Viking Cup 2026

Polo Makes Its Mark on the Manx Summer

Another corner of Manx equestrian sport enjoying a successful summer was polo, with the 2026 Viking Cup bringing together teams, spectators and visitors for three days of competition at Ballacooiley Estate.

Hosted by Triskelion Polo Club in conjunction with Ramsey Crookall, this was the fourth staging of the Island’s invitational tournament – but the story behind it goes back a little further.

The Viking Cup grew out of the success of Ramsey Crookall’s annual Polo in the Park event, which has been held at Ballacooiley since 2020.  Its popularity helped inspire the creation of the Island’s first invitational polo tournament in 2023, bringing visiting teams to compete alongside Manx players and helping introduce the sport to a much wider audience.

And that growth has continued.  This year’s Polo in the Park attracted more than 600 guests, while just a few months later more than 800 spectators attended the Viking Cup across its three days, with organisers also reporting an increase in visitors travelling from the UK specifically for the tournament.

From a sporting perspective, Triskelion Polo Club Director Frazer Houston described the 2026 Viking Cup as one of their strongest tournaments to date, with an excellent standard of polo throughout the weekend and a particularly dramatic final.

R&R Polo eventually took the title, scoring twice in the closing minutes of the fourth chukka to beat defending champions Locate IOM 2–1.5.

“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.”
— Frazer Houston, Director, Triskelion Polo Club

But the weekend wasn’t only about what happened on the polo field.

The event formed part of Ramsey Crookall’s 80th anniversary celebrations and brought together clients, colleagues, charities and visitors, while also raising significant funds for two Island charities. Corporate Day supported Hospice Isle of Man, while the sold-out Ladies’ Day supported Mannin Cancers Help Centre, with around £12,000 raised across the two days.

Ramsey Crookall CEO Joanna Crookall said the event provided an opportunity to bring people together in a setting that reflected the company’s emphasis on long-standing relationships and supporting the Island’s community.  She also highlighted the success of Corporate Day and Ladies’ Day and thanked everyone who helped make the tournament such a memorable part of Ramsey Crookall’s 80th anniversary year.

And, as with so much of equestrian sport, an event of this scale doesn’t happen without a considerable team behind it. The organisers paid tribute to the competing teams, sponsors, charities, suppliers, officials, volunteers and spectators whose support contributed to the success of the tournament.

For MHC, it’s another great example of the breadth of equestrian sport taking place on the Island – from an event which began by introducing people to polo here at home, to an established invitational tournament now attracting visiting teams and spectators to the Island.

Different discipline, different arena – but very much part of the same Manx equestrian community.