HISTORY OF THE GAME
1891 THE BEGINNING: Many people will be seeing Bicycle Polo for the first time and, not unreasonably, quite a few will ask if it is a new game. Well, the answer to that is : quite definitely, NO. The game of bicycle polo is now over 100 years old. It was, in fact, first played in 1891.
Its
originator was a well-known Irish cyclist, Richard J. Mecredy. He
invented the game because he found that, having retired from a very
successful racing career, he must have some outlet for his energies
which enabled him to keep in touch with cycling. He called it "Polo
on wheels," and after mapping out a few rough rules persuaded
some of his friends to try it out. They did this one Saturday afternoon
when Mecredy and his fellow members of the Ohne Hast C.C. went for
their weekly run to Scalp - a popular rendezvous some twenty miles
outside Dublin. The
inaugural games were a great success and both players and spectators
were most enthusiastic in their support of the new idea. Not so convinced was
the Editor of "Cycling", who under the heading "The Latest Fad" proclaimed that quite a little stir had been caused
over the announcement of cycle polo and went on to add that although
the new sport had it's attraction, the average rider's fear for
the safety of his wheel would militate greatly against the acceptance
of the game. Together with other sceptics, however, he was forced
to admit shortly afterwards that cycle polo was not a mere trick-riding
performance, but was, on the contrary, a scientific athletic exercise
which was rapidly gaining favour in the land of it's inception - Ireland.
THE
FIRST INTERNATIONAL
Some years later Ireland sent over
a team to play in the First International bicycle polo game ever
to be staged. The match was played on the 28th of September in 1901 at the
Crystal Place and the Irishmen unmistakably asserted their superiority
by beating England by ten goals to five. Bicycle Polo then suffered a distinct
slump and, after the Crystal Palace International, little was heard
of the game until July, 1908, when in connection with the Olympic
Games at Shepherds Bush, a match was played between Ireland and
Germany, which Ireland won by three goals to one.
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS
September
1898 - The
first lady player in the world was Miss Wheeler, who played in Ireland.
Early 1900s - The British army and the Indian Maharajas played cycle polo in India.
February 3rd
1930 - The Bicycle Polo Association of Great Britan was formed.
1966 - The Cycle Polo Federation of India was formally registered.
July
1983 - A Indian team first visited the United Kingdom and West Germany.
April 1984 - A United Kingdom team first visited India.
November 1985 - A West German team first visited India.
Mach 1995 - A USA team first visited India.
The American Bicycle Polo Association site is a great source of information about the sport as it is played in the US today.
The competitive rules of cycle polo are normally determined by the group that hosts the event, although the rules for World Championship competition are determined by international consortium.
The San Diego Bike Polo Club follows the basic American Bicycle Polo Association rule set with a few minor variations and exceptions.