Tourney: EHBPC 2012 - Paris - 2012/07/19-21

Oh wait, maybe I got that wrong. Did Peinture French make it through?

one of the French teams didn't, as Fishsticks did.

one of the French teams didn't, as Fishsticks did.

Yeah, you're right. 2/3, as opposed to 1/3 for UK & I.

But for sure, Pienture French weren't even in the original allocation, and look how well they did. The French roll deeper than anyone else in Europe.

the wildcard allocation scenario was a bit odd. two out of three players on the team i was planning on playing on for the qualifier couldn't attend, due to the chosen weekend. which was fine, that's how it works. but with a week before the tournament, and many teams dropping out of the wildcard, we were prepared to buy expensive flights last minute and compete. needless to say, our appeal did not get very far.

modicum of procedural intelligence

Sounds like a good team name to me, or the name of a slate running for the European Hardcourt Central Committee or whatever it's going to be called.

The late bets win hmmmmmmm

Haha, yeah well when all the bets were in (on LFGSS anyway), all the teams that had been picked were still in, and mostly in winners' bracket. Interesting to see how few ppl picked l'Équipe!

Jonh H, I own you a beer!

Bill, thank you so much for keep us twitted

Interesting to see how few ppl picked l'Équipe!

L'equipe were the cleanest team of the weekend....playing the best polo IMO. Official polo heros.

Allez l'Équipe!

Some pics from the weekend here

Was great to see UK represented so well this weekend, had a blast in the sun.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7mi4vVFDy1rp6o2so1_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7mi7lRHEC1rp6o2so1_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7mi21SZUH1rp6o2so1_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7mhvsQXSF1rp6o2so1_1280.jpg

L'equipe were the cleanest team of the weekend....playing the best polo IMO. Official polo heros.

Yeah, the chants of "Allez L'Equipe" at the end of their reign as European Champs brought a tear to my eye. A nice moment.

I was at Euro's 2 years ago... you guys have REALLY stepped it up. Some amazing play this weekend! I'll post some of my photos once they're edited/blogged

EDIT: Done! Not many, but hey, add them to the pile. http://blog.andyinamerica.com/post/27856230427/this-years-euro-hard-court-bike-polo-champs

^^^ Todd seems to be having a party of his own in the first pic

Pretty dreadful video of SB vs L'Equipe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRRKiEv9Oug&feature=youtu.be

2-3mins (inclusive): 'No goal!'

But was it?

Collective London commentary so much better than NAH.

"I tweeted that save..."

"DID you!?!?!"

Big thanks to Erin for amazing play. Didn't expect to get through the wildcard, and was in no small part thanks to her. Bill got some great goals and looked pretty in pink.

Mayeut, thank you so much for giving us a lovely flat to stay in. You went out of your way to help London have a great time in Paris, beers next time I see you court-side.

Spring Break, you were amazing, and did London proud. The number of oooo la las I heard in response to Ryan's pivot turns.Next year.....

Spring break - Iron Ponies day one:
https://vimeo.com/46250141

Some really nice passing play by the way.

What an awesome weekend.

Big love to all of the LPC and UK community who were on site. Yet again the best traveling support you'll ever see. Some incredible games. Rest up Snoops, glad that's it's only your ribs and nothing worse. Spring Break were on fire, I could barely talk yesterday for shouting so much. Awesome courts, even the Wildcard court was smooth and fun once you go used to the boards. Great craic, great vibe, awesome weather and it looks like we brought it back with us. Sad we didn't make it though the wildcard but my health wasn't on my side and it just wasn't our day - I really enjoyed all the same. John H and Rich - It was great fun playing with you guys!

Loads of good memories.

+1 LPC were amazing; best cheers, worst chants, big support for all our players and intl friends! There were a lot of unlucky things everyone dealt with with great spirit and humour - injury, illness, the receiving end of podium fuck ups and unexpected knock outs. Some amazing and 'world class' polo was played, pretty inspiring but also highlights the different kinds of game being played by teams. Sunday was such a lovely way for everyone to wind down and watch the tour too! x

I can't wait to develop my photos and I hope someone filmed the cosmic band with our brilliant singing! Oh and Cambridge on tour is terrifying!

2-3mins (inclusive): 'No goal!'

But was it?

It definately was. I saw it cross line hit net and then hit post on way out.

Bravo Gregoo et Co. for hosting a great event, the courts were the best that I have played on.

Always proud to travel with the LPC and it was great to watch SB, well done, guys.

Thanks as well to all the people who looked after me with food and pedals and stuff x

Everyone probably knows that Podium fell over in a big way on Friday, which led to some crazy match-ups, of which we were seriously on the wrong end of.

Turns out, with more knowledge of the software, Paris and I could have done something about that. But in the heat of the moment I couldn't work that out.

I've now played around with the Podium sandbox for a few hours, and it has a lot of things that are done better than Challonge.

I've asked Vince for a couple of changes. After that I'd recommend it above Challonge.

I had a fantastic time in Paris. Always love travelling with LPC.

Both tournaments had their strengths. The wildcard was great for hanging out and chilling and catching up with the Euro family, and the main event was exceptionally well organised and seemed like a professional sporting event. The big-screen area for relaxing and watching the tour was amazing. Bean bags are now high on my tournament must-have agenda.

Loved playing with PW, and that Bill obliged my wish to wear vests. They are much more fashionable than tshirts and cooling too. We played some great games and conceded games against some brilliant teams. I loved playing Cosmic and Hooks and Edisons, despite the Podium debacle. Big courts, big boards and nice goals were a real treat. Ultimately it was an amazing treat play in the Euros, thank you Bill and Joe for having me, and for playing so well to get us through.

Once again it was fantastic to hang out with all of London, and all of our European friends. Good times up on the Hill - definitely the place to be and behind the goal in the SB game against L'Equipe.

The last two days in Paris were really lovely, lolling on the grass with our feet in the hedges, outside the Louvre. It was pretty cool to see the tour from the vantage point of Adam's (Monkey Punch) shoulders too.

My MVP was Badger (feed the badger); my MVT was Get.In.Wild - they played some boss team polo over the weekend. "We beleighve!"

Well done all of London for their ace performances in both the main and wildcard events. LPC did everyone proud.

Thanks Paris and massive congratulations to the podium, L'Equipe, SB and Cocorico.