International Polo Cup

{{short description|International competition in polo}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox sports award

| name = International Polo Cup

| image =

| caption =

| sport = Polo

| league =

| awardedfor = Head-to-head competition

| sponsor =

| country = England, United States

| first = {{Start date and age|1886}}

| number = 20

| last =

| mostwins = United States (12)

| firstwinner = England (1886)

| mostrecent = England (2023)

}}

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.{{efn|The England team is allowed to include one player not from England but from the Commonwealth of Nations.}} 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.{{cite web|last=Webbe|first=Alex|title=The Westchester Cup|url=http://www.westchestercup.org/history.htm|access-date=3 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728173848/http://www.westchestercup.org/history.htm|archive-date=28 July 2011}} 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.

History

The history of the cup dates to 1886.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121658421/hipwood-to-captain-britain-as-cup-series/ |title=Hipwood to captain Britain as cup series is resurrected |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=William |last=Lloyd |page=27 |date=July 24, 1992 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}} 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.{{cite news|title=Monte Waterbury, polo player, dead|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/08/29/112663640.pdf|access-date=19 September 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 29, 1920}} 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.{{cite news|title=Sport: Westchester Cup|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,761507,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203181117/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,761507,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2007|access-date=27 September 2010|newspaper=Time magazine|date=June 19, 1939}}{{cite news |title=Polo Cup Gift of Deed. August Belmont's Proposals Accepted by Hurlingham Club |quote=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. |work=New York Times |date=June 30, 1912 }}

{{Gallery

|File:1886-Int-Hurlingham-Team.jpg

|1886 English team

|File:1902 amer team.jpg

|1902 American team

|File:1909 British Team for the International Polo Cup.jpg

|1909 English team

|File:1921-American-Team.jpg

|1921 American team

}}

Match results

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.{{cite news |title=America Wins, Polo Cup Stays |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/06/15/100629301.pdf |work=New York Times |date=June 14, 1913 |access-date=2009-11-24 }}{{cite web|title=Facts: Westchester Cup, International Polo, Great Britain vs. United States|url=http://www.westchestercup.org/facts.htm|publisher=2009 Westchester Cup|access-date=4 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728174038/http://www.westchestercup.org/facts.htm|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=dead}}

class = "wikitable" style=" font-size:90%"
bgcolor="#DACAA5" align="center"

! Year

! Winner

! Series

! width=25% | English team

! width=25% | American team

! Score

! Venue (date)

! Ref.

1886

| bgcolor=lightblue|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

| bgcolor=lightblue|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)

| {{cite news |title=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 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E1EF8355F1B738DDDA80994D9405B828CF1D3 |quote=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. |newspaper=New York Times |date=January 11, 1902 |access-date=2011-04-05 }}{{cite news |title=The Coming International Polo Contest |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1902/03/02/archives/the-coming-international-polo-contest.html |quote=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. ...|newspaper=New York Times |date=March 2, 1902 |access-date=2011-04-07 }}{{cite news |title=American Polo Victory. Englishmen Beaten in the First International Cup Match |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/06/01/118472348.pdf |quote=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. |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 1, 1902 |access-date=2015-02-20 }}{{cite news |title=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 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/06/10/108288149.pdf |quote=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. |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 10, 1902 |access-date=2015-02-20 }}{{cite news |title=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 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/06/22/101218610.pdf |quote=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. |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 22, 1902 |access-date=2015-02-20 }}

1909

| bgcolor=pink|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)

| {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sportonlandwater01gris/page/134/mode/2up |title=Sport on Land And Water: Recollections of Frank Gray Griswold |first=Frank Gray |last=Griswold |authorlink=Frank Gray Griswold |date=1913 |page=135 |via=archive.org}}

1911

| bgcolor=pink|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.{{cite book |title=Polo in the United States |publisher=McFarland |page=66 |quote=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 ... | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bA8m29zYOU4C&dq=%22Rodolphe+Louis+Agassiz%22&pg=PA53 |isbn= 9780786480074|date= 2016-09-01}}

| 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)

| {{cite news |title=Polo Match to Be Played To-morrow. Sunshine and Wind Needed to Dry Out Field. Rainstorm Passes Away |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1911/06/08/104826722.pdf |quote=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. ... |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 8, 1911 |access-date=2013-12-31 }}

