Pimp My Mallet

A video of the recent European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships in Geneva, from Dan (or one of his many pseudonyms).

Bike Polo – EHBPC 2010 in Geneva from Cycle Oxford on Vimeo.

Bikeradar are currently featuring a mini documentary from saddle makers Brooks, looking at bike polo. Obviously any good news story needs an accompanying photo, and what could possibly be a better match for a classic Brooks saddle than an Oxford Toff?

We’re still looking for a 3rd person to play for Oxford in the UK Champs next month (17-18 April in Manchester), get in touch if you’re interested.

Geneva are organising next year’s European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships sometime in July (probably), and being Swiss they’re ultra organised and are asking all cities planning to enter to pre-register and supply the name of an ambassador.

Register to vote!

There’s going to be an online vote from the 25-27th November to decide the host city for EHBPC 2010. It’s open to all European players, but you’ll need to register at bikepolo.ca and join the Europe group before the 21st November to be eligible.

It looks like Europe will be the centre of next year’s bike polo excitement. Over at bikepolo.ca they seem to have decided the world championships will be in Europe. So far only Geneva and Berlin seem to have serious bids in mind, though Geneva now seem to be bidding for the European championships instead with plans for a covered court (but what if it’s sunny?)… which would leave Berlin who hosted this years European Cycle Messenger Championships to put on the 2010 World Championships.

Any if you want to represent Oxford, you’d better get down to our next practice tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, 20.15 Currys car park, Botley Road. Unless it’s still raining.

Taken by the tournament winners L’Equipe. Special appearance by The Toffs at 6:50.

EHBPC London 2009 from Uolmo on Vimeo.

The final results for the European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships.

13th – The Toffs
25th – (tie) Drof Ox Flailer 3
31st – (tie) 3 Less Horse

Well everyone’s back and recovering from an incredible weekend. Unfortunately Three Less Horse and The Drof Ox Flailer Three were knocked out after the first two games, but The Toffs got pretty far…. maybe amongst the top 16 teams in Europe according to the scoreboard. I think. It’s double elimination, (winner’s bracket on the left, loser’s on the right) which makes interpreting the results slightly confusing. Hopefully EHBPC will publish some official results, in the meantime the top three teams in Europe are:

1. l’Equipe Genève (Geneva, Switzerland)
2. Malice International (London, UK)
3. Poloholics Toros (Munich, Germany)

Here’s some highlights from the tournament, courtesy of Cycle Oxford

All three Oxford teams made it through the group stage! Watch tomorrow’s action live online.

The Guardian suggests bike polo as a sport to try this summer. Bit loose on the facts/details and no mention of the upcoming European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships but nevermind.

Then there’s the Bicycle Film Festival polo tournament in London. And maybe more polo at Bike Blenheim Palace alongside the Brompton World Championship but I’ve only just read that on their website so what actually happens is anyone’s guess.

In the meantime come and play polo, 7pm Wednesdays in Marston (click for map).