IMHO, the two options are very similar, any will do
EHBPC Barcelona 2011. The official thread, info and inquiries.
I know we've been pretty silent about the whole organization of this upcoming Euro championship. As most of you know, we've been stuck in a bureacratic silence ourselves.
That being said, we are working on what will be the format of the tournament and we would like to hear what the people have to say about this.
Depending on the resolution from the city hall we have a two main options available for the format of the tourney.
The first one, and the one we like the most, will be a 5 day event that will start on thursday june 2nd and will end on monday the 6th. 48+ slots on 3 courts of about 37 x 17 meters. Thursday being a warm-up/welcome day and everybody gets together to get familiarized with the courts. From there friday and saturday will be official games on a round-robin format (with the possibility to have one court open for throw-ins for those not playing one of the two days. Double elimination Super Sunday where we see who's who at the euro polo business and finally, a cool-off/farewell polo session on monday at the euro courts with a possible introduction session for beginners.
Now, the second choice would be a more discrete venture. 48 slots only on 3 courts 37 x 17. Informal thursday at our local court (either La Aspirina or El Templo). Warm-up/welcome friday to get to know the official courts. Round-robin Friday and double elimination Super Sunday. We bid everyone adieu at our local courts after that....
We would like to know your opinion as well as suggestions to make this event what is supposed to be: the most kickass polo weekend of the year!
Please post all inquiries here.
**PRE-REG CLOSED!**
**UPDATE**
Official dates for the tourney: 24-26th of June.
We are working on having a wildcard tourney for those that can't/couldn't/didn't qualify. It'll be announced soon.
Alright people, 3-2-1 Poloooooooo (in Barcelona!)
**TEAMS**
UK 10
Germany 8
France 8
Italy 7
Spain 5
Switzerland 5
Benelux 3
Austria 1
Hungary 1
Denmark 1
Ireland 1
Poland 1
Portugal 1
*Wildcard confirmed, 20 spots available as of now. More will be available depending on demand.
Teams registered:
1. Pistachio United*
2. Le Sporting Club Parisien*
3. Tornadoes
4. El Club*
5. Quetxulonia*
6. Dubeva
7. Taffy Whackers
8. Poloholica
9. Birchenfelt
10. Milano Bike Polo Beta*
11. Swing Along
12. King Salami
13. Löatzi*
14. Chocolate Sexy*
15. Call me daddy*
16. Arreando Chim Pam Pum
17. Les Armoires à cuillères*
18. DFA *
19. Ma Couille*
20. Peinture Frech*
---------------------------------------------------------- Waitlist untill further notice.
21. Bang Bang*
22. Bike Pollo*
23. Tigers*
24.Los Manguis*
25. Polipolo*
26. Blackjack RC*
27. Synesthesia
28. Duna team
29. Ripa Rapa
30. GMC
31. Jobly Junkies
32. Citrone
33. Los engorilados
34. Gold Canaris
35. Satan Malletz
Teams with a * haven't played their national qualifiers yet.
January 26, 2011 - 5:38am
#2
January 26, 2011 - 5:43am
#3
My opinion:
Have a wild-card tourney, it's the best way to get everyone to the event even if they have failed to qualify (which means more spectators/vibe for your main tourney), it also allows you to "fill up" the main tourney if you have no shows, which means your scheduling can be set in stone and not generated "on the fly" (which is what your current setup will demand).
Use Swiss Rounds on Friday/Saturday, it's fairer and allows teams to play competitive games at their level as the days progress. Random RR groups suck and you won't be able to seed RR accurately (my opinion).
Your schedule would look like this:
Thursday: Wild card tourney for any unclaimed spots (no shows), save 3 podium spots for the best 3 wild card teams even if all the qualified teams show up.
Friday: Main tourney: Swiss rounds day 1.
Saturday: Main tourney: Swiss rounds day 2.
Sunday: Final of main tourney: Double elim final day (however many teams you can fit it).
Monday: Wind down and throw-ins.
But whatever, I'll be there regardless and it's your decision as the organisers, nice one Ale.
January 26, 2011 - 6:31am
#4
My opinion:
Have a wild-card tourney, it's the best way to get everyone to the event even if they have failed to qualify (which means more spectators/vibe for your main tourney), it also allows you to "fill up" the main tourney if you have no shows, which means your scheduling can be set in stone and not generated "on the fly" (which is what your current setup will demand).
Use Swiss Rounds on Friday/Saturday, it's fairer and allows teams to play competitive games at their level as the days progress. Random RR groups suck and you won't be able to seed RR accurately (my opinion).
Your schedule would look like this:
Thursday: Wild card tourney for any unclaimed spots (no shows), save 3 podium spots for the best 3 wild card teams even if all the qualified teams show up.
Friday: Main tourney: Swiss rounds day 1.
Saturday: Main tourney: Swiss rounds day 2.
Sunday: Final of main tourney: Double elim final day (however many teams you can fit it).
Monday: Wind down and throw-ins.
But whatever, I'll be there regardless and it's your decision as the organisers, nice one Ale.
This is our best-case scenario... let's see what we can do.
I'm not sure about swiss rounds for the euros though.... they are good when you have very dispar levels of polo, such as the preliminary tourney. Also, SR are not necessarily very agile (for organizers), taking in consideration the size of the event and the relative tight schedule. RR seem more manageable as you can pre-program the games for the whole day in advance. Now I'm assuming there'll be qualifiers for this tourney and that the teams will already be at "a certain level", so RR won't necesarily mean boring games.
@Rik... 2-6 june. Está escrito, maestro ;)
January 26, 2011 - 6:36am
#5
None of the games will be boring no matter what format is used, heh.
To use RR as a fair way of qualifying for the final day you need to be able to seed it accurately from the start. Without seeding some teams will get an easy ride and some a much tougher challenge (which doesn't seem right for the Euros).
There was a fairly hefty debate about it when Berlin considered using RR for the Worlds, the Americans then chimed in with their SR wisdom.
In general the only downside to Swiss Rounds is the need for every round to finish before the next one can begin (no rushing ahead with too many games at once if games are finishing early) and the fact that the "best teams" become more apparent/obvious as time goes on (most people see this as a good thing though). There are also less games between mixed ability teams with SR, but this is the Euros, not an Open, so I see that as a good thing (again, just my opinion/thinking)?
January 26, 2011 - 8:27am
#6
+1/x2 to Jono.
I know it's not an option you've put forward, Ale, but wild card ftw! As someone who was injured during Berlin, and didn't play in the main tourney, or the wild card, I can say completely and totally in an unbiased fashion that the wild card tourney made it a fucking awesome weekend by just getting so many more people out to partake. By cutting out a wild card tourney you're dumping 60+ players who would otherwise be there having an awesome time (and possibly some surprise teams).
And Swiss rounds is worth thinking about, imo.
January 26, 2011 - 11:32am
#7
swiss rounds produces the best polo, simple as that. sure, it's the euros, and there will be tons of good teams, but there's still going to be a big spectrum, and it's good to get teams of equal strength playing against each other as much as possible. it practically guarantees that the podium teams get to play each other before they get to the podium, and this seems crucial to me. Vince's software (www.hardcourtpodium.com) will help you run it smoothly, and actually it's possible to stage half of the next round of games before the current round is finished, so the courts are always full.
Another +1 on the wildcard tourney. having an extra 35 polo teams around for the weekend in Berlin, who had come for the wildcard tourney, helped make it awesome.
January 26, 2011 - 5:41am
#8
So, no darwinian selection process...
yes similar, but option 1 sounds best
January 26, 2011 - 5:42am
#9
by the way, guey , do we have any dates?
January 26, 2011 - 5:44am
#10
Jono's schedule is a killer!!!!!
WANT
January 27, 2011 - 4:13am
#11
+ 1 to Jono's schedule/wildcard/Swiss-rounds. Dates are getting increasingly important. Speaking to Cambridge players last night, they seem to know?
January 27, 2011 - 4:59am
#12
Everyone seems stoked on swiss rounds.... I'm just a bit reticent since it's not a very dynamic format to organize/play. I mean, you play one game and you have to wait for the whooole round to finish before you can even know where/who you play again. For me a format such as the euros last year was very interesting form the point of view that when it was time for you to play, you played often and at the same court and the rest of the time you could go watch the rest of the games/have a beer with ease of mind. There was no situation were a team wasn't really ready to play, which often happens when you play sparse games.
