Dublin open - Docklands 2007

[Nikolay]

Guys,

I just put up the dates on the calendar section for the Docklands 07.
Announcing the date early concerns more the international teams as will give them time to choice which tournament to enter. I’ll keep you updated with all the latest.

Later
Nik

[Laurel]

Thanks for the info Nik. This was such a brilliant tournament last year, with enjoyable polo, a fun party, good organisation, a great venue. We'll certainly be bringing a team over from the UK again, and it would be great to see other international teams there too!

[atbarber]

Are the entry forms out for the competition yet.

[Nikolay]

Just quick update on the Docklands.

At the moment the dock is empty and has been cleared as the DDDA have promised to do, by tonight they’ll start filling it up with water. The ramp has been changed as well and all looks very new. I’m still looking for sponsorship and venue for the party on Saturday night. If everything goes well I’m expecting to have the entry forms out by end of March.

I’ll keep you up to date with all the latest news.


Talk to you later
Nik

[Nikolay]

Guys,

I just got a phone call from the Docklands Authority confirming the dates 19/20 May for the Docklands. Get you teams ready for the firs outdoor competition of the year. Entry form will be posted in the next few day.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Nikolay]

Good afternoon,

The second Docklands tournament is upon us. Please find attached the entry forms for the Docklands 2007 19/20 May. Please pay strict attention to referee form and provide a referee as requested. DCPL are running referees courses all year long so please get in touch with Sparky to complete the course. If team is unable to provide a referee must pay the €20. When the time table is created teams that have put referee forward will be on it so every one will know well in advance what time is playing and referring. Please make all check payable to Nikolay Valchinkovski and forward your forms by post to 1 Finsbury Green, Churchtown, Dublin 14. Close of entry 11 May.

I’ll keep you updated with all latest news, on entry, party, weather etc.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Nikolay]

I’ve been asked to clarify the structure of the Docklands for this year competition. 3 divisions 8 teams in each division the same as last year. Teams that play in DIV 4 and 5 for DCPL should be fine in DIV 3.
.
I’m finalising the party on Saturday night at the same venue Harbourmaster pub. As I’ve got the dates for the competition confirmed quite late the function room was booked already. We can still be in the pub on the ground floor. Please let me know if you have any suggestions I could look at moving to other place or trying to sort out something else.

Will let you know of all latest news.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Effe]

Hey Nik,
I know last year after the Harbormaster closed a lot of people moved over to Isac Butts (just at the other side of the bus station). I'm not sure how busy it get's on your average Saturday night but it was far from packed last year and maybe it'd be a good spot for the docklands night. They often have bands on so I'm not sure if we could get free entry or even reserve our own section but it could be worth looking into.....

[RobertD]

Don't forget about the Vaults.
Haven't been there in a while, but the place is pretty big.
Robert

[Fi H]

The Isaac Butt is now radio city and phantom runs stuff in there regularly! might be a good venue alright - worth investigating!
The Vault also might do you a deal if you talk to them - i know i've been to functions there before
both probably charge after a certain time at night so worth finding out what time

[Nikolay]

Guys just to let you all know that there are still places left in DIV3 perhaps in DIV2 but I need teams to confirm so I’ll know for sure. Teams that have contacted me at the pool on Friday please confirm at your earliest convenience your participation. By Friday I’ll post all teams that have confirmed so far. I hope there will be no disappointed people. I would like to see some teams from Galway, Cork. Limerick have contacted me and they might put up a team.

More news on the party do shortly.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Chris Leonard]

Hi Nik,
couldn't find email/phone for you . High Voltage will be putting a team into div 3 for the docklands. If you need to contact me mail chrisleonardjratgmaildotcom.

Thanks again

Chris

[Nikolay]

Please see below a list with all team entries so far. I’ve listed only teams that have confirmed to me one way or another.

Div 1
1. Carnage
2. Kilcock
3. Kamikaze
4. Muppets
5. Swink
6. Cyclones
7. Irish Ladies squad

Div 2

Big Fish
Armitage Shanks
Mighty Ducks
Dredgers
Bad Company
Okey Dockey
Assassins
Div 3

1. Voodoo
2. High Voltage
3. Spartans
4. Cavemen
5. Midlanders
6. DCU


I’ve listed ONLY teams that have confirmed. There is one space left in Div 2 and two places in Div3. Please get in touch with me if you want them. As soon as the divisions are full a time table will be issued.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Nikolay]

Now the party…

Harbourmaster put will facilitate our needs of GUINNESS and lager on Saturday night from 8pm. As well they’ll provide full Irish breakfast on Saturday from 9am till 12 and on Sunday from 10am till 12. during the day they’ll serve food as usual.

