Ireland to host 2020 European Challenge
Ireland have been selected by members of the European Polocrosse Council to host the upcoming 2020 European Challenge. After proposing a successful bid, which included some very generous sponsorship deals with companies such as TRM Ireland, Bennett Polocrosse & Orchard Equestrian, a decision was made for the competition to be held in Ireland on August 1st & 2nd.
The competition will be hosted by Equus Polocrosse Club, alongside the Irish Polocrosse Association, at their grounds in Bishopland Polo Club, located in Ballymore Eustace, Co.Dublin, which is a short drive from Dublin port - ideal for players & horses making the long journey from mainland Europe.
The competition expects to see around 60 players & their horses from all over Europe, from countries such as England, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Norway & Finland. The European Challenge is the biggest competition of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere. Ireland, as the current reigning champions, are very excited to welcome the European teams to Ireland this year for the first time in the history of the competition. As one of the longest established Polocrosse Associations in Europe, Ireland are looking forward to treating the European teams to some of the long standing traditions in International Polocrosse, including an official welcome party on the Friday night.
As well as these sponsorship deals which have been confirmed, there are many more in the pipelines which we should be announced in the coming weeks. Representatives from the IPA and Equus are also currently in talks with an international sports streaming company, who are considering coming on board to live stream the event, so it can be watched live online across the world.
Please stay tuned to our website & social media accounts for updates in the coming weeks.
The competition will be hosted by Equus Polocrosse Club, alongside the Irish Polocrosse Association, at their grounds in Bishopland Polo Club, located in Ballymore Eustace, Co.Dublin, which is a short drive from Dublin port - ideal for players & horses making the long journey from mainland Europe.
The competition expects to see around 60 players & their horses from all over Europe, from countries such as England, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Norway & Finland. The European Challenge is the biggest competition of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere. Ireland, as the current reigning champions, are very excited to welcome the European teams to Ireland this year for the first time in the history of the competition. As one of the longest established Polocrosse Associations in Europe, Ireland are looking forward to treating the European teams to some of the long standing traditions in International Polocrosse, including an official welcome party on the Friday night.
As well as these sponsorship deals which have been confirmed, there are many more in the pipelines which we should be announced in the coming weeks. Representatives from the IPA and Equus are also currently in talks with an international sports streaming company, who are considering coming on board to live stream the event, so it can be watched live online across the world.
Please stay tuned to our website & social media accounts for updates in the coming weeks.
Irish Polocrosse Awards 2020
Congratulations to the following players who won awards at Saturday night's Polocrosse Ball & Awards Night and thank you to Wicklow Bay Polocrosse Club for hosting a fantastic evening.
A Grade
Best Number 1 - Debbie Harris (Equus)
Best Number 2 - Eoin O'Donnell (Equus)
Best Number 3 - Dara Mangan (Equus)
Best Horse - Bo (Debbie Harris, Equus)
B Grade
Best Number 1 - Theo Boland (Carrickmines)
Best Number 2 - Cathy Mathews (Carrickmines)
Best Number 3 - Cillian Boland (Carrickmines)
Best Horse- Stella (Cian Boland, Carrickmines)
C Grade
Best Number 1 - Jack Ellis (Equus)
Best Number 2 - Jill Murphy (Limerick)
Best Number 3 - Neil Bleakley (Equus)
Best Horse - Paj (Dylan Scott, Equus)
D Grade
Best Number 1 - Bill Lawlor (Horetown)
Best Number 2 - Mark Whelan (Horetown)
Best Number 3 - John Dwyer (Equus)
Best Horse- Slim (Bill Lawlor, Horetown)
Juniors
Best Junior Player - Ellah Stokes (Carrickmines)
Best Junior Horse - Ted
Special Merit Award - Hilary Barnes (Wicklow Bay)
A Grade
Best Number 1 - Debbie Harris (Equus)
Best Number 2 - Eoin O'Donnell (Equus)
Best Number 3 - Dara Mangan (Equus)
Best Horse - Bo (Debbie Harris, Equus)
B Grade
Best Number 1 - Theo Boland (Carrickmines)
Best Number 2 - Cathy Mathews (Carrickmines)
Best Number 3 - Cillian Boland (Carrickmines)
Best Horse- Stella (Cian Boland, Carrickmines)
C Grade
Best Number 1 - Jack Ellis (Equus)
Best Number 2 - Jill Murphy (Limerick)
Best Number 3 - Neil Bleakley (Equus)
Best Horse - Paj (Dylan Scott, Equus)
D Grade
Best Number 1 - Bill Lawlor (Horetown)
Best Number 2 - Mark Whelan (Horetown)
Best Number 3 - John Dwyer (Equus)
Best Horse- Slim (Bill Lawlor, Horetown)
Juniors
Best Junior Player - Ellah Stokes (Carrickmines)
Best Junior Horse - Ted
Special Merit Award - Hilary Barnes (Wicklow Bay)
Ireland Crowned European Champions at the 2020 European Challenge
With all of our players and horses home safe and sound it is now time for a whole lot of appreciation!
First and foremost we would like to thank our 8 champion players and also our management team of Lisa Galvin-Reilly, Eoin O'Donnell and Johnny Paul Carroll. All of their hard work, time and commitment over the past few months has been incredible and has gotten the team to where they are today.
We have a massive amount of companies, people and organisations who get behind us year after year with all sorts of sponsorship and support and this help and support are what get us to these events and keep our team and our horses performing and looking professional!