Now, a preliminary tourney is something we all want. That is a given. All is left to do is to see if it's feasible....
January 27, 2011 - 8:31am
#13
With three courts, you can set it up so that the winning teams all play on one court, the losing teams on one court, and the teams in the middle of the rankings on one court. Sure there's a bit of shuffling around, but if you're a spectator and you want to see the best teams play, you know which court to stay on.
January 27, 2011 - 7:58pm
#14
Yeah but Alejandro is also talking about the free time that a classical RR give you:
Play all your games on 4 hours, then do what you want. No need to have to ask people to come in time etc, every x team of the groups stay around one court during the round, and then do what they want.
Sure that SR are way more logical for a lot of really good reasons, but the Ale point's is important.
January 28, 2011 - 2:50pm
#15
if you're a spectator and you want to see the best teams play, you know which court to stay on.
also its a bit dissapointing for the mid and losing teams to play in front of only the ref when everyone is watching the good teams, I liked pretty much in Berlin (although we finished somewhere in the middle) that sometimes when we had a nice move or at least a big crash the crowd went "woooo!"
January 28, 2011 - 3:17pm
#16
I think that lopsided games are the worst to watch, i'd rather watch two equally shitty teams than the world champions face off against a mid-placed team. The goal differentials in Berlin show that a lot of boring-to-watch games were played: http://www.whbpc2010.org/results-qualification-fridaysaturday/
January 27, 2011 - 4:25pm
#17
. (just to follow)
January 28, 2011 - 10:05am
#18
is this final date? perhaps before or after one week?
January 28, 2011 - 10:15am
#19
It's not final until we get the decision from the city hall, but it's what we intend it to be.
January 28, 2011 - 1:11pm
#20
1 week before would be perfect!!
January 29, 2011 - 7:29pm
#23
I like the wild card idea, gives everybody (and perhaps their friends/family) who's into bike polo an other good reason to start thinking how to get there (in stead of if or when..). But any type to your convenience would do I guess. :)
What are the locations you proposed to the city hall, and is there a backup plan if them bureaucrat's aren't of any help?
(41.407389,2.212007 seemed very nice.. close to the beach and all..)
February 5, 2011 - 4:45am
#24
Wild card tourney, please!
February 7, 2011 - 2:06pm
#25
wanted to put it out there... if a team wants a hired gun, let's talk.
dove stanno i mie amici italiani.
-just trying to catch up to the royal turkey.
February 10, 2011 - 8:03am
#26
dove stanno i mie amici italiani.
.
hahahaha, mito!!
February 10, 2011 - 9:20am
#27
Lovely to see some Over the sea drafted players.
February 9, 2011 - 2:02pm
#28
Will you guys allow mixteams from different European nations?
February 10, 2011 - 5:40pm
#29
I've been asked this question before.... short answer is yes. (But only if you get one of the comunities you guys come from to allow you to play qualifiers).
If we have a wildcard tourney, this won't be an issue I guess........
February 12, 2011 - 10:29am
#30
Do u already know how many places Spanish teams will be in the tourney? or what about how to qualify for it..
Thankss
February 16, 2011 - 5:12am
#31
Yes please: We need to know how many slots and how will they be allocated (city-community-country??).
Even a small country as CH need to choose qualified teams from a group of about 20 so the sooner we know how many the sooner we organize our qualifications. And as I see other countries much bigger, I think they might ask it too.
February 16, 2011 - 6:50am
#32
WE NEED A FIXED DATE ASAP!!!
...any news Alejandro?
Cheers, Hannes.
February 16, 2011 - 10:06am
#33
We had a setback at the Barcelona City Hall the other day, meaning that we are looking into alternative routes/private locations/suburbia to accomodate the event. We are pushing the ciclist federation to back us up, but unfortunately we are still in bureaucratic limbo.
I'm deeply sorry for the excrutiating wait....
February 17, 2011 - 10:00am
#34
jajajja.....!
February 18, 2011 - 7:49am
#35
Please fill out this form, city representatives... even if you already sent the email.
https://spreadsheets3.google.com/viewform?hl=en&hl=en&formkey=dGRNWlAtcU...
February 18, 2011 - 11:19am
#38
Catania done
Ciao
February 18, 2011 - 5:19pm
#39
Awesome!
February 18, 2011 - 5:32pm
#40
GVA done.
February 20, 2011 - 12:39pm
#42
*Little update*
Dates are most likely to be pushed back.
We are looking at the last weekend of june, not the first one anymore. (23-27 of june).
Will confirm in the next few days.
Do not get your tickets yet!
February 20, 2011 - 1:38pm
#43
Is it really serious !!! Are you trying to mess the EURO up guys !
This WE 23-27 june, is the WE of the BM in Chicago, it as been announced since couple of month now, how can you ignore that it is posted on the home of this site since 2 weeks now.
And before you announce an other silly date, I tell you that the WE before is the slayer fest in MKE and people who're going to CHicago BM are obviously going to MKE.
I think it's now time to be serious, if you guys are not able to organise the Euro it's time to tell it and we'll find a city who can do it properly.
THere's nothing personnal in my words Alejandro, I imagine it's not that easy for you to make this happen but you can't ignore the other main polo.
February 20, 2011 - 2:46pm
#44
Greg, if you're not happy about the proposed dates because you CHOOSE to attend another tourney, why don't you send us your personal schedule so we can work the event around it.
Now, in all seriousness. These new proposed dates are not only location dependent, but also offer so many potential benefits for the attending players. If it means we can host a better tourney, we will do it at that time regardless of what goes on ON ANOTHER CONTINENT.
Hope you can understand this.
February 20, 2011 - 3:33pm
#45
It's not like the Chicago BM is a local tournament. And you guys have told since the beginning that the date could have been different we might have found a solution with the guys from Chicago.
You told us with change, it results more benefits can you expose them ? Because by now we don't have any idea about what's gonna happen in BCN this summer. If by more benefits you mean there will be courts because with the previous dates there were no avaibility, yes it's a massive benefit, but 4 month before the Euros it's knida scary...
One of your first idea about organising the Euro so early (4-5 june) was that summer in BCN is really hot. What's happend recently ? Does the climate suddently change ?
I don't want to interfere more in the organisation of the Euro, because I don't like to create problem, but honnestly there is a real lack of clearness in all of this.
February 20, 2011 - 4:17pm
#47
I can understand how having the same dates sucks for you and Hugo, but you are totally right, Chicago is NOT A LOCAL TOURNAMENT. Our agenda being completely independent or theirs.
Now, early june or late june is still more or less the same climate (a bit hotter maybe, but still manageable). I don't know if you've been here in the middle of July or August, but trust me it is hot, hot, hot!.
As for benefits, june is still considered "low seasson" which means a cheaper flight and cheaper hotel fares. Also, that weekend is a local holiday, which for a lot of the people organizing means that they don't have to take the day off to be able to run the show; not to mention that people travelling will enjoy such festivities.
I would suggest that instead of bashing our choices, you either step up and make a plea to organize the euros in Paris instead or stop throwing a tantrum because the dates don't fit you.
February 20, 2011 - 8:45pm
#48
The agenda is far from completely different, they are both about getting together some of the best bike polo players in the world.
February 21, 2011 - 5:33am
#49
No Kev, you're quite mistaken in putting at the same level a BM as the EUROS.
So yes, the agendas are most definitely independent from one another.
February 21, 2011 - 5:54am
#50
Wich kind of level are you talking?
Bench minor is one of the big tourney this year, as EHBPC 2011 should be. They put this dates also because of the euros, the schedule was quiet perfect (remember your point about the weather, plus the fact that worlds happens in september).
The fact is also much more than about 3 or 4 players (so teams) who can make it. But about a kind of respect. You don't put any informations about the euros, the only one really clear was the date. Now you move it 20 days later, same dates than a major tourney... (2x if you count fact that players goes to Slayerfest too). Open your eyes, this is shit.
February 21, 2011 - 6:33am
#51
Continental tourney vs important tourney (again, on another continent).
Do you really not see it?
February 21, 2011 - 7:02am
#52
What i see is that there is for now NOTHING from barcelona. No location, no schedule, no number of teams, no number of courts, no format, no qualification process, no sponsors (wich i don't care), no website, no bid. The only things was dates, we deal with it, and now they change.
And the level of a tourney is not just the name you put on it, but the quality of this tourney.
February 21, 2011 - 7:30am
#53
Yeah, you're right, we haven't released anything. But dates, number of courts, number of teams, schedule, format all depend on the location. And the couple of locations that are giving us the OK are available later on that month.
