Polo 150 – the teams, the tournaments and what to watch for in 2023
POLO, that erstwhile sport of kings (and queens!), often compared to ‘Hurling on Horseback’ (or ice hockey if you are from North America) is about to achieve what very few Irish sports have achieved: the only truly equestrian team sport will reach its 150th year from the first throw-in ball this spring and plans have been in the works since the winning goal was scored by Glenpatrick way back last September in the Pakistan Cup.
The teams will gather at the All Ireland Polo Club this spring and all summer long for the 150th anniversary of polo in Ireland
There will be food, fun and a festival atmosphere at many of the tournaments in Dublin and around Ireland, and among those already scheduled is the All Ireland Polo Club Members Weekend at the Stuarts Cup Tournament set to take place in June. The weekend has been set aside for new and returning members to come along and watch great amateur polo while enjoying food and plenty of craic and find out what membership is all about at Europe’s oldest polo club on grass in the award-winning Phoenix Park.
The AIPC Derby Tournament in July will commemorate the achievement of 150 years with the parade of teams and visiting past club presidents and dignitaries, launched with an art exhibition and special guests. Later in the summer will see celebrations at AIPC tournaments expected to include the Horse Show Tournament and Freebooters Cup before the season wraps up with the Pakistan Cup and Polo Ball in September.
It’s a season of celebration for Irish polo when Polo Wicklow celebrates their 30th anniversary in May. The home of Ireland’s only year-round facility will welcome the return of the USA with Eileen Flint, Jim D’Angelo and Liz Brayboy back in Ireland for the first time in three years.
Celebration events are constantly being updated so stay with Pynck.com for the latest on Polo 150 and visit the All Ireland Polo Club and Polo Wicklow on Facebook.
Tags: Arts & Culture
Image credits: Kim Mullahey
