The Cats of Australasian Bike Polo are brought to you by Domenico Natoli

AKA Scottish Mark left the mean streets of Glasgow for the mild manned streets of Christchurch.  He’s one of the Co-founders of Hardcourt in Christchurch and plays whenever his failing memory reminds him it’s “polo time”.  Marky is easily spotted on court with his Kermit green bike and off court with his large plastic bottle of luminescent red cider.  I’m told Marky’s sideline heckles are witty and insightful, if only I could work out what he’s saying under that thick Scottish accent. Here’s a little more about Marky

City: Christchurch, New Zealand

Team: Red Team (Juggernaught)

Years played: 3 or 4

Super power: I will take the soup

Bike: Norco MTB, freewheel with dual brake and 2:1 ratio

Mallet: Ski pole with capped drilled out head

Protection: T shirt in winter

What do you love most about bike polo?
4 x Style Contact and Blocking

By Craig Johnston

If you want to see more player profiles, you need to go here

Owner:  Tsz Wan

City:  Cabramatta, Australia

Frame/Fork:  Giant Ballsa / Onza Smart Guy

Bars:  Kalloy 70mm risers

Seat/Post: Fully sick adjustable

Pedals: Time

Cranks/BB/Chain ring:  34T/22T XTR M950

Sprocket: 13T

Brakes: XT Sorvo Wave Lever / BMX style Gyro Double Cable

Front wheel/tyre: Duro 26″ 1.75 / Mavic 317 36h Disc brake

Rear wheel/tyre: Duro 26″ 1.75 / Shimano Shitty 36h rim brake

Why did you choose this bike?
Sentimental value. I’ve had it since high school. It was stolen out of my garage twice and returned by police and I have couriered with it.

How long have you played on this bike for? Have you played on anything else?
Two years.  I would like to play on someone else’s once in a while.

What are the best things about your bike?
The saddle – it’s got a gorilla on it!

What are the worst things about your bike? What would you change?
The tyres are too skinny

By Virginia Castellan

Photographs by Virginia Castellan and Brook Tait-Styles

Want to see some other players’ bits?  You need to go here.

Photographs taken at WHBPC 2010 in Berlin and WHBPC 2011 in Seattle.

If you missed part one, you can find it here.

Not too many girls are brave enough to play in Sydney.  In the four years that I have been playing, I would say there has been less than ten.  I am very happy that after relocating from Melbourne,  Nikki has become a regular.  Always smiling and not afraid to put a shoulder in, she is definitely one of my favourite people to play with in Sydney.  Here’s a little more about Nikki.

City: Sydney, Australia

Years played: Nine months

Super power: Losing ability

Favourite heckle: Don’t worry, it’s just Jack

Bike: Cyclops frame, freewheel with back brake and 34:22 ratio

Mallet: Ski pole with uncapped closed sides head

Protection: Elbows

What do you love most about bike polo?
Not having a boyfriend and getting out of Sunday family lunches.

By Virginia Castellan

If you want to see more player profiles, you need to go here

The Cats of Australasian Bike Polo are brought to you by Domenico Natoli

If you missed TDR being a pussies, you can check them out [here]

Gary-Max aka ginga ninja. He plays polo on a japanese bike with thor’s mallet. Fast and furious he was part of the couple that brought polo to auckland back in the day.  He and his girlfriend Jenna left on a pilgrimage around the world to kick international courier’s asses till they turned as red as their hair.  Here’s a little more about Gary-Max.

City: Auckland Fuck Yeahh, New Zealand

Team:  No Compromise / Samuarai Polo Cats

Years played: 4 years

Super power: Little wheels and being ginger

Favourite heckle:  Was that Leo crashing again?!

Bike: Cyroc, fixed with front brake only with 20″ wheels and 47:21 ratio

Mallet:  Fixcraft shaft with uncapped head with closed sides

Protection: Gloves

What do you love most about bike polo?
Bikes (and Leo)

By Fleo

If you want to see more player profiles, you need to go here

Owner:  Locky Sheriff

City:  Sydney, Australia

Frame/Fork:  Gary Fisher with Redline forks

Bars:  Crowbars

Seat/Post: Scor

Pedals: Shimano SPDs

Cranks/BB/Chain ring:  Shimano / Azonic 34T chainring

Sprocket: 17T freewheel

Brakes: Avid dual brake lever and barrel

Wheels: Velocity with Maxxis tyres

Why did you choose this bike?
It had similar geometry to my last polo frame and was the right size.  It was free and it is a Gary Fucken Fister!!

How long have you played on this bike for? Have you played on anything else?
I have played on this for 2 weeks.  Before that I played on a Jamis Dragon for 3 years.

What are the best things about your bike?
It has a better turning circle than my last bike and no cross over.  It’s orange and it’s lighter than my previous frame.

What are the worst things about your bike? What would you change?
The disc mounts are obsolete so I have to run v brakes.  Also the chain is too loose.

By Virginia Castellan

Want to see some other players’ bits?  You need to go here.

Photographs taken at WHBPC 2010 in Berlin and WHBPC 2011 in Seattle.

Louis has been playing polo in Sydney for the past month.  He first played the game at the demonstration that Sydney Bike Polo put on at the Bike & Lifestyle Show.  5 days later he was back at our local court with a modified bike including a dual brake lever he built himself and his own mallet.  Louis is 13. This weekend Louis debuted another upgraded polo bike with his younger brother Xavier (9) taking over on his old bike.  The two of them are picking the game up at lightning speed and I think, in a couple of months, they’ll be teaching us a thing or two.  Here’s a little more about Louis.

City: Sydney

Years played: 1 month

Super power: Youth

Favourite heckle: Ouvre les yeux

Bike: Giant – Awesome with freewheel and dual brake

Mallet: Generic shaft with uncapped closed-sides head

Protection: Gloves, knee pads and shin guards

What do you love most about bike polo?
Everything! Especially beating my brother!

By Virginia Castellan

If you want to see more player profiles, you need to go here