Mon 27th Jun 2016The First Norwegian Polo OpenFinding Funds for Norwegian Cancer Research On Saturday 18 June 2016 The Norwegian Polo Club, based at Stall Kubberød near Moss in southern Norway, hosted Norway’s first ever polo tournament. The Norwegian Polo Open, organized and run by founders and owners Thea and Nick May, aimed to bring the excitement and passion of polo to Norway. But it wasn’t all about polo. Inspired by their longtime friend and the Captain of the Australian polo team Glen Gilmore, a two-time cancer survivor, the couple also wanted to use the event to raise money for the Norwegian cancer research charity Kreftforeningen. After a final week of frantic preparations whilst being glued to weather predictions, Thea and Nick delivered an event that saw international players join their Norwegian counterparts to play some fast, open and exciting polo on the Club's newly opened full sized ground at Norway’s first and only Polo Club. It was a day of historical firsts as Norwegian players Thea May and Johan Backe were joined by international players Casimir and Tiva Gross from Kenya and Ross Ainsley and Chloe Warren from Australia to show a crowd of over 200 VIPs and general public why they are so passionate about polo. Although played on a full sized pitch, the match was played three a side as the Norwegian Polo Club continues to build a solid foundation of Club ponies. The result saw Team Sprekenhus run out the winners 7 goals to 4, but the scoreline did not match the action. Team Varsity Headgear captained by Ross Ainsley fought hard, but with a number of shots on goal by Thea May just creeping wide. Team Sprekenhus saw Casimir and Tiva Gross show their experience of playing together their whole lives anticipating each other with deadly effect with a great end to end goal by Johan Backe. Chloe Warren played homebreds DB9 and Dangermouse in the first competitive chukkas of their careers and they did superbly. It was also fantastic to see the Club's new additions Prince from Esther Hunt at Full Swing Polo and Gato from Mark Tomlinson fit right in to their new Norwegian home. “With such a successful event we are already looking to take the battle against cancer in to next year” said Nick. “We are already planning to run the next Norwegian Polo Open on 17 June 2017. We can’t wait!” The Norwegian Polo Open teams: Team Varsity Headwear (4): Thea May (-1), Chloe Warren (0) & Ross Ainsley (5) Team Spekenhus (4): Johan Backe (-1), Tiva Gross (2) & Casimir Gross (3) Photograph 1: Girl power on show at the first Norwegian Polo Open. By Krafftwork Photo + Film Photograph 2: Two happy teams celebrate the event regardless of whether they won or lost. By Krafftwork Photo + Film |