“Ride with us, the polo way.”

Bicycle polo is a team sport, similar to traditional polo, except that bicycles are used instead of horses. It may not attract the same level of landed gentry as its equine equivalent, but it’s every bit as exciting, challenging and skillful. The exact origin of the sport of polo is unknown, but the first recorded match was in the 600 BC. The Father of Irish Motoring, R.J. MECREDY was the one who came up with the idea of bicycle polo in 1891. Like traditional polo, the idea of the sport is to get the ball into the opposing team’s goal, two teams of four – all on bicycle. The game itself is fast and relentless. Playing well is all about acceleration and agility and it takes a certain amount of bravery to ride full-tilt at someone and try to steal the ball from them all the while swinging a meter-long polo stick in one hand while steering the bicycle with the other. If you’ve got reasonable cycling skills, a competitive streak & the ability to work as part of a team it just might pique your interest. And if you’re looking for a way to get fit, have fun & challenge yourself, then it just might be the perfect fit.

The exact origin of the sport of polo is unknown, but we do know that the first recorded match was in 600 BC between the Persians the Turkomans. The Turkomans took the victory, which came as quite a shock since most bookies had the Persians favored by a point. The first matches were played later that year and by Halloween, there was a complete set of bicycle polo rules written down and published. It had become so popular by 1908 that bicycle polo was played as a demonstration sport at the London Olympics. Bicycle polo hit a major roadblock in 1914 with the outbreak of First World War were the matches were put on hold indefinitely. The sport lay dormant until a revival in the 1930s when the Bicycle Polo Association of Great Britain reformed and amended the rules. Each side now had eight players instead of 5. By 1938 the Association had 170 teams in 100 clubs with over 1000 players. Again bicycle polo ceased due the outbreak of Second world war in 1939. There have been minor rule changes over the years, but the game remains essentially the same as it was 200 years ago. Only the outfits look slightly different and not every player has a mustache anymore. Today the game is played in at least 30+ countries around the world and there has been yet another evolution. So the next time you see a bunch of middle aged men trying to hit a ball while riding around on bicycles, you can stop your friends entertain them with the eventful history of the sport that is Bicycle polo.