sport
SPORTS ROUNDUP
Whether it’s the cricket, the polo, or more bog snorkelling madness in Llanwrtyd Wells, July is packed with great sporting events.
pic: NICK REES Wheels Of Steel
The intrepid Dave Brayley takes to his bike and gives the dynamic sport of bike polo a go.
WE all live in a risk averse world dominated by health and safety guidance, danger warnings and risk assessments. If, like me, you yearn for a simpler time when you engaged in your particular sporting activity, took your chances and dealt with whatever was thrown at you, then bike polo is definitely the sport for you. Chaotic, exhilarating, tactical, skilful, frenetic and sometimes painful, every feeling you possess is experienced during a game of bike polo. The sport has only been in existence for the last 10 years or so, but it has already grown quickly enough for there to be a strong presence around Britain with upcoming tournaments in Edinburgh and London. I was invited to join in with the Cardiff Bike Polo Club on the hard-courts at the rear of Maindy Cycle Track, Cardiff, for one of their regular training sessions. Upon arriving, there could not have been a greater contrast between the two similar sports carried out in neighbouring venues. On the track, dozens of uniformly dressed cyclists circle the track in ordered procession on bikes that cost anything up to a thousand pounds, while just 50 yards away, hidden behind the trees on the hard-courts, the bike polo boys throw themselves around on any make of bike you care to mention; mostly fixed wheel, many built on frames rescued from the back of garages. And it is this supremely amateur approach to the sport that is its main attraction for many of its participants. I was welcomed by one of the club’s key members – and with my untrained eye, also one of their best players – Paul Beesley. He briefly gave me a rundown of the rules: a bike, a mallet, a ball, two teams of three, no putting down of feet or you are temporarily out of the game, and then basically you try to score five goals before your opponents do. It’s as simple
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as that really, and more or less anything else goes. However, this isn’t rollerball, there’s also skill, finesse and bikemanship displayed of the highest quality. The game is played at pace, cyclists making space for a pass or rushing back to defend the goal as you would in ice hockey, and the sound of screeching rubber suggests that a perfect sponsor for the club (and one would be welcomed, incidentally) would be a tyre manufacturer. “Bike polo is not an elite sport by any means and we’d welcome anyone who fancies a try to come down and join us,” explains Paul. “It can be challeng- ing to start, but any new participant gets used to it pretty quickly.” I have to agree with this sentiment as in the first couple of minutes I didn’t have a clue what I was doing until I made my first real connec- tion between mallet and ball. From there, I was off and raring to compete. At the end of my second game I even managed to score. OK, so it was an own goal, but little things like that are just part and parcel of such a frenetic sport. Or at least that’s my excuse. In addition to all the thrills and spills of this excel- lent sport, bike polo also possesses a great social element where there is a genuine feeling of whatever ability level possessed, you are welcomed with open arms and then retire for a drink after. Surely the way amateur sport should be. Try it out, you won’t be disappointed.
The Cardiff Bike Polo Club meets every Tues, Fri and Sun at the Maindy hard- courts behind the Maindy Velodrome, Cardiff. For more info, search for Cardiff Bike Polo on Facebook.
AS usual at this time of the year, there are plenty of games of cricket to be enjoyed at the SWALEC stadium. Surrey, Somerset, Gloucester and The Unicorns all visit Cardiff, while on Wed 27 July, Swansea hosts its annual week-long cricket festival. Northants kick things off with a four- day Championship game followed by Notts in a Sunday League game on Sun 31 at the quaint and historic St Helens ground which has witnessed many of Glamorgan’s finest moments over the years. On Sat 16, just down the road at Port Eynon, the annual Gower Triathlon returns. A fantastic event set against the amazing backdrop of the Gower Peninsula, it’s no surprise that this has been voted the British Triathlon Event Of The Year. There are plenty of vantage points available, but get there early for the 7am start. If you fancy your sport a little more refined, then why not head for the Glanusk Estate in Crickhowell for the Wales v Ireland Polo International on Sat 9 July. This unique event has become famed not just for its polo but also its hospitality and entertainment; which is rounded off by an Ibiza Scene after-party on the estate. And if you thought polo was just for the toffs, former World Middleweight Boxing Champion, Steve Collins – one of the toughest men ever to step into a ring – will be playing for Ireland. Finally this month, another bizarre event at Llanwrtyd Wells which hosts the World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championships (yes, I know!) on Sat 9 July. And for those of you that want to warm up for the Gower Triathlon, on Sun 10 it’s the Bog Snorkelling Triathlon, a 7.5-mile run, 120-yard bog snorkel and a 19- mile mountain bike ride to finish off. Mad? Yes. Enjoyable? Definitely.
DAVE BRAYLEY
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