As the USPA’s staff continues to grow, and we’re treated to the various “duties” of the staff (USPA Staff Services, Polo Players Edition, June 2008), we find there is no longer any interest in maintaining international polo competition. Why do I say this as we sit on the verge of reviving the Westchester Cup (England vs. US, last played in 1997) and the Camacho Cup (Mexico vs. US, last played in 1988), simple-the USPA has nothing to do with either competition.
The Museum of Polo has proposed the playing of the Westchester Cup and has created its own committees and personal to organize it. An agreement has been made with The International Polo Club for the use of the No. 1 field on a Saturday in January, and Scott Devon has been designated at the team captain for the US team. The handicap of the event is expected to be 27 or 28-goals. Melissa Ganzi has offered some 30 horses for the English team as it attempts to defend the Cup and it is hoped that the event will serve as a fund-raiser for the Museum. Where is the USPA-nowhere in sight!
It has been learned that the Camacho Cup will be played at The Villages Polo Club just north of Orlando this fall. The organizers are The Villages and Carlos and Memo Gracida. Again, Scott Devon will captain the US team. Carlos Gracida will organize the defending team from Mexico. It is believed that the handicap of the Camacho Cup will be in the 20-22-goal range. Once again, the USPA has nothing to do with it.
For the first time since the inception of the USPA, the coffers are full. Polo Properties has generated a great deal of capital that is serving to expand its staff and special programs while the membership dwindles.
The only conversation regarding international competition was held in the meetings in Wellington during the Open when Pat Nesbitt wanted to make sure that we had a team in the Pan American Games, a potential re-run of our disastrous FIP efforts.
So there you have it. We sit in a position of fourth or fifth in the world in the world of polo (Argentina holds the Cup of the Americas; England holds the Westchester Cup; Mexico has possession of the Camacho Cup; and Canada beat us to represent North America in the FIP World Championships this year in Mexico.
England’s Schools and University Polo Association (SUPA) is staging an international tournament with students from France and India (notice the US is not involved), and in spite of the various international competitions that take place successfully in England every year, we not only fail to embrace such competition-which might allow us to showcase our top players and give them an opportunity to demonstrate our abilities-we run from them.
Well done, USPA, got to give you credit for being consistent. Maintain the present leadership and we know what the end result will be. The problem is most of you don’t care what the end result is as long as it doesn’t personally affect you. Make a change, make a commitment, embrace the game and help to save it for future generations.
1 Comment
th000000715am08, 22008vUTC07bUTCTue, 15 Jul 2008 08:04:33 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p07
Very interesting blog. All True. Its a shame the USPA continues to dissapear. I remember enjoying the Camacho Cup in 88… I didnt realize that was the last one. I attended the America’s Cup of Polo last year in Virginia where US played against Italy. I learned they are doing International Polo once a year vs. a different country, in cooperation with the United Nations. Very interesting also. I meet the Director of the UN in charge, and I was pleasantly shocked to hear that this was so important to them. Reminded me of the old days. The next year is Australia he mentioned, and after that is South Africa I believe he said. His accent was strong. It was very impressive. Sounds like Int’l community and the polo players are representing Int’l polo well. Sorry to see the USPA dissappear.