After a four-year hiatus, the celebrated Westchester Cup challenge between the United States and England took place at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in Windsor, Berkshire, England on Saturday, July 28. Julio Arellano, Peke Gonzalez, Jeff Hall and Nic Roldan representing the United States and outfitted in U.S. Polo Assn. were pitted against an English squad comprised of three members of the winning 2018 Gold Cup El Remanso Polo team (James Beim, Ollie Cudmore, James Harper) joined by Tommy Beresford. Despite considerable preparation, what promised to be a closely-contested matchup between two powerhouse teams, proved a runaway as England emerged victorious with a staggering 12-6 final score.
Due to a difference in handicap, England was awarded one goal at the onset of the match. Directly out of the first bowl-in America quickly equalized the score, a well-executed pass from Gonzalez landing on the stick of Roldan. The U.S.’s prowess would be short-lived however, as England’s Cudmore scored a hat trick to take the lead 4-1. Ending the first on a strong note, Roldan put a second goal on the board. The remainder of the first half proved fatal, England dominating the competition with three more goals, holding USA scoreless.
Trailing by five at the start of the fourth, a Penalty 3 conversion by Arellano propelled the U.S. back in the right direction instigating their best chukker of the match. Yet, the unyielding English force quickly countered to maintain the gap. USA’s Nic Roldan would manage two more goals in the second half, including a stunning 70-yard shot, but it was not enough to suppress the English momentum. Four goals from Cudmore, one a rocketing backshot through the uprights, cemented the win. A final push and score from Arellano, cut the deficit in half 12-6 to end the loss on a good note. “All the horses that I played today were from John Paul Clarkin,” shared Arellano. “He mounted me completely, it was a pleasure. There were two or three that I told him if he didn’t want, I would be happy to bring home.”
MVP: James Beim.
BPP: Salsita, played in the first and fifth chukkers by James Beim. “She is a homebred I trained, out of an American Thoroughbred called Salsa and an Australian Ellerston stallion named Clark. She just turned eight, so I am very happy with her progress,” Beim said.
Repurposed Racehorse BPP: Mariscal, played by Nic Roldan. “I bought him last year. He is an Argentine Thoroughbred. I bought him in the states and flew him straight here. I played him in the first and fourth chukker today and have been playing him here in England all season.”
England accepted the United States’ challenge to play the Westchester Cup on U.S. soil in 2019, offering redemption, as strategic talk began for next year. “We were all very hopeful going into the game and positive, but the fact of the matter is that any time you are on foreign land it’s really difficult,” said Roldan after the game. “These guys have been playing together for years, they have numerous international matches throughout the year. We have one off per year, I think we have a lot of work to do building up the international team and finding time for us to play together.” Hall looks forward to next year’s challenge on U.S. soil. “They beat us forward and backwards. I knew it was going to be really tough and it didn’t work out for us today. I will be remembering this one and thinking about challenging them next year.”
“I’d like to congratulate the English team on an amazing win today,” said USPA CEO Robert Puetz. “They played solid polo, were strategic, well organized and well prepared. Additionally, I would like to thank the Hurlingham Polo Association who provided amazing and welcoming hospitality to our team. A huge thank you goes out to all the people involved in helping to support the USA team with horses, practices and fields that enabled us to play at this historic event. This was not the outcome that we had hoped, planned or worked for. However, we realize that they were the better team today in all aspects. We have a lot of work ahead of us and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to be ready and take back the Westchester Cup in 2019.”
SOURCE: UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
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