R&R Polo claimed the 2026 Viking Cup following a gripping 2 goals to 1½ victory over Locate IOM at Ballacooiley Equestrian Estate.

The final delivered a dramatic conclusion to the three-day tournament. Locate IOM held the advantage deep into the fourth chukka, before R&R Polo scored both of their goals in the closing minutes to overturn the match and secure the title.

The final was played at the 2 goal level, with each team’s combined handicap calculated from the individual ratings of its four players. Polo handicaps measure a player’s overall ability and range from -2 for beginners to +10 for the world’s leading players. Where teams have different combined handicaps, the lower-rated side receives a starting allowance to help balance the match.

The R&R Polo team comprised David Cooper on -1, Frazer Houston on 0, Tom Collie on +1 and Marcus Collie on +2, giving the team a combined handicap of 2 goals.

The Locate IOM team comprised Becky Netten on -1, Reggie Harrison on -1, India Hodges on 0 and Harold Hodges on +3, giving the team a combined handicap of 1 goal.

The final Viking Cup standings saw R&R Polo finish 1st, Locate IOM 2nd, Ramsey Crookall 3rd and Dundee and Perth Polo Club 4th.

The Mammoth Tooth Trophy was won by Locate IOM, with Ramsey Crookall finishing 2nd, Shrewsbury Polo Club 3rd, Triskelion Contracting 4th and Kinross Polo Club 5th.

The 2026 Viking Cup was hosted by Triskelion Polo Club in conjunction with Ramsey Crookall and brought together teams from the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom for the fourth staging of the Island’s premier invitational polo tournament.

The event attracted more than 800 spectators across the three days, with a notable increase in visitors travelling from the UK. This included business guests attending Corporate Day, alongside general visitors who came to the Island for the wider tournament weekend.

The weekend began with Corporate Day on Friday, welcoming businesses, sponsors and invited guests for hospitality and polo in support of Hospice Isle of Man.

Notable guests included broadcaster Noel Edmonds, best known for presenting programmes including Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Noel’s House Party and Deal or No Deal. Actor John Rhys-Davies also attended, widely recognised for portraying Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Sallah in the Indiana Jones franchise.

Saturday’s sold-out Ladies’ Day once again proved to be one of the highlights of the Island’s summer social calendar. Guests enjoyed polo, hospitality, live entertainment and the event’s best-dressed competitions.
Live entertainment formed an important part of the weekend, with the Blue Vannin Jazz Band performing on both Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s sold-out Ladies’ Day concluded with a vinyl DJ set from John Bolton, which proved to be a particular hit with guests and brought the day to a lively close.

Sunday’s Finals Day was attended by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and Lady Lorimer MBE, adding further distinction to the tournament’s dramatic conclusion.
The charitable impact of the weekend was another major success. Hospice Isle of Man raised £5,788 during Friday’s Corporate Day, while Mannin Cancers Help Centre also raised just over £6,000 during Saturday’s sold-out Ladies’ Day.

Together, the two days generated approximately £12,000 for the two Manx charities.

Joanna Crookall, CEO of Ramsey Crookall, said:
“The 2026 Viking Cup has been a particularly special occasion for Ramsey Crookall as we celebrate our 80th anniversary. It provided an opportunity to bring together clients, colleagues, charities and visitors in a setting that reflects the importance we place on long-standing relationships and supporting the Island’s community.

“We were especially pleased with the success of Corporate Day and the sold-out Ladies’ Day, and with the substantial sums raised for Hospice Isle of Man and Mannin Cancers Help Centre. I would like to thank everyone who supported the event and helped make it such a memorable part of our anniversary year, and particular thanks to His Excellency for presenting the awards.”

Frazer Houston, Director of Triskelion Polo Club, said:
“From a sporting perspective, this was one of our strongest tournaments to date. The quality of polo across the weekend was excellent, and the final could hardly have been more dramatic, with R&R Polo scoring twice in the closing minutes of the fourth chukka to take the title.

“It was also encouraging to see more visitors travelling from the UK and more than 800 spectators attending across the three days. That growth shows the Viking Cup is continuing to establish itself as both a prestigious polo event and a significant fixture in the Isle of Man’s summer calendar.”

The organisers expressed their thanks to the competing teams, sponsors, charities, suppliers, officials, volunteers and spectators whose support contributed to the success of the tournament.