1939 Westchester Cup

About

The 1939 Westchester Cup was a pivotal international polo match between the United States and England, held at the Meadow Brook Club on Long Island. This event marked the twelfth series of matches for the cup, which was first established in 1886 by New York's Westchester Polo Club. The British team, eager to reclaim the cup after five unsuccessful attempts, assembled a formidable squad consisting of Bob Skene, Aidan Roark, Gerald Balding, and Eric Tyrrell-Martin. They imported eleven ponies from India, courtesy of the Nawab of Bhopal and the Maharaja of Kashmir, and conducted extensive practice matches in California to prepare. The U.S. team, comprising Mike Phipps, Tommy Hitchcock, Stewart Iglehart, and Winston Guest, proved unbeatable. They secured a decisive victory, winning the first game 11-7 and the second 9-4. Tommy Hitchcock Jr. was particularly outstanding, showcasing his exceptional skills as a 10-goal player. The series drew significant attention, with 20,000 spectators attending the matches. Despite the British team's impressive preparation, the U.S. side successfully retained the Westchester Cup, which had not been won by England since 1921. The event highlighted the rivalry and skill between the two nations in polo.