Tourney: ECMC, Berlin 28.05.09 - 01.06.09

be like Dale and HTFU.
think he bottled the main race and only played polo though.

Yeah, but Dale still brought more bikes than anyone..2 bikes, 1 event.

I think there's a movie of Bill "playing" polo last year somewhere, from the game where I was offering free beer to anyone who knocked him over..

ECMC has always been open to non messengers, and theres so much more than just the polo.. If you think the European polo tournament is going to be worth 20 quid each, then ECMC is a total fucking bargain. Seriously, the chance to race down the Ku'damm alone has to be worth the 30 euro.

Only thing is, polo is every day. Going on at the same time as the main race.
Basically if you're playing polo you're paying for polo, parties and trackstands, no racing...

;520846']Basically if you're playing polo you're paying for polo, parties and trackstands

Can I have that as a Tattoo?

Actually, forget that. Im not great at trackstands. I dont know. Theres plenty of european messengers into both scenes, and Im sure theyre going to allow for that somehow. Polo is still an integrated part of ecmc, not a separate event (which is a whole other argument), which Im sure is why theres only one entry price. Organising something this big is a ridiculous amount of work. When we ran the first London Calling for CMWC Dublin, we tried to offer individual event entry and even with the 100 people that came here it got way complicated.

I'm sure theres a chance to take part in pretty much everything. We're talking german super-efficienct organisation here. We're not all going to be on court 24/7. And even if we are, 3 days of polo and parties sounds okay to me. Its not like any of us are going to get through race qualifying anyway...Wait. there's a slow race? We might be in with a chance..

Seriously, I think if we're expecting all of europe to come here and pay 20 quid each, the best way to encourage that is to go out with as big a crew as possible and show them how we play, both on and off court. Show them theres a scene here they want to be part of. At the last ECMC london won nothing except possibly "most naked people forcibly ejected from a club at 3am". (Ask Bill about that one....) and Id love to see as many people as possible thrown down their 30 euro and actually compete and help build that strong and competitive european scene.

And the chance to sprint through the city screaming at people in appaling German is way too good to miss.

At the last ECMC london won nothing except possibly "most naked people forcibly ejected from a club at 3am".

So who won 'most naked people leaving of their own volition and in a nice, orderly fashion'? ;)

And the chance to sprint through the city screaming at people in appaling German is way too good to miss.
You should try screaming at them in perfect German--devastatingly effective. If your German is poor, they'll just speak English back to you. :)

Oliver, when are you going to step up? I've not even met you yet.

Hello Tom,

Oliver, when are you going to step up? I've not even met you yet.

yes, hm, a noted omission! Do you mean to polo? I would have really liked to come to the tourney tomorrow to watch some polo, but we're riding to Brighton, and I don't know when I'll be back--I doubt it'll be early enough to still catch you guys at it (ooh err), or are you going to a pub afterwards? That is, if you're going, Tom?

Next week, I'll be going on a few of the Compass Rides; I should be able to make Souths on Monday, Norths on Tuesday, and Wests on Thursday. Sadly not Easts--whereabouts are you based?

Best,
O.

Yes, I mean polo! The tourney should be fun, and will doubtless finish in a pub - The North Gate or maybe The Rosemary Branch in N1, but if you can't make it then come along to throw-in games on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Have clear roads and skies on the way to Brighton.

V-day finishes at sundown, Skolt head afterwards...

Eggie... really, I agree that we need to have a massive showing in Berlin. It's where most of Europe's polo players will be at one given time, minus the Euro's. Problem with that really is price. £30 at the moment which nobody seems to have...
going up to £60 in June. Each, so that's £180 per team! outrageous.
I'm really disappointed in the lack of leeway here, just because it's always been doesn't mean it still has to. And btw, the polo is happening at the same time as the main race, I've asked Strom if Basel will be racing or playing polo and he's not answering...
If being able to take part in "everything" means taking part in a half assed event yet paying full price (triple EHBPC) for it, I'd rather not.

So who won 'most naked people leaving of their own volition and in a nice, orderly fashion'? ;)

Team Totally Awesome with some help from Safa Brian.

Actually some of TTA broke back into the venue - to collect clothes...

;521922']V-day finishes at sundown, Skolt head afterwards...

Eggie... really, I agree that we need to have a massive showing in Berlin. It's where most of Europe's polo players will be at one given time, minus the Euro's. Problem with that really is price. £30 at the moment which nobody seems to have...
going up to £60 in June. Each, so that's £180 per team! outrageous.
I'm really disappointed in the lack of leeway here, just because it's always been doesn't mean it still has to. And btw, the polo is happening at the same time as the main race, I've asked Strom if Basel will be racing or playing polo and he's not answering...
If being able to take part in "everything" means taking part in a half assed event yet paying full price (triple EHBPC) for it, I'd rather not.

Actually it's 26 GBP, based on today's rates. Most of the London polo crew will probably spend that much on beer this week. I have raised these concerns with Bregan and Akeem (two of the Berlin organisers) and so far no dice. We might stand a chance of getting a discount if we can offer them something in return. Maybe offering free entry to EHBPC to the winning team, plus guaranteeing 4 teams from London will come? Then perhaps we could negotiate £60/team? I don't know if that would work, but it's worth a try...

I agree, if you have to pay full price, it's a lot.

I'm planning on going, and i'll be paying before the end of the month. <£30 for 3 days competitive polo and all the trimmings sounds okay.

Bill, i don't think we should be trying to negotiate deals based on offering EHBPC places - it's a nice idea as an additional prize for the winners, but I don't think it's fair for anyone to try to get a discount based on this.

Fair enough, it was just a thought.

I'm booked for this, today is the last day to get the bargain price (£28). If anyone is still interested you can register and paypal online. Electro-krautrock polo weekend ftw.

what bargain price Otti?

It's relative, innit? Bargain, as opposed to having to pay the higher prices as of Sunday or next month or the full price the following month.

All of Malice going?

I want to go but need a team

Unfortunately Todd won't make it. It's Vidal, Mike and me.

Rik, i'm sure Bill is going but don't know if he has a team.

c'mon Tom I know you want, we need a third man, Bill?

tempted....

Gabes was also interested, Gabes?

Should really pay before the end of Feb. It goes up to 50 quid 1st March!

Rik, maybe, You, Tom and I? What's the entry fee, is it still something extortionate?