Polo: Let's have a tournament

Okay, we keep talking about this but failing to get anything sorted. For a variety of reasons, we can't really use our 'practice' courts for a proper tournament, although if people wanted to use Highgate for a training day type thing (like we did last year) we could do that too.

Anyway, what we need *before we even consider anything else* (so don't start waffling on about stuff) is a venue. We have looked at various indoor venues, which would be great for an autumn or winter tournament, but none has come through (yet). I'm sure there are alternative places we could rent for the weekend, but we all need to be on the lookout.

I'm sure we know the criteria, but to confirm:

• smooth yet grippy surface
  
• barriers (ideally same dimensions as Highgate)
  
• spectator-friendly
  
• cheap/free (we'd probably be able to raise £300ish from entrance fees)
  
• relatively central (with a bias to the south which is where everyone lives)
  So, if people could be on the lookout, that would be awesome. I google-earthed all of South Brum last year, and couldn't find anything, but I've ridden past a few possible places which aren't viewable, so actual human eyes are best.
  
  

Post your results here. If we actually find somewhere we can move on to actually organising something.

On it!

Polo's gay

^Just cos you're shit at it

^^
Gay
–adjective 1. having or showing a merry, lively mood.

Damn it, I started this thread to try to focus on the necessary steps to organising a tournament. Already we have a 3/5ths nonsense to usefulness ratio. Just ignore the waffle and stay on track.

Another way of looking at the venue problem is funding. If we could get a 2-5k from the council (or somewhere else, ideas?) we could look at any flat, open space, which would potentially have a lot more footfall, and hire barriers.

People have mentioned building a court, but I reckon it would take a few days, cost at least £500 and be beyond our minimal DIY skills. Also, most of us have jobs so those extra days wouldn't be realistic.

Realistically we could only build a court if we had a semi permanant place, like they have at cambridge.

So we need some barriers, those huge red n white plastic barriers they use on the road would be perfect. Is there anybody we can email about this? Council? Highway maintainance? Its going to be an autum tourney at this rate, in which case sjould we be only looking for an indoor venue? I think, a face to face meeting is going to best, what do people think..

Another way of looking at the venue problem is funding. If we could get a 2-5k from the council (or somewhere else, ideas?) we could look at any flat, open space, which would potentially have a lot more footfall, and hire barriers.

Drop me a line at soyopoloco@yahoo.com I've got some info and prices (via LHBPA) for barriers etc. It's very pricey though.

People have mentioned building a court, but I reckon it would take a few days, cost at least £500 and be beyond our minimal DIY skills. Also, most of us have jobs so those extra days wouldn't be realistic.

Pallets, some offcuts of timber and a whole lot of screws and cordless screwdrivers. Look at the EHBPC courts and you'll see the barriers needn't be especially tall.

Thanks Chris - as far as I'm aware, barriers are a few grand per day. At the moment, we're just looking for a venue. If we can even get the ball rolling we'll be hitting people up for advice/contacts.

EMM - face to face is ideal, but everyone is busy yadda yadda. Maybe we can talk stuff over at the rumoured bbq. We could try the council, although I've had zero luck there in the past. I also tried the bike show people (they're in London but the show will be at the NEC), but that fizzled out too. Could look at other councils (Solihull/Coventry).

I think autumn is okay to be looking outside, too. Likelihood of rain is pretty consistent year-round, it's just that it stays wet in the winter.

Good point.

Yeah rumoured bbq chat sounds good.

Building would take one day with 5ish people, but its having that semi-permanent venue.

Maybe we could approach bhm cycling fest, or apply for funding for our own cycling fest polo included alongside bike art, films, competitions, other. Theres deffinitely enough of us to organise that.

Plus that will get more non polo players interested?

dbl - fuck off. No polo, no talk.

Sorry guys, I've been really shit at chasing up the stuff I had esp. as I had so many contacts. I've got a semi-written application for polo in my outbox and am chasing some venues. Basically, I REALLY want to do a Bham cycling festival. I have confirmed the Bike Smut film night for the 19th of August because that's the only date they could give me but it seems a bit soon to firms everything else up. I just need someone to help me with organising because right now I'm a bit sidetracked healthwise. I'll post a link to things we can apply for in abit, I'm off work until we go to Berlin now so will try get things nailed. My house is always open for BBQs, meetings, whatever - no need to ask just say when.

