WHILE their 7-4 win over France in the eight-goal European Polo Championship final in Berlin last Sunday goes down as a great victory for Ireland it could nearly be credited as one for the South Tyrones.

Two members of the team are Stephen Hutchinson, joint-Master of the pack (with his son-in-law, Caledon trainer Andy Oliver), and hunt chairman Creighton Boyd whose horses with Oliver included, until recently, the Royal Applause two-year-old Billy Big, who has been sold to the US.

Also on the team were Stephen’s son Max, who hunts with the South Tyrones as often as he can, and Mikey Henderson.

RELATIONS

The latter, though from New Zealand, gets into the team through an Irish relation and, importantly, has a very high opinion of the Irish thoroughbreds ridden by the squad.

Shortly after learning of the polo team’s success on Sunday, Oliver sent out Grey Sky Blue to win the concluding two-mile handicap at Dundalk. The four-year-old Dylan Thomas filly, who also scored over a mile and a half at Fairyhouse in June, was entered for last evening’s Ulster Cesarewitch at Down Royal but wasn’t declared.

This has been an exciting time for Andy and his wife Saffron, who gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Sam, just over three weeks ago. Many congratulations to all - including Stephen Hutchinson who mentioned being a first-time grandad in the post-match interviews!

For a report on the final in Berlin, please see the Irish Horse World section of this newspaper. (A53).