International Polo Cup

The Westchester Cup is an international polo tournament between the U.S. and the UK. He is named after the original venue in Westchester Polo Club, New York State, USA. The tournament consists of up to three games. If a country has won the first two, is to dispense with the third game.

History

1886

The Westchester Cup was played in 1886 for the first time. At that time he attracted so little attention that a British cricket team that played nearby a match, only learned about it when it was home again. Also, the rules still differed from today. Thus, for example, three sections at 20 minutes having been played, each with a 10 minute break between sections. For American team belonged among others Foxhall Keene, who later also the first 10goaler the United States was. Was won the tournament by the British team.

1900 and 1902

In 1900 there were an informal edition of the Cup in England. Here W. McCreery, FJ Mackey, Foxhall Keene and L. McCreery played for the U.S. and JGHH Beresford, FM Freake, WS Buckmaster and John Watson for England. England won 8-2.

The next official tournament took place in 1902 in the Rockaway Club in the USA. This time six sections á 10 minutes have been played. The first game of the American team won 2-1, but the second and third game 6-1 and won the British 7-1.

1909

Just four years before the tournament Harry Payne Whitney of the Americans began with the purchase of polo horses for the next Westchester Cup. He also traveled to England and offered so much money that even English top players could not resist the temptation to sell. However, they did not think the fact that you can not play with notes and were correspondingly ill-equipped for the tournament. In addition, the American players had now learned and improved their team game and the backhand game. Therefore you won 9-5 and 8-2 and took the trophy for the first time home.

1911

The breakdown of the matches was changed again. Played were now 8 sections á 7.5 minutes, a provision which, apart from the number of sections, applies today. Six English players and 35 horses traveled for the Cup in the United States. The British won just two matches.

1913

The Cup of 1913 was again held in the United States. Four days before the first match, Foxhall Keene broke his collarbone and had to be replaced by Harry P. Whitney. Together with Malcolm Stevenson, Louis Stoddard and Devereux Milburn, he defeated the English team with just 5.5 to 3 and 4.5 to 4.25.

1914

First, there were difficulties in putting together a British team. Players made cancellation for personal reasons or declined to take part simply from. Finally Cheape, HA Tomkinson, V. Lockett and John A. Traill participated. The Americans had also difficulties. Their team consisted then of Devereux Milburn, Rene LaMontagne, Monte Waterbury and Lawrence Waterbury. The first game England won 8.5 to 3. For the second game, the Americans changed the player positions, without success, for they lost again, this time from 2.75 to 4.

1921

Due to the First World War the next Cup was held in 1921. Both countries relied on experienced players, including Tommy Hitchcock Jr. for the U.S.. The Americans won 11-4 and 10-6 clearly.

1924

1924 called for the English polo association revenge. The English team during the year consisted of TW Kirkwood, FB Hurndall, EG Atkinson and Lewis Lacey. In the American team J. Watson Webb, Tommy Hitchcock Jr., Malcolm Stevenson and Devereux Milburn played. As already three years earlier, the American players were too strong for the British, who lost 5-16 and 5-14.

1927

The next challenge was issued three years later, in 1927, again by the British. Responsible for fundraising, procurement of horses and team organization was the "Army in India Association ". At the time was played in India Polo at the highest level in the British Empire. Thanks to the support of the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Ratlam, a team could be set up and equipped. Nevertheless, the Westchester Cup went went for the third time in a row in the United States, thanks to the victories of 13-3 and 8-5, which achieved the American team in the same cast as 1924.

1930

1930 belonged to the Westchester Cup to the most popular sporting events in the United States. For the first match of the year, 45,000 spectators came to the Meadowbrook Polo Club, the second 40,000. Tommy Hitchcock Jr. played again for the U.S. and Lewis Lacey for England. England lost again with 10-5 and 14-9. The only bright spot for England was the play of Lacey, who was responsible for half of the English gates.

1936

In 1936 the rule was introduced that is played alternately in the two countries, regardless of who won the last tournament. So then took the Westchester Cup in the year in England. Positioned for England was, among other things Hanut Singh, the best Indian players. However, this suffered a shoulder injury and could not compete. The American team, in turn, had to make do without Tommy Hitchcock Jr., who was unable to attend. For him, Stewart Iglehart jumped. In contrast to the previous tournaments were played only seven sections this time. The Americans took an early lead in the two games in the lead and won both matches, though not as clear as in previous years (10-9 and 8-6).

1939

In 1939, when the tournament was being considered for the twelfth time, the British team prepared after 5 defeats in a row well before: The entire British Empire was screened for good ponies ( the Nawab of Bhopal and the Maharaja of Kashmir donated Only eleven horses) and this already six shipped months before the deadline in the U.S., so that animals can acclimatize. In addition, the best polo players in the island for four months went to California to compete there in training matches against American players. Overall, the expedition consisted of 36 men and 64 horses, and cost the Hurlingham Polo Association a total of $ 250,000.

Still lost the British team consisting of Bob Skene, Aidan Roark, Gerald Balding, Eric Tyrrell -Martin, lost the first of three matches 11-7 against the U.S. (Mike Phipps, Tommy Hitchcock, Stewart Iglehart, Winston Guest). The second they lost 9-4. This left the United States undefeated since 1921.

1992

After a long pause of 53 years in 1992 found a small issue in the Guards Polo Club, England, instead. 25,000 spectators watched the tournament at Windsor Park. There was only one match, won the U.S. team 8-7 in extra time. The better-known players for the USA were Adam Snow and Owen Rinehart. For England played and Others Howard Hipwood.

1997

1997 Westchester Cup was again held in the Guards Polo Club, along with the Cartier International Day. This time the British made the series of defeats to an end and won the first victory since 1914 ( 12-9 ) in the single game.

2009

The most recent tournament was held on February 21, 2009 held at the Palm Beach International Polo Club, Wellington, Florida, and was the first issue on American soil in 70 years. It should remember the 100th anniversary of the first victory of the American team of 1909.

The British team consisted of Luke Tomlinson ( 7 handicap ), Mark Tomlinson (6) When Henry (7) and Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9). The U.S. team consisted of Adam Snow ( 8), Mike Azzaro (9 ), Nicholas Roldan (8) and Jeff Blake ( 6). England narrowly won 10-9 and thus won his sixth win ( the semi-official tournament of 1900 not included).