Pictured were: 1. Fiona Egan and Pauline Cullen; 2. Glenda Gilson; 3. Mehran Miramahdi and Wendy Herbs.
On a day filled with unexpected sunshine, over 200 people attended one of the final social events of the Summer 2008 calendar last weekend at the final of the Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa Ladies International Polo Tournament at Polo Wicklow with funds going towards the Bubble Gum Club.
Organised by Polo Wicklow and in its ninth year, the glamorous event attracts the top Irish, UK, French, South African, American and Argentinean players to challenge for the Inchydoney Island Cup in the picturesque setting of Co. Wicklow. Due to recent weather conditions, the event was re-located from Ballyhenry in Ashford to the all weather arena at Polo Wicklow to ensure that this much anticipated event went ahead. After two days of qualifying, two Irish teams, Lamorlaye and Deloitte, met in a thrilling final that ended in a 16-12 victory to Lamorlaye captained by Siobhan Herbst.
Among the players taking part in the event were Nicola Foley, Jasmine Mirahmadi and Denise Power from Ireland, Caroline Arnier from France, Kim Kailing and Oda Diepold from Germany, Amber Clutton Brock, Whitney Vogt, Julia de Angelis, Eileen Flint and Martha Brown from the USA and Amy Gace, Candice Kane Berman and Beth Shaw from South Africa.
For the third year, the Ladies International Polo Tournament was sponsored by Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, West Cork’s award winning hotel and spa. Guests were welcomed by TV3’s Sinead Desmond before enjoying a champagne reception, lunch and glamorous fashion show from Misamu before the final took place. After all the excitement of the polo, Pat O’Neill oversaw the auction, which included a divine diamond encrusted ring donated by the exclusive jewellery specialists, Boodles. Beautifully titled “Tropical Castaway”, the 18 carat white gold ring was set in diamonds and complimented by three exotic stones: aquamarine, peridot and hot pink tourmaline.
Des O’Dowd, proprietor of Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, together with his wife Ann, congratulated all of the teams and presented the Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa Cup to Siobhan Herbst and the Lamorlaye Team. Celebrations continued through the evening as guests enjoyed a traditional Argentine Asado BBQ followed by dancing through the night with hot new band, Keywest.
Hosted by Jackie Rafter from the Bubble Gum Club, the event was a huge success and raised in excess of €20,000 for the charity that will go towards bringing 65 sick children and their medics from around the country on a once in a lifetime trip.