Remember, this is Barcelona, not Geneva. We don't get grants from the city hall, actually there is very little support for anything bike-related (let alone bike polo), so we gotta deal with those situations the best we can and that might mean a change of dates.
February 21, 2011 - 7:47am
#54
The main thing on a tourney, as you know, is the place. Everything depends on it, dates, number of teams etc etc etc. So, if we don't have it, we can't tell you anything else yet, we have thought about format, number of teams, hosting, food...
So have fun in Chicago, and Milwakee!
February 20, 2011 - 1:42pm
#55
+1
keep the date 2/6 june or make it in july/august...
February 21, 2011 - 4:07am
#57
So it should be schedule like this WAY before, and not telliing anymore late may early june...
I love messengers, but sorry, that's not polo, Bench minor is.
I fucking sorry to heard about that, im planning my trip in USA since i know that euros gonna be late may, early june. Now, 4 months before the event, the dates change. Sorry dudes, but this is fuckin' bullshit.
February 20, 2011 - 8:28pm
#59
Alejandro, the organizers of Bench Minor would never have picked the same weekend as EHBPC to host their event, i assure you. Sorry, but this is a horrible idea.
February 22, 2011 - 12:21pm
#60
The organizers of Bench Minor would never have picked the same weekend as EHBPC to host their event....
This much is true.
Bench Minor II only affects a few Euros, therefore when forced to make tough scheduling decisions, that's a tourney to potentially scoot aside. But BM II (and now, the Euro BM) are significant tourneys that any drafted player would regret missing and which have earned the right to be treated accordingly.
The deal breaker seems to be that the location picked for EHBPC is only available on the same weekend. Is that correct? If so, I'm not sure what else Alejandro can do as long as Barcelona is charged with hosting the event.
February 21, 2011 - 3:08am
#61
Keep the announced weekend thanks. im sure Hugo, Barben, Kev or Clement are not isolated cases who have already planned something else for mid/late june.
Give us some details, what's wrong with early june? You need help on something, ask, be frank.
February 21, 2011 - 3:18am
#62
I haven't really followed this but I'm going in to bat for Alejandro here.
First of all, recall how massively keen everyone was for the Euros in Barcelona?
People for sure put some pressure on these guys to host and clearly
Alejandro has tried to organize with the city well ahead of of time.
So the guy is having some problems with City hall?
So what? given how new polo is in Barcelona, this is hardly
surprising. He says he got something that looks like
it's gonna work so perhaps we thank him for his hard work no?
If I was organizing this and someone starting bitching at me
when Im working my ass off to get it done, this dude
would be checked over the boards for sure.
Hugo, Greg I love you guys but....
@Greg, last year you were bitching at Clement about the number
of teams that could go, this year at Alejandro about dates...
@Hugo, last year you didnt qualify.
@Kev, "horrible idea"?? cmon, coupla hundred awesome
folks playing polo for days in Barcelona...sounds like an
pretty great idea. whats the overlap between BM Chi and EHBPC,
maybe 3 dudes?
wow I must have woken up drunk
February 21, 2011 - 3:31am
#63
Sure, Alejandro is doing his best and thanks for that. But with the first post we have no clue that the dates was in fact provisional, the options was about the format isn't they?
And about only 3 guys, let's says 4 because i know clement won't be there in late june, it's unlucky that they maybe for 3 of them are involve in 3 different teams, wich means it's not 3 guys but already 12 guys involve...
February 21, 2011 - 5:08am
#64
Nick you did not follow this since the beginning, you just told it, that's why I'm really surprised a clever guy like you entered in the conversation this way.
I was one (and not the only one) of the first asking for a bid even if BCN was only city candidate, just to make sure that we have some concrete points, as dates, format and the way they'll give the slot for the competition. The purpose of the bid was to avoid this kind of situtation. The first dates were late may, early june and it was not announced that the date might move. To me the dates were the only concrete point of the organisation, and organised my summer around this.
Concerning the fact about organising the EUros in Paris, we were thinking of it in december because we don't have any news from you, but by respect for you we decided to trust in you and don't mess the organisation up. We know that you have some problems with your city and I also know that some people offered you help but as answer we just have ... No answer.
If I'm pissed today it's not only because the dates moved, it's because it results from a total lack of communication from the organisation since the beginning.
Alejandro, your point about the low season are not good here, because the first period was also in low season, and the one concerning the ECMC is understandable if by regouping those 2 events you have more money or a better location (if it's the case, tell it clearly, we just want facts). You also tell me that the week before 23-25 june is kinda hollidays and it'll be more practical for the locals to organise everything, but you should know it since months now, so why not picking these dates since the beggining.
February 21, 2011 - 3:18am
#65
I haven't really followed this but I'm going in to bat for Alejandro here.
First of all, recall how massively keen everyone was for the Euros in Barcelona?
People for sure put some pressure on these guys to host and clearly
Alejandro has tried to organize with the city well ahead of of time.
So the guy is having some problems with City hall?
So what? given how new polo is in Barcelona, this is hardly
surprising. He says he got something that looks like
it's gonna work so perhaps we thank him for his hard work no?
If I was organizing this and someone starting bitching at me
when Im working my ass off to get it done, this dude
would be checked over the boards for sure.
Hugo, Greg I love you guys but....
@Greg, last year you were bitching at Clement about the number
of teams that could go, this year at Alejandro about dates...
@Hugo, last year you didnt qualify.
@Kev, "horrible idea"?? cmon, coupla hundred awesome
folks playing polo for days in Barcelona...sounds like an
pretty great idea. whats the overlap between BM Chi and EHBPC,
maybe 3 dudes?
wow I must have woken up drunk
February 21, 2011 - 3:57am
#66
Nick my team finished 9th at Berlin for the world ....
so yes I have a little interest to follow this conversation and the organisation of this!!
Have got your lock...
February 21, 2011 - 4:28am
#67
Nick my team finished 9th at Berlin for the world ....
hahah I thought you would notice that comment.
February 21, 2011 - 4:45am
#68
évidement ! franchement c'est vraiment pas cool et non construit de dire des remarques comme ca, tu sais tres bien d une année à l autre le niveau change...on peut vraiment pas se référencer à une qualification de plus d un an..où de plus nous étions passés complètement à coté( ce qui arrive)
Oui je suis sur qu Alejandro&co font le maximum, Nos réponses, sont comme elles sont car nous aimons le bike polo ...je pense qu elles seront constructives pour l année prochaine où la date d un event si important doit etre fixer longtemps à l avance!
February 21, 2011 - 5:47am
#69
Ouais nick, tu dis de la shit sans déconner.
February 21, 2011 - 3:45pm
#70
évidement ! franchement c'est vraiment pas cool et non construit de dire des remarques comme ca, tu sais tres bien d une année à l autre le niveau change...
ouais Ok, ajoute une emoticon de clin d'œil a coté mes mots a toi.
idealment, les dates sont connues longtemps a l'avance, mais ce mec
essai donc je prend son coté.
@Clement, n'oubliez pas que cette forum est pour dire de la shit sans déconner.
February 21, 2011 - 3:32am
#71
This doesn't affect me personally, but seriously. The BM dates have been out for a long time.
Consider the effects this is going to have, no only on the players planning on travelling in late june, but their whole team. If the team can't play Euro's or plays with a weaker player this not only affects how they will perform at Euro's but could also mean they don't qualify for worlds. Imagine if you were in Greg's position. Clement too.
MGM and Iron Ponies have been dominating over the last months. Do you really want to see 2 of the hottest teams in Europe right now crippled because of a scheduling conflict? Does this not also go against the idea of "getting the best teams in europe together for a week"?
I'm not trying to be a jerk here. Alejandro, I feel the frustration of the situation you are in, but please make these dates a last resort. Even making it a week earlier than the newly proposed dates would mean that Greg, Clement and Hugo would have to miss the MKE tournament before Bench Minor in Chicago. But could at least play the Bench Minor.
If these are the ONLY dates possible then sure. But if it you can make it happen, DONT USE THESE DATES!
February 21, 2011 - 4:11am
#72
How can i not agree.
Fuck, this dates was one of the only information that BCN give us about the tourney...
Sorry dudes, but you should have propose a bid, like us last year, proposing dates, locations etc, etc... Now, without any bid, you can make shitty dates change at the last moment.
