Latest News
May’s England Water Polo club news is now out! - April 30, 2018
First up, many congratulations to the victorious London Otter and Newton Abbot sides which claimed the girls’ U17 and U19 titles respectively on the final day of the Swim England Water National Age Group Championships 2018 in Manchester.
London Otter U19 Champions
The Otter U19 team were crowned champions after defeating the home side and defending champions, City of Manchester, in the final. City of Liverpool won the bronze medal in the third and fourth play-off match as they eased past Rotherham 17-12.
In the U17s competition, Newton Abbot beat Otter 9-6 to win the gold medal. Tyldesley secured the bronze medal as they sealed a 9-4 victory over Cheltenham.
Newton Abbot U17 Champions
City of Manchester and Caledonia were crowned boys’ U17 and U19 national age group champions at the Swim England Water Polo National Age Group Championships in Manchester. Caledonia’s U17 side ensured a second celebration on the day as they won the Plate competition at Manchester Aquatics Centre.
City of Manchester U17 Champions
In an exciting weekend of water polo City of Manchester booked their place in the final by defeating Beckenham 18-8 in the semi-finals. They took on Watford, who edged past City of Sheffield following a penalty shoot-out after a 13-13 draw in their match. In the final City of Manchester defeated Watford 18-10 to lift the WJ Read Trophy for the first time since 2013. Sheffield took the bronze medal.
In the U19 tournament, Caledonia had a comfortable 18-11 win over City of Sheffield to get to the final. Sedgefield defeated City of Manchester in their semi-final. It was a close final but it was Caledonia who took the national title with an 8-6 win. The bronze medal went to City of Manchester, who defeated City of Sheffield 9-6.
Worthing U14 London Winter League Champions
Congratulations to Worthing Water Polo who are the U14 London Winter League Champions. The first phase of the competition saw the teams divided into north and south divisions. The top two teams from each division then progressed to the final play-offs. Worthing and Beckenham went through for the south and Watford and Ealing qualified for the north. Worthing secured wins against all the teams in the play-offs to take the title for the first time in about 10 years. Good job!
Watford U15’s have been out to Singapore to take part in the Pacer Invitational tournament. What a fantastic opportunity. Hope you had a fab time!
Watford U15s
Anderson Jolly with Coach Aloka
Congratulations to Anderson Jolly who is the winner of the Hillingdon WPC Jack Petchey Achievement Award for March 2018 for his leadership, commitment and discipline. Anderson, 15, joined the Club in December 2016. Although a strong swimmer he was new to water polo. However, it didn’t take him long to master the basics of the game and move to the Advanced group. His coach, