Last month, on a sunny afternoon, it seemed a good idea to take a different route to court. It was ace! Turning off one of the cities busiest rat runs into the trees and woods (I knew they ran next to, and there was a path straight to, the court). It was all fine and well until I got lost: scrambled down loose muddy cliffs over badger sets through hawthorn bushes to reach a road, over shooting the court by half a mile.
What could have led to this series of unfortunate rambling meanderings? Finding 1, no 2, no 3 amazing courts. Hyper at the sight, I must have shot off in a random direction, to my doom…
At the court, we had the place to ourselves – a nice and smooth court- so we played our games there all day and heading to the Tap after for an afternoon of slumber and pints- a standard issue polo Sunday. Prompt Monday morning, phone calls unearthed that the courts were hands off. The contractors had still to lay rubber on top, for tennis courts…, and would not allow any sort of health and safety infringement. Pah! Game over
Maybe not. Last Sunday, we were swamped by footballers on court, we could go to the Tap for a few or check out these courts close up and see how they played. We chose polo. Access was easy and after standing around in awe for a moment, we all realised “we gotta get our shit together and get playing before we get kicked out”.
The best court we have played on in Edinburgh, maybe even in the UK. Big in size, nice surface and good fencing. It completely changed the game. Someone further up field on the break away could be caught and defended against; space could be created more easily and there felt less of a need to have a sticky-keeper because quick break aways and early (accurate) shots were less of a threat. It was a great days polo, albeit with an overriding feeling that we would get a visit from the security.
Back in the Tap and we were all knackered. Perhaps from the size of the court, but I suspect it is cos we were buzzing around like wee dafties, playing on a nice court for a change. I reckon we will be back and make the most of the space whilst it isn’t ruined by rubber.
Check out the pictures.
The Right To Polo
Last month, on a sunny afternoon, it seemed a good idea to take a different route to court. It was ace! Turning off one of the cities busiest rat runs into the trees and woods (I knew they ran next to, and there was a path straight to, the court). It was all fine and well until I got lost: scrambled down loose muddy cliffs over badger sets through hawthorn bushes to reach a road, over shooting the court by half a mile.
What could have led to this series of unfortunate rambling meanderings? Finding 1, no 2, no 3 amazing courts. Hyper at the sight, I must have shot off in a random direction, to my doom…
At the court, we had the place to ourselves – a nice and smooth court- so we played our games there all day and heading to the Tap after for an afternoon of slumber and pints- a standard issue polo Sunday. Prompt Monday morning, phone calls unearthed that the courts were hands off. The contractors had still to lay rubber on top, for tennis courts…, and would not allow any sort of health and safety infringement. Pah! Game over
Maybe not. Last Sunday, we were swamped by footballers on court, we could go to the Tap for a few or check out these courts close up and see how they played. We chose polo. Access was easy and after standing around in awe for a moment, we all realised “we gotta get our shit together and get playing before we get kicked out”.
The best court we have played on in Edinburgh, maybe even in the UK. Big in size, nice surface and good fencing. It completely changed the game. Someone further up field on the break away could be caught and defended against; space could be created more easily and there felt less of a need to have a sticky-keeper because quick break aways and early (accurate) shots were less of a threat. It was a great days polo, albeit with an overriding feeling that we would get a visit from the security.
Back in the Tap and we were all knackered. Perhaps from the size of the court, but I suspect it is cos we were buzzing around like wee dafties, playing on a nice court for a change. I reckon we will be back and make the most of the space whilst it isn’t ruined by rubber.
Check out the pictures.