126th Ambassadors Cup – A Celebration of Polo and Tradition in California

From July 5 to 7, the Wine Country Polo Club in Santa Rosa, California, hosted the 126th edition of the FIP Ambassadors Cup, bringing together international players for a weekend of top-level polo, camaraderie, and the unique charm of California’s wine country.

The event began with an elegant team presentation and jersey ceremony held at Tamber Bey Vineyards, located in the heart of Napa Valley. Guests and players enjoyed a guided winery tour, local wines, and a preview of the tournament uniforms in a setting that beautifully blended sport and culture.

On the field, thrilling matches determined the winners of the 2024 edition:

🏆 Copa de Oro – JRD Saddles:
Collin White, Jens Lermasiaux, Isabel Vito, Mehrdad Bagdai

🥈 Copa de Plata – Carneros PT:
Carlos Rivas, Vineet Sharma, Ricardo Mihanovich, Julio Arocena

👑 Women’s USPA Challenge – Champions: Tamber Bey
Jennifer Waitte, Claudine Descheemaecker, Katerina Rivkin, Sol Lopez Limes

Participating Teams – FIP Ambassadors Cup

• Stone Tree Ranch: Vladi Rivkin, Nicholas Rivkin, Michael Dawson, Valentin Martinez

• JRD Saddles: Collin White, Jens Lermasiaux, Isabel Vito, Mehrdad Bagdai

• Carneros PT: Carlos Rivas, Vineet Sharma, Ricardo Mihanovich, Julio Arocena

• Tamber Bey: Barry Waitte, Waquass Al-Siddiq, Victor Wolff, Karl Hasz

• Cavallo Ranch: John Bickford, Keith White, Marion Conovaggio, Steve Baumhoff

Women’s USPA Challenge – Teams

• Central Coast Polo: Antumn “AJ” Judge, Melinda Newton, Megan Judge, Olivia Cords

• Sutter Buttes: Bonnie Magill, Tara Leonard, Alma O’Brien, Elizabeth Welborn

• Stone Tree Ranch: Mahie Sharma, Blair Palmer, Victoria Mihanovich, Caroline Vissers

• Tamber Bey: Jennifer Waitte, Claudine Descheemaecker, Katerina Rivkin, Sol Lopez Limes

• Trione Winery: Holland Baum, Julia Graves, Erin Nagle / Rebecca Kaykas-Wolf, Elizabeth Holsen

This year’s edition reaffirmed the special role of Wine Country Polo Club in the FIP calendar. Founded in 1969 by the late Henry Trione, the club has served as a landmark for West Coast polo for over five decades. With a legacy rooted in passion and generosity, Wine Country continues to welcome players from across the world to experience polo amid the rolling hills and vineyards of Sonoma County.

The FIP extends its congratulations to all participants and heartfelt thanks to the hosts, organizers, and the Trione family for their continued dedication to the sport and its traditions.