2009 Test Match Norway - Holland

Polocrosse played in incredible scenery and an amazing atmosphere.

The "test matches" between Norway and Holland took place last weekend, 26 and 27 September, in Rauland, Norway. The Dutch and Norwegian players stayed at Riding Center Rauland, which is located in beautiful scenery in the South of Norway. The riding center provided the horses for the Dutch players and the Norwegians rode their own horses.

There were three "test matches" during the weekend; two on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon all the Norwegian and Dutch players were 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 v Dutch section 1: 2 - 11
Norwegian section 2 v Dutch section 2

Saturday afternoon

Norwegian section 1 v Dutch section 2: 6 - 14
Norwegian section 2 v Dutch section 1

Sunday morning

Norwegian section 1 v Dutch section 2: 3 - 9
Norwegian section 2 v Dutch section 1

Best No. 1 - Thomas Bakker (Dutch)
Best No. 2 - Andrea Riise (Norway)
Best No. 3 - Amund Brede Svendsen (Norway)

Best horse - Velvet (owner Katinka Henni, Norway)

Umpire Saturday: Anne Petteroe
Umpire Sunday: Desmond Phelan
Table: Lykke Bech Daugaard, Johan Fredrik Svendsen
Goal: Arild Neset / Paula Beers

To be honest, the results are irrelevant. More importantly, 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 their 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!