POLO players will join with famous names from the racing world to raise money for the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund at the Phoenix Park on Saturday, August 18th next.

The 2018 International Ladies Polo Tournament in aid of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund will be held at the All Ireland Polo Club – Europe’s oldest polo club, founded in 1873.

The event, run by Polo Wicklow, will feature some of the best riders in the world who will be flying in from Argentina, the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Spain who will be competing along with Northern Irish and our own home riders on 85 of the best polo ponies in Ireland. This is the 19th occasion this annual tournament, the largest on the Irish calendar, will be held and, to date, it has raised just over €200,000 for various charities.

TRAINERS VS JOCKEYS

A charity ‘Trainers versus Jockeys’ polo match, managed by legendary horse racing trainers Noel Meade and Jessica Harrington, will take place with the teams being captained by one of Ireland’s best known female jockeys, Kate Harrington, and former champion jockey Paul Carberry. Other famous names from the Irish racing world due to take part include Nina Carberry, champion amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, another former trainer and champion jockey in Charlie Swan, star riders Lisa O’Neill and Sean Flanagan, thoroughbred industry entrepreneur Derville Meade as well as RTE broadcaster Tracy Piggott.

Ireland’s best and highest rated female polo riders will represent Ireland competing for the International Ladies Cup including Siobhan Herbst, April Kent, Julie Kavanagh and Caroline Keeling. Event director and Irish International Siobhan Herbst said: “Whilst polo might be seen as a sport for the rich and royals, here in Ireland it’s a sport for the everyman. Our best players come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from farming to insurance.”

Top trainer Jessica Harrington said: “This will be a fabulous day out for everybody. For sporting and racing fans this will be a treat to see some of our top racing personalities in action on a different type of arena where the going will definitely be good to firm! We are grateful though to the polo community for raising funds for such a worthy cause which touches us all in our racing circles and I urge as many people as possible to come along and support us and if anything have a laugh at our jockeys’ efforts as they ride with reins in one hand and a mallet in the other!”

A Summer Stylish Lady competition event will take place on the day which will be judged by Dancing With The Stars judge and Ireland’s best known professional dance choreographer, Julian Benson, and it will be sponsored by the Design Centre who will style a dress for the winner, worth €1,000. The feature fundraiser lunch will take place in the Phoenix Park at the All Ireland Polo Clubhouse. Early Bird tickets are €130, available on www.ladiespolo.ie