Tweed Run May 6th - money, free booze, sponsorship

So the Tweed Run is on May 6th. I've been explaining the concept of Bike Polo to the events company that now runs it. They have fallen in love with the idea of having the most genteel bike polo event ever in the afternoon at the final venue (which does have a suitable tennis court).

1. They're looking for a few people willing to run a stall in the afternoon, explaining (and maybe demonstrating) bike polo. For this they would pay. Also perks including free booze.
   
2. They're hoping to get some of the members to give it a go. Some of the marshals have experience and will be putting together a team. An experienced person (or two) willing to be a referee would get pay and perks.
   
3. They are interested in the idea of having teams to represent some of the ride's sponsors. Some sponsors might be able to find their own people, others may look to the marshals. But if anybody is interested, there would be gifts from the sponsors, prizes, more free booze. I don't have the current list of sponsors but it's always a mix of clothing firms, cycling firms, hipster accessory/grooming firms (e.g. Murdocks) and booze sellers (Hendricks, Pol Roger, Johnnie Walker in previous years). Possibly very nice perks from some of the ride's sponsors; in most previous years, one of the clothing firms fitted out one of our volunteers in a tweed suit (which they got to keep). If they could find enough experienced people to represent even just two sponsors, it could be organised so that there was a sponsors game separate from the members games, so that serious polo folk don't have to mix it up with total noobs if they don't want to.
   
   

If this interests anybody, drop me a pm.

Oh, don't forget to post here to say what a terrible idea this is, exploitative, derisory, unsafe, making a mockery of a noble sport etc.

Free booze you say?

We've been contacted and replied on Facebook, but no harm sharing the details here.

Free booze you say?

Definitely and plenty of it.

So this is this weekend. Despite asking for more information about it from @coventry_eagle for more than a month in the LHBPA forum, it seems there's complete silence on it, which strikes me as odd. I do not care if some chosen people are getting paid for their participation in money or beer (but I do think this should be out in the open for transparency's sake and not organised in the shadows - if this is the case then it's depressing that this is what still happens when money gets involved) but I would just like to know if it's happening or not. Is there a polo court organised for the static event in Clerkenwell, or isn't there? That event is free and still tickets available, so I'd like to know if there's a chance of a game or not as I may be there with family, and would need to work out what bike to bring etc. I think it would still be good to let the community know about it if it's a chance to play on a wooden walled court.

So if someone could please enlighten me I'd appreciate it. Cheers.

There's a private thread so let's keep it there shall we? And I'll rebut your suggestions of any shady dealings there. Have some faith will ya? @M_A_X can you move/edit Kev's and this post into the other thread please?

There's a private thread so let's keep it there shall we?

I've been asking for more information there for a month, and you didn't respond. I would not have had to post here if you'd replied.

And I'll rebut your suggestions of any shady dealings there.

Fine. Can you please post in this public thread about whether there is polo on at this public event this weekend or not?

Does anyone know if there's a polo event on tomorrow or not?

I went to go and collect a pack yesterday, if I'd read this I would have aksed them

lousy lack of any response.

Cycle Revolution aims to bring cycling culture to ordinary Londoners who bike to work or on their weekends. The alfresco event will feature over 20 stalls selling cycle gadgets, accessories and athleisurewear from local businesses and cutting edge lifestyle brands from across the capital. There will be the chance to take part in interactive workshops, live demonstrations and bike polo. Meanwhile, a Cycle Forum will feature poetry slams, live quizzes, Q&As and readings. Aside from the bike-centric activities, there will also be live music, acoustic sets and vinyl DJ

Earlier today a vinyl Velvet Underground for sale at Sainsbury's Camden.

A conglomerate of big oil and weapon developers have paid me £5,000 to do a polo demonstration tomorrow at the Tweed Run. Does anyone have a bike I can borrow.

PS Would you be willing to play as well, but just for the exposure ?

Thanks for confirming, much appreciated. Hope your event goes well for you. I'm hoping to bring my two kids along in the afternoon to check it out.

Can you give a bit more info about the setup for the polo, e.g. is it on grass or tarmac, is the court fenced off, how big is it, are there any scheduled games or is it just turn up and play, can we borrow bikes and mallets there? Sorry to ask for additional detail so late in the day but the there's been no information about the event passed on to London bike polo players. Cheers.

Aggro >>>
ParticipAtion and transparency <<<

Haven't been paying attention to the forum recently and didn't see any of this. All I ever did was have the idea and suggest it to the people who now run the Tweed Run. After that, comms and organisation was direct and I had no information. I assumed it had fizzled out and didn't know any better till I bumped into @coventry_eagle at the end-of-the-ride drinks in the park. And I still don't know much.

I gather that not much happened this year but there are big plans for next year. If I was told any more than that, I got too drunk to remember it.

And I'll rebut your suggestions of any shady dealings there.

In private thread. LOL