REGIONAL PRESIDENT'S CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Established in 1998, the Regional President’s Cup has been reformatted in anticipation of the 2024 National President's Cup. Regional President’s Cup tournaments held nationwide now serve as qualifying tournaments for the National President’s Cup, bringing teams together representing clubs from around the country for the opportunity to compete at the National Polo Center (NPC) in Wellington, Florida. The new format encourages participation at the 4- to 8-goal level and restores the relationship between the two trophies. The National President's Cup will be hosted by NPC with the final slated for Sunday, April 21, on BTG Pactual Field 2.
Teams qualify to enter the National President’s Cup by winning a Regional President’s Cup. Any USPA Member Club can apply to host a Regional President’s Cup, however qualifying events are awarded to only one Member Club in every circuit. The Florida Circuit, host of the National President’s Cup, will be the only exception, with four Regional President’s Cup events awarded to host clubs International Polo School (Loxahatchee, Florida), Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida), Grand Champions Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) and The Villages Polo Club (The Villages, Florida).
Winners of the Florida Circuit qualifying events (ConcordEquityGroup.com) will join Royal Bank Canada (Eastern Circuit), Riverview (Midstates Circuit), Amaro (Northeastern Circuit) and TR Turtles (Southwestern Circuit) for National President’s Cup contention.
To reinforce the idea that all participation is encouraged, players may compete in as many events as they would like on either the same team or on different teams. Yet, if a player triumphs in more than one event but on different teams, that player must choose which team he or she would like to represent in the National President's Cup and the other team may use a substitute.
In 2023, D'Ambrose MD (Mike D'Ambrose, Finn Secunda, Francisco "Frankie" Bilbao, Nick Johnson, sub. Tomas Mac Dougall) faced-off against Fross & Fross (Thom Fross, Neil Osburg, Martin Eddy, Charly Quincoces Cendoya). Taking a commanding lead from the outset, five goals from leading scorer Bilbao earned D'Ambrose MD the 12-7 victory.
The Regional President's Cup hosted by The Villages Polo Club (The Villages, Florida), is one of four Florida Circuit Regional President’s Cup qualifiers. Fielding four talented teams, D'Ambrose MD, Fross & Fross, Jet Set Polo Visas and Mountain Chevrolet will each battle for the title and opportunity to earn a coveted spot in the National President’s Cup. Representing Team USPA is alumnus Nick Johnson (D'Ambrose MD).
Photo: 2023 Regional President's Cup Champions: D'Ambrose MD - Francisco "Frankie" Bilbao, Nick Johnson, Finn Secunda, Mike D'Ambrose. Not pictured: sub. Tomas Mac Dougall. ©Keith Franklin Photography