February 21, 2011 - 6:45am
#73
Look Hugo, Clement, Quentin, Greg... when we proposed different dates was only because it was necessary. We were not expecting the many of you going overseas to those tourneys. Now knowing, of course we'll do the best on having the tourney on other dates. If we have not been clear about all how was it going it was because we still have many unresolved issues.
And yes, setting up a tourney is becoming quite the nightmare, public soil of barcelona now denied to us. Big bet we made in having it where Sexy,Polo,Beer was celebrated, now big mistake.
So we are fully looking into private options, or in towns near the city. Do not worry, we are celebrating EHBPC 2011, everything will come together in due time.
February 21, 2011 - 7:32am
#74
If my memory works correctly last year's European championship coincided with the American ... and nobody said something!
February 21, 2011 - 8:57am
#75
Yes, and the dates of these two events were know respectively the Jan 12 for the NA and Jan 27 for the EHBPC and they dont change.
I think its pretty clear that the problem in this case is not that two event take place in the same time, it's that the dates changes.
Now that said, if the EHBPC are delayed, fine, but we have (the euro community) to find an another way to qualify the euros teams that gonna going to the WHBPC.
February 21, 2011 - 8:10am
#76
Any clues about the format? The number of slots? Per country, city? I already asked this but what I only see now is debate on the dates. I don't wanna be part of it as i'm not goin' to BM in Chi.
Dates depend on City of BCN decisions or anywhere you want this event to take place. I can agree that until decisions are taken by the owner of the place you cannot decide.
BUT i also know there are a few points in organizing a tourney that can be decided by organizers ages before the event starts : format, number of teams, the way they have to qualify, even the rules of the tournament can be set up seven years before if needed.
I'm sure you planned this kind of points already, so why not saying any thing about this.
Maybe people are gonna let the pressure down and it would be less scary for players waiting to qualify to go to EHBPC.
February 21, 2011 - 12:36pm
#77
Hugo, clement and greg, have you bought your tickets to the states already? If not then there is a simple solution: decide what tournament is more important to you guys and then choose. A hard choice I'm sure but it would make sense for the 300+ other Euro players.
February 21, 2011 - 1:44pm
#78
Agree with le car and hatchet. Guys, I don't see the point being pretty agressive and negative NOW. How will this help BCN to organise the euros ? And if it's not possible to do it early june, so it's clear there will be a dates change. Stop bitching and be constructive (I know, it's difficult as you're not living in BCN, but...).
February 21, 2011 - 1:53pm
#79
Stop bitching about my bitching. I can't see how i can get happy to know that the dates change now...
And fuck about being constructive, look at the old post about the subject, or look at the EHBPC 2010, i think im contructive enough to bitch when im angry.
Yes we clearly can't argue about making the dates change for 3 or 5 people, but we can clearly say what we think about that.
February 21, 2011 - 2:23pm
#80
Yeah, we heard you the first 5 times you said you were pissed. We get it.
Are you done now?
February 21, 2011 - 5:07pm
#81
I think he's so pissed because through all of this you haven't once been able to look at the situation from his point of view.
You haven't even told them you would TRY to find a solution. Why not?
If you are moving the dates, why can't you move it to a date that works? Why cling to this date that is going to fuck people up so much? Is there no way you could make June 19-20 work for example?
February 21, 2011 - 6:42pm
#83
The only "good" reason for changing dates will be because they have no choice due to the place availability (if I'm understand right).
February 22, 2011 - 4:57am
#84
The only "good" reason for changing dates will be because they have no choice due to the place availability.
February 21, 2011 - 7:06pm
#85
Also right after the euros in barcelona, the messenger euros will take place in madrid.
And of course a polo tournament, now they are doing a tournament 26-27th of march just to get experience for the ECMC polo tourney.
( http://www.leagueofbikepolo.com/i-madrid-bike-polo-open-el-polo-y-el-mad... )
February 21, 2011 - 9:20pm
#86
Metriod, most bike polo players don't give a shit about messenger events. Most people at messenger events don't give a shit about polo. See: CMWC Toronto 2008, NACCC Chicago 2009, ECMC Berlin 2009, CMWC 2010 Panajachel etc. Please stop distracting this discussion!
February 22, 2011 - 12:01am
#90
we learned over here a while ago to not worry about messenger events when planning polo tournaments. europe would be wise to follow suit.
February 22, 2011 - 2:35am
#91
This is "back to the futur" polo mood.
February 27, 2011 - 5:59pm
#92
Absolutely, there is some crossover but not much. CMWC Panajachel had 8 teams for their tournament. That should be an indicator as to how much messengers care about polo.
February 22, 2011 - 3:41am
#93
Ok now thatcher peuple Know That we are pisses, Can we get information to make our choice? Where are The new spot? How many courts on this spot? Wich sizes and surface type? Thanks you for answers
February 22, 2011 - 3:48am
#94
I agree with Kev, as I'd personally rather have nothing to do with a messenger event. I actually think it's more of a hindrance to a good tourney than anything.
February 22, 2011 - 4:28am
#95
What's a hindrance?
Ok i see we have to ask things five times or more to have answers so please could you tell us how many slots per city/country so we can organise qualifiers
x2 for the royal turkey : don't give a damn about messenger events it's their stuff.
mixing it (imo) would mean lowering the level of each event and even if these were side events there would have to be two different crews to organize
February 22, 2011 - 4:34am
#97
about the slots and everything else, it's also depending on the place, if we get two courts, if we get three, or four, for how many days. Space and time conditions very much the rest of the details yes? As soon as one thing is sure, the rest will be.
February 22, 2011 - 4:56am
#98
How many potential locations have you? And as i ask befor what kind and number of courts can you provide on it? Its way différent for us to know that you can have 2or 4 courts, their sizes etc...
February 22, 2011 - 5:00am
#99
...
February 22, 2011 - 4:55am
#100
Just to be clear. We won't announce the spots allocated this week.
Chill down everyone!
February 26, 2011 - 1:50pm
#105
So when is it?
February 27, 2011 - 7:50am
#106
we found a spot that might be able to host the event the first weekend of june. If they confirm with us, then we keep those dates. If they say they can't do it, then it'll be the last weekend of june...
February 27, 2011 - 7:44am
#107
Here is the first batch of spots allocated to each country. Spots were chosen on the base of the pre-registration sheet filled by the cities, which gave us an idea of not only the number of players in each country, but also the strength of their communities.
UK 10
Germany 8
France 8
Italy 7
Spain 5
Switzerland 5
Benelux 3
Hungary 1
Portugal 1
-------------------------------
Total: 48 teams.
We are making sure we can have a wildcard tourney, so that those that couldn't make it in their local qualifiers can still come and play.
February 27, 2011 - 8:32am
#109
Nice Alejandro !
February 27, 2011 - 1:09pm
#112
7 for italia is maybe a lil' bit too much in my opinion. Nothing against you guys, but you are still lil' bit behind in euro polo level. Maybe make 6 slots for italia, and give one to Austria?
The rest of the allocation looks good in my opinion.
February 27, 2011 - 1:49pm
#113
This was determined from the pre-reg sheet that I asked everyone to fill.
Some countries did not get any spots, because they didn't ask for one. Sorry, but you have no one to blame but yourselves.
I'll think about what I'll do with you late-comers. You have untill wednesday to fill the sheet.
February 27, 2011 - 2:00pm
#114
This was determined from the pre-reg sheet that I asked everyone to fill.
Some countries did not get any spots, because they didn't ask for one. Sorry, but you have no one to blame but yourselves.
I'll think about what I'll do with you late-comers. You have until wednesday, march 2nd, to fill the sheet.
Repost to make sure.....
February 28, 2011 - 10:04am
#118
.
February 27, 2011 - 8:44am
#119
Thx Alejandro, I hope it'll work for the first WE of June. Fingers Crossed.
February 27, 2011 - 2:03pm
#120
Thx Alejandro, I hope it'll work for the first WE of June. Fingers Crossed.
even my sex is crossed. It would be just perfect !
February 27, 2011 - 1:36pm
#121
Denmark?
February 27, 2011 - 2:40pm
#122
Poland?
February 27, 2011 - 2:41pm
#123
Ukraine?
February 27, 2011 - 2:41pm
#124
Russia?
February 27, 2011 - 2:43pm
#125
Croatia?
February 27, 2011 - 2:47pm
#127
nice move Ale!
February 27, 2011 - 2:49pm
#128
Not to be a pain in the ass, but can players from more than one country play on the same team?