Just to remind teams that there are is one place left in DIV2 and two places in DIV3.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Laurel]

So sorry we won't be there this year - last year this was a great tournament, both on and off the water. We really appreciated all the help and kindness shown to us by Nik & all others. Hopefully be back next year!

[Nikolay]

Well,

Now time has run out and whichever team have confirmed one way or another is on the list to play. Full team list as follows:

Div 1

Carnage
Cyclones
Kamikaze
Irish Lades Squad
Muppets
Kilcock
Swink Div 2

Armitage Shanks
Assassins
Bad Company
Big Fish
Dredgers
Mighty Ducks
Okay Dockey
Grumpy Old Men
Div 3

Cuckoos
High Voltage
DCU
Cavemen
Spartans
Cuckoos
AquackatsMidlanders have pull out.

Time table is almost ready checking at the moment for mistakes and will be available later Monday evening. Div 1 and 2 will play two halves per 10min with 30min per game turn. As for Div 3 they’ll play two halves per 7min with 25min per game turn. There is a plenty of time available for teams not to be late. If team is not on the water at the scheduled time game will be counted scratched. The games on Saturday will start at 8am and finish 4:30 – 5pm on Sunday the games will start at 9am and if goes as planed the finals will start at 14pm. Div2 teams will play 9 games over the weekend were Div1 and 3 will have 7-9 games it depends were you come in the group. Teams that have given me their perpetual trophies from last year their names will be engraved on them ready for the presentation on Sunday afternoon.

I’ll be all day on Friday at the Georges dock platform and any help will be appreciated even if stop by and bringing some refreshments. Pitch one will be set up by lunch and if anyone wants to get on the water is welcome. Will try and get enough people for a game.

The Docklands management company have hold their promise to empty the dock cleaned and filled with fresh water. The only think now left which I can’t arrange is to have two nice sunny warm days in Dublin next weekend.

Any questions please let me know.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Nikolay]

Finally we’ve the timetable ready big thanks to Peter and Connie for the help as I was going to give up last night. As last year Connie will be your competition manager (easy to persuade – just give him a walky-talky) running the event on both days.

Few things, as DIV1 is small division during the course of the weekend we could move some games on their pitch 1, mainly games from Div2. I would prefer to start early and finish early on both days, so will stick with 8am on Saturday (and hive time for the party) and 9am on Sunday (time for the presentation). It’s not a bank holiday weekend as last year.

All finals will be played on pitch 1 with presentation after (taking down all goals and pitches) in Harbourmaster pub.

Lucozade have provided us with drinks for the weekend which will be given to all on Saturday morning. I would have called a captain’s meeting on Friday night in Harbourmaster but there are games in DCPL will leave it for Saturday morning before the games. All team captains will be given timetable for the day to be able and organise themselves what time teams are referring/duty, if team is late for either points will be deducted.

I’m sure I’ve forgot something but all will be sorted on the day. I’ve kept the name on one team as they are better known and if you guys want to talk to me please do and I’ll explain my reasons.

Talk to you later
Nik

[Fi H]

Hey Nik
Good work on getting the timetable out early. just one thing - bad company are down for game 22 & 25 - ie 9.30 & 10 -dont know if you intended back to back games or not.
see you saturday
fi

[darrenc]

Hi Nik,

Cheers for the timetable.

It looks like there might be a couple of small issues with the Div 2 schedule in that the Mighty Ducks are playing the Dredgers in game 1 & 5 and also Big Fish are playing Okey Dokey in game 2 & 14

Cheers,
Darren

[J Keane]

just a though but u could move game 20 the last match on sat at 5 to pitch 1 and play in at 4.30 to save time

[Mike H]

While there are two teams that play each other twice, it is just a simple mistake on the timetable.

Dredgers need to play Big Fish, and Mighty Ducks need to play Okey Dockey. Instead of each other twice.

Hope this helps.

[darrenr]

Hi Nik,

I would just like to say thank you for ruining my weekend (and not just my weekend but the other 4 members of my team that had entered the docklands as Cyclones) this weekend for Division 2.

Actualy the rest of the summer competitions are ruined for me too because every time I see you I will just get annoyed and pissed off with you about the fact that you would not allow us to play in the Docklands this year in Division 2. My annoyance will be further increased if the National League of Docklands, Carrick, Club Championships and Irish Open comes to fruition this year, as then we are down 1 competition to count the results for.

We (Cyclones) have let you know for the last 6 weeks (long before division 2 was full) that we were entering DIVISION 2 of the Docklands (not Division 1). Lord knows I have spoken to you at least 5 or 6 times about it both in person, on the phone, and at both National and DCPL committe meetings confirming the fact that we were entering Division 2 and not Division 1. And you kept telling me yes we were in Division 2.

