It’s fast, it’s furious, and you probably didn’t know it existed…Bike polo has existed for more than a century but there are just 100 clubs across the UK. This is what happened when Joe Crossley went to give it a go…
“Bike polo is the best sport you’ve never heard of, but we need more ladies,” was how an organiser sold me the story.
I had certainly not heard of it before, and it was intriguing that the game had not opened up to women like many others have, such as football, rugby and tennis.
I decided to find out why this is the case at Oakenden Bike Polo club, which was hosting the first round of the European Cup at Vigo Rugby Club.
There was a prompt start at 9am, as without a tight schedule, the French participants were known to be a bit more laissez-faire about getting on with the games compared to their English competitors.
I arrived half an hour before in the hopes of learning a little bit about the sport, which both Prince William and the late Prince Phillip have played, before things kicked off.
A beaming and energetic Isabella Baylis met me.
The tech developer plays for the Oakenden Bells – the only all-women team in the country – and has been playing since she was seven.
For the 27-year-old, the sport has always been a family affair. Her brother Sam, 29, and her dad, Andrew, 61, who was one of the founders of the club, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, both playing for the Oakenden men’s team.
Soon-to-be-married Isabella sat down with me to give me a brief run-down as to what polo is and explain why she says it is the “best sport you’ve never heard of”.
Bike polo is played on a rugby pitch with a goal at each end. The aim of the game is for your team of five players to score a goal by hitting a small ball into the nets while the other squad tries to stop you.
“So think horse polo but on bikes,” Isabella said. “Then add in hockey and football tactics.
“What’s so exhilarating is we have to go fast, move the ball quickly up the pitch while making sure you’re not getting in people’s way.
“It’s so fun because you have to constantly think, move and do your part for the team.
“But we, the Oakenden Bells, are the only female team in the world that we know of.
“We’ve been going for six years, and we are still trying to get another female team to play against us, and we’d really like that to happen.
“We do play with the guys. They’re very gracious, and we have a really good time playing, even among the men’s teams, but we want more women to play against and hope that the sport grows that way.
“The problem is that it has always been a male-dominated sport, and because there are so few women playing it, it can be off-putting for them having to play men, it can be intimidating.
“It does not help that not a lot of people of both genders know about it at all. But if a woman were to watch it and just see men, they may not feel comfortable about getting involved.
“It just needs more eyeballs on the sport to help it grow.”
The sport dates back to the Victorian era, with the Bicycle Polo Association of Great Britain (BPA) being founded in 1897. Such was its popularity that it featured in the 1908 London Olympic Games.
However, during the Second World War, more than 1,000 players from 100 clubs across Britain left the sport behind after being sent out to fight.
It became a marginal sport until the late 1990s when it gained some popularity. By 2012, there were again 100 clubs across the UK playing the sport both on hardcourts and on grass, according to Sports Management magazine.
The female club members are dreaming that more women’s teams will be formed ahead of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Championships being held in France in 2027.
Grandmother-of-one Sara French, who is the oldest playing member of the club at the age of 65, says they currently play mainly against all-male competition.
The former cycling and driving instructor, who lives in Sturry near Canterbury, said: “Like most sports, bike polo has traditionally been played by men and has taken a while to get women into the game.
“Look at France. They have a lot of teams, but they don’t have a single women’s team.
“We’ve even got a French lady who’s playing with us today, and we are hoping that will encourage more ladies to play.
“We definitely need more women because you need to play against others, especially for the 2027 Championships.”
Before having a go, I decided to watch some of the games being held at the tournament to get more of a gist of how it is played.
One of the men’s Oakenden teams was playing the Chelsea Peddlers, while the Bells were playing the infamous French serial winners – Pedales Varengevillaises.
There were also different styles on display during the games – with the French players juggling the ball with their mallets while the English teams were more about hitting it long and charging upfield.
There were also crashes, but people were quick to get back on their bikes after the tumbles.
Once the games finished, Isabella and Sam took me over to one of the nets to let me have a try.
I am not a keen cyclist, but I use my pushbike regularly to get around Sittingbourne as it is usually just as quick as sitting in the notorious town centre traffic. So I felt comfortable using one hand to steer myself while having the mallet in my right hand.
After watching the players smash the ball into the goal from at least 15 yards away at high speed, juggle the ball and dribble it past their dumbfounded opponents, I felt confident that I could at least score a goal under no pressure.
I pedalled towards the ball at a moderate speed and took a big swing…and missed. I rode around, and Sam put the ball in front of me, which I nudged along the ground.
I then went at the ball again, swung for a big hit to score a goal and… missed again.
Third time lucky? Nope. I nudged the ball along the turf again very slowly, just a yard in front of me, and for the effort, I had to resteady myself.
After taking some advice from Sam, I lined myself up and made contact again. This time whacked it into the net.
Isabella then showed me a skill that riders use: knocking the ball between the wheels while the pedals are in the air. The main difficulty is getting the timing right, as you need to make sure your pedals are up as you hit the ball.
My patient teacher made it look very easy, but it took me three attempts to get it right.
After having a go, I had a much greater appreciation of the game I had watched. The technique, while riding at high speeds, is mesmerising and has taken the players years to master.
One of those who has spent a decade playing the sport is Lénaic Marechal, from Normandy, who was playing for Varengevillaises and is regarded as one of the best players at the tournament.
The 35-year-old dad of two, who works at Marché d’Intérêt National (MIN) de Rouen – a major wholesale food market – got into the sport as he enjoyed cycling. His dad also plays.
He said: “What I like about the game is scoring the goals and juggling the ball.
“But it is not easy to learn.”
I can certainly agree. Compared to football or rugby, bike polo is not as easy to get into.
Those sports are so popular partly because all you need is a ball and a few mates, and the mechanics of the game are simple for a new person – either run with the ball over the try line or kick the ball into the goal.
Whereas, there is the obvious difficulty of just hitting the ball while cycling, which, as you can see from my attempts, is quite hard.
However, that is not to say the sport is not a lot of fun. The crashes, high-speed racing and learning curve are all thoroughly enjoyable and addictive.
If bike polo were too hard to play, it would not have enjoyed a comeback from near death.
If you want to try bike polo at Oakenden, then contact the club via email at theoakendenbikepolo@gmail.com
They practice on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons throughout the summer at Vigo Rugby Club.
