International Polo Cup

The International Polo Cup, also called the Newport Cup and the Westchester Cup, is a trophy in polo that was created in 1886 and is played for by teams from the United States and England.[a] Matches were conducted 12 times between 1886 and 1939, suspended during World War II, and not revived until 1992 due to changing times and interests.[2] Originally contested as a best-of-three series, single-game matches have been held since the event was revived. The most recent match was held in March 2023 at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, won by the English team.

International Polo Cup
SportPolo
Awarded forHead-to-head competition
CountryEngland, United States
History
First award1886; 138 years ago (1886)
Editions20
First winnerEngland (1886)
Most winsUnited States (12)
Most recentEngland (2023)

History

edit

The history of the cup dates to 1886.[1] The cup was purchased by a subscription and presented to the Westchester Polo Club, from which its original name originates, in 1886. It was won in 1886 and 1902 by English teams from the Hurlingham Club.

In 1909, Americans Monte Waterbury, Lawrence Waterbury, Harry Payne Whitney and Devereux Milburn formed a team, dubbed the Big Four, that won the cup.[3] The same team was successful in 1911 and 1913, but lost the cup to England in 1914.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Westchester Cup was the most anticipated event on the sporting calendar in the United States.[4][5]

Match results

edit

The below table lists the results of each match, and the overall series record between the two teams. The match was suspended in the 1940s due to World War II and was not revived until the 1990s.[6][7]

