The secret polo society

It's a car park. With 6 or 7 levels. If BMX'ers rock up to an empty car park (whether they started the polo thing or not) and decide to start doing tricks on the one floor that a couple of people are trying to play polo on, I don't see why anyone should be considered an asshole for asking them to go do it on one of the other levels.

I have been to a few of these nights - it is definitely not a secret, and it is a great way to get people started. I can see why Charco chose not to shout about it - to give us folk who haven't a clue to get up to scratch before polo players come down for a few games and are so good that there is no point in even trying to play because the level is too high for people who have literally played once or twice.

Brendan, I'm sure we will all happily give you a game once I learn how to hit the ball. (oh and I'm using your first name cos i have met you....asm's gf here...)

In the meantime, I can assure you, you *don't *want to play polo with me.

Polo anyone?

That bike has really deep rims.

Shopper polo was so "in"

they were the days...

what happened to using that Sunday space* on Brick Lane?!

often looked out for the polo but yet to see it there,

(*there's a rather visually noticeable mushroom-umbrella-style roof top overlooking those courts these days)

the court is not the best, its in a slop, no completly rectangular, with a open side in one end, no lights..... we have now better courts to play, so BL as felt in disuse. the best thing of BL is the location

It's a car park. With 6 or 7 levels. If BMX'ers rock up to an empty car park (whether they started the polo thing or not) and decide to start doing tricks on the one floor that a couple of people are trying to play polo on, I don't see why anyone should be considered an asshole for asking them to go do it on one of the other levels.

They were there first and so they rightly stayed were they were doing there tricks. we just wanted to know if they had the capacity to do there tricks in another bit next to it. but as pointed out they can't as there doing very technical tricks that need the flatest smoothest bit of carpark. i don't know anything about bmx but i have learnt alittle.

we don't want them on other levels. we'd rather have them next to us as is safer, sweet to watch and is sharing a space that is massive. We just didn't like putting the goals in the road way to block off passing cars & the council but problem solved.

this thread is insane.

+1

(not angry, but a bit sad to have to agree with snoops)

I love you all. This is beautiful! tear in eye

polo love, innit?

Completely crap thread about a 100% righteous venture... Nice one, Ciaran, hope to see you guys down there soon (if I get a spare moment)... Some people take shit way too seriously...
shakes head, goes back to the other forum

yeh why don't you stay there too, some people actually play polo rather than endlessly build polo bikes. Nothing wrong with outing a secret as the *society members have attested.

some people actually play polo rather than endlessly build polo bikes
Ha.

yeh why don't you stay there too, some people actually play polo rather than endlessly build polo bikes. Nothing wrong with outing a secret as the *society members have attested.

Firstly, LOL! and

Secondly, I think you should have kept stumm ;)

well i had no idea who you were. And why should i have kept stumm? I thought you were trying to encourage new players? Not going to do that by having it secret are you... Or do you mean to say that anyone can turn up to newington, downham and we all encourage them, lend them bikes, mallets, know how. Senior players get thrown in with new people time after time and use my one night for polo to play slowly with people again and again, but you guys shouldn't offer up the same ... i see. :)

Yes, I agree with that. And you've already made amends with Ciaran and Adam who started the whole 'secret polo' thing. Although it was never a secret really it just went round by word of mouth.
Anyway I don't want to get into a debate about the right or wrong way to go about things.

I was just giving you some light ribbing, for being a tattle tale! ;)

well if it makes you feel any better i always try to look my best when rounding soho square, just in case of a spot ;)

polo tonight anyone?

well i had no idea who you were. And why should i have kept stumm? I thought you were trying to encourage new players? Not going to do that by having it secret are you... Or do you mean to say that anyone can turn up to newington, downham and we all encourage them, lend them bikes, mallets, know how. Senior players get thrown in with new people time after time and use my one night for polo to play slowly with people again and again, but you guys shouldn't offer up the same ... i see. :)

Think you are being a little combative here, Brendan, it sounds like they are encouraging new players, but doing it off-forum. And if bringing 8 mallets so that there's always enough for people to play isn't proof of that, I don't know what is. Not really sure what the problem is here, beyond the BMX/polo shared use thing.

polo tonight anyone?

