USA Takes Tournament Opener 

                 December 29, 2007,  Wicklow, Ireland:  … On a glorious late December afternoon, the Wicklow Polo Club hosted the opening round of an annual winter classic, a best-of-three arena polo  tournament in their world-class facility perched high atop Kilpool Hill overlooking the sea.

                   With a little luck from the blarney stone, USA's Steve Smith at #1, Nicola Foley at #2 (substituting for Dan Keating, delayed in travel) and Christer Still at #3 overcame their jetlag for a first-round victory against Ireland's Sophie Patton at #1, Neville Keaton at #2 and Siobhan Herbst in the #3 position.

                    In the first chukker, USA led Ireland 2 goals to 1.  In the second period, USA advanced their lead to 8 points while holding Ireland to only one additional point, ending the period 8-2.  Ireland dominated the third chukker with 4 goals to USA's 2, but USA remained in the lead at the buzzer, 10-6.  Both teams fought hard in the final chukker, fending off each other's attacks, with Ireland sneaking only one past USA for a final score of 10-7.

                   The second match takes place at 2:30pm on Sunday, and the final match will be played on New Year's Eve at 2:30.  The Irish team will visit Newport next July to play USA on their home turf in the Newport International Polo Series.