THE Cup of the Argentine Republic was played before an audience of nearly 100 envoys from the diplomatic corps in Dublin at the AIPC in Phoenix Park, a successful fixture in the summer polo calendar.

Alejo Aita Tagle, David Hanlon, James Connolly and Colm Kelleher for Cordoba Argentina were the weaker team based on the handicap averages, and lost to Buenos Aires Ireland on 3½ goals to eight from Eamonn Laverty, David J Stone, Mark Stone and Facundo Matilla.

The September fixture was hosted by her excellency Laura Bernal, Ambassador of Argentina to Ireland, and included an evening wine reception and ‘A Taste of Argentina’ with Malbec wine, chorizo sausage rolls and empanadas and a demonstration of one of Argentina’s greatest exports, the Tango. The match was umpired by the All Ireland Polo Club manager, David Stone.

BISHOPLAND POLO CLUB

Meanwhile, the final two chukkas at Bishopland Polo Club in Ballymore-Eustace, Co Kildare, ended a summer season for hunt clubs, and riding centres with the last match played between players from the West Wicklow Foxhounds Hunting Club and the South Co Dublin Hunt.

The teams were sponsored by Digital Built Consultants Ltd and Hollywood Horse and Pony Trekking, and all eight players who lined out had one more chance to put the skills they had learned from Bishopland Polo Club manager, Alejo Tagle, into practice.

Felicity McCartan, Emma Hayes, Jimmy Byrne and Clodagh Brophy lined out for Digital Built Consultants Ltd while Noella Beaumont, Aisling Doyle, Ger McCarthy and Karen Jamison represented Hollywood Horse and Pony Trekking.

The match was umpired by Alejo Tagle and James Sheeran.