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We at the BBC NCP? What time do you expect to start playing (what time will the cars be gone)?

Count me in...

Paul, I've emailed them to say we didn't play in December and would they waive the charges. If we get a festive response, we can use the money for January.

Updated list:

1. Neil £10 PAID
   2. Rich £10 PAID
   3. Mark £10 PAID
   
2. Paul £10 Not Paid Yet
   
3. Adam £10 Not Paid Yet
   
4. Woody £10 Not Paid Yet
   
5. Rob £10 Not Paid Yet
   
6. Mirek £10 Not Paid Yet
   
   

• £50 pay and play savings.
  

Begun the recruitment drive for SMBP 'members' by flyering MCR city centre bike shops at the w/e - here's the deal:

Playing membership includes full forum access; forthcoming merchandise discounts; mobile text messaging re. fixtures, members spoke card and various pin badges

Annual playing membership mininmum £10+ donation

Family or house membership for 3 or more playing members - £15+

'Country' '* and/or Student membership - as above, but no minium donation expected.

• Non-playing out of town members/supporters
  
  

Email southmanchesterbikepolo@gmail.com for membership/forum access.

Hope to see some of you here supporting SMBP soon!

Shall we draw up an Xmas timetable of availability/interest:

Thursday 23rd Xmas PH/Car Park Special

1. Neil
   
   

Tuesday 28th Times/Places TBC

1. Neil
   
   

Thursday 30th Times/Places TBC

1. Neil
   

Ste - great use of the Manchester network!

I'd still encourage people to get together to decide what the logo/website etc. stand's for/repreesents before rather than after the commission starts.

South Manchester would be very up for selling merchandise that comes out of this project, natch, as we see oursleves as firmly under any MCR polo umbrella. Best check for any licencing restrictions if you are paying.

As some of will know, we've been preparing an organisation to foster the growth of polo in Manchester, with an emphasis on beginners. We've built it out of much of the work I did for the 'MHPA' discussions and interviews at the back end of the summer, for which I make no apology - I wasn't prepared to let it go to waste!

I want to be completely clear about our intentions and direction, as I'm not interested in fostering any lingering bad politics and don't want any conflict between any individuals or 'MHPA' of the future.

We plan to grow slowly out of the Chorlton Park Saturday morning sessions, which, as those of you who have tried them will know, are deliberately built around the raw beginner. Our aim is to get beginners to a safe and competent level of play so that they can then progress - first to open Manchester Sundays and then to open Manchester team/competitive Thursdays and on to tourneys. Note that we are not 'claiming' those sessions as 'ours'.

Going forward, we'd be more than happy if the existing Manchester players want to join, become members and play an active part - whether that be in coaching or in organising. We hope to attract and retain new players and help them form into new teams, which will then go on to national tournaments. We also expect to organise smaller tournaments in the spring and autumn, again based around beginners teams, possibly using the Bench Minor-style approach - check the calendar section for our possible ideas.

There you will also see sketched in dates for other Manchester polo events - should a Manchester collective organise any other, bigger tourneys, we'll be on-hand to help if required - again, and I stress this, without necessarily 'owning' the event.

FInally, I'd like to say I'm sorry I couldn't facilitate the MHPA concept through to maturity this year. I hope that the senior players are able to respect or even play a part of the approach we're taking in South Manchester and recognise that we all ultimately need more players playing to survive!

Neil, Lewis and Stevo
South Manchester Organisers

www.mcrpolo.org

who ordered mallet shafts? they've arrived now and i'm going to london this weekend so will be picking them up from john when im down there. i'll be back monday so can bring them after then. i don't mind fronting the cash but would appreciate speedy repayment.
i ordered 2, so:

mark x2

Hi Mark - yep, I ordered two poles. I can't be at polo tomorrow (or Sunday come to that :-( ) but can PayPal you if that suits?

Beginners polo at Chorlton Park from 10am tomorrow - extended to all those stir crazy polista now we have the thaw... ;-)

I'm coming - I'll go to PH first to check who's there at 6.30. It has been thawing in Chorlton this afternoon, but now it's dark I reckon that'll stop just before PH is totally cleared. If no-one's around I'll go home until Paul or someone text's me to say there's a ghetto game somewhere.

BTW - I haven't paid for December yet and don't expect to pay for nights we cannot play ( 2 so far). They're reasonable people and although the cold snap was not mentioned in the negotiations, I don't see them being that bothered TBH.

Apologies for piking - got stuck down south - it's cold there too...

Tuesday polo. Meet in sand bar at 6:00pm

1. Mark
   
2. Adam
   
3. Rob (probably)
   
4. scott
   
5. ste
   
6. Neil
   

Cycled over to PH this morning - don't think it's going to be playable today... the freezing mists have seen to the thaw and even if we shift the snow layer, the slush is near ice.

http://www.lfgss.com/album.php?albumid=1675&pictureid=9519

Anyone fancy an NCP session after eight this evening??

Sunday Polo from 1pm at PH...

1. Neil
   

Can we donate parts'n'stuff?

what's happening with saturday morning polo? its in chorlton right? went at about 11:30 today, but no-one was there and the court i assume is usually used (one with hockey nets) was still snowed over.

Yep - we cancelled Saturday polo due to the state of the court. Back next week though....

Looks like nature's sorting it.... about bleedin' time n'all...

Paul, text me when you're heading over, if I'm free I'll come out to help.

Damn, I'm away for this. Bought some good old tat this year too...

No worries - didn't think to take my phone with me... doh.

I'm cool with subbing it for December as long as I've got the commitment written up here (where's everyone else BTW?):

1. Neil £10 PAID
   2. Rich £10 PAID
   3. Mark £10 PAID
   
2. Paul £10 Not Paid
   
3. Adam £10 Not Paid
   
4. Woody £10 Not Paid
   

I went to the NCP - no-one there at the time...

We're still well short this month - anyone else planning to pay a £10 for December??

Jono, I wasn't literally implying that in this case the Euros ought to have 'ability-subsidised' places... however, to retain that 'encouragement' aspect for all, there should be logical connectivity and clear routes for all teams to feel they can be 'on the road' to the Euros etc. a la FA Cup.

If the process of selection itself is not clearly inclusive then it matters not who wins the finals as the elite teams will have inadvertently widened the skills/enthusiasm gap with detrimental effects to all but the largest scenes.

I'd contest the view that any Nationals tourney should appear be 'downgraded' because it does not serve the best teams in that country in their preparation for Euros or Worlds, whether it is part of the selection process for those tourneys or not.

Following this thread with interest and am very supportive of the points Tiger makes regarding the vital post-tournament cascade-down and out of skills, enthusiasm and ambition that returning teams of lesser ability always bring home.

The debate around whether the leading but lesser team from Bulgaria displaces the fifth most brilliant team from Paris divides us, compounded by the implication that the tournament itself is somehow damaged or loses credibility in its search for a 'proper' champion by accommodating lesser teams.

Irrespective of the details of individual tournament selection processes, the number one element that polo needs to cherish and protect in this undeniable growth spurt, is its unique sense of open family. This is communicated largely through mixed ability teams congregating to celebrate and share the game - whether that's an Open format or a national or international Championship tournament - and returning to their regions to invigorate their scenes further.

Polo has thus far been inherently inclusive and therefore outreaching - the day it sells it's soul to become dedicated to serving only 'the best' in some relentless search for the elite is the day it becomes just like any other sport.

Neil