Iconic Irish Team Draws Record Crowd

Folk Heroes In Annual Polo Dual

Argentine ‘Asado’ Lamb Roast To Follow Match

                 July 19, 2008,  Newport, RI:  … There were many spectators with conflicting loyalties when the Irish Polo Team made its 17th consecutive appearance at the Newport International Polo Series on Saturday, July 19th, defending last season’s victory against USA in vain but drawing a record attendance.

           The Irish team journeys each year from the Wicklow Polo Club south of Dublin on the Irish Sea.  Playing for Ireland was captain Michael Herbst at #4, his daughter and top female player in Ireland, Siobhan Herbst alternating at #4, along with father and son David Stone (Sr) at #2 and Davo Stone (Jr) at #3 and Joe O’Connoll in the #1 postion.

             Dan Keating, USA team captain and Polo Series founder added, “The Irish team is the only one with a track record of consecutive appearances dating back to our inaugural season.  We thank Michael Herbst and the Wicklow Polo Club for bringing competitive teams year after year.  In so doing, he has established a following of fans and players alike that is unprecedented in international polo.”  The USA roster included Ted and Bridget Torrey alternating in the #1 position, Jim Garner at #2, Keating at #3 and Dave Bullis at #4.

             In the opening chukker, USA led off the scoring with a pair of goals by Keating and Bullis, but Ireland's Stone Jr. converted two penalty shots to tie the score 2-2.  Stone Sr.'s goal at the start of the second chukker put Ireland in the lead, but USA's Bullis was on fire throughout the remainder of the period, scoring the next four goals in succession starting with a penalty conversion followed by 3 field goals, and teammate Keating added a final point to end the period with USA out in front by 7-3.  Ireland's O'Connoll chipped away at the deficit with the first goal in the third chukker, holding USA to only one point by T. Torrey, and ending the period with another point for Ireland by M. Herbst to narrow USA's lead to 8-5. 

              Ireland came out strong in the second half, with Stone Sr.'s goal, followed by a USA point from B. Torrey, then two more points from Stone Sr. and one from Stone Jr. to tie the score at 9-9.  The tie was broken by USA's Bullis with a penalty conversion point but Stone Jr. and O'Connell each scored to end the period with Ireland in the lead 11-10.  In final chukker, both team fought hard as the victory was up for grabs.  USA's Keating scored the tying goal, followed by teammate Bullis to take the lead but Stone Jr. tied the score again with a goal for Ireland, and the cheering crowd was satisfied to see the final goal by Bullis for a close 13-12 victory for USA.

             Winner of the weekly door prize was a woman from Little Compton, RI who took home a Bose Wave Stereo.  The match was followed by a trophy presentation of the perpetual USA vs. Ireland cup, inaugurated in 1992, and naming of the Best Playing Pony, Lobita owned by Christer and Stephanie Stilll, and and the Asado Lamb Roast.

             Tickets to the match are sold at the entry gates to the polo grounds on the day of the match, which open 1½ hours prior to the start of the match.  Tailgate picnics on the lawn are welcome with General Admission of $10.00 for adults, and children 15 & under are free.  Box seating in the Subscribers Enclosure is also available for $15/person (no BYOB in Subscribers Enclosure). 

             The Newport International Polo Series is proud to announce its sponsors including the Carnegie Abbey Club, WCRB Classical Radio, NBC Channel 10, the Newport Daily News,  Lufthansa, Continental Airlines, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Shreve Crump and Low Jewelers, Jake Kaplans Ltd, and Bose.  For more information about partnering with the Polo Series, click here.

             The Polo Series takes place on the polo grounds of historic Glen Farm, 715 East Main Road (also --called Route 138) in Portsmouth , RI , just 6 miles north of downtown Newport. For more info about attending the matches, call 401-846-0200. 

             Glen Farm is the remaining 100 acres of  a 700-acre manorial farm whose history dates back to the 1600's.  Its classical stone barns from the Gilded Age and its park-like grounds were rescued from ruins and rehabilitated by the Newport Polo Club's founder in the early 90's and, as a result, it thrives today as a vital equestrian and community recreational property and the jewel of Portsmouth.  Read about its fascinating history!               

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