2018 Westchester Cup: England tackle USA

On Saturday 28 July, the USA will play Flannels England for the historic Westchester Cup at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, having traditionally been played at The Hurlingham Club, pre-1939 and in more recent years at Guards Polo Club when on British soil.

This illustrious Cup first took place in 1886 and has been played 17 times throughout history, with only four of these matches taking place since World War II. The Cup, designed and created by Tiffany & Co, was last retained by England, who defeated the USA, 12-11, in 2013.

In the overall standings, the USA have won 10 Westchester Cups, whilst England currently have seven wins to their name. Last weekend, the United States Polo Association (USPA) announced the 2018 team, who will battle to recapture The Westchester Cup from their longterm British rivals.

The team is as follows: Julio Arellano (8), Jeff Hall (7), Nic Roldan (8) & Costi Caset (5) with Carlucho Arellano on hand as the reserve player and coach.

The last time the USA raised the trophy was in 1992, when Rob Walton, Owen Rinehart, Adam Snow and John Gobin defeated England in an overtime victory.

Whilst the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) are yet to announce the proposed Flannels England team, Stephen Hutchinson, Chairman of the HPA said, “I am delighted that the USA team has issued a challenge and that the Flannels England team will be competing for this great Cup in 2018.

“A huge amount of our pride and history is caught up in the Westchester legend and we want it to become the Ryder Cup of polo. I look forward to an exciting new chapter of this great story at our new venue.”

The format of the rest of the day, to include a youth match and a ladies’ match, which last year saw Flannels England Ladies defeat the USA for the Diamond Jubilee trophy, is yet to be confirmed by the HPA.

The USA has also extended an invitation to the HPA, inviting England to compete for The Westchester Cup on American soil in 2019.

The cup itself was created to be competed for by the two nations, with the first match between the United States and Great Britain played in 1886.

The cup was then contested as a best of three tournaments in 1902, 1909, 1911, 1913 and 1914 when the first World War interrupted the game and caused the death of many of the best players.