NATIONAL SHERMAN MEMORIAL
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The National Sherman Memorial, established in 1935, is played to honor one of the giants of arena polo and is one of the oldest arena polo tournaments in the United States Polo Association. Known as the “father of indoor polo,” George C. Sherman Sr. was almost single-handedly responsible for organizing and refining this now-popular variation of the sport. He introduced the inflatable ball, redesigned the standard polo equipment for the arena game’s specific needs and modified the rules of outdoor play for arena use. He was the founder and first president of the Indoor Polo Association (1915-1926), which merged with the USPA in 1956. He was zealous in bringing young players into the sport, presenting the Interscholastic Cup in 1928. Since all Intercollegiate and Interscholastic polo is now played in the arena, he may be said to have sired this invaluable training ground as well. The tournament was installed by his wife Helen and his son, Hall of Famer George C. Sherman Jr., an arena high-goaler who also made important contributions to the sport as a USPA Chairman and one of the founding spirits of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
The 2020 installment of the competition will bring together four teams to compete for the prestigious George Carter Sherman Memorial Indoor Polo Cup, including Avalon Farm, Newport, TD Bank and Westchester. 2019 defending champions Minnie Keating and Luke Merrick have returned this year joined by Mia Purdom on Westchester.
As the country emerges out of the COVID-19 crisis, the USPA established opportunities to support USPA Member Club events through the use of the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package, which provides eligible USPA Member Clubs with waived tournament fees, trophies or reimbursements, one professional umpire and $2,500 in prize money per tournament at no extra cost. Offered to each club for the first two USPA tournaments of 2020 following the COVID-19 USPA Tournaments and Events suspension, Westchester Polo Club will be taking advantage of the program for this tournament.
Photo: 2019 National Sherman Memorial Champions: Synergy Solutions - Anna Winslow-Palacios, Minnie Keating, Luke Merrick. ©Scott Trauth
