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Bill Mulcahy - from Ice Hockey to Polo
16 Jan 2015
John Kilmartin writes to advise the death in Boston in December last of a great polo character, Billy Mulcahy, well known and loved by a generation of now older Australian polo community members and former players. John's daughter, Kate, who worked for him at the US Open in Kentucky said today, "He was the coolest". Bill died of pneumonia after undergoing an extensive back operation. He was 65.
Bill's inspiration to switch from ice hockey to polo came after watching Jim MacGinley's superb horsemanship playing off an 8 goal rating at Bill's home club grounds at the Myopia Polo and Hunt Club, South Hamilton, Boston. He spent several long stints in Australia and New Zealand and was significant in being one of a select group who pioneered the sale of Australian and NZ horses to the United States.
He played in and managed teams in NSW, Victoria and South Australia and played a huge role in the Bungendore Club victory over Goulburn in the 1979 Dudley Cup at Warwick Farm. He was instrumental in John Kilmartin's purchase of Dudley, a gelding bred by James Weatherly from the famous Ashton-McKay Panzer line. Dudley was instrumental in that Dudley Cup win and after being exported to the United States and prepared by Billy played in at least 3 US Open Championships and under Carlos Gracida won two US Open Champion Pony awards
Billy is remembered as a great character, raconteur, horseman, horse doctor, player in more ways than in a polo game, gentleman, and good samaritan. He was an all round good bloke.
He won a pub in Warnambool in a hotly contested pool game one night and gave it back to the publican next morning.
The Myopia Polo Club has scheduled a Billy Mulcahy Memorial Day for August 1st this year.
Bill's Australian friends will remember him with many great stories and if possible to attend that day it would be an opportunity to pass them on to his United States polo friends.
John Kilmartin can be contacted direct for further information:
johndk@westnet.com.au
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