1913

| bgcolor=pink|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
{{nowrap|4.5–4.25}}

| Meadow Brook (June 10, June 14)

| {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sportonlandwater01gris/page/136/mode/2up |title=Sport on Land And Water: Recollections of Frank Gray Griswold |first=Frank Gray |last=Griswold |authorlink=Frank Gray Griswold |date=1913 |page=136 |via=archive.org}}

1914

| bgcolor=lightblue|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

| bgcolor=pink|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

| bgcolor=pink|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

| bgcolor=pink|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

| bgcolor=pink|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)

| {{cite news |title=At Meadow Brook |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,788469,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130042647/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,788469,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2011 |quote=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. |work=Time magazine |date=September 15, 1930 |access-date=2011-04-05 }}

1936

| bgcolor=pink|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

| bgcolor=pink|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

|

colspan=8 align=center|Revival
1992

| bgcolor=pink|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)

| {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121659454/glitterati-learn-the-finer-points-of-pol/ |title=Glitterati learn the finer points of polo |first=Robert |last=Hardman |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |page=18 |date=July 27, 1992 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}

1997

| bgcolor=lightblue|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)

| {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121659330/winning-smile/ |title=Winning smile |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |page=1 |date=July 28, 1997 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}

2009

| bgcolor=lightblue|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)

| {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121659116/westchester-cup-to-raise-funds-for-polo/ |title=Westchester Cup to raise funds for polo museum |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |page=A8 |date=January 4, 2009 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121659257/injury-hampers-us-in-loss/ |title=Injury hampers U.S. in loss |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |page=11C |date=February 22, 2009 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}

2012

| bgcolor=lightblue|ENG

| USA, 10–6

|

|

| 11–10.5

| Guards{{cn|date=March 2023}}

|

2012

| bgcolor=pink|USA

| USA, 11–6

|

| Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Carlos Gracida Jr.

| 8.5–6

| Grand Champions (November 25)

| {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121660260/england-to-take-on-us-for-internationa/ |title=England to take on U.S. for International Polo Cup Sunday |first=Nadia |last=Sorocka |newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel |page=A5 |date=November 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121660340/polo-contd/ |title=Polo (cont'd) |first=Nadia |last=Sorocka |newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel |page=A10 |date=November 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121659965/roldans-five-goals-lift-team-usa/ |title=Roldan's five goals lift Team USA |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |page=C11 |date=November 26, 2012 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}

2013

| bgcolor=lightblue|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)

| {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121660560/court-circular/ |title=Court Circular |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |page=26 |date=July 29, 2013 |accessdate=March 26, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}

2019

| bgcolor=pink|USA

| USA, 12–7{{efn|Overall record per the United States Polo Association.{{cite web |url=https://www.uspolo.org/news-social/news/all-american-lineup-set-to-compete-in-historic-westchester-cup-on-march-31 |title=All American Lineup Set to Compete in Historic Westchester Cup on March 31 |website=uspolo.org |date=March 1, 2023 |accessdate=March 25, 2023}}}}

| Henry Porter, Ollie Cudmore, Jack Richardson, Tommy Beresford

| Jared Zenni, Mike Azzaro, Peke Gonzalez, Geronimo Obregon

| 9–8

| International (April 28)

| {{cite web |url=https://www.uspolo.org/news-social/news/usa-return-the-westchester-cup-to-american-soil |title=USA Return the Westchester Cup to American Soil for the First Time Since 1992 |website=uspolo.org |date=Apr 29, 2019 |accessdate=March 25, 2023}}

2023

| bgcolor=lightblue|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){{efn|National Polo Center is the facility previously known as International Polo Club Palm Beach.}}

| {{cite web |url=https://www.uspolo.org/news-social/news/england-prevails-in-westchester-cup-and-usa-maintains-11-9-winning-record |title=England Prevails in Westchester Cup with Decisive Victory |website=uspolo.org |date=April 4, 2023 |accessdate=May 14, 2023}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}