Our October News is here! - September 30, 2017

Welcome to our October Club News in which we try and showcase what clubs in England have been up to over the last month.  It is great to see the number of clubs that have been competing in European tournaments as well as development tournaments at home.

Exeter Water Polo club entered their male and female under 19 teams to compete in the 2^nd Barcelona International Turbo Cup from 7-10 September. The event was hosted by the Barcelona Water Polo Academy in the very pool that was iconic in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.  The quality of the polo was excellent and the teams played well against strong opposition.  The girls had an outstanding tournament narrowly losing out on the top spot on penalties to take silver.

 

 

 

 

 

City of Coventry and City of Liverpool water polo clubs sent their women’s teams to the EU Nations in Prague. City of Liverpool won all 5 of their games to take the title.  They defeated last season’s winners, Chemnitz, and City of Coventry on their way to the title.  Kate Read was named goalkeeper of the tournament – the second time she has been awarded such an honour in Europe this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheltenham’s 1^st team also travelled to Prague on 15-17 September to compete in the EU Nations Cup.   They arrived at 1 am in the morning but were still looking good.  A fantastic event saw the Cheltenham team take bronze with Sam Legge named as the Best Goal Keeper of the tournament.

 

 

 

 

West London Penguin and London Polytechnic joined forces under the name of ‘Polly the Penguin’, to take part in the Het Y’s Water Polo Tournament on 3-4 September at De Miranadabad in Amsterdam.  A full account of the escapades can be viewed on West London Penguins’ blog but I think they won! The team clearly had a great weekend as the photo below shows!

 

 

 

 

Dunstable, Brighton and Avondale Water Polo Clubs also headed overseas to take part in the Amsterdam tournament. Pictured poolside are Dunstable WPC. Well done to all three teams and great to see our clubs competing abroad and flying the flag for England Water Polo across Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Norwich Water Polo Club, who returned from a fabulous weekend tournament in Breda, Holland, with the silver medal.  The matches were played in a stunning outdoor 50m pool and Norwich won three of their five matches on their way to claiming second place.

 

 

 

 

 

Also on tour this month were Sunderland Ladies who visited Amsterdam.  Great photo ladies!

 

 

 

 

 

Back at home, the London Development Tournament took place on 24 September 2017.  It was great to see so many teams competing.  The photos have been fab and I set out my favourites below from Barnet Water Polo Club –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month we promoted an event organised by Coventry Water Polo Club which took place on 9 September with three invitational matches played at Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre.  The event was a great success and a fab way to showcase the sport.

Congratulations to Watford Water Polo club’s under 13 team who maintained their 100% record to win the London League Championship 2017.  Worthy champions!

 

 

 

 

 

Tyldesley S&WPC organized their first tournament at the Pelican Centre on 10 September.  Four teams competed in an afternoon of excellent polo and congratulations to Bridgefield U15 Boys who won the event.

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to all the players, coaches and organisers who made the inaugural Eastern region Water Polo Grand Prix such a huge success. This development showcase event was a real festival for our sport and proved such a hit that plans are already in place for a second Eastern Grand Prix for teams and players born 2003 and younger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Chelmsford’s Dean Walker for the photo and also many congratulations to Dean (pictured) for winning the Coach of the Year Award at the East AGM.

Prince William visited the North West on 14 September and popped in to watch a training session at Bolton School.  The Prince, who used to play water polo at school and University, watched as Bolton School and COMWPC coach, Andy McGinty, took the players through their paces.    Great to see a young Royal come out and support for the sport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our friends in America

Last month we mentioned our 6 players who are currently at University in the USA.  The men’s season has started and we are pleased to see that Ashley Castle scored 2 goals in San Jose State’s season opening match against Santa Clara

 

 

 

The women’s season doesn’t start in earnest until after Christmas so they are able to take more time to settle into life in the USA.  Certainly that life looks good for our girls in Hawaii (Claire Nixon and Mhairi Nurthen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back home the long awaited Lancaster Water Polo Development Tournament is here.  Any clubs who want to enter a 12 years and under team to take part on Sunday 17 December 2017 can enter online at laswpc@gmail.com.  The closing date is 24 November 2017.

 

 

 

 

Well that’s it for this month.  What a month for water polo it has been!  If you have any news about your club that you would like to share please do let me know by emailing me at ah@waterpoloengland.org.

 

 

 

 

 

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