SEBASTIAN Dawnay, the son of the late Major Hugh Dawnay and grandson of Olympian Sir David Dawnay, has been named as the new HSI High Performance Coach for Irish polo. His appointment was confirmed to The Irish Field by the Federation of Irish Polo Clubs (FIPC) chairperson, James Kennedy.

The former five-goal handicap player who has represented Ireland against the UK and at the international level has a current handicap rank of three goals in field polo.

Married to Louisa, Dawnay (42), who has retired from competitive international polo, commented: “It (HSI appointment) is to do with coaching the next generation coming up at the moment. At the moment, the UK is the centre of polo in Europe. The idea is to set up a programme where Irish players get to come over here while the future idea is to come over to Ireland and run clinics for two or three weeks at a time.”

The father of one was most recently at the Chesterton’s Polo in the Park at Hurlingham Park in London last June, providing specialist coaching to the ICM Ireland team who went on to win in overtime against Flannels England on six goals to five.

“I think it is time to take a step back and help the next generation, I am very blessed,” Sebastian Dawnay added.

Contact Dawnay on Twitter @playmakerpolo for coaching lessons at Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, or to arrange for one of his coaching clinics.