February 27, 2011 - 6:27pm
#129
Yes, I don't see why not.
Now there are two ways they can enter the tourney:
1. They participate (with the blessing of their community of choice) in one of the qualifiers and earn a spot.
2. They enter the wildcard tourney (assuming that will be able to pull this through), and qualify.
February 27, 2011 - 3:13pm
#130
Thanks Alejandro for all your work.
@Clement: Better you spend more time on the court than in the internet. Sad, what kind of shit you talked in the last times
Greeting from Munich
February 27, 2011 - 4:00pm
#131
Kind of agree, speak too much and too quickly, but i always be like that... Sorry if i hurt people these days by being an questions and arguing whore, but im too much involved in this fuckin' sport to not take it seriously as hell.
About the slots matters, maybe that every team who get 5 slots or more than 5 slots (but spain because of organizing) should get one slot less to let other countries play...
February 28, 2011 - 3:30am
#132
Thanks Alejandro for all your work.
@Clement: Better you spend more time on the court than in the internet. Sad, what kind of shit you talked in the last times
+1
February 28, 2011 - 2:22pm
#133
i think Clément's frustration is partly because he sacrificed many months of his life to put on an amazing EHBPC last year. I'm sure EHBPC will be amazing in Barcelona, but i can understand where he was coming from.
February 28, 2011 - 5:42pm
#134
Peace.
March 1, 2011 - 3:34am
#135
i think Clément's frustration is partly because he sacrificed many months of his life to put on an amazing EHBPC last year. I'm sure EHBPC will be amazing in Barcelona, but i can understand where he was coming from.
I'm not sure I see your point. On Jan 28th Alejandro wrote
It's not final until we get the decision from the city hall, but it's what we intend it to be.
which I interpret as the fact he is working to get it done and he has a shitfight with the city.
Nobody mentioned at that point their personal polo schedule because, well, that
would be pretty rude. Then Feb 16 I see
We had a setback at the Barcelona City Hall the other day
which I interpret to mean, "Alejandro is fighting the man and the man won that round". I would expect everybody (especially Clement) to rally around him and be all like "fuck yeah Alejandro, fight the man!"...but all I hear is WAAAAH WAAAH WAAAAH... wait, is that how you spell it? I felt the same last year when people were giving Clement crap about team numbers but I think then I sent him a personal email giving him props.
Its not that I really care so much, people should talk all the shit they want but I just feel like calling people out for complaining like a bunch of goalies.
March 1, 2011 - 11:03am
#136
Are we a bunch of hippies who always had to say "great" to everthing? I think it healthy and normal to have arguments about something important as dates and slots allocation for an European Championship. Whitout european body, that's normal to have fight on internet about any point of the organisation.
We can all hug at the end of every next games that all of us gonna play together, and argue in this thread too. There is no contradictions.
And yeah, i remember your email last year, was great for me. But as i remember, i was also let crying babies (like me this year) cry whithout being too affected. Im sure Alejandro and BCN polo is working the same way, so that's ok at the end...
February 27, 2011 - 4:05pm
#137
Thanks Bnc for the news.
@clement change nothing.
February 27, 2011 - 5:10pm
#138
If you give Benelux 3 spots you cannot give Italy 7.
Italy does not have better Polo than the Benelux. There's no reason why they should deserve more than the double.
February 28, 2011 - 6:22am
#139
I totally disagree!!!! How you measure it??
In Italy we have a quite big community and about the level of playing we will see ;)
February 28, 2011 - 3:30pm
#140
Probably measured the amount of inhabitants? Benelux 27,5 million vs Italy 60,2 million relates to 3 vs 7 I guess. My question would be how Benelux is going to run their qualifiers?
February 28, 2011 - 9:25am
#141
"Italy does not have better Polo than the Benelux."
please ....that is just what I don t want to read ...so Pussy
February 27, 2011 - 6:58pm
#143
I talked with ben schultz today and he decided that if euros and bench minor overlap that then hugo and greg's team will automatically be given slots at worlds and won't have to qualify through the european championship.
February 27, 2011 - 7:22pm
#144
So they automatically take 2 slots from the 16 allowed to europa polo?
( And if the team who play without him, MGM with a subs' in example, finish into the 16 first of the EHBPC, what happens?nothing i presume, but just askin... )
February 28, 2011 - 7:50am
#145
this was just a joke.
February 28, 2011 - 5:05am
#146
You got a point there Alex, BUT Alejandro asked for each country/city to fill in a sheet to get an overview of players/teams. Every team that plays in Italy probably filled this in, I'm sure The Netherlands didn't.
The teams I know from Italy are;
Roma
Tiger
Milano
Torino
Malaforca
Riding in circle
They don't have to be better than Benelux teams, but most of them are. Besides that I think that that Italy should get 5 teams, give 1 spot to Denmark and put 1 spot to Benelux. Italy does NOT have to fight for their spots right now, the teams above are the top ones from Italy and the rest is not, so for them they know already that they will got to Barcelona without having to work for it.
Denmark has great players and is now excluded for pre qualification OR they have to come to The Netherlands, but that is pretty shit. They can also enter the "wild card" qualifications but I then again think that's shitty.
February 28, 2011 - 6:41am
#147
Denmark has great players and is now excluded for pre qualification OR they have to come to The Netherlands, but that is pretty shit. They can also enter the "wild card" qualifications but I then again think that's shitty.
Proved, I love danish sweaty polo players.
February 28, 2011 - 8:16am
#148
You got a point there Alex, BUT Alejandro asked for each country/city to fill in a sheet to get an overview of players/teams. Every team that plays in Italy probably filled this in, I'm sure The Netherlands didn't.
The teams I know from Italy are;
Roma
Tiger
Milano
Torino
Malaforca
Riding in circle
They don't have to be better than Benelux teams, but most of them are. Besides that I think that that Italy should get 5 teams, give 1 spot to Denmark and put 1 spot to Benelux. Italy does NOT have to fight for their spots right now, the teams above are the top ones from Italy and the rest is not, so for them they know already that they will got to Barcelona without having to work for it.
Denmark has great players and is now excluded for pre qualification OR they have to come to The Netherlands, but that is pretty shit. They can also enter the "wild card" qualifications but I then again think that's shitty.
As far as I am concerned, that sheet was meant to be filled by CITY, not by team. Italy must have 100 players, but they don't have 7 teams on European level. Excuse me but this is just a fact and the Bench Minor result is there to prove it.
I am aware of how much work and how much shit is Alejandro taking from a lot of people. I don't wanna be on the group of people who are making his work harder; it's my last intention. But this is just nonsense.
I suggest one more slot to the Benelux, one to Denmark and one more for the wild card leaving Italy with four slots.
s
February 28, 2011 - 11:16am
#149
As far as I am concerned, that sheet was meant to be filled by CITY, not by team. Italy must have 100 players, but they don't have 7 teams on European level. Excuse me but this is just a fact and the Bench Minor result is there to prove it.
I am aware of how much work and how much shit is Alejandro taking from a lot of people. I don't wanna be on the group of people who are making his work harder; it's my last intention. But this is just nonsense.
I suggest one more slot to the Benelux, one to Denmark and one more for the wild card leaving Italy with four slots.
s
we can talk hours about polo skills and levels but this is not the point.
the point is how big is "your" polo community an how much do you love/travel for bike polo...UK or London didnt result first on the BM you cited but they have 10 slots.
If your suggestion is also to represent any nationality at least with one team..I agree, but by taking 1 slot to every big euro polo community
February 28, 2011 - 12:28pm
#150
skills and levels are not the point, but at least those can be measured in goals, right? but "how much do you love polo" ?? how do you measure that? travel? do you know anything about average wages in eastern-europe? (ok, not Austria, they are doing fine I think), it's about one third of Italy's. (A swiss part time bike messenger earns better than a hungarian full time bank clerk). For most of them the euros will be the big vacation trip, and no more other tournaments in where-ever in europe, it will completly empty their account. And the worlds (when it's overseas) it's out of even question. So what do you think, how much they love polo? They literally spend all their money on it. Hungary got one slot, ok, must agree, coz we are not that big community. But the other two points you mentioned are not prevalent (or valid? I donno which one is better).
February 28, 2011 - 1:18pm
#152
i've never said many things you made me said. but i'm sorry if you worred
when Italy was a little polo community we was never counted for a tournament place, but nobody was worried. we considered it "physiological"
ps
you can also participate in a team at our IHBPC for sure, you know.
