Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Chukka!

The sun was shining for the 6th Annual Fado Ladies International Polo, which took place on Sunday last at The All Ireland Polo Grounds in Phoenix Park. This social calendar staple raises funds for The Bubble Gum Club, a charity that arranges special holidays and outings for children in hospitals throughout Ireland, who are suffering from serious and life threatening illnesses and require on-going medical treatment. Celebrating it's 10th Birthday in 2004, the Bubble Gum Club has helped over 10,000 children since it's inception by businessman Peter Harris

A team from Yale University flew in from the U.S., captained by Eileen Flint with their star player (and one of the best female players in the world) Tamara Vestey. Other world class players included the Argentinean, Marianella Castagnola, 2 handicap player and Ireland’s Siobhan Herbst, who has just returned from the German International Polo Tournament in Pinnow. Chief umpire was Major Hugh Dawnay, world renowned polo tutor and now author. Also in Dublin for the event was Katrina Jennings, a commentator who covers all the major polo matches on the east coast of America.

The event also saw a show of renowned designer Deborah Veale's Autumn / Winter 05/06 collection. Designed to take the professional woman effortlessly through from day to evening and into relaxed weekend wear, the versatile collection of separates combine to provide an outfit to suit any occasion. Fashion that evolves to encompass a perfect balance between tailored and softly structured separates

Guests include The Earl and Countess of Meath, Oliver and Yona Caffrey, Wendy and Mickey Herbst, Mary Kavanagh, Ann Smurfit, ad agency boss Basil Brindley, hoteliers Lisa and Paul Fitzpatrick, property developer Johnny Ronan and his lovely wife Mary, Michael Colgan, man-of-style Ian Galvin, Michael and Kim Wright (glowing from the launch of their latest bar in Howth last week), Graham & Margaret Beere and Valerie Roe with her boyband Zoo. I hear that a well-connected consortium are looking in to setting up an all new group - watch out Zoo.