I can't. But the publicity has made me excited. So maybe.

Wow, some of those photos from Brick Lane really bring me back. I have to say though, that I hated polo then. Although I don't play polo (well, I did once or twice), I hated the crowd of hipsters that would hang out just to be part of this "new" scene. I like polo better now. I have no interest in watching people playing for fun every Sunday, but the occasional turney is fun and a good excuse to drink beer with people I don't see as often as I should.

As far as the BMX vs Polo deep and dirty south issue goes, anything that annoys Trevor is funny to me. He copied my bike.

Think you are being a little combative here, Brendan, it sounds like they are encouraging new players, but doing it off-forum. And if bringing 8 mallets so that there's always enough for people to play isn't proof of that, I don't know what is. Not really sure what the problem is here, beyond the BMX/polo shared use thing.

no not at all, there is no problem, but i do take offense at people suggesting (insanly) that we havent tried to encourage new players, thats just bollocks. South london polo in peckham was always about that, dt and hops brought 8 mallets week in and out for about a years to peckham. We ran beginner nights at newington, (dave looked rather fetching in that 'sport for all' dress) And i regularly speak to people at traffic lights and tell them of the different places they can learn / play. All i keep getting asked is "why did you feel the need to out us?" Where's the problem here? My motivation was that i was asked if i knew that people have been playing in peckham, to which i had heard rumours but thought in time it would surface on the forum, it didnt, i posted a thread, players came out of the woodwork, now more people who are new to the game know there is polo 3 more night in the carpark. Job done i reckon.

Hello, my name is Joni and I play polo at Peckham and Newington.
There, I've been outed (again).

I thought we'd cleared up about this being a 'secret'? See Ciaran's post ^^

I happened upon this because I sold a part to a forum monger, saw his mallet and asked where he played.
I had already started building a polo bike after watching it a few times and showing an interest in the threads about it.
Most people said, just turn up, it's how you learn. I went along to watch first and was pleased with how nice and welcoming people where, which confirmed that this was something I wanted to get involved in.
However, I didn't want my first few hits of a polo ball to be in a game and with experienced people. I could see that people where very accommodating but it's still intimidating and the pressure makes it a bit more challenging than enjoyable.
Playing at Peckham taught me the basics and made me fall in love with polo. More over it gave me the confidence to turn up to Newington and get stuck in.
Actually Brendan has been one of the most supportive players to me on the court, along with Bill supporting in general, and all the other established players whom have be patient with me in throw-ins.
In essence, without these mess around nights in Peckham, I doubt I would have had the confidence to play polo.

I was there with the BMX incident also and it's a shame he was offended by the discussions. No one was rude to him, it was a simple question about if they could do their tricks further down the car park. Turns out they couldn't, so we moved over. I don't blame Trevor for being offended however, and had we have known he was the 'Daddy' of Peckham car park, we may have not even asked.
I also hope they're there again, as they're seriously good and it's a joy to watch. But more importantly I'm concerned that Peckham polo is at risk. The group of 'yoofs' whom where there on Tuesday were circling our bikes and bags, phoning others to join them and signaling to people on the ground. I was actually quite scared. As they grew in numbers we decided to leave pretty sharpish. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they show up next week with a gang, and I'm very much concerned about this.

Phew, sorry for epic letter.

Polo love.

I happened upon this because I sold a part to a forum monger, saw his mallet and asked where he played.

Hehe. Who is this secret forum monger? I don't like him.

no not at all, there is no problem, but i do take offense at people suggesting (insanly) that we havent tried to encourage new players, thats just bollocks.

Did I miss something? I don't remember anyone saying that you don't encourage people. I said that it can be discouraging playing with people much better than you, no matter how encouraging they are. I don't think anyone is disparaging South Polo. I certainly am not.

I go over to a park in Shephards bush on my own to ride in circles really fast.. i now feel an epic polo society hating failure