THE rule of man first, and then the ball was put to the test for graduates of the Dublin Polo Academy that came to a conclusion in a tournament on September 2nd at the AIPC in Dublin. Lessons began last June under the tutelage of Leo Rossellini and Emily Hordjik, who were visiting from Palo Alto Polo Club near Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the summer.

Coached on the pitch by Dan Laverty for Tyrone, Jack Armstrong for La Paz and April Kent for Horseware, the only rule to the goal mouth in the round-robin of teams playing two chukkas each of around 15 minutes was that team coaches provided guidance on the pitch without scoring a single goal.

Tyrone’s Roisin O’Connor, Anne Katrin Mueller, Michael Sherlock and player of the match, David McLaughlin, lined out to win the tournament for Tyrone while Ellie Walsh, Jessica O’Mahony, Simon Leng and Marie O’Brien teamed up for La Paz and Katie Quinn, Mary Linares, Marie Fahy and Naomi Zwier for Horseware.

“It has been more than a dream for us, what we have been doing this summer,” Emily Hordjik said of the foundation summer for the Dublin Polo Academy. “Congratulations to all of you, you have all done so well.”

The trophy to the winning team of Tyrone was sponsored and presented by Lar Sheeran, formerly of the La Paz team and well known tournament commentator.