FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK SILVER CUP®
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Farmers & Merchants Bank (FMB) Silver Cup® has been called many names throughout its illustrious 121-year history. Originally established as the Junior Championship, it was first played in 1900. The Junior Championship attracted such historic teams as Rockaway, Cooperstown, Meadow Brook, Old Aiken and Laddie Sanford’s Hurricanes, to name a few. The 1935 Junior Championship boasted the largest field in the tournament’s history with 11 teams vying for the coveted trophy at Burnt Mills Polo Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Aiken Knights, consisting of Dunbar W. Bostwick, Winston F. C. Guest, James F. Curtis Jr. and George H. Bostwick, triumphed over Texas 13-3.
In 1938, the Junior Polo Championship was renamed the National Twenty Goal® Championship. During this period the trophy was carried home by teams such as Bostwick Field, Milwaukee, Aurora, San Antonio and Oak Brook. The tournament took its present name, the Silver Cup, in 1974.
Many winners of the cup hail from the Polo Hall of Fame—from J. Watson Webb and Tommy Hitchcock, to Robert Skene and Cecil Smith. In fact, no fewer than 50 Polo Hall of Famers have won the Silver Cup. Out of the 50 Hall of Famers, W. Ray Harrington Jr. and Charles Smith have earned the most Silver Cup® titles with eight wins each.
In 2021, the gripping final came down to undefeated Klentner Ranch (Jake Klentner, Santiago Toccalino, Jesse Bray, Justin Klentner) and Farmers & Merchants Bank (Daniel Walker, Lucas Criado Jr., Lucas Criado Sr., Matthew Walker). Building off an early and impressive offensive attack, Klentner Ranch delivered at least two goals each chukker, maintaining the lead throughout to capture their first ever Silver Cup title, 14-12. Read article.
Returning to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California), the 2022 FMB Silver Cup will feature five teams vying for the trophy, including reigning champion Klentner Ranch looking to repeat their title against Antelope, BenSoleimani.com, Farmers & Merchants Bank (FMB) and L.E.N.Y.
Amongst the competition are Active Team USPA members Kristos "Keko" Magrini (L.E.N.Y.) and Team USPA alumni Peke Gonzalez (Farmers & Merchants Bank), Santino Magrini (L.E.N.Y), Jake Klentner (Klentner Ranch) and Jesse Bray (Klentner Ranch).
U.S. Polo Assn., official global apparel brand of the United States Polo Association, announced it will serve as the apparel sponsor for the 2022 FMB Silver Cup. As the 2022 FMB Silver Cup’s official apparel sponsor, U.S. Polo Assn. will be featured in multiple ways including stadium branding and apparel throughout the tournament.
Photo: 2021 Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup® Champions: Klentner Ranch - Jesse Bray, Justin Klentner, Jake Klentner and Santiago Toccalino. ©David Lominska
