NATIONAL PRESIDENT'S CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The National President’s Cup has an illustrious history spanning over 50 years. Formally known as the Eight Goal Inter-Circuit, the tournament was first held in 1969 at the Brandywine Polo Club in Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, with teams traveling from the Northeastern, Southeastern, Northwestern and Midstate circuits vying to win the coveted trophy. Renamed the National President’s Cup in 1974, the tournament has been hosted by USPA Member Clubs nationwide, before establishing a permanent home in 2024 at the National Polo Center - Wellington (NPC) in Wellington, Florida.
An NPC Event, the tournament unites some of the most talented 8-goal teams in the nation. Regional President’s Cup tournaments act as qualifiers, designed to boost participation at the 4- to 8-goal level and reestablish the historic connection between the two trophies. Highlighting its prestige, the final is slated for Sunday, April 20, on NPC Field 2, ahead of the U.S. Open Polo Championship final.
Teams qualify to enter the National President’s Cup by winning a Regional President’s Cup. Any USPA Member Club may apply to host a Regional President’s Cup, however qualifying events are limited to one Member Club in every circuit. As the host circuit for the National President's Cup, the Florida Circuit, is the only exception, holding four Regional President's Cup events at Santa Clara Polo Club (Wellington, Florida), International Polo School (Loxahatchee, Florida), Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) and The Villages Polo Club (The Villages, Florida). Four other clubs in circuits across the country participated including Nashville Polo Club (Franklin, Tennessee), NYC Polo Club (Patterson, New York), Foxlease Polo Club (Upperville, Virginia) and Mokarow Farms Polo Club (Little Elm, Texas).
To reinforce the idea that all participation is encouraged, players are able to compete in as many qualifiers as they would like on either the same team or on different teams. However, if a player wins multiple events on different teams, that player must choose which team he or she would like to represent in the National President's Cup. The other team may appoint a substitute.
Regional President’s Cup winners from circuits outside of Florida who travel to NPC to compete in the National President’s Cup will receive a $10,000 travel stipend. The stipend will be evenly divided among the four rostered players on the qualifying team, or issued to the designated Team Owner once at least two of the original rostered players have arrived to compete.
In 2024, Audi (Milo Mac Donough, Digvijay “Dig” Singh, Martin Jauregui, Marc Ganzi, sub. Brandon Phillips, sub. Juan Bollini Sr.) winners of the Grand Champions Polo Club (Wellington, Florida) regional event and ConcordEquityGroup.com (Dana Barnes, Finn Secunda, Juan Cruz “Cacu” Marcos, Lucas Escobar), International Polo School (Loxahatchee, Florida) edition winners charged onto Field 2 vying for 8-goal glory. Scoring 16 goals in each of their first two games, including five from Barnes in their semifinal win, ConcordEquityGroup.com turned to defense in the early stages of the final. Keeping Audi scoreless over the opening two chukkers, ConcordEquityGroup.com built a lead and never trailed en route to a 12-5 victory. Read article here.
Fielding Regional President's Cup champions nationwide, the Northeastern Circuit's Amaro/Jefferies and the Eastern Circuit's TNT Global/Jet Set Polo Visas will join the four Florida Circuit winners: Organic Matters Inc., Santa Clara (formerly Santa Clara/Forbes Plunkett) and Fross & Fross. Based on team availability, State Farm, Regional President's Cup finalists in the fourth qualifying event hosted by The Villages Polo Club, rounds out the competition as the sixth team in contention. Representing Team USPA is Active Member Nicolas Diaz Alberdi (TNT Global/Jet Set Polo Visas).
Photo: 2024 National President's Cup Champions: ConcordEquityGroup.com - Lucas Escobar, Juan Cruz "Cacu" Marcos, Finn Secunda, Dana Barnes. ©David Lominska
