INTERNATIONAL ARENA SHOWCASE

TOWNSEND CUP

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Townsend Cup international arena tournament was created by the Indoor Polo Association and first played in 1923 as a result of the boom and talent of American arena players. England readily accepted the United States’ invitation and the inaugural tournament was played as a best record five game series. The Americans swept the competition claiming the first three matches. The tournament then fell into abeyance until recent years when the United States Polo Association revived the tradition. The tournament has since been played as a single game on alternate years with the Bryan Morrison Trophy, a complimentary tournament held by English invitation.

Boasting a 7-1 overall record, the United States will attempt to claim their eighth John R. Townsend Challenge Cup while their English opponents battle to reclaim the title for the first time since 2013. As the official apparel supplier of team USA, U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to outfit the American team with jerseys and provide saddle pads.

Last held in 2019 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, USA (Steve Krueger, Pelon Escapite, Tommy Biddle) took home the Townsend Cup, defeating England 15-10. Captaining USA in 2021, defending champion Pelon Escapite is joined by two talented teammates, Graduating Team USPA Member Geronimo Obregon and Active Team USPA member Winston Painter. Proving himself to be a formidable interscholastic player (Gardnertown Polo Club) at 17 years old and recently joining the University of Connecticut’s (UCONN) intercollegiate team, Painter is fresh off victories in the Open National Interscholastic Championship where he was named All-Star and the National Youth Tournament Series Championship®.

Frequently competing at New Bridge Polo & Country Club, Julian Daniels highlights the English team which also features brothers Eden and Robin Ormerod.

2019 Townsend Cup Champions: USA - Tommy Biddle Jr., Pelon Escapite, Steve Krueger. Presented by former USPA Arena Committee Chair Dan Coleman and former USPA CEO Bob Puetz. ©David Lominska

CHURCHILL-ROOSEVELT CUP

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Making its debut in 2019, the Churchill-Roosevelt Cup is a competition between military affiliated polo players from the United Kingdom and the United States. The event’s name commemorates famous leaders of those two countries, both of whom were military officers and polo players. Interestingly, within two months of each other in 1898, President Theodore Roosevelt was charging up hills in battle in Cuba leading the “Rough Riders” of the 1st U.S. Volunteers Cavalry while Prime Minister Winston Churchill was charging the enemy in the Battle of Obdurman in Sudan with the 21st Lancers. The Churchill-Roosevelt Cup was envisioned to be the military polo event played in conjunction with the high-goal arena Townsend Cup.

In the inaugural Churchill-Roosevelt Cup, USA (Paul Knapp, Zach Grob, Jake Flournoy, and Joseph Meyer, coached by Mark Gillespie) defeated the United Kingdom 15-12 in a game that came down to the final chukker. Leading at halftime 9-5, USA fell behind by a goal in the third chukker, but quickly scored four goals to the U.K.’s one in the fourth to take the inaugural cup. In 2021 players from the intercollegiate/interscholastic program are represented on both teams including Alex Jenkins (Culver Academy) and Cynthia Stephenson (USC) for the USPA Armed Forces and Albany Mulholland (Harvard Polo) for the British Armed Forces.

The first event of the International Arena Showcase, the Churchill-Roosevelt Cup will only be available to watch in-person. The game is free and open to the public for spectating.

2019 Churchill-Roosevelt Champions USPA Armed Forces' Paul Knapp and Zach Grob celebrating the victory. ©David Lominska