FFS have missed the Be Active independent projects fund deadline. Arghhhhhh. Will work on local stuff now, Digbeth Resident's Association including us in some apps but not sure how successful they have been yet. Will them a call when I'm back. What sort of time we thinking...late summer/early Autumn?

Have found this: http://www.ideastap.com/Opportunities/Brief/05a123de-acb4-4fb0-a5f7-9f0501148e7d#Overview

FFS have missed the Be Active independent projects fund deadline. Arghhhhhh. Will work on local stuff now, Digbeth Resident's Association including us in some apps but not sure how successful they have been yet. Will them a call when I'm back. What sort of time we thinking...late summer/early Autumn?

Have found this: http://www.ideastap.com/Opportunities/Brief/05a123de-acb4-4fb0-a5f7-9f0501148e7d#Overview

That fund looks interesting, but realistically we're not ready to put together a proposal without at the very least a venue and a date. Shall we focus on the former?

a) We can have a mini tournamaent (non national series) at highgate around the same time as the cycle fest/bike smut film.

b) We were asked to host a national series tournament in october as other cities have offered for the preceeding months. However I am not sure if anyone has officially stepped up to august. If not we could propose that we host an official nat series tournament.

Space 2 was far too expensive (£1000 per day). I calculated that we could realistically pay £500 for a space with one indoor court and £750 for two.
Thigs like this are much easier to discuss in person. BBQ TIME.

BBQ TIME.

in.

That fund looks interesting, but realistically we're not ready to put together a proposal without at the very least a venue and a date. Shall we focus on the former?

I'm putting together a proposal as a package - just the tourney would be very unrealistic. But a BBQ and face to face chat is best. When?

Sunday after polo?

I sent an email to the bloke I was talking to re that car park space I found a while ago, no response yet. It's definitely not tourney material though.

Does anyone know the deal with this space http://www.flickr.com/photos/dividenthal/5606183384/in/set-72157625969152348/ Near The Anchor isn't it? Looks a bit small though.

a) We can have a mini tournamaent (non national series) at highgate around the same time as the cycle fest/bike smut film.

I like the idea of this. Like last year, somewhere around 10 teams total so a one-day formate gets people loads of games.

Does anyone know the deal with this space http://www.flickr.com/photos/dividenthal/5606183384/in/set-72157625969152348/ Near The Anchor isn't it?

yeah opposite the anchor, would need a lot of tlc, and probably wouldn't work for spectators, plus it's right on the road.

This will gain cynical comments from wentskiing as not south brum but...

I've come across this place first as I was looking at setting up a court under the flayover (which might still be a posibility) but http://www.astonarena.co.uk/ B6 7LB might be worht a call/scouting trip, they also have a massive carpark out back. Not sure on surface, does look like they play roller derby there so might be suitable.

There might also be an indoor place in Wolverhampton I am going to try and check out on Monday when I have an hour spare and I'm up that way.

There are also two tennis courts which I know the University I'm working with in Walsall might throw open to us, but need to check the surface first, but looks to be very similar to the London Open courts last year. On the tennis court thing did we look int othe tennis courts in cannon hill? Possible renting them out?

What's with my reputation as a cynic?

The speedskating people at Birmingham Wheels mentioned the Aston Villa place, but I didn't get round to checking it out. Can't remember why. By the shitty little photo it looks like too nice a surface for skidders, but definitely worth looking into.

Tennis courts could work, and Cannon Hill would be awesome, but there are big gaps between the fence and the ground, the struts of the fence are on the inside, and the weave of the fencing is really open. Three not insurmountable, but potentially dangerous and annoying features.

I rode past a tennis club a few miles west of Stirchley that has about 6 outdoor courts. Looks like a small community place rather than a commercial/professional place, but that may be worth a look too...

yeah opposite the anchor, would need a lot of tlc, and probably wouldn't work for spectators, plus it's right on the road.

It's also sloped, roofless, covered in pigeon shit, needles, glass and debris. We looked at it a few times but it would be a massive amount of work.

Wasn't a very serious suggestion. Just trying to generate some chat on this topic