WARM UP 737

WARM UP trainers, called ‘‘mahouts.’’ The mah- ...... outs have generally worked with the elephant for many years and the ele- phants respond quickly to the mahouts’

You are a better man than I am, signals and commands. The mahouts Br J Med: first published as on 23 August 2006. Downloaded from communicate with the elephant with Gunga Din verbal commands and by applying pres- sure to the back of the elephant’s ears P McCrory with their feet. The player’s responsi- bility is to let the mahout know where ...... to go, how fast, when to stop, etc. Most of the mahouts and all of the elephants only understand Nepali, so the commu- ell good news. I have found a in Meghauly on the edge of the National nication is difficult at times. The profes- in which the UK (or at Park. The co-founders, James Manclark, sional players tend to learn some basic Wleast ) can dominate a Scottish landowner and former Nepali to help with the communication competition and justifiably claim to be Olympic tobogganer, and Jim Edwards, on the pitch. world champions. This may be some owner of Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge and consolation for the fans of the forth- Chairman of the Tiger Mountain Group, AMATEURS OR PROFESSIONALS? coming summer Ashes series who will came up with the idea in a bar in St. In addition to the professional game, it be disheartened by the likely outcome. Moritz, Switzerland, where they are may be of interest to readers to know both members of the Cresta Club. that an all-Ireland team entered and ELEPHANT Elephant polo was first played in won the Chivas Regal WEPA Olympic The 2005 World Elephant Polo around the turn of the 20th Quaich, the amateur world title of the Championship, hosted by Tiger Tops century, by members of the British sport in 2005. Jungle Lodge in , ended with aristocracy. The first games were played Their victory was against the wily and Chivas Regal Scotland winning their sec- with a soccer ball, but after finding that experienced International Tigresses & ond World Championship in a row as the elephants like to smash the balls, Dom’s Dragon team, captained by Celia they clinched the Tiger Tops Trophy by 7 the soccer ball was replaced with a Temple from Scotland. The Irish squad goals to 6 from their arch rivals the standard polo ball. The sticks are made of captain Graham Little (a sports National Parks team of Nepal. Player of bamboo and have a standard polo presenter on UTV), brother Warren manager Peter Prentice, who clocked up mallet on the end. The length of the Little, Justin ‘‘The Scoop’’ Woods, 25 goals in the tournament, was the star stick depends on the size of the ele- Michael Loughman, Colin Carroll and phant—anywhere from 5 to 12 feet. Graham ‘‘Slippy’’ Smith started the final player of the team led by Captain the http://bjsm.bmj.com/ Duke of Argyll who was quoted as The rules of the game are similar to with a 4-goal advantage due to the saying, ‘‘… This was another humdinger horse polo, but the pitch is 3/4 length handicapping system. The second half of a final, but to do it for Scotland again is an (because of the slower speed of the saw a come back from the International amazing experience and one I hope will elephants) and there are some necessary Tigresses with goals from Lars Lofgren inspire others. It doesn’t get much better, or additions—for instance, it is a penalty from Sweden and a spectacular volley bigger, than this!’’ The victory made it for an elephant to lie down in front of from Celia Temple as she met a powerful three tournaments in a row for the the goal line. Players are secured in rope Lofgren cross on the full, leaving Scotland team, following the team’s harnesses, with a rope across their Ireland’s defence no chance. However, on September 30, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. victories in the 2004 World thighs and rope stirrups. The game will Ireland’s lead was enough as the final Championship and the King’s Cup in stop if a player’s harness becomes too whistle went with the scores 6-2. Thailand in September 2005. loose and there is a danger of the player Entries for the 25th World Cham- The World Elephant Polo Association falling off. pionship are now being invited. More (WEPA) was formed in 1982 at Tiger The primary difference between horse information is available on www. Tops Jungle Lodge in the Royal Chitwan and elephant polo, besides the substitu- elephantpolo.com or from info@ National Park in Nepal. The earliest tion of an elephant for a horse, is that elephantpolo.com. games were played on a grass airfield the elephants are ‘‘driven’’ by their Br J Sports Med 2006;40:737

www.bjsportmed.com