The 2010 Dream Team

Chief "Eighteen" Wheeler

What can we say about the Chief? Well, he is Captain of The Pukka Chukkas, the coach - yep, we let the fat bloke do the coaching - and mainstay (his words, not ours) of the Team. When not riding elephants in Nepal you can usually find him in an expat bar or curry house somewhere in Africa, invariably practising drinking games or playing dominoes. In his mis-spent youth he played a bit of rugby, although life in the front row has changed over the years (there was a lot less running around back then, which is fortunate 'cos the Chief is rubbish at running around!). He has also asked us to take this opportunity to convey his respects to Chief Oyibo, who is a very Pukka Chief, and also to Chief Sunday Bello, who is a very Pukka Chief too. The Chief lists his hobbies as elephant polo, curry & beer (not necessarily in that order).

Melanie "Constance" Wheeler

Melanie, a.k.a. "Snorty Pukka", is the beating heart of the Team (our words, not hers) and her heart is beating particularly fast at the moment because she started knitting scarves for The Pukka Chukkas in 2008. Given we have 6 players and 4 months to go to the 2010 tournament, this could be a tall order (or a short and narrow scarf). Melanie has done her share of travelling, and when out and about on the town she especially enjoys eating chocolate and destroying washbasins - Pat, it's about time that caricature went up on your bar wall. Mel lists her hobbies as demolition, chocolate and hugging elephants - she also listed knitting but we need evidence!

Simon "Boris" Race

Whilst one of the younger players in the team (his words, not ours), Boris brings some invaluable elephant riding experience to the Pukka Chukka’s from his spiritual pre-work travels throughout Asia, which included three months in Nepal. Originally from England, Boris now lives in Perth, Australia, the most isolated city in the world. He is a passionate rugby follower who now chooses to wear the ‘Green and Gold’ opposed to the beloved white with red rose. Listing his two beautiful daughters as the most important part of his life, Simon is well known to Australia’s Oil and Gas industry where he works as an insurance broker. As well as trying to keep fit and healthy, hobbies do include fine wine and food, the mandatory ‘Pukka Chukka’ love of curry, and his slightly metro sexual tendencies of collecting anything by Ted Baker.

Andy Tan

Polo new comer in 2009, back in 2010 to see if he can improve on his shooting close to goal (only he will know how you miss an open goal from a foot out.....). Andy is a keen all round sportsman, squash player and travel enthusiast. When not taking part in sporting events, Andy enjoys boring people with the endless virtues of renewable energy and Arsenal football club - not necessarily in that order. Having committed himself fully to the cause of elephant polo, Andy can now cite a pony trek through the backwaters of Falmouth and recent recitals of the Jungle Book's Elephant song as his two greatest preparatory exercises to date, as his performances in 2009 were of little help!. When asked last year about what he saw as the biggest challenge of entering into the world of elephant polo, Andy responded: 'Staying on top of the elephant after an evening of trying to win my captain's respect and approval for selection by matching him drink for drink. Its going to be a long and hard week!'

Alex Hamilton

Alex is the first of two new Pukka Chukkas for the 2010 World Championships.  He hails from Sydney, and recently moved to London for a career change.  Alex is loving London: so far he thinks the best thing about the UK is watching English who always expect their sporting teams to win then sulk when they inevitably lose (especially to Australia).  [Note from The Chief: WHO HOLDS THE ASHES......??.!!]. Alex has limited (no!) experience riding elephants and isn’t sure how much he will be able to contribute on the field, but at least as a doctor he will be able to help cure the inevitable hangovers that seem to be a theme at WEPA!  Hopefully that contribution will help get the Pukka Chukkas through for a win this year!

 

Michael Eaton

Born and raised in the tundra of Canada, Michael has grown up on a diet primarily of bacon and maple syrup.  An avid outdoorsman, he has survived in the wild with just poutine and beer alone! Always meeting new people and making alliances around the world, there is no place he doesn't call home and rarely has to pay for a hotel room - a truly iinternational houseguest.  Although a first timer at Elephant Polo he plans on bringing his skills of dogsledding, fly fishing, hunting and jetskiing into the mix. Excited for an adventure of a life time, let it be known that this canuck will be be like a beaver in the night!