NATIONAL ARENA CHALLENGE CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The National Arena Challenge Cup is a 0- to 3-goal tournament first played for in 1987. After a decades-long hiatus, the tournament was revived at Commonwealth Polo Club in Paris, Kentucky, where it was hosted for three years. The National Arena Challenge Cup found a new home in 2020 at Great Meadow Polo Club (The Plains, Virginia) where Celebrity Cruises-Hotels at Sea captured the title 13-11 over Mystique Jewelers. Mounting an incredible comeback after trailing by six goals, Celebrity Cruises-Hotels at Sea were led by twelve goals from John Gobin in the thrilling victory. As part of the USPA Tournament Prize Money Matching Program, the 2020 National Arena Challenge Cup offered $10,000 in total prize money.
Moving to Brandywine Polo Club (Toughkenamon, Pennsylvannia) in 2021, the National Arena Challenge Cup will showcase four new teams vying for the title including Bad Ass Polo, Marlan Farm, Triangle Area Polo Club and THF. The only returning player to the competition is Brennan Wells (Marlan Farm), as he looks to avenge his finals loss in 2020 with new teammates Kylie Beard and Isabelle Brockett.
Photo: 2020 National Arena Challenge Cup Champions: Celebrity Cruises/Hotels at Sea - Tareq Salahi, Matthew Potter, John Gobin, presented by Lisa Spoden and Melissa Basye. ©Joanne Maisano
