Irish ladies return soon with a gift for all from the Argentine Ladies Open
TRIUMPH can be found along many roads, and the road taken by April Kent and Siobhan Herbst, the first among Ireland’s polo playing community to ever represent this country may have landed on the losing side while in Argentina at the Ladies Open, but on their return they bring an enduring gift that can potentially be given to generations.
HE Jacqueline O’Halloran (left) and the Magual team including Siobhan Herbst (beside HE) and April Kent (right)
The pair will return later this month to Polo Wicklow Ireland (20 December), to the last place they were seen by their supporters just before travelling to Buenos Aires and their supporters will be waiting for them: there is a match planned for novice players, but it’s likely that there will be plenty of chat; all the missing bits that didn’t make on to social media. In between the polo match for players with untapped potential and the unfolding of an epic journey it will be a day to remember.
Siobhan Herbst and April Kent (right) at a welcome reception at the Embassy of Ireland in Argentina
“(There have been) moments of great pride,” said Siobhan Herbst when welcomed by HE Jacqueline O’Halloran, Ambassador of Ireland in Argentina. “The biggest thing was when we first said we were going to do it. I got messages from junior lady players in Ireland, 15- and 16-year-olds. (They said) this means there is a chance we might be able to do this one day. That for us was a massive push. You look back at those messages and that was a massive inspiration to keep going.”
The Magual team in Argentina, Siobhan Herbst, April Kent, Jeanine Menendez and Eva Bruhl
While in Argentina the pair played to win their matches at the ‘Olympics of Polo’ but never lost sight of the main prize, not when facing the astronomical handicaps they were facing among six opponent teams. April and Siobhan along with Jeanine Menendez and Eva Brühl as teammates performed well in what was an uphill race; what they have done is to return home to Ireland with a roadmap to Argentina for every young lady player to follow.
Siobhan Herbst and April Kent, flanking the action last summer in a tournament at Bunclody Polo Club Wexford Ireland
“To represent Ireland when it has never been done before by Irish players born and bred, for it to be the two of us as well is just huge, absolutely massive,” said April Kent. “To have the support of the embassy (of Ireland in Argentina) and everybody in Ireland, every day we woke up and (couldn’t) believe we were actually here.”
Sponsors on the journey to the Ladies Argentine Polo Open included 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: Polo Ireland Irish Ladies Polo Irish Polo Foundation Argentine Polo Open
Image credits: Prensa Polo, Kim Mullahey
