TOM Ronan, the late former Master of the Tipperary Foxhounds was remembered last weekend at the AIPC’s Autumn Tournament at the Phoenix Park where Rocklow won the low goal Ladies Cup.

While usually lined out by the Ronan family, including Tom’s son Paul and grandsons Paul and Mark, the team that stood in were together for the first time in a tournament and went on to win against the nearly unbeatable RITS.

Julie Kavanagh, Emily Beere, Dan Laverty and April Kent teamed up in memory of Tom, who died after a short illness last Friday (August 25th) at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel.

His life was celebrated at Holy Trinity Parish Church in Fethard, Co Tipperary last Sunday (August 27th). He was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, and is remembered by his wife Dorothy, sons Paul and Thomas and daughters Rosemary and Dorothy, and sadly missed by his grandchildren, sons and daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends including the polo and hunting communities.

The Autumn Tournament would have been a rare weekend for Rocklow to miss out and from the qualifiers against Oak Lodge for the win on three goals to two to the final on two goals to one and a half from RITS, there was little doubt that this team was determined to win in memory of Tom.

“He was up there, having a part of it, three ladies and Dan (Laverty),” said Tom’s son, Paul Ronan. “My father loved his horses and it was great that my kids got to grow up with him in that. He was quite a man. He lived a good long life, a great quality of life.”

The Autumn Tournament also coincided with President’s Day, attended by Tom Ronan just last year and while AIPC President Eamonn Laverty and his Tyrone team of Dan Laverty, Keelan McCarthy and Facundo Matilla went on to lose the high goal final for the Freebooters Cup by five goals to two against Colm Kelleher, Siobhan Herbst, Owen Ellis and Gonzalo Lopez-Vargas of LHK Insurance, he credited the teams for producing a tournament with an outstanding level of polo.

“The polo was excellent and the ground was in great condition,” said Eamonn Laverty at the conclusion of the AIPC tournament. “Congratulations to the winning teams for such excellent polo.”

FUNDRAISER

The AIPC hosted a fundraiser last Sunday, coinciding with President’s Day on behalf of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI), raising more than €1,000 for the charity in sales of raffle tickets for donated prizes and two auction items, including a painting by the SBHI artists’ group and a dress worn by Irish Olympian Sonya O’Sullivan.

“We were very thankful to have our fundraiser on this wonderful President’s Day,” said SBHI national communications officer Aideen Sutton just after the fundraiser at the AIPC. “By supporting SBHI, you supported next year’s programmes. Thank you for having your day here and thank you for your support.”