By Alex Webbe

 

In a press release issued by the Hurlingham Polo Association, the team lineup for the 2009 Westchester team has been announced and will feature 9-goaler Eduardo Novillo Astrada.  The popular “Argentine” polo star qualifies for the team, according to the Chairman of Selectors, John Tinsley “Eduardo was born in the UK and only possesses a British passport.”

The HPA announced that while the rules of the Westchester Cup state that Great Britain has the option to include a Commonwealth player, it has, instead, opted for Eduardo Novillo Astrada to get within two goals of the 32-goal invitation the HPA received from the USA.  It was further announced that the match would be played on handicap with a limit of a two goal difference between team handicaps.

“We considered various team options available to us,” added Tinsley, “but in the end Eduardo was the obvious selection.  Not only is he exceptionally well mounted himself, but he is well positioned to help provide and find horses for the rest of the team.”

It was earlier learned that US player/patron Melissa Ganzi had offered something in the area of 30 horses to the British team for the competition, but positioning continues to round up the best horses that can be attained for the historic event.

Joining Astrada on the British team will be Luke Tomlinson (7), Mark Tomlinson (6), James Beim (7) and Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9).

 The British team will be coached by Javier Novillo Astrada and managed by Andrew Hine.

The Westchester Cup is the oldest International polo competition in the world, dating back to 1886 when a British team traveled to Newport, Rhode Island to defeat an American side in straight games.  The Westchester Cup has been played no less than 13 times since then with the United States holding a 10-4 advantage in the series.  After sitting idle for over fifty years, the Westchester Cup was played for in a single game competition in England in 1992, with the United States coming out on top of an 8-7 win in double overtime.  Five years later Great Britain scored a 12-9 win over the United States in England for its first Westchester Cup victory in 83 years.

The February 21, 2009 event at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, will be the first time a British team has traveled to the United States to play for the cup since 1939.

The 2009 Westchester Cup is being organized by the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame to commemorate the 100th anniversary of America’s first Westchester Cup victory in 1909.

Additional information can be found on the Westchester Cup website at westchestercup.org.

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