Year Winner Series English team American team Score Venue (date) Ref.
1886 ENG ENG, 1–0 Thomas Hone, Richard Lawley, Malcolm Orme Little and Capt.John Henry Watson William Knapp Thorn, Raymond Rodgers Belmont, Foxhall Parker Keene and Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. 10–4
14–2
Newport
1902 ENG ENG, 2–0 Cecil Patteson Nickalls, Patteson Womersley Nickalls, Frederick Maitland Freake, Walter Selby Buckmaster, George Arthur Miller and Charles Darley Miller Rodolphe Louis Agassiz, James Montaudevert Waterbury Jr., John Elliott Cowdin, Lawrence Waterbury and Foxhall Parker Keene 1–2
6–1
7–1
Hurlingham (May 31–June 21) [8][9][10][11][12]
1909 USA ENG, 2–1 Herbert Haydon Wilson, Harry Rich, Frederick Maitland Freake, Patteson Womersley Nickalls, John Wodehouse, 3rd Earl of Kimberley and John Hardress Lloyd Lawrence Waterbury, James Montaudevert Waterbury Jr., Harry Payne Whitney and Devereaux Milburn 9–5
8–2
Hurlingham (June 23, July 5) [13]
1911 USA TIE, 2–2 Leslie St. Clair Cheape, Arthur Noel Edwards, John Hardress Lloyd and Herbert Haydon Wilson with Arthur Noel Edwards as the alternate.[14] Lawrence Waterbury, James Montaudevert Waterbury Jr., Harry Payne Whitney and Devereaux Milburn 4.5–3
4.5–3.5
Meadow Brook (June 1, June 9) [15][13]
1913 USA USA, 3–2 Leslie St. Clair Cheape, Ralph Gerald Ritson and Vivian Noverre Lockett. Lawrence Waterbury, Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, James Montaudevert Waterbury Jr., Harry Payne Whitney and Devereaux Milburn 5.5–3
4.5–4.25
Meadow Brook (June 10, June 14) [16]
1914 ENG TIE, 3–3 Henry Archdale Tomkinson, Leslie St. Clair Cheape, Frederick W. Barrett and Vivian Noverre Lockett Rene Morgan La Montagne Jr., James Montaudevert Waterbury Jr., Devereaux Milburn and Lawrence Waterbury 8.5–3
4–2.75
Meadow Brook (June 15)
1921 USA USA, 4–3 Henry Archdale Tomkinson, Frederick W. Barrett, Lord Wodehouse and Vivian Noverre Lockett Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, Thomas Hitchcock Jr., James Watson Webb, Sr. and Devereaux Milburn 16–5
14–5
Hurlingham
1924 USA USA, 5–3 Thomas William Kirkwood, Teignmouth Philip Melvill, Frank Brereton Hurndall, Geoffrey H. Phipps-Hornby, Sr., Eric Garnett Atkinson and Lewis Lawrence Lacey James Watson Webb, Sr., Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Malcolm Stevenson, Robert Early Strawbridge Jr. and Devereaux Milburn 16–5
14–5
Meadow Brook
1927 USA USA, 6–3 Claude Ernest Pert, Richard George, Austin Henry Williams, John Pitt Dening, Charles Thomas Irvine Roark and Eric Garnett Atkinson James Watson Webb, Sr., Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Malcolm Stevenson and Devereaux Milburn 13–3
8–5
Meadow Brook
1930 USA USA, 7–3 Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., Lewis Lawrence Lacey, Charles Thomas Irvine Roark and Humphrey Patrick Guinness. Eric Leader Pedley, Earle Hopping, Thomas Hitchcock Jr. and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest 10–5
14–9
Meadow Brook (September 15) [17]
1936 USA USA, 8–3 Hugh Hesketh Hughes, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., Eric Horace Tyrrell-Martin and Humphrey Patrick Guinness. Eric Leader Pedley, Michael Grace Phipps, Stewart Birrell Iglehart and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest. 10–9
8–6
Hurlingham
1939 USA USA, 9–3 Robert Skene, Aiden Roark, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr. and Eric Horace Tyrrell-Martin Michael Grace Phipps, Thomas Hitchcock Jr., Stewart Birrell Iglehart and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest 11–7
9–4
Meadow Brook
Revival
1992 USA USA, 10–3 William Lucas, Cody Forsyth, Alan Kent, Howard Hipwood John Gobin, Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, Robert E. Walton 8–7 Guards (July 26) [18]
1997 ENG USA, 10–4 William Lucas, Cody Forsyth, Howard Hipwood, Andrew Hine Julio Arellano, Michael Azzaro, Guillermo Gracida Jr., John B. Goodman 12–9 Guards (July 27) [19]
2009 ENG USA, 10–5 Luke Tomlinson, Mark Tomlinson, James Beim, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Adam Snow, Mike Azzaro, Nic Roldan, Jeff Blake, Jeff Hall 10–9 International (February 21) [20][21]
2012 ENG USA, 10–6 11–10.5 Guards[citation needed] [22]
2012 USA USA, 11–6 Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Carlos Gracida Jr. 8.5–6 Grand Champions (November 25) [23][24][22]
2013 ENG USA, 11–7 Luke Tomlinson, James Beim, Mark Tomlinson and John Paul Clarkin Marc Ganzi, Polito Pieres, Nic Roldan, Mike Azzaro, Jeff Blake 12–11 Guards (July 28) [25]
2019 USA USA, 12–7[b] Henry Porter, Ollie Cudmore, Jack Richardson, Tommy Beresford Jared Zenni, Mike Azzaro, Peke Gonzalez, Geronimo Obregon 9–8 International (April 28) [27]
2023 ENG USA, 12–8 James Beim, Max Charlton, Mark Tomlinson, Tomas Beresford Matt Coppola, Nicolas Escobar, Jeff Hall, Jared Zenni 12–9 National Polo Center (March 31)[c] [28]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ The England team is allowed to include one player not from England but from the Commonwealth of Nations.[1]
  2. ^ Overall record per the United States Polo Association.[26]
  3. ^ National Polo Center is the facility previously known as International Polo Club Palm Beach.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Lloyd, William (24 July 1992). "Hipwood to captain Britain as cup series is resurrected". The Daily Telegraph. London. p. 27. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Webbe, Alex. "The Westchester Cup". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Monte Waterbury, polo player, dead" (PDF). The New York Times. 29 August 1920. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Sport: Westchester Cup". Time magazine. 19 June 1939. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Polo Cup Gift of Deed. August Belmont's Proposals Accepted by Hurlingham Club". New York Times. 30 June 1912. The Hurlingham Club of London has accepted the proposal of August Belmont for the International Polo Cup. The document covering all the details of the deed of gift was framed last year by Mr. Belmont after a consultation with the Hurlingham Club.
