Americans beat England’s winning streak in Bryan Morrison Cup
Team USPA Program Continues to Make Strides in International Competition
The American team won against the England team in the Bryan Morrison Memorial Cup last Saturday, March 1st, at the All England Polo Club in Hickstead. This is the first time the USA team has won the coveted title since the tournament’s inception in 2007. The USA team featured arena 10-goaler Tommy Biddle, and two Team USPA members, 5-goaler Patrick Uretz and 4-goaler Will Tankard. The English side was made up of the first father-son team to compete in an international test match: 9-goaler Chris Hyde and his 3-goal son, 16 year-old Jack Hyde. They were joined by 7-goaler Pete Webb.
Tommy Biddle came out swinging, scoring the first seven points to put the USA team up 7-2 after the first chukker. The Americans continued the attack in the second and were ahead 13-6 at the half. England rallied in the third chukker adding five to their tally, but in the fourth chukker, USA closed the door and finished at 21-17. Experience was on the USA’s side with Biddle as the player with the highest arena handicap in the world, and the two intercollegiate polo alums, both now representing Team USPA.
“We are extremely proud of this team and their seamless effort to bring home the coveted title,” said Peter Rizzo, CEO of United States Polo Association. “This test match is a great example of how the Team USPA program, and its combination of young talent with veteran leadership, is making a positive impact at home and abroad.”
The Team USPA program provides Olympic-level caliber training for the sport’s most promising future talent. The program is the first of its kind and demonstrates the commitment the United States has undertaken to develop world-class opportunities for its future polo players.
The Bryan Morrison Memorial Cup is named after the late Bryan Morrison, a music businessman who represented the likes of Pink Floyd and polo player who was president of the Ham Polo Club in London before founding his own club, the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.