Both myself and Phil have taken time off work. Art was giving up his Heineken European Cup final ticket, and yet here we are on the wednesday the week of the competition being told its Division 1 or get lost. I would not even repeat on a forum what you have referred to both me and the rest of my team as. Simply because we want to play in a competition that you are organising and we would like to play in a division that is at our standard and not at a standard that is currently a good bit above us.

You have the reigning Docklands Division 2 champions in Division 2 (Dredgers), you have the Club Champions from last year in Division 2 (Mayflower/Bad Company), and yet you will not allow us to play in Division 2 and yet we came 6th in Docklands last year and 4th in the Club Championships.

Anyway Nik thanks again for totally ruining my weekend and my, up until now, happy experiences of playing canoe polo in Ireland. I was looking at my polo boat this morning and I just wanted to put my foot through the base and be done with the sport, because in all of 25 years playing soccer, gaelic, volleyball, cricket, or any other sport that I have represented a team at, I have never come across such petty bureaucracy as you have displayed with me for the last 6 weeks. And all this because I was trying to enter my team for the Docklands.

BTW there are 3-4 homeless canoe polo players looking for a team for this weekend. If anyone has space on their team I would be greatful if a home could be found for them.

thanks
Darren

[atbarber]

Folks
I have spent the last 4 hours reworking the timetable for Nikolay taking into account the following
i) As cuckoos are not able to play games until 11.45 then their duty and refing times aree at the same time. Theye therefore need to get 2 refs when they are scheduled.
ii) If you are on duty you also supply the first ref. The second team supplies the other.
iii) the two games mentioned above have been correctted.
iv) I have tried to ensure that a team is not on duty or refereeing before their next game.

Any problem let us know.

Adrian

[TheMasterG]

Why the one hour gap at lunch? Would rather play at 9 than 8am :eek:

[Nutter]

hey guys

just to let you know on saturday at 10:30 Bad Company are playing and ref-ing at the same time...we could do it but the score would be in our favour!:rolleyes::D

[Robert]

Aido,

Bad Company are still down to play at 9:30 and again at 10:00 on Sunday morning. Now we know you consider us your biggest rival, but lets play fair....:wavey:

Robbie.

[Clare]

Grumpy old men are to play at 9 on Pitch 1 and ref at 9 on Pitch 2 on Sunday morning.

Agh, the joy of making timetables! :eek:

[atbarber]

Thanks for your help.

I have moved the game causing the issue and moved the refs and duties around for the crossover games. This means that 5 teams play straight after doing duty/ref but as all 8 teams are playing either before or after each other this is unavoidable.

Adrian

[niall 9]

hey darren r if u dont wana play div 1 dont enter in div 1 with ringers. if ur good enough to beat swink you are good enough for div 1 so dont blame nick ( so u can go cry me a river)

[missy]

surely u cannot have ringers in div 1....

div 1 is the highest div in this country, all players who play are div 1, so how can you have ringers???? now niall if you played for bandits in DCPL DIV2 then you could use a word like "ringers"

A team should never be penalised based on who their players are.

DCPL and Dockland are NOT the same competition.

If cyclones enter a strong DCPL team and kick swink ass then that is fair.
If cyclones enter a different team, possibly weaker team in docklands, then why should they be forced to play DIV 1. Is it to do with their name??? If they entered as "senolcyc" would they be allowed in DIV2.

I think it is a huge disappointment that a team of such ability feel they have been left with no option but to withdraw. I know i would rather play in DIV 2 if cyclones were there as they would really raise the bar and the quailty of games in DIV2.

I can only assume that discisions were made to prevent pot hunting...or equivalent. In that case let teams play untill they Win a div 2 comp outright and prove that they have to be promoted.

A succsesful Team name should not prevent a team from playing sport, and at the end of the day it is an amature sport which should be fun, it is not as if there are Tousand in cash prizes at stake......

...Sorry for the long reply, but I had though of docklands as the best organised and ran comp, and it is a shame that there is this cloud over it now......:twocents:

[TheMasterG]

So it's up to Nik as the organiser to look at each individual player on each team, decide on the standard of that team and then place them in the correct division accordingly, irrespective of past performances? What if a team enters a comp but has a couple of players injured, maybe they should drop down a Div? :rolleyes:

Organisers have enough to do as it is, placing teams according to past performances is the correct way to do it and you'll see that in all sports at all levels.

Nik for president!

