Sport | Polo |
---|---|
Awarded for | Head-to-head competition |
Country | England, United States |
History | |
First award | 1886 |
Editions | 20 |
First winner | England (1886) |
Most wins | United States (12) |
Most recent | 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. [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.
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]
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]
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.
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.
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. ...
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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. ...
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.