Playing polox in a incredible scenery and a amazing atmosphere

The “test matches” between Norway and Holland took place last weekend in Rauland, Norway. The Dutch and Norwegian players stayed at Riding center Rauland, which is located in a beautiful scenery in the South of Norway. The riding center provided also the horses for the Dutch players. The Norwegians rode on their own horses.

There were three test matches during the weekend; two on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon were all Norwegian and Dutch players mixed by the Dutch coach Desmond Phelan and some fun chukka’s where played.

Norwegian team:

Section 1:

Amund Brede Svendsen on Goldsohn, Christian Henni on Velvet, Aimee Reichelt Johansen on Goliat

Section 2:

Andrea Riise on Tinka, Christina Riise on Coriander, Susanne Neset on Odin

Dutch team:

Section 1:

Marieke Smallegange on Calimero, Having Steenhuis on Molly’s Choice and Mijndert Heineke on Frøymin

Section 2:

Maarten Luitse on Hector, Thomas Bakker on Erwin and Fleur Bartels on Aslan

Dutch reserve player; Bennie Meijerhof (who played a few chukka’s in both sections on Hector or Frøymin)

Results:

Saturday morning Norwegian section 1 – Dutch section 1Norwegian section 2 – Dutch section 2 2 – 11
Saturday afternoon Norwegian section 1 – Dutch section 2Norwegian section 2 – Dutch section 1 6 – 14
Sunday morning Norwegian section 1 – Dutch section 2Norwegian section 2 – Dutch section 1 3 – 9

Best nr. 1 – Thomas Bakker (Dutch)

Best nr. 2 – Andrea Riise (Norway)

Best nr. 3 – Amund Brede Svendsen (Norway)

Best horse – Velvet (owner Katinka Henni, Norway)

Umpire Saturday: Anne Petterøe

Umpire Sunday: Desmond Phelan

Table: Lykke Bech Daugaard, Johan Fredrik Svendsen

Goal: Arild Neset / Paula Beers
To be honest the results are irrelevant. More important was that the atmosphere, of what polocrosse is all about, was there; fun with each other, fun with the horses, learning from each other and good laughs on the field and after the chukka’s. For the Dutch players and support it was like a holiday; staying in a comfortable chalet in a beautiful scenery and with even a sauna on Saturday evening!

It was very impressive to see the energy of the Norwegians to keep on playing polocrosse. It is very hard for the Norwegians to play polocrosse; keeping a horse and find a flat field is absolutely not easy. But Lykke, Amund and all the other Norwegian players keep on going and that is a very good thing, because there are not so many countries and players playing polocrosse in Europe!

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