Tourney: European Hard-court Bike Polo Championship - 01/02.08.2009

bill the thing about malice v toros was that the crowd started to boo toros, (which was bullshit) and even the refs had a couple of difficult decisions, ray was really good in just calling it because i think both goal refs were unfairly pressured by the crowd. Such a difficult game to ref, credit to the toros for just sucking it up and not bitching though.

+1 especially as the 'own goal' was a text book grey area situation. an almost impossible call to make in an atmosphere like that. Ref's cannot be perfect, they can only do the best they can do, that means that difficult calls will have to be made, thats life. I personally think the Refs did a sterling job all weekend.

but an own goal is a goal, it's the same in all ball sports

I didn't see any of that game or the final - so I can't really comment on specific calls. All I can say is that calling it a sham is going way, way too far.

It was an own GOAL and at the other end it was NOT a shuffle. If you didn't see it how do you know it was or wasn't a sham. *Just baiting you now bb

@yorgo: Cmon Yorgo you’ve been playing for 4 years and that’s all you can do?!
who was that? :)

Benny! bastard!!!

some recorded links [ame="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1914593"]here[/ame]

the odd comment form the streaming guy is hilarious.

Did anyone else see Manchester's one handed, around-the-world mallet spining, chav wheelie up the whole length of the court?
You guys are me heros. Who is this James Brown? Neverheardofhim.

or mats swop bike move at the end of the game!

was there a man of the tournament ?
who won the fair play award ?

jb (mvp)
kandycolouredclowns (style and fair play award)

mvp doesn't surpise me
jb had a stormer in all games i saw him play
nice one james !

~~Attention, I am in possession of some black sunglasses which were lost over the courser of the weekend.

If they're yours please PM me so that they can be returned to you.~~

Awesome weekend! There was so much amazing polo being played, such an awesome group of people, the crowds were great (the heckling went up with the pressure of gameplay), the crew was amazing (great reffing, but what was going on there, John? ;) ), and hats off to the organizers, you guys were great under all the pressure.

Epic weekend! Now time to tear it all down!

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What a great time and great polo. I met some really fantastic new folks too! Especially loving the contacts in Sicily and Barcelona :)

All I can say is that calling it a sham is going way, way too far.

Completely. I think after the two wrong calls early on, it made all the other difficult decisions in that game much harder for the crowd to respect. +1 for Ray for keeping control of the game and playing on in that situation. And respect for the Toros and Malice for doing the right thing too.

Amazing weekend. Thank you to Roxy and her team of EHBPC organisors and all the volunteers. Everybody worked so hard!

I'm so happy that we got to play too!

Bill, Ray and all the refs, that was such a hard job. You guys were great and this was the best reffing I have ever seen at a polo tournament. Anybody complaining should ref the next tourney or keep quiet.

I love London polo.

I had a brilliant time. All the volunteers were fantastic, and the refs too, but I want to say a special thanks to Eggpie Jon - he worked the bar and barbie on Friday, and then goal-reffed really, really well all day Saturday and Sunday with only a couple of whimpers of complaint.

This whole weekend is right up there as one of the best of all time!
Props to everyone involved. Bill & Ray you guys are amazing.
Congrats to all the teams, you exemplified exactly what polo is all about - skill, sportsmanship and generally having a proper good time on a bicycle!

Too many highlights to mention but housing/meeting the Munich guys was a pleasure and the mini critical mass heading to the bar last night was fantastic.

pics to come.

with only a couple of whimpers of complaint.

1. Pique's bike parking (see above)
   
2. Missing some great games because I was reffing the other court.
   
3. Er, thats it. Awesome weekend.
   
   
   

Oh. Wait. Strongroom. Wankers.

Congrats to all the teams, you exemplified exactly what polo is all about - skill, sportsmanship and generally having a proper good time on a bicycle!

+1

Netto Mirek picking up Cosmic Matt's mallet during the game and handing it back to him - great move!

^^^
Kev waiting for a rival player to have tapped out before doing so himself!!

Oh. Wait. Strongroom. Wankers.

Ha! I missed all that, because when I got to the Strongroom, they told me it was full, and I would have to wait til someone left. It took me a split second to decide that I was far too tired, and way too sober to want to hang around on the street in Shoreditch, what with the high risk of being mistaken for a vagrant and all.

Steffan Clown ploughing through 2 of us then helping us up and checking with the ref that it was ok to carry on. Nice boy that one.

^^^
Kev waiting for a rival player to have tapped out before doing so himself!!

If only all the players were as sporting as Kev! Also must mention Morgan (Barlin): called his own shuffle after the goal ref had called it a goal.

Steffan Clown ploughing through 2 of us then helping us up and checking with the ref that it was ok to carry on. Nice boy that one.

That's why they were top of the ref's poll for team!