  6. ^ "America Wins, Polo Cup Stays" (PDF). New York Times. 14 June 1913. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  7. ^ "Facts: Westchester Cup, International Polo, Great Britain vs. United States". 2009 Westchester Cup. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Polo Ponies Sail To-Day. Will Be Used in the International Match at Hurlingham. The Pick Of Six Stables. Twenty-four in All, Furnished by Gould, Mackay, Cowdin, Agassiz, and "Larry" Waterbury". New York Times. 11 January 1902. Retrieved 5 April 2011. Twenty-four of the most valuable and thoroughly tried-out polo ponies to be found in the United States will sail early this morning for England on the steamship Minneapolis. They represent the string which, with the addition of Foxhall Keene's ponies, already in England, will be used by the American players in the coming international match with the crack players of the Hurlingham Club.
  9. ^ "The Coming International Polo Contest". New York Times. 2 March 1902. Retrieved 7 April 2011. International athletic contests have become so numerous lately that they have almost ceased to be a novelty. Their interest, however, has not diminished, and if one looks at the yacht racing rivalry between England and America for an example, it would seem as though popular enthusiasm increased with each new contest. ...
  10. ^ "American Polo Victory. Englishmen Beaten in the First International Cup Match" (PDF). New York Times. 1 June 1902. Retrieved 20 February 2015. The first test polo match for the American Cup was played at Hurlingham to-day between the English and American teams, the latter winning by a score of 2 goals to 1. The weather was fine and the ground was good, but soft. An enormous crowd, including many ladies, was present.
  11. ^ "English Polo Team Wins. Americans Beaten at Hurlingham by Six Goals to One. Second Contest For The Cup. Honors Are Now Even, and the Deciding Match Will Be Played on Saturday" (PDF). New York Times. 10 June 1902. Retrieved 20 February 2015. The second game of polo for the international cup was played to-day at the Hurlingham Club, and the English team won by six goals to one. The Americans have the satisfaction of knowing that the game was one of the most brilliant ever played at Hurlingham.
  12. ^ "English Polo Team Wins. Americans Beaten in Deciding Game for International Cup. Score was 7 Goals to 1. Splendid Plays by Keene, but the Defense of the Losers Was Weak. Muddy Field at Hurlingham" (PDF). New York Times. 22 June 1902. Retrieved 20 February 2015. England won the third and decisive polo game to-day at Hurlingham in the series of international competitions for the American Cup and the trophy, which has been in possession of the English poloists since 1886, will remain in this country, probably for a number of years to come.
  13. ^ a b Griswold, Frank Gray (1913). Sport on Land And Water: Recollections of Frank Gray Griswold. p. 135 – via archive.org.
  14. ^ Polo in the United States. McFarland. 1 September 2016. p. 66. ISBN 9780786480074. John Hardress Lloyd was joined by four Army captains, Frederick Barrett, Leslie St. C. Cheape and Eustace 'Bill' Palmes, all 10-goalers in India, and Herbert Wilson, a 9-goal handicap player. Lt. Arthur Noel Edwards was the designated spare ...
  15. ^ "Polo Match to Be Played To-morrow. Sunshine and Wind Needed to Dry Out Field. Rainstorm Passes Away" (PDF). New York Times. 8 June 1911. Retrieved 31 December 2013. The international polo teams received another day of enforced, rest yesterday, made necessary through unfavorable weather conditions for the playing of the second match of the cup series, which will be decided to-morrow, weather permitting. The rainstorm passed away late yesterday afternoon and fair weather is predicted for to-morrow. ...
  16. ^ Griswold, Frank Gray (1913). Sport on Land And Water: Recollections of Frank Gray Griswold. p. 136 – via archive.org.
  17. ^ "At Meadow Brook". Time magazine. 15 September 1930. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011. Critics had predicted a runaway for the Americans. This did not happen. Through the first half, and until the seventh chukker. the Englishmen made it hard. Lacey's Argentine ponies outran the bigger U. S. mounts for a while; first Guest, then Roark and Hitchcock broke mallets. Lacey stole the ball from Hopping and Hitchcock for beautiful shots. What the English team lacked most was an accurate goal shooter like Pedley. Consistently the ball was fed to Balding at No. 1, but under pressure, Balding's shots were sliced, sometimes missed entirely.
  18. ^ Hardman, Robert (27 July 1992). "Glitterati learn the finer points of polo". The Daily Telegraph. London. p. 18. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Winning smile". The Daily Telegraph. London. 28 July 1997. p. 1. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Westchester Cup to raise funds for polo museum". Palm Beach Daily News. 4 January 2009. p. A8. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Injury hampers U.S. in loss". Palm Beach Daily News. 22 February 2009. p. 11C. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "Roldan's five goals lift Team USA". Palm Beach Post. 26 November 2012. p. C11. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Sorocka, Nadia (21 November 2012). "England to take on U.S. for International Polo Cup Sunday". South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. A5. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Sorocka, Nadia (21 November 2012). "Polo (cont'd)". South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. A10. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Court Circular". The Daily Telegraph. London. 29 July 2013. p. 26. Retrieved 26 March 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "All American Lineup Set to Compete in Historic Westchester Cup on March 31". uspolo.org. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  27. ^ "USA Return the Westchester Cup to American Soil for the First Time Since 1992". uspolo.org. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  28. ^ "England Prevails in Westchester Cup with Decisive Victory". uspolo.org. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
edit