourism
