ROSSMORE CUP
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Rossmore Cup was first introduced to the polo scene in 1993 at Rancho Santa Fe Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Malibu Valley (Diego Sustaita, Enrique Zavaleta, Steve Crowder, Brian Boudreau) claimed the first tournament trophy, defeating Rocking R in the inaugural final 10-9. Hosted at multiple clubs throughout Southern California, the tournament found its current home at Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, California, in 2017.
Graham Bray currently holds the player record for most lifetime tournament wins at six, while Hanalei Bay (2009, 2011, 2012) and Casablanca (1997, 1998, 2001) are tied for the most team wins with three apiece. Recent champions include Cotterell Farms (2017), Twin Palms (2018), Highwood (2019), Sapa (2021) and BenSoleimani.com (2022).
The national 12-goal tournament is one of the few polo tournaments in the country to offer a cash incentive played under the polo skins format during the final match. Each chukker is played as a “skin” with the winner of each chukker receiving the funds designated for that chukker unless the score is tied. In the event of a tie, the amount that was available in that chukker is added to the amount to be played for in the next.
In 2024, Bush League (Pelon Escapite, Ulysses Escapite, Virgil Kyle, Quinn Kyle) battled Highwood (Ron Mathison, Santiago Von Wernich, Marcelo Rodriguez Abbiati, Agustin Bottaro, sub. Tomas Alberdi). The final was ultimately decided from the penalty line. Bush League converted four times in the sixth chukker to secure a 9-6 victory over Highwood, claiming $15,000 of the $30,000 prize money. Read article here.
Featuring many Eldorado staples and former Rossmore Cup competitors, this year's edition will field seven talented teams including Bush League Borrachos, Bush League Lobos, Carbenella, Highwood, Persyst, Wild Polo and Zahedi Chogan. Raising the stakes for 2025, the Rossmore Cup returns with an expanded $35,000 prize purse.
Back to defend their title in the desert, Ulysses Escapite and Virgil Kyle will unite once more, this time for Bush League Lobos. Fellow reigning champion Pelon Escapite will lead Bush League Borrachos, as 2024 finalists Highwood will attempt to reach the podium for the first time since 2019. Returning to the competition is 2022 victor Ben Soleimani under the under new team name Carbenella, with Persyst, Wild Polo and Zahedi Chogan rounding out the competition, each seeking their first Rossmore Cup title.
Representing Team USPA is Active Member Ryan Kerley (Bush League Borrachos) alongside alumni Remy Du Celliee Muller (Carbenella), Santiago Torres (Persyst), Tomas Alberdi (Wild Polo) and Daniel "Cacho" Galindo (Zahedi Chogan).
Eldorado Polo Club will be taking advantage of the USPA's Bridge to High Goal Initiative (B2HG) for the Rossmore Cup, which provides eligible USPA Member Clubs with three USPA Professional Umpires (two mounted officials and one third man) at 50% of the regular cost.
The 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.
2024 Rossmore Cup Champions: Bush League - Virgil Kyle, Pelon Escapite, Ulysses Escapite, Quinn Kyle, presented by Eldorado Club President Mike Ward. ©Kerri Kerley
