Tourney: WHBPC 2010 Berlin - 13-15.08.2010

So mike, what about bullshit political boundaries like NA, Europe, etc? I like your thinking, about polo being more community based, but if we're looking at UK, European and World championships, then we are all conforming to those boundaries anyway.

so can teams who compete in the first tournament, compete in the second tournament?

Yep. As everyone can compete in either comp it's not unfair.

I'd like to point out that as I'm not going to the worlds I'm not really bothered how the 6 teams are selected, just putting the idea out there. It's pretty common in football for example to have a champions cup where the winners of the league and the various other comps play each other...

The best opportunity to decide the best 6 teams in the UK is to take the top 6 from MCR. There will be no other opportunity for similar national representation of polo before the deadline. So if the 6 are to be decided by playing polo, it should be at MCR (IMO, of course, as is all of this post). If not then there's the vote option, though a whole new can of worms is opened up in terms of who is eligable to vote. This is the world championships! The best 6 teams should be there, and I don't think we should be shy to say that if you have not started playing polo yet, then chances are you are not going to be in the top 6, so excluding teams which have not yet formed really should not stall this process.

There simply aren't enough spots to divide up into regions, since there are more polo playing communities than the 6 available places. The best way to decide between these communities is by playing competitive polo, hence why MCR should be where it's all at.

and I don't think it is London biased, if Toffs play like they did at BFF (finishing joint 3rd) they would make it, Netto finished second at London BFF also. non London teams can easily finish in the top 6.

hopefully some of us seattle polo players will get selected

I think it is bullshit to use an event that has already been organized (the UK Champs) to decide entry for an event that is 5 months away (Worlds) and was finalized *after *registration for the former event was already closed.

We should have a UK Worlds Qualifier a month before the Worlds. This is the only fair way to do it. What if new teams form in those five months?

If we keep the organizing to a bear minimum -- courts and refs, no prizes, nothing else -- we could easily organize a quali closer to the Worlds. Easy.

I honestly can't believe people are questioning the validity of the top 6 teams from the UK championships being the selected teams for the worlds.

i agree. but it would be fair to wait until say, 2 weeks prior, to give unattending teams (or those who don't do their uni work 12 hours /day with the forums kept open) the chance to voice their interest. at this point there would be the option to create more spots in manchester, leave them high & dry, or organize a separate tournament. the last 2 options i think would be unfortunate, especially considering all the work the folks in manchester have and will be putting in to make this the best and fairest competition of UK teams to date.

as for new teams that may form after april 18, stefan from berlin has offered a perfect solution, maybe i am the only one to have noticed- there will be a qualifying tournament held in berlin on august 12 for 6 additional spots not assigned to the continents. whether you are just attending for pickup, or are serious about playing but missed (or lost at) your country's qualifiers, this is another chance to earn your place.

as for new teams that may form after april 18, stefan from berlin has offered a perfect solution, maybe i am the only one to have noticed- there will be a qualifying tournament held in berlin on august 12 for 6 additional spots not assigned to the continents. whether you are just attending for pickup, or are serious about playing but missed (or lost at) your country's qualifiers, this is another chance to earn your place.

I like the sound of this, but could be a bit mad, lots of entrants? i guess not many American teams that dont have a place allocated will come over, but still lots of Euro teams may hapily come one day earlier to try and gain a place?

So mike, what about bullshit political boundaries like NA, Europe, etc? I like your thinking, about polo being more community based, but if we're looking at UK, European and World championships, then we are all conforming to those boundaries anyway.

NA / Europe isn't so much political (NA not as much as Europe) as geographical (small ocean) and as for the common tournaments, all the Europeans play together much more than North Americans and Europeans playing together. Similar community aspect on a broader scale. NA seems to play more mixed teams in tournaments than Europeans so that strengthens the community aspect even more.

UK champs, similiar thing in that Manchester and Oxford have played London BFF tourneys and we all travel to play in each others cities.

I agree that the terminology points to political boundaries, maybe they should be called the 'This Side Championships' and the 'That Side Championships' and the 'All Sides Championships'. Maybe the 'Pasty English Speaker's Championships'?

ha!

So when are the UK Worlds Qualifiers going to be held, and where?

they were in leeds, yesterday. sorry you missed out.

touché

So when are the UK Worlds Qualifiers going to be held, and where?

you are running to fast Doctor, we are still speaking, them we need to vote... or you forgot how this work

Doctatorship.

Doctatorship.

Hahaha. I like the sound of that. Democracy is overrated.

(Awaits Troskyist jab from Bill)

(Awaits Troskyist jab from Bill)

?

beard mountain.

BTW, I agree with Vidal on his ealier points, 5 months is a long time.

Many things can change in 5 months.

many, yes but no all, Emmet will still be shit

vidal might be freewheel by then!

even wrost... he may be using a brake!!!