Ciao
March 1, 2011 - 7:24am
#153
look, I'm not worried, just what you said about what it takes to get more places, like how much you love polo. I don't think slots should be given by the "amout of polo-love", because it is hard to measure, that makes no sense for me.
And as I wrote above I don't mind that hungary gets one spot.
February 28, 2011 - 11:33am
#154
@alex fig tree
To be clear,
"I am aware of how much work and how much shit is Alejandro taking from a lot of people. I don't wanna be on the group of people who are making his work harder; it's my last intention."
Lot of people mean 3 guys who are upset because they can't come because of dates issues. Can't really see how we can make the work harder to alejandro, we are not puting sticks into wheels. Every time he needed help from myself i gave him ASAP.
And your complaining about slots is exactly the same as mine for dates.
February 28, 2011 - 10:26am
#155
Tnx BCN for jour job. i can't wait..
I dont now if 7 spots for italy is ok or not, the sistem to assigne the spot is "numbers of teams and numbers to players"?; so i give our numbers: we have 25 to 30 stable teams and about 100 players. Yes, our medium quality is not so hight (at the moment..), difficult for us to play city against city (Vicenza to Catania for exemple is 1300 KM..), and we growing too slow, is for that we try to arrange a mounthly tournament (next for exemple is MDO5 in Vicenza 2-3 april, i have 24 teams already registred..).
If the people dont send pre-registration sheet is not italy's fault, or you wanna chose the teams selected from the flags of the LoBP google map? I travel around europe to play more is possible.. why the others not?
Maeby doing one "wild card tourney" in bcn for assigne a good numbers of free spots it's not a bad idea, i thinks lot of italians teams come in bcn to try to get it. In this case we can see how many players want travel to Spain for conquer the place for ehbpc 2011 without certainnes to play the finals rounds.
Let's the court talk.
love all
"we all are gay with someonelse's ass" (Italian proverb)
Denmark has great players and is now excluded for pre qualification OR they have to come to The Netherlands, but that is pretty shit. They can also enter the "wild card" qualifications but I then again think that's shitty.
Proved, I love danish sweaty polo players.
+1
February 28, 2011 - 1:23pm
#157
If the people dont send pre-registration sheet is not italy's fault, or you wanna chose the teams selected from the flags of the LoBP google map? I travel around europe to play more is possible.. why the others not?
The question is, if we (Vienna/Austria and other cities that forgott to fill out the registration form) had not forgotten, which slots would have been given to us and which countries would have a slot less comparing to current spot allocation?
I'm not the right person to reply at this question, i think the method is same like 2010, 2009. Through the pre-registration sheet.
So, were extra spots given to Italy (or in fact any other country that were given a high number of slots) because there less countries/cities registrated than expected or were the 7 spots given to italy based on the sheets send in?
Same.. ask the organizer.
We just have one spot plus then Geneva 2010.
I think Alejandro and the boys in BCN try to arrange a spots for all polo communities over Europe, is in our interest.
February 28, 2011 - 8:33am
#159
Alright everyone, I just came back from the last place that could host the event the first weekend of june and they just confirmed with me that they are UNABLE to do it on that weekend.
My apologies for having to move the event, but it must be done.
Official dates for this year's Euros will be from the 24th to the 26th of june. I'll confirm with you about the wildcard tourney which would take place the 23rd of june at a later time.
February 28, 2011 - 10:05am
#162
Are you saying that allocation is going to be by country (not city), with qualifiers to decide which teams get to go?
February 28, 2011 - 10:56am
#163
Allocation of teams by country, yes.
How you decide who comes, it's up to you (and by you, I mean every country).
February 28, 2011 - 11:00am
#164
Cool, thanks for clarification.
February 28, 2011 - 11:46am
#165
1. damn, those karlsruhe guys must play some fucked up polo, if the bench minor results are the new hierarchy in european polo...our career is over. :(
2. i don't want to push the discussion, but it's very sad to see (despite all facts and arguments) how people are treating each other on here...
i see the points on both sides and yeah...this is the internet, but c'mon...this is not the spirit i relate with this sport and i just get a good amount of negative connotation reading all this.
3. i'm sure barcelona will make an awesome tournament and i can't fuckin' wait to come.
X
February 28, 2011 - 2:09pm
#166
1. damn, those karlsruhe guys must play some fucked up polo, if the bench minor results are the new hierarchy in european polo...our career is over. :(
Organize a tourney and plays his best polo in the same way is impossible.
February 28, 2011 - 7:25pm
#167
:( i'm not sure to come..
March 1, 2011 - 4:32am
#168
yeah, so do I, even if I understand, the dates changing sucks a lot.. :(
March 1, 2011 - 5:13am
#170
And you must remember that if, for any reason, your team doesn´t get a spot you can come anyway and fight for one over here, and everyone is welcome!
that's the way! next year Denmark will pay more attention during pre-registration..
great job Alejandro! see you soon guys
March 1, 2011 - 6:40am
#172
Alright if the dates are now officials you should update your first post Alejandro.
I say that because not everybody read such a long thread like this, for my part it's why I tough until recently that the dates was in the first week of June.
March 1, 2011 - 6:42am
#173
Time's up!! Everyone filled the sheet?
I don't want any of this from this point on
March 1, 2011 - 7:33am
#175
glad we just got our form in then.
March 1, 2011 - 1:50pm
#176
Done and done.
March 2, 2011 - 11:59am
#177
cazzo! epic win
April 7, 2011 - 9:06am
#178
.
March 1, 2011 - 8:28am
#179
great news to have a fixed date!
I understand the conflict, some people got now. From your point of view, I even understand your anger! Could have gone better, but in the end its the Euros. THE tournament for this continent against an American Bench Minor. Sertainly cool tournament as well, but shouldnt give a Hugo or Craig to think about. You guys must definitly be in BCN!!! ;)
Barcelona is goning to give us some great Euros, I'm sure! Cant wait to get there.
Cheers
March 1, 2011 - 10:46am
#181
I'm hearing people talk about bad vibes, negativity, etc. I'm just trying to be reasonable here. So here's my question: In the base of what was the allocation of slots decided ?
March 1, 2011 - 10:56am
#182
Slots were decided based on the info each city filled in (it's in the thread above). I imagine the number of potential teams you could send to the event, plus any past tournament wins came into it:
(Size of polo scene + number of teams ready to compete + past tournament wins) ÷ number of countries = your allocation of spots.
There's no need for Barcelona to go into detail and I heard that they followed a similar system to Geneva last year... I'm stoked the dates confirmed and will be booking flights tonight.
Good stuff Barca!
March 1, 2011 - 11:26am
#183
I'd like to hear someone from the organisation.
If things are the way you say, and we analise the data, Holland alone got 3 slots for Geneva. Both the level and the amount of players has only raised during this year. Belgium has right now some great players and also a rising amount of players. That gives Holland 1,5 slots. Half.
March 1, 2011 - 5:33pm
#184
I'd like to hear someone from the organisation.
If things are the way you say, and we analise the data, Holland alone got 3 slots for Geneva. Both the level and the amount of players has only raised during this year. Belgium has right now some great players and also a rising amount of players. That gives Holland 1,5 slots. Half.
There where many factors that went into consideration for the allocation of spots to every country. If you took a look at the pre-reg sheet, you might have seen some of the questions that were asked. We looked for past results at the main two events that happened in this continent last year (EHBPC/WHBPC) as well as the attendance of other tournaments and standings in those. Furthermore, we looked at the community's size and age and finally at the number of established teams.
As you can see Alex, you might have been practicing a lot and I don't doubt you've polished your polo skills, but there are a few things you should consider before starting to bash on other communities or put in doubt our decision process. As for what I can see on my info sheet, Amsterdam has 0 established teams. Also, you guys haven't really attended any tournament other than the ones at your own city (also on the sheet). Not only that, but haven't got any outstanding results that can attest your skills.
Only 3 spots were given to Benelux because although everybody wants to play at the euros, there is limited space and only the very best can get their golden ticket. Nobody is getting an easy entrance I can assure you (you might think Italy is, although it is becoming one of the largest communities in Europe and one leading the way in putting up national tournaments).I would suggest that instead of complaining about the number of spots, you start going to the court to make sure one is YOURS.
March 1, 2011 - 6:28pm
#186
It's a good indicator on your established teams and your involvement in the community. Also, a euro championship shouldn't be your first tourney at this point, now that there are so many communities and people have been playing for some time.
