We’ve survived Halloween and it’s club newsletter time! - October 31, 2017

Welcome to our November club newsletter!

October has been another busy month for water polo in England.  The British Water Polo league is hotting up and the results can be followed at www.bwpl.org.  Meanwhile there are lots of other events and tournaments going on.  We hope to capture a flavour of these below.

First of all congratulations to Newton Abbot Water Polo Club who took the Swim England Water Polo National Age Group girls’ U15s title without losing a match.  The girls were runners up in last year’s event.  They went one stage further this year defeating City of Sheffield in the final.  Sheffield took the silver and City of Liverpool took the bronze.  Fantastic work all.

City of Manchester Water Polo Club emerged victorious after an all North West final at the Swim England National Age Group Championships (U15s) boys’ competition.  The Manchester side made it through to the final without losing a match. They faced Bridgefield Water Polo Club in the final to see who would take home the title from the Manchester Aquatics Centre. Watford Water Polo Club took the bronze.  The Manchester side were coached by GB player Dan Paddon and Andy McGinty.

Congratulations to Boldmere Men’s A team who beat the Worcester Crocodiles to become the Midland League knockout cup winners.

The Spud Murphy Shield – Kent Under 16 Tournament was played on 14 October at the White Oak Leisure Centre.  The final positions in the Spud Murphy Shield were –

Gold – Beckenham

Silver – Beckenham Breams

Bronze – Hythe

Congratulations also to Enfield Water Polo Club who were bronze medallists at the Bishop Stortford Tournament.

West London Penguin Water Club has been recognising the achievements of some of their junior players.  The Under 14 Trophy for best all round achievement this year, has been awarded to Georgia Mouratidi. Georgia is described as a skillful and modest player with a surprisingly mature attitude. She has played in the London League at under 12 and under 13. She not only scores goals in attack, but she keeps them out in defence. Recently, when the team lacked a goal-keeper she made that position her own too.  Very well done Georgia!

Coach Claudio Palumbo also presented two overdue Jack Petchey Awards for outstanding achievement at the club. The winner of the Jack Petchey Award for March 2017 is Samir Garnie.  Samir joined the club just over 2 years ago. He has represented the club twice in the London Youth Games and is rarely absent from training. He constantly applies himself to improving and is a dependable team member and role model for the younger members.

The winner of the Jack Petchey Award for June 2017 is Adam Maidment.  Adam has been with the club for many years. In April, when they were unexpectedly without both of their coaches, Adam stepped up to coach the advanced group. Since then, he has helped coach every week. He has an excellent attitude towards the younger children and commands their respect.  Adam is keen to learn and would like to do a water polo coaching course. His initiative and willingness are admirable.  Now that Adam is 18 he is staying on as a volunteer coach to gain skills that will serve him well in his aspiration to be a teacher in the future.

We are also pleased to showcase an event organized by West London Penguins.  They hold a mixed ability fun tournament for junior players at Uxbridge at the end of every half and full term. The older, more experienced players are captains and they aim to pick evenly matched teams. The team captains refereed matches and enjoyed balancing being fair to their rivals, whilst encouraging the underdogs.  What a fantastic way to share experience whilst having a great time!

Watford Water Polo club hosted a Cadets’ mini water polo tournament for 8-11 year olds.  24 players attended.  It was a great event – the faces below tell the story!

Great to hear that Nova Centurion Water Polo club has re-started in Nottinghamshire after many years.  Sarah Dunsbee explains that this is an elite club for Water Polo players bringing together those with the talent and desire to compete at National level and beyond. In addition to base club water polo sessions, there is a link with the Notts ASA Swim Squad, which provides the environment for players of appropriate level to train together.  Nova Centurion provides the opportunity to work with senior International players and coaches and some very experienced club coaches who have been involved in coaching for many years, which ensures quality sessions both technically and tactically. There may also be opportunities for overseas training camps and competition.  If anyone would like any further information they should contact Sarah via the Nova Centurion website www.novacenturion.co.uk

London is hosting another development tournament.  This tournament is for the U13s (born 2005 and later) and will take place on Sunday 26^th November at 5.30 pm at Whitgift School, South Croydon.  There are five teams in the competition – Hackney, Haringey, Barnet, Lewisham and Kingston.  The teams will play four games each.  These events provide a great opportunity for younger players to compete.  Hopefully we will have some photos for next month’s Water Polo news.

Great to see GB player Addison Brown helping out at a water polo taster session held on 28 October at Wigan Swimming Club.

We are pleased to promote new opportunities.  Chloe Wilcox has asked us to include her new skills and technique training sessions in Manchester.  The details are set out below –

Water Polo Skills and technique Training

Where: East Manchester Leisure Centre (Beswick)

When: 6.30-8am

Who: Mixed water polo players from the North of England

An exciting opportunity for Water Polo players who are on or have the potential to make an England Talent Pathway programme.

Chloe Wilcox, Great Britain Olympian who since competing in London has been playing professionally in Spain and Australia, will be coaching a weekly training session available to enthusiastic players who would like the opportunity to train with Manchester Metropolitan University Scholars and City of Manchester Water polo club players.  Alongside her playing career, she has assisted in coaching the GBR U20’s at Europeans, World Championships and more recently the senior team at the World University Games.  She has returned back to Manchester and started a new role at Manchester Met University.  She will be taking on the head coaching of both the Men’s and Women’s water polo programmes at Manchester Met.  Her vision is to collaborate this training session with all talented players in the North who are able to attend to give as many opportunities for water polo players to access high level coaching.

England Water polo are encouraging all players who are aspiring to make England Teams to attend this training, if available.

If you are interested, please contact Chloe directly on chloe.wilcox@mmu.ac.uk

Our friends in America

The male college water polo season is in full swing in America.  Ashley Castle is in his sophomore year at San Jose State where he plays polo for the college team.  Ashley says that the season is going really well with the team going from unranked last season to currently ranked 11^th in the NCAA.  Ashley is having a fantastic season himself scoring 7 goals in San Jose State’s 4 straight wins last weekend.

The women’s season starts in the Spring semester.  Although the training is ratcheting-up it is good to see that our girls are enjoying some down time.  The picture below shows Kathy Rogers relaxing over pumpkin sculpting with her teammates at the University of Michigan.

Megan Clarke is in her sophomore year at Marist College studying for a major in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy.  Megan and her team are currently training for the pre season Collegiate Cup that takes place in two weeks time.

Rosie Huck is now in her Junior year at Arizona State University where the student athletes are know as Sun Devils.  The squad are looking forward to a pre season tour in Australia after Christmas!

And finally, we are sorry to learn that long serving international Team Manager, Eileen Selvey has announced her retirement from England and GB duties. Eileen has finished on a career high as part of the team, including HC Nick Hume and AC Sue Webb, which managed the very successful GB U17 junior women’s team which secured an outstanding 6th position in the recent 2017 European Junior Championships, including a last gasp win over the hosts and international water polo powerhouse nation, Serbia.  Eileen will be remembered by many players and parents for her kindness, care and support.  Thank you for all you have done Eileen!

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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