So thank you to the following for their continued support of polocrosse in Ireland:
Cooper International Horse Transport
TRM Nutrition
Orchard Equestrian
Bombers Equestrian
Beechlawn Motors
Evra Motors
Southside Motor Factors
Hawthorn Lodge Livery Yard
Ark animal care
Oakway motors
Makeway Ltd
Horse and Hound Bar
Nolan transport
We were also incredibly lucky to have a number of travelling friends, without whom our task in Europe would have been a lot more difficult. These people are as follows:
Dylan Scott, who travelled across Europe in the truck with our horses and kept them all in top shape ahead of the competition.
Danny O'Leary, who did countless hours of timekeeping, scorekeeping, goal judging and umpiring for the team in France.
Rachel Rey, Rachel spent the entire week translating from French to English and visa versa for the team, without which we would've been in an awful lot of sticky situations.
All of the above people made an enormous difference to our trip and allowed the team to focus 100% on the task at hand in Europe.
As most of you know, Ireland, in any sport, are well known for having the best supporters in the world and this could not be more true for the Irish Polocrosse fans! With the longest distance to travel and the numbers against them, it is safe to say that the Irish supporters certainly made their mark in Europe and will not be forgotten for a very long time! We can never thank the travelling fans and those cheering us on from home enough for all of their supprot and belief in our team throughout this campaign!
Thank you again to all of the above people for all of their help on our way to being crowned the 2019 European Polocrosse Champions!
First and foremost we would like to thank our 8 champion players and also our management team of Lisa Galvin-Reilly, Eoin O'Donnell and Johnny Paul Carroll. All of their hard work, time and commitment over the past few months has been incredible and has gotten the team to where they are today.
We have a massive amount of companies, people and organisations who get behind us year after year with all sorts of sponsorship and support and this help and support are what get us to these events and keep our team and our horses performing and looking professional!
So thank you to the following for their continued support of polocrosse in Ireland:
Cooper International Horse Transport
TRM Nutrition
Orchard Equestrian
Bombers Equestrian
Beechlawn Motors
Evra Motors
Southside Motor Factors
Hawthorn Lodge Livery Yard
Ark animal care
Oakway motors
Makeway Ltd
Horse and Hound Bar
Nolan transport
We were also incredibly lucky to have a number of travelling friends, without whom our task in Europe would have been a lot more difficult. These people are as follows:
Dylan Scott, who travelled across Europe in the truck with our horses and kept them all in top shape ahead of the competition.
Danny O'Leary, who did countless hours of timekeeping, scorekeeping, goal judging and umpiring for the team in France.
Rachel Rey, Rachel spent the entire week translating from French to English and visa versa for the team, without which we would've been in an awful lot of sticky situations.
All of the above people made an enormous difference to our trip and allowed the team to focus 100% on the task at hand in Europe.
As most of you know, Ireland, in any sport, are well known for having the best supporters in the world and this could not be more true for the Irish Polocrosse fans! With the longest distance to travel and the numbers against them, it is safe to say that the Irish supporters certainly made their mark in Europe and will not be forgotten for a very long time! We can never thank the travelling fans and those cheering us on from home enough for all of their supprot and belief in our team throughout this campaign!
Thank you again to all of the above people for all of their help on our way to being crowned the 2019 European Polocrosse Champions!
U21s Ireland Vs. South Africa
With Ireland's Under 21s squad fresh off of the plane from South Africa, click here to see the full team and how they got on in their recent test matches.
IPA Award Winners 2017
Congratulations to the following players who won awards at the 2017 annual Polocrosse Awards Night.
A GRADE
Best No.1 - Debbie Harris, Carrickmines
Best No.2 - Avis Wotton, Equus
Best No.3 - Eoin O'Donnell, Equus
Best Horse - Mustang Sally , Dara Mangan
B GRADE:
Best No.1 - William Kelly, Limerick
Best No.2 - Cian Boland, Carrickmines
Best No.3 - Mac Birrane, Limerick
Best Horse - Kraft, Sarah Brandon
C GRADE
Best No.1 - Clive Nuzum, Wicklow Bay
Best No.2 - Isabelle Alken, Silver Spurs
Best No.3 - Connor Callaghan, Wicklow Bay
Best Horse - Corona, Jacqui Keogh, Equus
D Grade
Best No.1 - Leon Cleary, Horetown
Best No.2 - Sam Deady, Limerick
Best No.3 - Ellie Carty, Equus
Best Horse - Vince, Ellah Stokes
Bluegrass Special Merit Award - Eoin O'Donnell, Equus
A GRADE
Best No.1 - Debbie Harris, Carrickmines
Best No.2 - Avis Wotton, Equus
Best No.3 - Eoin O'Donnell, Equus
Best Horse - Mustang Sally , Dara Mangan
B GRADE:
Best No.1 - William Kelly, Limerick
Best No.2 - Cian Boland, Carrickmines
Best No.3 - Mac Birrane, Limerick
Best Horse - Kraft, Sarah Brandon
C GRADE
Best No.1 - Clive Nuzum, Wicklow Bay
Best No.2 - Isabelle Alken, Silver Spurs
Best No.3 - Connor Callaghan, Wicklow Bay
Best Horse - Corona, Jacqui Keogh, Equus
D Grade
Best No.1 - Leon Cleary, Horetown
Best No.2 - Sam Deady, Limerick
Best No.3 - Ellie Carty, Equus
Best Horse - Vince, Ellah Stokes
Bluegrass Special Merit Award - Eoin O'Donnell, Equus
