REGIONAL CLASSIC-SOUTHWESTERN
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Regional Classic-Southwestern (formerly the Southwestern Regional Classic) is a national 12- to 14-goal tournament. Established in 2011, it has become a staple in Texas polo over the past decade, hosted exclusively by Brookshire Polo Club (Brookshire, Texas) and Houston Polo Club (Houston, Texas). ERG currently stands as the only team to earn the 12-goal title twice, collecting victories in 2012 and 2016. Recent champions include Tonkawa (2018) and Old Pueblo (2022).
In 2023, Western Challenge champions Brookshire Polo Club (Megan Flynn, Vaughn Miller Jr., Victorino "Ruiz" Jorba, Milo Dornigac) faced-off against BTA (Wesley "Whistle" Uys, Steve Krueger, Mason Wroe, Kelly Beal). Combining for nine goals, BTA's Krueger and Wroe were countered by the firepower of Brookshire Polo Club's Ruiz Jorba. Leading the offensive with 10 goals, the accuracy of Ruiz Jorba along with a strong second half defensive effort delivered Brookshire Polo Club's second consecutive 12-goal title of the season with a 13-11 victory.
This year's competition will field six teams, all of which are continuing their spring season after competing in the Western Challenge. Defending Regional Classic-Southwestern champions Brookshire Polo Club will seek to snag their second consecutive title. Past victors Old Pueblo and Tonkawa will attempt to reach the podium once more, with BTA, La Elina and Eureka rounding-out the talented competition.
Representing Team USPA are alumni Tomas Alberdi (Brookshire Polo Club), Cody Ellis and Mason Wroe (BTA).
Brookshire Polo Club will be taking advantage of the USPA's Bridge to High Goal Initiative (B2HG) for the Regional Classic-Southwestern, 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.
The Bridge to High Goal Initiative (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 polo to high-goal polo that provides a safe environment for competition which will allow for the cultivation of team owners and the advancement of aspiring professionals.
Photo: 2023 Regional Classic-Southwestern champions: Brookshire Polo Club - Megan Flynn, Vaughn Miller Jr., Milo Dorignac, Victorino "Torito" Ruiz Jorba. ©Kaylee Wroe.
