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@tomasito
Cosmic brain-dump:
Saturday: breakfast pasta and a roll down to Downham, meeting the Cosmics and Rik, then Toddy getting a puncture outside Liverpool Street Station. Getting to the court to find Vidal already stoned. B, Zoo and Jol getting the throw-in spots and playing their hearts out (except Jol who looked so relaxed he could have been on a leisurely jaunt to the Sunday Farmers' Market!). Especially happy to realise all members of JiHaD were playing. Games against two teams - Lyon and Catania - who I had never before seen play polo. Taking a T-bone from the Lyonese Argantinian in the rainbow specs, his inverted drops straight into my ribcage, then a nice chat with the ambulance crew who hadn't hoisted in the magnitude of the occasion but from then on got quite into it. The pride of wearing the Cosmic colours (all 7 of them) and being asked weather our amazing shirts were for sale. Sharing laughs and beers with all our polo friends from throughout the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland and beyond. Em and JB stepping up when the rain was at its worst, and generating enough enthusiasm for throw-ins. Em's mallet got thrown out of the shuffle, but he came off the court with the biggest smile: "Now I've got games started I can do two of my favourite things - get drunk and watch polo".
Rolling home, showering, carb-loading, sleep full of polo dreams.
Sunday: Waking with aching ribs but opening the curtains to clear skies. That beautiful roll across the river, again. Getting to the court to find Vidal already stoned. Watching him struggle try to tie his shoe laces after coming off in the first game. "Ellen, come help Matt tie his laces!" Every London team still in the Euros. Cheering for the Apples and being their mallet man, and having them return the favour. The hugs and high-5s whenever our two teams played and won. Losing a close 2-1 to BAD and knowing that the loser's bracket contained nearly twice as many games to go all the way. Playing Louis and the Parisian and hitting our Cosmic stride. An incredibly intense game against Netto - they nearly pulled off an awesome come-back and my heart was in my mouth for that one. Ray: "Cosmic play every game as if it's a final".
Buffalo Bill having words with BAD and Cosmic before our second clash of the day "I don't know how Ray is reffing over there, but on my court I will make you tap out twice for any bike contact. I'll be reffing this game hard guys," then an incredible, fast game of polo with at least 5 minutes of golden goal play, and Bill didn't have to call a single foul in the whole match.
Max's awesome heckling. Watching the crowd grow around the main court until it was three-deep. Watching my non-polo friends cheering for Malice in the final. Epic roll back north, and and bright times in Hoxton Square.
Roxy, Mike, Iain, Dr V and all the volunteers - you pulled off an amzing tournament which was itself an exhibition in slick organisation. Otters and Dr V: how you worked so hard and still played so many games of great polo astounds me. Respect.
Ray and Bill, you did an awesome job and it was evident throughout the day that you work taking the role very seriously and that it was exhausting too. Thanks so much guys. Best reffing of a tournament ever.
Will - you take polo photos like nobody else. Few photographers can capture the movement or energy of the game, but you really do. Your portraits of players are really special too, and convey the ups and downs of tournament polo.
And to the Cosmics: Todd and Mat, you are two of the finest players out there, and the way we can read each others movement on and off the ball is truly Cosmic.
"Let's dazzle 'em!"
Polo.