NORTHRUP KNOX CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Established in 2003, the Northrup Knox Cup is a national tournament that has been hosted exclusively at USPA Member Clubs in Aiken, South Carolina. Named in memory of Northrup R. “Norty” Knox, the magnificent sterling silver, double-handled trophy was donated to the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame by the Knox Family, “For his lifetime achievements and his love of the sport,” to be used as an award for the tournament to be played in his honor. In 2013, the tournament found a permanent home at New Bridge Polo & Country Club.
Detailed by the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, “Born to polo, Knox could claim considerable achievements both on and off the field. The only amateur in the postwar era to reach an 8-goal rating, he captained the U.S. team in the challenge for the Cup of the Americas in 1965 and 1969, distinguishing himself as one of America's finest offensive players. Among his other accomplishments on the polo field are a National Twenty Goal Championship and a Butler Handicap title. In his many years of service to the sport, including chairmanship of the USPA (1966-1970), Knox insightfully championed the cause of low-goal players establishing the Twelve Goal and lower-goal Governor's Cup, along with the minus-one rating. These actions served well the subsequent resurgence of the sport.” Three inductees into the Museum of Polo’s Hall of Fame have earned the Northrup Knox Cup title, including Owen Rinehart, Adam Snow and Tommy Biddle Jr.
Inaugural Northrup Knox Cup champions, New Bridge (Russ McCall, Kris Kampsen, Matias Magrini, Tommy Biddle Jr.) set the standard of competition in 2003, holding the title for three consecutive tournaments including back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006, defeating Dahlwood in each final game. Succeeding New Bridge’s three-peat, SD Farms became the second team to reach the impressive feat claiming the championship in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Following a two-year hiatus from 2020 to 2022, the Northrup Knox Cup was re-introduced at the 4-to 8-goal level to be played in perpetuity in an effort to increase participation and retain the competitive standard of the tournament.
In 2023, Glen Farm (Joaquin Vilgre La Madrid, Sam Clemens, Hope Arellano, Alan Martinez) faced an undefeated LBL (Alison Patricelli, Harry Caldwell, Charlie Caldwell, Ignacio "Nachi" Viana). Highlighted by four goals from lead scorer Viana, LBL's early lead combined with formidable second half defense earned the win, 9-6.
Continuing an action-packed fall season at New Bridge Polo & Country Club, this year's competition will field seven teams including current Association Cup competitors Cooper Home & Stable, Field One Polo, Glen Farm, Skaneateles and Virginia Beach/Core Real Estate, alongside Hutchinson Farms and West Shore to round out the competition.
New Bridge Polo & Country Club will be taking advantage of the USPA's Tournament Support Program (TSP) for the Northrup Knox Cup, which provides eligible USPA Member Clubs with waived tournament fees, trophies or trophy reimbursements, one professional umpire and $2,500 in prize money at no extra cost.
The USPA originally created the Tournament Stimulus Package (TSP) to help member clubs host USPA events when the United States was emerging from the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis. The USPA wanted to continue to support member clubs with TSP benefits in 2022. Therefore, it extended and expanded TSP under a new name - the Tournament Support Program. Each USPA Member Club can obtain TSP benefits for two USPA events, with the option of a third under specific circumstances.
2023 Northrup Knox Cup Champions: LBL - Alison Patricelli, Harry Caldwell, Charlie Caldwell, Ignacio "Nacho" Viana. ©Katie Roth
