Three teams set to collide in the season’s ultimate tournament

A COMBINATION of skilfully managed horsemanship and pony power has brought three Irish polo teams to the brink of a three-horse race, the ultimate season decider set for the Pakistan Cup tournament taking place 8-9 September at the All Ireland Polo Club.
Polo Wicklow will host the opening tournaments of the 2024 season in the all-weather arena and the grass field

Tyrone and Glenpatrick are facing a three-horse race in the upcoming Pakistan
Cup, the final tournament of the AIPC season

AIPC president Eamonn Laverty’s Tyrone team has logged three tournament wins since the season opened last June while Glenpatrick secured two and LHK Insurance/Keelings, one. The season has included a number of special moments, including sensitive restorations to the historic Pavilion exterior and club bar kindly sponsored by Eamonn Laverty and his wife, Mary.

Training Award recipient Kristina White at the 2022 awards ceremony, presented by James Kennedy of the IPF

Tyrone’s Eamonn Laverty (l-r), Tommy Diaz, Dan Laverty and John Corbett
(with Conor Keoghan presenting) will be defending their season lead in wins at
the Pakistan Cup

6 Goal and Autumn Tournament winners Glenpatrick is in with a chance to draw level with Tyrone for the Pakistan Cup, or Glenpatrick could tie for the season with a win from LHK/Keelings leaving Tyrone as the undisputed season winner overall: it’s all, as they say, to play for. Glenpatrick’s 6-Goal win put the team back on the map after a late season start, the tournament in July the highest handicap goal played this year in the country which was sponsored by the Casey family.

The 2024 season will open with the Novice Cup in the arena at Polo Wicklow

Glenpatrick (pictured with 6 Goal sponsor Paddy Casey) have enough season wins to tie with Tyrone or with LHK/Keelings

Polo Manager David Stone recognised the tournament’s significance saying: “As you could see, it was very, very exciting.” As the season draws to a close, commentator and polo player Mark Ronan said: “Eamonn Laverty himself was laying down the gauntlet (as of the beginning of the season). We can’t play polo without the ponies, (and the rule is the teams) go off and change their ponies before the next chukka.”

The 2024 season will open with the Novice Cup in the arena at Polo Wicklow

LHK/Keelings could end their season in a tie with Glenpatrick in the final
tournament for the Pakistan Cup

The combination of skilfully managed horsemanship and pony power will see its ultimate match on Sunday 9 September at the All Ireland Polo Club. For limited tickets available at the Polo in the Park Lunch Party phone Derville at 086 6088124 or email derville@noelmeade.com.

Article by Kim Mullahey

Image credits: Kim Mullahey

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