ROSSMORE CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Rossmore Cup was first introduced to the polo scene in 1993 at Rancho Santa Fe Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where Malibu Valley (Diego Sustaita, Enrique Zavaleta, Steve Crowder, Brian Boudreau) claimed the first tournament trophy defeating Rocking R in the inaugural final 10-9.
Hosted at multiple clubs throughout Southern California, the Rossmore Cup returns to Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, California, for the fifth consecutive year. Eldorado Club Manager Graham Bray holds the player record for most lifetime tournament wins at six, while Hanalei Bay and Casablanca are tied for the most team wins with three apiece.
The national 12-goal tournament is one of the few polo tournaments in the country to offer a cash incentive played under the polo skins format during the final match. Each chukker is played as a “skin,” with the winner of a chukker receiving the funds designated for that chukker unless the score is tied. In the event of a tie, the amount that was available in that chukker is added to the amount to be played for in the next.
Returning in 2021 following a cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sapa (Igor Seyranov, Bayne Bossom, Jesse Bray, Marcos Alberdi), claimed the overall 13-4 victory and $24,000 in skins money. After tying the amount of goals scored in each of the final two chukkers, however, Bensoleimani.com’s (Ben Soleimani, Juan Curbelo, Remy du Celliee Muller, Tomas Alberdi) Muller raced to goal within the first minute of the overtime chukker to snatch the remaining $12,000 available.
Fielding four teams, this year's edition of the Rossmore Cup will have a new champion, as Sapa will not return to defend their title. Current 12-goal Spreckles Cup winners Bensoleimani.com will attempt to make their second consecutive Rossmore Cup final appearance, alongside Bush League, Cavallo Ranch, and 2019 champions Highwood.
2021 Rossmore Cup Champions: Sapa - Igor Seyranov, Bayne Bossom,Marcos Alberdi, Jesse Bray. Presented by Eldorado Club President Mike Ward. ©Kerri Kerley