[atbarber]

One more correction made as per Nutters post above.

adrian

[niall 9]

u tell em g and missy u can ask my nu*s

[Nikolay]

Now I really don’t have time to replay to Darren’s post but it really touched my hearth must say, last night I even cry my ayes out which upset a girl and I really don’t like upsetting them.

The only think I could say is that teams that wanted to enter DIV3 I push them to play in Div2 Armitage Shanks and Big Fish to mentioned them and they were delighted. In one way I think they were little bit afraid to go up but prospect of having a good games against better teams was crucial. And end of the day that is the way to go up and try improve your game. And I’m looking forward to watch the games between them.

You should have got different way of saying it Darren my boy, now you sound like little boy left out from the big guys game.

The decision is final…you can’t keep every one happy… it’s impossible.

Now,

I’m looking forward for as many people to come down at the dock tomorrow afternoon and try to have a game. The water looks lovely and hopefully will have sunny afternoon and weekend. All lucks set up for good weekend of polo.

Talk to you later
Nik

[atbarber]

Folks

I decided to do some research into Cyclones performance in past tournaments to see were their grievance was coming from. We are continually encouraging teams to move into Div1. They were moved up as they came top of Div 2. The top team in Div 2 this season will also move up to try Division 1.

Outdoor tournaments are played differently than indoor due to length and width of pitch and a lot of DCPL players find the games tiring.

Nikolay and his team of organisers consulted other key players in other teams on this and made the decision based on the number of entries who should play in what division. This is at the organisers discretion and he stood by this decision and made the call that Cyclones play in Div1 as no places left in Div 2. Cyclones decided to withdraw as they did not have a full team (one of their players decided to play for a div 2 team rather than play in Div 1) and did not feel they were at div 1 national standard.

Part of the reason seems to be around the fact that a National League may be introduced. The committee has not fully decided on this proposal as non has been put before them in writing. It will be after Docklands when this will be reviewed.

Team performance:
In the DCPL Cyclones played a high level Div player who helped them achieve their current standing.
Div 1
DCPL - currently 1st (as of results 11th May). But this will more than likely all change with the other teams having games on hand and only a few points behind. DCPL table below.
Munster - came last in the Munster league
Div 2
DCPL - Came top of div 2 having only lost 1 game.
Irish Open - came 12th
Carrick - came 8th
Docklands - came 6th

I do not have the results of the other competitions.

Adrian Barber

DCPL table
Cyclones------- 9 5 0 0 4 0 38 37 1 24
Bazaar ----------7 4 2 0 1 0 34 21 13 23
Kamikaze------ 6 5 0 0 1 0 40 24 16 21
Not Swink ------5 4 0 0 1 0 28 18 10 17
Nemises --------8 3 0 0 5 0 34 37 -3 17
Bad Company 9 2 1 0 6 0 26 51 -25 17
Spectre --------10 2 1 0 5 2 23 35 -12 16

[missy]

Organisers have enough to do as it is, placing teams according to past performances is the correct way to do it and you'll see that in all sports at all levels.

Exactly g, well said......past performance

reference darrens and adrian post for past performance of cyclones in outdoor leagues :D

and i have nothing to say to nialls nu**

I'd like to point out that I was just puting forward an opinion and will not stand in the way of Nik if he does deside to run for president....:rolleyes:

[Brendan L]

Boys, think we’ll need to call in General De Chastelin to mediate here.
I play for Cyclones and I really don’t think it benefits anyone hashing this out on a forum. So, I’ll try my best to give you an insight into what’s happened here without pointing any fingers or pissing people off, and hopefully this will be the end of it.

Cyclones wanted to play in Div 2 as we feel we’re not good enough for Div1. Yes, we’re top of the league in Div1 DCPL at the moment but think it is clear to everyone that’s due to our “ringer” as someone called him, Vinny carrying the rest of us cyclones on his shoulders. Outdoor, we’ve done nothing as Aido’s recent history will show (thanks Aido). So, this weekend (Cyclones without Vinny, and with only 5 average players) had hoped to play in Div 2. As things transpired between Darren and Nik we ended up with only an option to play in Div 1. I think the conversation over a number of weeks went something like,
Darren: “Nik, we want to play in Div2”.
Nik: “a sure I’ll put ye in Div 1, you’re well able for it”
Darren “Na, we want to play in Div2”
Nik: “you’ll be grand in Div1......”
Darren “Seriously, Vinny’s not playing with us, Div 2 please....”
Nik “you’ll be grand in Div 1, give it a lash”
Darren “Nik, we’re not playing in Div 1, put us in Div2”
Nik “well actually Div 2 is full now so you have to play in Div 1”
Darren “......$%%$@£$%........%$%”%&^£*&%$*&^£......%”£^%&^£*&^”&^*£”

Think you get the idea.