March 1, 2011 - 7:42pm
#188
Although I agree that we should encourage all new polo scenes, we should not do this at the European Championships. The Euros are about finding the best team on the continent and are our preparation for the worlds, we have plenty of other (awesome) tournaments to foster new talent at and enjoy the varied competition there-in.
If you're a new team and fancy "a shot" at the Euros then that's what the wild-card is for, don't steal a spot on some geographical technicality... you may be taking that spot away from a team that have been in training for a couple years (dramatic example but hopefully you catch my drift)!
March 1, 2011 - 3:22pm
#189
@ Alex..Netherlands got 2 slots in Geneva. Let the organisation of this year decide, organizers can not satisfy everyone.
March 1, 2011 - 5:52pm
#190
I'm listing the countries that were left out on the initial distribution of spots:
Austria
Denmark
Poland
Ireland
Scotland
Most of you guys are asking for (obviously) more than 1 spot... I would like to ask you something before redistributing spots.
Austria & Poland: would you rather have only 1 guaranteed spot or would you prefer to be grouped with Germany and have the chance to earn more than one? (Germaustland could get an additional spot(s) on that case).
Denmark: 1 spot or bunch up with Benelux? (Benemark could get an additional spot(s) on that case).
Ireland & Scotland: bunch together? bunch with UK? or individual spots.........
March 1, 2011 - 6:59pm
#192
in regards to ireland, we'd like to be recognised as our own spot. we are our own country. i'm not sure how scotland feel about this, but technically they are part of the UK, we are not. i don't think portugal would like to considered part of spain, or switzerland considered part of germany.
seeing how many spots other countries are allocated, i cannot expect more than one place. we'd be happy with one guaranteed spot. that's why there are wildcard tournies, so that any more of our players who did not qualify could enter that way.
thanks for all the great work in organising this. it seems like you've been getting a lot of grief from people who are not happy. i imagine this can't be easy.
March 1, 2011 - 7:38pm
#193
I'm NOT talking about political issues here, what I was asking was whether you rather have only one spot as a nation or you would rather be included in a "region" so you could maybe fight for more than one....
It's a matter of knowing how to redisribute the spots.....
March 2, 2011 - 3:32am
#194
cool. well, we'd prefer one spot as a nation. it would be better than being part of the region. we'd fight for a second at the wildcard tourney.
March 1, 2011 - 7:41pm
#195
I'm listing the countries that were left out on the initial distribution of spots:
Austria
Denmark
Poland
Ireland
Scotland, you are included in the UK spots. (Fool me once.....)
March 1, 2011 - 7:45pm
#196
Essentially the question is: Will you fight for more than one spot and potentially end up with nothing, or will you take what you can get.
(I'd take the latter, heh.)
March 2, 2011 - 3:42am
#198
We're only asking for one spot for Denmark (Copenhagen), so that's fine with us.
There's around zero chance that anyone from Denmark will go to a Benelux country to do a qualifier, our community is very small and consists mostly of messengers and students, so money and time is scarce, especially with the CMCW so close to us this year as well. Not that it should matter in the selection process, just thought I would throw it out there so Benelux won't hate us.
March 4, 2011 - 12:43pm
#199
I think Poland would rather prefer one guaranteed spot than sharing spot pool with Germany (and being obliged to go there for a qualifier). It's pretty similar to Denmark-Benelux situation. It's hard enough for most of the teams to travel to a tourney that's held IN Poland.
March 2, 2011 - 4:18am
#200
That is what I mentioned before Jacob, it's pretty hard for Denmark to come to a benelux qualifier.
March 2, 2011 - 8:22am
#201
Benelux = Belgium, Netherlands & Luxemburg, doesn't it?
March 2, 2011 - 8:59am
#202
Benelux = Belgium, Netherlands & Luxemburg, doesn't it?
yup. should we change the name to Bene? :D
March 2, 2011 - 11:54am
#204
Was that Birmingham's spot you just gave to Ireland then?
In all seriousness, this is pretty fair... let's see what Ale comes back with though.
March 2, 2011 - 5:41pm
#205
Why is Birmingham so vocal about giving up UK spots? Geez. If anything, I think we should get some of those Italy spots. More spots for UK! More! More! Srsly. If Greg and Hugo aren't going, let's just get those two spots from France. Clement's moaning should be penalized with fewer spots for CH. And more for the UK!
(also, Nick! Tu parle Francais? Quoi? Je voudrais ecoute a ton accent! J'ai pense tu etais commes Agata. Faux frenchie).
March 2, 2011 - 7:52pm
#206
Clement's moaning should be penalized with fewer spots for CH.
epic shit talk Mark...
March 2, 2011 - 7:01pm
#210
Switzerland will sell a spot on ebay soon.
Stay tuned.
March 3, 2011 - 12:07pm
#214
I never meant to be a dick. And by saying that Italy didn't have better Polo than us I never meant our level was superior, by no means. That should be very clear. I am fully aware of our limitations.
In fact, I discovered my city representative didn't fill in the sheet correctly so that gives me automatically no legitimacy to complain about any slots.
My apologies.
March 7, 2011 - 8:16am
#215
Team list updated.....
March 7, 2011 - 8:39am
#218
hurrah. thanks for the hard work
March 7, 2011 - 9:53am
#219
Cheers Ale
How many spots have been reserved for the wildcard tourney?
March 7, 2011 - 4:42pm
#220
I may be missing something here, so please forgive if it is obvious and I havent seen it, but
UK 10
Germany 8
France 8
Italy 7
Spain 5
Switzerland 5
Benelux 3
Austria 1
Hungary 1
Denmark 1
Ireland 1
Poland 1
Portugal 1
*Wildcard tourney not confirmed yet. If we can't do one, we'll be allocating more spots; if we do, then this list is final and all remaining spots will be decided there.
10+ 8+ 8+ 7+ 5+ 5+ 3+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1 = 52 total slots, + slots for wildcard tourney
how many slots there are in total????
March 7, 2011 - 5:58pm
#222
I'd guess 64.
March 8, 2011 - 1:51am
#224
I sent something like this to Ale a couple weeks ago:
=====
i have an idea for your EHBPC qualification system. You take the results from EHBPC and WHBPC last year. For every team in the top 32, their country gets one spot for EHBPC. However, no duplicates (if a team is in the top 32 at both tournaments, their country only gets one spot). Then, every other country (portugal, poland, etc) gets one spot. Then, you give your city a couple spots, just for hosting. You end up with about 50 spots.
EHBPC 2010 results:
CH L’equipe
UK Cosmic
ES El club
UK Rotten Apples
DE Toros
DE Polosynthese
FR Apologie
FR MGM
DE Bambule
DE ToughShit
FR MoteurF
DE SharkA
? PoloEro (who is this? their country should be given an extra spot)
DE Clowns
FR Roling Hoods
UK Netto
UK BAD
NE EHVFXD
CH PoloStubli
CH IronPony
DE Rakete
IT RICircles
FR Broken Legs
FR DBAA
ES Barca
CH Lausanne
FR Marteau Players
UK Cambridge
UK Malice
HU Budapest
DE 69ers
IT Malaforca
Worlds 2010 results (not including teams that placed top 32 at EHBPC)
9. FR Dans ta Gueule Puceau
13. UK La Schmoove
17. UK Bad Polo
17. UK Massive Cogs
25. IT Li Carbonari
25. ES Los Manguis
You end up with this:
CH 5
UK 10
FR 9
ES 4
DE 9
IT 4
NE 2
HU 2
PT 1
AU 1
PO 1
IE 1
Barcelona for hosting: 2
If you use Swiss Rounds, you don't need a special number of teams, like 48. It can be 50 or 52 teams, ideally an even number.
====
This ends up being pretty close to what was proposed based on the survey, with the exception of Italy getting a couple extra spots.
March 8, 2011 - 2:09am
#225
Your list is perfect Kev!
March 10, 2011 - 9:34am
#226
No gosh it's not!! Who the hell told ya the Moteur Fuckers were french? We are a swiss team! Please!
March 8, 2011 - 3:14am
#229
yeah, I like that, 2 for hungary :)
March 8, 2011 - 3:35am
#230
......
? PoloEro (who is this? their country should be given an extra spot)
That's the famous danish team "PoloErotica"
but this year it may be team "tank and spank" or "danish bacon"
cos the 2 pretty boy's may not go :(
but I dont think DK will need that extra spot this year....
