EASTERN CHALLENGE®
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Eastern Challenge, a national tournament with a 12- to 16-goal handicap, was established in 1986 at the Potomac Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland. The inaugural winning team featured Alan Nash, Jack Whittemore, Juan Bollini Sr. and Salvadore Socas. Played a total of 27 times throughout its history, Lithographics remains the only team to earn the title three times (1988, 1993, 1997). Hosted by multiple clubs along the East Coast, a consistently deep field of competitors has proven repeat titles rare, with Crab Orchard serving as the most recent team to hoist the trophy back-to-back (2000, 2001). Residing at Beverly Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia since 2021, recent victors include Greenhill (2021), Point-to-Point (2022) and Core Real Estate (2023).
In 2023, Core Real Estate (Andrew Baldwin, Trevor Niznik, Lucio Fernandez Ocampo, Alejandro "Tano" Vial) faced off against Salamander (Bill Ballhaus, Manuel Sundblad, Jorge "Tolito" Ocampo Jr., Wil Ballhaus). In a battle of the Ocampo brothers, "Tolito" led Salamander from the penalty line, but Lucio's unstoppable firepower amassed 11 goals to earn Core Real Estate's first Eastern Challenge title 15-12.
This year's edition features three competitive teams including many Virginia polo staples. Core Real Estate will seek to defend their title with the addition of Justo Mourino. 2023 champion Lucio Fernandez Ocampo will join last year's runner-up Salamander, with Beverly Polo rounding out the talented competition.
Beverly Polo Club will be taking advantage of the USPA's Bridge to High Goal Initiative (B2HG) for the Eastern Challenge, which provides eligible USPA Member Clubs three USPA Professional Umpires (two mounted officials and one third man) at 50% of the regular cost to the club.
B2HG has been created to support polo between 12 and 16 goals. The goal of the program is to build a bridge from low goal to high goal that provides a safe environment for competition which will allow for the cultivation of team owners and the advancement of aspiring professionals.
2023 Eastern Challenge Champions: Core Real Estate - Andrew Baldwin, Alejandro "Tano" Vial, Lucio Fernandez Ocampo, Trevor Niznik. ©Tony Gibson
