NEWS

Hosted by Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, California, the conclusion of the Rossmore Cup pitted familiar foes Bush League Lobos (Teo Von Wernich, Ulysses Escapite, Felipe “Pipe” Marquez, Virgil Kyle) against Highwood (Ron Mathison, sub. Marcos “Maco” Llambias, Segundo Bocchino, Marcelo Rodriguez Abbiati) on Sunday, March 23. Bush League Lobos capitalized on key opportunities through consistent team play until the final horn, earning the title and $22,500 in prize money.

The Rossmore Cup 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 an individual game, with the winner receiving the designated $5,000 funds for each period. If there is a tie at the end of the chukker, the prize money is carried over into the following chukker. This year’s competition offered up to $35,000 in prize money, with bonuses awarded to the winning team ($2,500), Most Valuable Player ($1,500) and Best Playing Pony ($1,000).

The national 12-goal event proudly returned to Eldorado Polo Club for the seventh time in the competition’s history. Featuring multiple Rossmore Cup veterans, Bush League Lobos’ defending champions Escapite and Kyle last raised the trophy in 2024 under the Bush League banner, against Highwood’s Mathison and Rodriguez Abbiati. The rivals met early in preliminary play, with Bush League Lobos earning their first victory of the tournament, 11-10.

Kicking-off Sunday’s skins rematch, Von Wernich led the team in white with two goals to take the opening chukker. Bocchino and Llambias responded for Highwood to tie the contest 3-all, but pressure from Bush League Lobos earned a second skins victory. Shifting momentum in the third, Highwood’s Bocchino made two crucial conversions while the team held Bush League Lobos scoreless for the first time, winning the third and narrowing the deficit, 5-6.

Bush League Lobos were back on the attack in the second half, with a combined three goals from Marquez and Escapite to extend the lead 10-6, earning back-to-back skins in the fourth and fifth. A Penalty 2 from Bocchino—the only goal of the chukker—secured the sixth chukker win for Highwood, though Bush League Lobos ultimately claimed the Rossmore Cup, 10-7.

Earning $20,000 in prize money for winning the first, second, fourth and fifth chukkers, Bush League Lobos were also awarded an additional $2,500 for the tournament victory. Claiming wins in the third and sixth chukkers, Highwood collected $10,000.

Leading Bush League Lobos with three goals in the second half, Felipe “Pipe” Marquez was awarded Most Valuable Player, earning a $1,500 bonus. Sweeping the individual awards, Marquez’s Favorita, a 7-year-old mare, played in the fourth and sixth chukkers earned Best Playing Pony, adding another $1,000 prize for the honor.

The Rossmore Cup is now available On-Demand.

All photos courtesy of ©Kerri Kerley.