March 8, 2011 - 4:15am
#231
nice. 2 place for Hungary, thanks
March 8, 2011 - 6:02am
#232
doesn't seem like a bad system at all. even looks pretty similar to what the draw actually was, with the obvious exception of italy being cut from 7 to 4.
edit: just realised i repeated your conclusion. oh well.
March 8, 2011 - 9:18am
#234
I think the issue is that 1)scenes are currently growing and changing every year. A system that may accommodate for everyone this year may be outdated by next. and 2) A solid system hasn't really been worked out yet. The organisers each year have to try something a little new, keeping in mind what was done the year before and how this work and how this failed. Improving it a little at a time - thats what all the discussion is about. Shits only in its 3rd year, bro.
Kev's system is only one idea (a good one at that) - he might run this site, but he doesn't run the world (yet). I believe the lack of a Belgian spot is an unfortunate oversight. If you noticed...
Then, every other country (portugal, poland, etc) gets one spot.
March 8, 2011 - 11:10am
#235
I believe the lack of a Belgian spot is an unfortunate oversight. If you noticed...
Then, every other country (portugal, poland, etc) gets one spot.
ya exactly. would be cool to see ukraine and russia too. and this was just an experiment.
for 2012 i hope it won't be country-based, but until there's a governing body that can run a set of qualification tourneys, it will probably continue to fall back on nat'l scenes.
March 28, 2011 - 2:23pm
#236
I believe the lack of a Belgian spot is an unfortunate oversight. If you noticed...
Then, every other country (portugal, poland, etc) gets one spot.
ya exactly. would be cool to see ukraine and russia too. and this was just an experiment.
for 2012 i hope it won't be country-based, but until there's a governing body that can run a set of qualification tourneys, it will probably continue to fall back on nat'l scenes.
Yes true. Bike polo is getting more popular. Probably next year Russia might end up coming and ukraine. They are also starting to play. Thanks for poland getting one spot.
I might say that we are going to have our first ever qualificatons tournament becasue of the lack of spots for EHBPC but thats ok.
The time i think has coming or its coming close to actually get a system or a european govering body to sort out a way for this. :)
As for now poland has an assosiation that is trying to hold all together and sort of keep hold of all the people playing bike polo here. INforms about tournaments and also will organise qualifications. I think it is handy.
i am pretty sure that although one team will play but couple extra players will come watch, play pick-ups and socialise :)
We had 12 teams playing the tournament two weekends ago in warsaw. :) so not bad. :)
March 28, 2011 - 2:28pm
#237
damn! sorry for my spelling! its terrible. I didn't read it before i sent it. :( Sorry. (tired)
March 8, 2011 - 10:45am
#238
without forgetting that the spots number depends on the availability of courts..
March 11, 2011 - 6:51am
#240
We have limited free housing for now. For some, most likely they will contact directly with their polo friends and ask for hosting.
we are contacting with hostels to find cheap housing/ group deals, but you should definitely start looking on your own as well.
March 15, 2011 - 5:17am
#241
when is the deadline to supply team names for each country ?
March 15, 2011 - 6:02am
#242
how long do you need?
the general idea is that the sooner a country knows what teams are going the better, cheaper tickets....
March 15, 2011 - 8:36am
#243
that is true
March 15, 2011 - 8:38am
#244
.
March 17, 2011 - 3:36am
#245
Is there any info on the location of the court(s)? North, south, east, west barcelona?
March 17, 2011 - 4:12am
#246
Flights and accommodation booked!
YES!!!
March 21, 2011 - 11:21am
#251
It's all?
Come on boys.... shut up and play polo
See you in Barcelona.
April 7, 2011 - 9:07am
#252
Just booked my plane tickets.
Can't wait to film the third installment!
April 11, 2011 - 1:48pm
#253
Ale:
Any confirmation for the location yet? If not, can you give us an idea of when you will know. Plane ticket prices are going up fast.
cheers dude.
April 18, 2011 - 8:29am
#254
UK 10 team slot allocation after our qualification tournament this weekend.
1. Nice Touch, London
2. Spring Break, London
3. Cosmic, London
4. TNT, London
5. Fenboy 3, Cambridge
6. Dead Rappers, London
7. Netto, Manchester
8. La Schmoove, London
9. Degeneration, London
10. L'Quiche, London
April 18, 2011 - 8:51am
#255
Any more info yet? Where will the courts be? Who's in charge of accomodation? I know it will be limited, but someone to talk with about options would be good.
Are the courts in central BCN, or outside town?
April 18, 2011 - 9:00am
#256
+1
we are just 65 days aways (more or less)
how many teams in the tournament?
its going to be a wildcard tourney or not?
how many courts?
April 19, 2011 - 3:08am
#260
April 21, 2011 - 4:24am
#261
April 21, 2011 - 4:30am
#263
Tok tok! Is anyone there?
![3b9368b57100b56c8922c07f6ce27b6b[1].jpeg](http://sites/lobp.unlockedmedia.net/files/3b9368b57100b56c8922c07f6ce27b6b%5B1%5D.jpeg "3b9368b57100b56c8922c07f6ce27b6b[1].jpeg")
April 21, 2011 - 8:52am
#264
Info, info, info ....
April 22, 2011 - 6:40am
#265
Pls some reaction...
I need to know some details before i can book my trip
April 22, 2011 - 7:25am
#266
Yes, there'll be a wildcard tourney.
For now 20 teams from which 8 will make it.
April 22, 2011 - 2:04pm
#272
our team is already placed through the benelux qualifier
but i want to know in what area the courts will be so that i can book a hotel or app. close to it
thnx
ps are there possibilities to put a campervan near the courts?
April 22, 2011 - 3:23pm
#273
^ this
(except for the campervan part. Not too bothered about that bit).
April 23, 2011 - 4:27am
#274
You should look for places near the Forum area.
I will inquire about the camper, but I won't get an answer before tuesday (holiday weekend).
April 23, 2011 - 4:35am
#275
Thanks, Ale. See you in a couple of months!
April 23, 2011 - 5:57am
#276
Around here Ale?
http://goo.gl/maps/uxtT
April 29, 2011 - 6:38am
#278
uh.. forum.. primaveraaaasoundd !! nice !!
we have found a place in carrer de taulat (in front of forum), during Sexipolobeeramigo, was not a greeny place, just a trucks and bus parking, but they furnishes toilettes, showers, electricity and park place for campers and vans.
here:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=forum&aq=&...
April 26, 2011 - 2:15am
#281
Awesome Skatespot!
April 29, 2011 - 8:06am
#282
Teams registered for the wildcard:
1. Pistachio United*
2. Le Sporting Club Parisien*
3. Tornadoes
4. El Club*
5. Quetxulonia*
6. Dubeva
7. Taffy Whackers
8. Poloholica*
9. Birchenfelt
10. Milano Bike Polo Beta*
11. Swing Along
12. King Salami
13. Löatzi*
14. Chocolate Sexy*
15. Call me daddy*
16. Arreando Chim Pam Pum
17. Les Armoires à cuillères*
18. DFA *
19. Ma Couille*
20. Peinture Frech*
21. Bang Bang*
22. Bike Pollo*
23. Tigers*
24.Los Manguis*
25. Polipolo*
26. Blackjack RC*
Teams with a * haven't played their national qualifiers yet.
April 29, 2011 - 9:41am
#283
Testing the new website.
visit www.ehbpc.org
We'll be posting info there.
May 2, 2011 - 4:30am
#284
german qualification tournament:
http://challonge.com/images/brackets/euroquali.png
May 3, 2011 - 10:50am
#285
"Teams with a * haven't played their national qualifiers yet."
Am i the only one who thinks there's something off about this?
Thank the Lord not every team in London (for instance) thought about doing a "just in case" sign up. That could have turned out to be a 100% Tea & Scones party ;)
We'll have the Portuguese qualifiers on the 14th... guess the team that doesn't win is pretty much fucked...
In any case... get Hyenas and Ripa na Rapa on there please.
May 3, 2011 - 6:01pm
#286
Portuguese qualifiers... great!
I'll be following the results.
Teams with an * are to be taken with a grain of salt of course. Some submission are not serious at all (El Club for example). But it gives us and idea, right?
May 3, 2011 - 8:20pm
#287
Tournament thread: http://leagueofbikepolo.com/ehbpc-2011
First option sounds like heaven to me.
http://amsterdambikepolo.tumblr.com/