Now, I think most of the other Div 2 teams would agree with us, the thoughts of playing outdoor against Carnage, Swink, Kamakazi, Muppets, Kilkock and the Ladies wasn’t that appealing, and with Nik and Darren having various heated debates (Interesting way to describe it) behind the scenes, seems like it end up being one heated discussion too much and the boys are , lets say, not the best of friends at the moment. So, after all that Cyclones only had an option of playing in Div 1, or not at all, so right or wrong Cyclones decide not to play in Div 1 ( I know, bunch of kids who won’t play with the big boys. Yep, no arguing from me on that one) Just think we weren’t interested in being cannon fodder for the weekend, especially as we had looked forward to having some competitive matches against Dredgers, Bad Company, Assassins, Mighty Ducks and the rest of the lads in Div2. Added to that a number of Div 2 teams are looking for players which makes it easy to get a game.
So that’s the story. I bear no grudges and I’m not taking sides here. Nik, think you‘ve organised a great tournament, I’m looking forward to playing (thanks Big Fish for taking me on). Darren, you’re dedication to the cause has to be admired, you always do what’s best for our team. But I do think it’s a pity what ever happened between you two guys that things have ended up like this.
It’s a small community who play canoe polo and it really doesn’t benefit anyone to have this arguing going on. We are always going to have this challenge when there is such a step up from Div 2 to Div1, particularly outdoor, and when the people who play on teams keep changing. I understand the logic that it could improve your game playing teams that are way better than you, but at some point you have to try balance your enjoyment with your willingness to get your ass handed to you in the name of improvement. I don’t have a solution, but let’s try not beat the crap out of one another trying to figure it out.
So, hope that makes sense, and that I haven't misrepresented anyone. Can we leave this now and just go play polo. See ye in Docklands.

Brendan

[seandownes]

Its a pity to see two people falling out over this ( Nic+ Darren) I can see both points of view darren is right as his team would get hammered outdoors(sorry Darren) however nic is right as on current form darren team are holding there own (no matter what results in DCPL they will be above 2 teams, Bad company , Sepctra ) so nic had to place them above both teams .. Hopefully we can get a few bricks, Build a Bridge, get over the problem and play polo
see ye all at the weekend..
Sean

[niall 9]

the old wise man has spoken so listen up and will everyone please stop writing such long messages its a pain in the ass reading them keep it short and sweet or dont post. nick so sorry to hear u crying u dont listen to the mean man ok we all luv u (nick for president)

[Nikolay]

I don’t think I need to replay any more about this but I feel well I feel like crying…again…

I’d like to say only one think – I haven’t fallen out in my friendship with Darren as I have big respect for someone who works hard for the polo in Ireland. The only person I’ve ever fallen out is… well thank god he doesn’t leave any more here.

Talk to you all over the weekend
Nik

p.s. some one say not to write long posts. Have you heard of the best short child story. Just read Niall’s post under the line.

When I was a child we were so poor, I thanked God I was a boy........otherwise I would have had nothing to play with!!


To be honest this is hilarious can’t stop laughing at. Short and honest full of life.

[missy]

Niall maybe u should stick to the kidies thread, if you want all answers to fit on one line :p

[Fi H]

Thanks a million Nik for organising a fantastic competition. The cleaner water makes all the difference! Cant wait for next year!
Fi:thumbup:

[missy]

yep nic it was fab, even the weather wasnt too bad,

and suprisingly i can still move my upper body after 9 games........

well done to everyone who was running the pitches too

cheers:thumbup:
Missy, the self crowned DIV 2 female champion :rolleyes: :wavey:

[lmc]

Well done Nik, Connie and all the other people who put the Docklands comp together. A great two days THANKS A MILL.:drunk:
Cheers Niall
Ps Missy
Build a bridge and get over it.:D :D

[Nikolay]

Well I would like to say a big thank you first of all to all teams that took part in the Docklands, hopefully more teams will join us next year.

As well big thanks to Peter and Connie for all the help before and during the competition. The Downes’s what will be the canoe polo in Ireland without you guys. Niall Power, Amanda, Alan, Ed, Hilda outstanding job, Aido, Oisin, Homer and Sean Mc, the Dredgers, Sparky and Mike for referring the final, I’m sure I’ve missed a lot more as I’m still recovering from the weekend apologies.

Once again thank you to all teams and every one been over the weekend at the Docklands.

Talk to you soon
Nik

[atbarber]

any there any?

[Mike]

Here are a few photos from the weekend, I know it's been a while, but better late than never :)

http://picasaweb.google.com/griffinm/Docklands2007