Bike polo championships bound for London

The first ever European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships (EHBPC) will be held in London next week and it includes no less than 16 teams from the UK.

August 1 and 2 are the dates for the championships, being held at Union Street, Southwark.

There will be a full 24 hours of polo in two days, plus a series of parties in which fans will get to meet the teams

Teams from France, Germany, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland, and from across the UK, including five from London, will be contesting the title, with more than 140 games over two days.

The EHBPC 2009 is the third major tournament organised in London in as many years and is supported by the London Hardcourt Bike Polo Association (LHBPA). London also organised Europe's first Hardcourt Bike Polo League in Winter 2008/9, which was contested by 14 teams. The winter of 2009/10 will see a continuation of the league and newcomers to the sport are welcome to join.

With support from Play Sport London, in the weeks before and after the Championships, the LHBPA are running introductory sessions to hardcourt bike polo. There are details on the ehbpc.org website about how to get involved.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with the championships, the London Fixed Gear and Single Speed organisation please see the volunteer thread at http://www.londonfgss.com/thread24555.html The LFGSS needs help in the lead up to the event with giving out fliers as well as during the tourney itself.

For more information on the European Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship please visit www.ehbpc.org.