Scottish Polo

[fins]

Hi All,

At the moment I am running Div 2 in Scotland, which is the lowest devision that we have. Polo has just disapeared up here, when I started 10 years ago there was 4 divs and a juniour league, now there are 2 and a Scottish Champs.

Ok enough pratling on, what I am looking to do is to inject some new life into polo.
I am looking for ANY teams that may be interested in starting to play polo, maybe they have given up for some reason and want to get back into it or they just want to start. I am going to be organising a few taster tournaments and I'm looking for teams to compete.

Anyone interested let me know :bang: [FONT=arial]

[dorph]

Since I'm going to Aberdeen for a few months soon I'm very interested in knowing if there are any clubs there that are active in polo right now? I'm sorry to hear that interest in the sport has gone down - In Denmark it is still a very new sport but we hope interest will continue to grow!
Is the lacking interest due to lack of pools or equipment or because of long transport or ??

Hope to see you in Scotland!

Mette

[fins]

there are very few teams in Scotland,
they are:
Fife CAG
St Andrews Uni A & B
Napier Uni
West Lothian
Stirling A & B
Partick
They are in Div 2
The Div 1 teams are:
Woodmill A & B
Linlithgow
Selkirk
West Lothian Z
Perth
Lochwinnoch
Neptune

[Stuart White]

Good to see that you are trying Paul - but looks like few cottish Poloplayers are reistered here - I'll see if we can get anadvert in the Scottish Paddler telling people about this site and see if we can use it as a forum for scottish paddling

Cheers

Stuart :wavey:

[fins]

yip not many atall, think you might be the 4th :D
Thanks, never thought about placing an advert in paddler

Thanks for that.

[Graeme]

Dorph - If you are a student then Aberdeen Uni play a bit of polo, their pool is rubbish though and they don't take it at all seriously. Robert Gordon Uni are interested in playing, but they are total beginners. If you're not a student - Aberdeen Kayak club used to play in the leagues but they haven't entered a team in the last couple of years. I don't know if they ever practice
any more though.

Paul and Stuart - I thought about putting an advert in Scottish Paddler advertising polo in general. There may be paddlers out there who have never tried polo, or have thought about it and don't know who to contact.

In order to try and kick start polo up here we also need to do something about the lack of clubs that are teaching kids. I think we should make a list of all the regular polo players in Scotland, then divide the people on the list into areas depending on where they stay. Then we can see what pools are available in these areas and organise teaching sessions. We could advertise the lessons by getting in contact with schools in the area and also getting in touch with non-polo canoe clubs.

I don't know what equipment is available though which could be a problem. That's something we'd need to find out about.

It's certainly something that needs to be discussed further at the next polo meeting.

[dorph]

Hi Graeme,

Thanks for the information - it's a pity about the lack of interest since you had many more players a few years ago? I've played with Aberdeen Uni a few times before the Scottish Uni-championships (which the men actually won - and our womens team made it to the final before being taken out for only being 4 players..). But I think the polo is only for a few months a year before this tournament and practice is in a tiny pool. At the championsship almost everybody played 4 out with the goal keeper staying under the goal all the time - special Scottish tactics?
I'm going to the Kayak club tonight but I think they only practice polo once a month or so.

Good luck with your development of training for schools etc! That's the right way to get young players and funding is often easier to get for youth development!

Any competitions coming up in Scotland that I could come and watch ?

Cheers :wavey:

Mette

[Graeme]

The last division 1 tournament of the season is this Sunday, 1.30 - 6 at Easterhouse pool (Glasgow).

[fins]

Hi folks
Nice to see the response that this is getting,
As far as I can tell at the moment West Lothian, FCAG, Lochwinnoch are the only teams that have clubs that really teach kids. However from my experiance with West Lothian it is trying to keep the kids interested that is the problem(too many computer games) So our club(West Lothian) are starting to organise a begginers tournament with a date to be confirmed but hopefully about Dec time to give plenty of notice and time for Uni's to start back. I will let you know any further info on this as and when I get it sorted. Hopefully it will be at Kirkcaldy.

Any thoughts for clubs that may be interested with beginners or just in general please let me know so that we can try and get as many teams as possible for next season

[Ian Main]

Some good ideas emerging. I agree the only way to keep the sport alive is to bring on some kids otherwise the sport will die out up here which would be a real shame.

[Ian Main]

I also feel we may have relied on the volunteers a little too much over the years and feel we collectively could do much more for the sport. I know Stuart is keen to blood some new recruits onto the committee, and I have already signed up as the refereeing co-ordinator. I am trying to get as many recruits as possible to spread the load a little and try and help Stuart, Brian & Alistair out a little.

If anyone has ideas we need to involve them and try and make them a reality.

[Ian Main]

On the clubs bringing on youths I feel Selkirk CC with their links to the high school are still a good resource for youth polo. The only way to keep them keen is to try and establish a competitive structure and I personall feel a youth league, established in the Borders or Fife is the single most important issue we need to address to start the ball rolling.

Ps sorry about splitting my posts, but I wanted to get my posts up to 10 so I can get a wee picture on my profile!

[fins]

It is much better having a pic.

Anyway that is the whole plan of the tournament in Dec. To get as many begginers wich I hope most would be kids anyway. I agree Selkirk CC is a good option but jim didn't reply last time.

Think Al is drafting me and Iain Stewart up for comittee stuff.

Any other clubs you can think of give me an e-mail

[Cat]

I'm not entirely sure how things stand at the moment, but when I was in Glasgow in the holidays the GKC had just lost their pool, and were also having trouble with getting a life guard for their pool sessions too. I'm at uni in Bristol, but will probably be in Glasgow in the holidays, and am keen to play polo wherever and whenever possible. Kit is a problem though, as is obviously location and safety!

Anyone know if Glasgow Uni play polo? At the Stevie building, and if so, if it's at all accessible in the holidays perhaps? :rolleyes:

[dorph]

Any news on the Scottish polo scene? I'm going back to Aberdeen for 2004 so it would be great to play a bit.. :cool:

How many teams compete in the Scottish championsships? Any calendars available for the next season?

Mette

[fins]

there are 12 teams competing in the champs this weekend. There are no dates for this season yet but as soon as we sort some out I'll post them here

[Ian Main]

Dorph,

one of our team is now based in the Aberdeen area. Why don't you give him a call when you arrive and try and get together for some training. If you are up to Div 1 standard we could probably use an extra head in the Scottish league.

If you are interested email him on hovis42@hotmail.com.

Any questions let me know. I am away from tonight for a fortnights holiday but will respond on my return.

Take it easy!

Ian

[dorph]

In the Aberdeen area? Since I won't have a car it will be difficult for me getting around much..

And being a girl I'm probably not strong or tough :barbell: enough for 1. div. But it would be nice with a bit of practice sometimes :)
Here in Denmark our ladies team play in the mens 2.div (lowest div) and have some good matches.

See you later :wavey:

Mette

[fins]

our lowest div here is 2 aswell and is not worth it. You should be ok in div 1 it isn't that tough

[fins]

Hi All

Well it is that time of year again and I am looking for teams that are interested in playing in Div 2 this season.

if you are let me know ASAP :matrix:

[Seedy Paddler]

Hi Mette

Glad to hear you are coming back to Aberdeen, there are still monthly "Polo Training" sessions at the Grammar Pool with AKC. I tried to gather interest for the Champs but got minimal response. At my age with two kids to look out for, afraid I won't be organising a team but you can maybe chase up Ali and Chris and see if sufficient interest is there.

Give us a line and I will put you back on the AKC circulation so you know what may be happening. This time we will have to get you out on some real white water.

Regards

Craig Douglas