Polo Wicklow

POLO WICKLOW GETS A NEW PRESIDENT

The Polo Wicklo w committee and Oscar decided last weekend that it was time we had a new president, after a lot of discussions we have finally come to a decision and Sean Reynolds has been appointed as our new President. Sean Reynolds has been a member of Polo Wicklow for the last 8 years and is one of the main supporters of Arena polo in Ireland making him the ideal candidate for the job. Mr Reynolds has also been a representative of the club playing in the USA last year in the annual Ireland v USA match in Newport and Yale. Congratulations Sean and Good Luck!! - I’ve heard Oscar isn’t easy to work with but if you need help check out parrottraining.com!!!

THE HUNT LEAVES FROM POLO WICKLOW

The Bray Hunt had their second annual meet at Polo Wickl ow last weekend, 68 people tacked up their horses and ran after the hounds jumping the big ditches of the Wicklow countryside. While all this was going polo continued in the arena as normal. All the hunting crowd then came into the clubhouse for the famous ‘Beef Stew’ made by Wendy Herbst while watching their days hunting on the full size screen in the clubhouse.

A WEEKEND OF SPANISH PYJAMAS

The Spanish Team arrived last weekend to take on the 3 Irish teams, winning on Friday by 5 goals against, Siobhan and Mickey Herbst and Sean Reynolds, they took on Derville Hoey, Ronan Murphy and Joe O’Connell on Saturday to loose by 3 goals. The final day was the Spanish Team, Stefan Spengler, Jorg Be cke and Jan Schonlau taking on the Irish Team of Joe O’Connell, Mickey Herbst and Robert Patton, Ireland won by 5 goals. On Saturday night we had the joint birthday party of Siobhan and Mickey. Everyone had to dress in Pyjamas, there were toothbrushes and hair curlers everywhere while everybody danced the night away in their bedclothes! We also had a special friend and professional musician, Stephen Ffrench Davis, playing the Piano and a group of Latvian Dancers teaching us how to do their traditional dance.

KIKI QUARLES VAN UFFORD IS BACK ON A HORSE

After a frightening accident last year out hunting Kiki had extreme injuries to her back and was given the prospect of spending the rest of her life in a wheelchair. With a lot of love, support and determination she has now given us the incredible news that she’s back up on a horse. Kiki came over to Ireland with a group of Dutch people, organised by Andy Burgess, to learn polo at the beginning of last year. Six months later she returned on the Dutch polo team fighting it out against the Irish. It was 2 mo nths later that she had this awful accident. As Kiki is now well on her way back to full recovery we hope to see her back here battling it out for the cup again. Well done Kiki!!!

POLO WICKLOW TAKE HOME THE PAKISTAN CUP

Last weekend Polo Wicklow took part in the final tournament of the season in the All Ireland Polo Club, Phoenix Park. Siobhan, Micky and Carlos teamed up with Mario Giles to play for the most wanted Pakistan Cup, covered in Blue and Turquoise Jewels, this was the Cup that everyone aimed for. After and easy win against Oakleaf on Thursday (3½ - 14), Polo Wicklow were set to take on, one of the favourites of the tournament, Nurney captained by Bill Roe. Polo Wicklow and Nurney were very equal throughout the game, with only half a goal in it awarded to Nurney for Handicap, the crowds were kept at the edge of their seats. With only 20 seconds to go and Polo Wicklow down by half a goal, a centre hit was awarded to Polo Wicklow. With nothing to loose, Mario sent the ball up to Carlos, who placed perfectly, finished it off with the m ost incredible ‘under-the-neck-shot’ straight into goal, 7 seconds before the buzzer. In the final, Polo Wicklow faced Tyrone, captained by Eamon Laverty, one of the most successful teams of the season, with equal handicaps there was always the chance of a 5th chukka. Throughout the first 2 chukkas, Tyrone had the edge on Polo Wicklow, but in the 3rd chukka Carlos came out on his best pony, Malteser, and took the field by storm scoring 3 field goals, leaving Polo Wicklow up by 3 goals going into the final chukka. With Tyrone’s professional, Jose Souto (famous for coming back from nothing in the final chukka to win) taking off at the beginning of the chukka to score 3 goals, making it 6 all, the crowds didn’t know who to cheer for. Once again, Carlos was on form and with only 30 seconds on the clock, Polo Wicklow was awarded a 60yard Penalty, Carlos cantered up slowly and with a full swing sent it flying through the centre of the posts. The 2 teams lined up at the centre and Souto broke away with the ball, thankfully Carlos stopped him only to be backed up by the rest of his team, and finally the final bell went, 7 -6 to Polo Wicklow, who last won the cup in 2002.