Oct 18, 2024
Keeping the historical tradition of competitive international rivalry alive, the United States and England are set to compete for one of the world’s most prestigious arena polo tournaments in 2024, the Townsend Cup. Played on alternate years with the Bryan Morrison Trophy in England, the tenth edition of the Townsend Cup will be contested on Saturday, October 26, at New Bridge Polo & Country Club (New Bridge) in Aiken, South Carolina. As the official apparel supplier of the USA team, U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to outfit the American team with jerseys and provide saddle pads. Boasting an 8-1 overall record, the United States will attempt to claim their ninth John R. Townsend Challenge Cup while their English opponents battle to reclaim the title for the first time since 2013.
“It is a big deal every time you get to represent the USA [...] I always put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and represent our country. I have been fortunate to have played a lot of international matches so I hope that experience will help the team.” – USA Team Captain Tommy Biddle Jr.
Over 100 years old, the Townsend Cup international arena tournament was created by the Indoor Polo Association and first played in 1923 as a result of the boom and talent of American arena players. England readily accepted the United States’ invitation, and the inaugural tournament was played as a best record five game series. The Americans swept the competition claiming the first three matches. The tournament then fell into abeyance until recent years when the United States Polo Association revived the tradition. The tournament has since been played as a single game on alternate years with the Bryan Morrison Trophy, a complimentary tournament held by English invitation.
Last held in 2021 at New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina, USA (Winston Painter, Geronimo Obregon*, Pelon Escapite) took home the Townsend Cup, defeating England 18-15. Captaining USA in 2024, Tommy Biddle Jr. (8) is joined by two talented teammates, two-time Townsend Cup champion Pelon Escapite (8) and newcomer Andrew Scott (4).
Former arena 10-goaler, Biddle Jr. has competed in the prestigious John R. Townsend Cup Challenge five times, securing the title on four occasions, with 2013 marking his only defeat. In 2019, he celebrated victory alongside Escapite, whom he describes as one of his best friends in polo. "He is a beast in the arena and very easy to combine with, so it is a pleasure to play with him," Biddle Jr. said, highlighting the United States’ strong team chemistry.
“It is a big deal every time you get to represent the USA,” Biddle Jr. continued. “I always put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and represent our country. I have been fortunate to have played a lot of international matches so I hope that experience will help the team.”
Frequently competing at New Bridge, Scott has notable arena achievements making him a strong addition to the American team. In the 2023, he earned MVP honors and claimed victory in the U.S. Open Arena Handicap. That same year, Scott won the 2023 Division I Men's National Intercollegiate Championship for the University of North Texas where he received his second Connie Upchurch Memorial Sportsmanship Award.
Jack Hyde (8) will be assuming the role of captain for the English team. Hyde triumphed over Biddle Jr. in the prestigious 2023 Bryan Morrison Trophy, the sister tournament held by English invitation. Hyde will be joined by returning player Eden Ormerod (6), eager for 2021 redemption. Rounding out the team is Toby Bradshaw (5), who recently showcased his talent in the 2024 International Intercollegiate Arena Challenge Cup, where he led his team to a 16-11 victory over the USA.
The Townsend Cup will be livestreamed exclusively on the USPA Polo Network at uspolo.org and across USPA social media channels including YouTube, Facebook and X. Guest commentator and arena legend Tom Goodspeed joins the broadcast alongside the USPA Polo Network’s Toby Wayman, providing in-depth knowledge and insights into the sport.
Goodspeed achieved an impressive 9-goal arena handicap and holds the record for seven U.S. Open Arena Polo Championships and boasts a total of 17 national USPA arena tournament titles across five different playing levels. In recognition of his significant contributions to arena polo, he received the Russ Sheldon Award in 2018 and was recently honored with the 2024 I/I Lifetime Achievement Award.
For more information, please visit the Townsend Cup Tournament Detail Page. The match will began at 6:00pm ET and will be open to the public, with VIP tickets available for purchase. For more details, please visit newbridgepolo.com.
*Geronimo Obregon is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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