NATIONAL PRESIDENT'S CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The National President’s Cup, formally known as the Eight Goal Inter-Circuit (1969-1974) has an illustrious 50-year history. The inaugural Eight Goal Inter-Circuit was held in 1969 at Brandywine Polo Club (Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania), with teams traveling from the Northeastern, Southeastern, Northwestern and Midstate circuits vying to win the coveted trophy. In 1998, the competition was reformatted with Regional President’s Cup events held nationwide serving as qualifying tournaments for the National President’s Cup encouraging participation at the 4- to 8-goal level and restoring the relationship between the two trophies. While the format never disappeared and winning regional teams have always had priority for the National President's Cup—in 2000, a concerted effort was made to incentivize qualifying teams to enter the national tournament.
Beginning in 2024, the National President's Cup will be hosted by the National Polo Center - Wellington (NPC) in Wellington, Florida, in April. Regional President’s Cup events will be awarded to only one Member Club in every circuit (a primary difference from the 2000 resurgence) with the exception of the Florida Circuit, host of the National President’s Cup. Four Regional President’s Cup events will be awarded within the Florida Circuit. The revitalized format will unite qualifying Regional President’s Cup teams representing clubs around the country for the opportunity to compete for the National President's Cup at NPC. Teams that win a Regional President’s Cup qualifier in a circuit outside the Florida Circuit and travel to NPC to compete in the championship will receive a $10,000 travel stipend. There will also be no team entry fee for the National President’s Cup.
The 2023 National President’s Cup will be hosted by New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina, at the height of the competitive fall season. Adhering to the 2000 resurgence format, this year's edition will feature a deep field of nine teams including multiple individual National President's Cup champions and Aiken staples. Reigning victors Skaneateles will return to defend their title alongside CCA, Field One, Holiday Farm, La Bourgogne, Mint
Eco Car Wash, Roxbury Raiders, LBL and Upatoi Green.
In 2022, Skaneateles (Marty Cregg, Vaughn Miller Jr., Ignacio “Nachi” Viana, Cesar Jimenez) successfully navigated a field of eight competitive teams to secure their place in the final against a formidable and undefeated Cummings Insurance. In a game that tested accuracy and penalty precision, Skaneateles nearly allowed Cummings Insurance to successfully mount a last chukker comeback. In true heroic fashion, Skaneateles’ Jimenez punched in a last-minute goal to capture the prestigious title 11-10. Read article here.
Representing Team USPA is alumnus Pedro Lara (La Bourgogne).
2022 National President's Cup Champions: Skaneateles - Cesar Jimenez, Ignacio "Nachi" Viana, Vaughn Miller Jr., Marty Cregg. ©Katie Roth
