ASSOCIATION CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Established in 1980, the Association Cup is a national 4- to 8-goal tournament. Hosted by multiple USPA Member Clubs until 2013, the tournament was reignited in 2020 by New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina. Temporarily relocating to the International Polo School (IPS) in Wellington, Florida, in 2023, the Association Cup served as one of four qualifying tournaments in the Florida Circuit 8-Goal Super Series Championship. Highlighting the depth of competition throughout its history, back-to-back victories were last achieved by Horsepower Farm in 1989 and 1990. Recent champions include OutEast (2020), LBL (2021), Skaneateles (2022) and Watch Out (2023).
In 2023, Watch Out (Agustin Obregon, Jack Whitman, Tomas Rubenacker, Wendy Safchik) faced-off against Marjing Polo (Billy Howard, Justo Mourino, Gaston Lisioli, Nicolas Miró Bongiovanni). Led by 5-goaler Obregon's breakout performance in the third chukker, Watch Out capitalized on its offensive strength in the second half, securing a decisive 10-4 victory.
Proudly returning to New Bridge Polo & Country Club, this year's edition will field six competitive teams including Cooper Home & Stable, Glen Farm, Field One Polo, Roxbury Raiders, Skaneateles and Virginia Beach/Core Real Estate. Featuring numerous New Bridge staples, Skaneateles will aim to recapture the trophy, with the remaining teams all vying for their first Association Cup title.
New Bridge Polo & Country Club will be taking advantage of the USPA's Tournament Support Program (TSP) for the Association Cup, which provides eligible USPA Member Clubs with waived tournament fees, trophies or trophy reimbursements, one professional umpire and $2,500 in prize money at no extra cost.
The USPA originally created the Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP) to help member clubs host USPA events when the United States was emerging from the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis. The USPA wanted to continue to support member clubs with TSP benefits in 2022. Therefore, it extended and expanded TSP under a new name - the Tournament Support Program. Each USPA Member Club can obtain TSP benefits for two USPA events, with the option of a third under specific circumstances.
Photo: 2023 Association Cup Champions: Watch Out - Agustin Obregon, Jack Whitman, Thomas Rubenacker, Wendy Safchik. ©International Polo School
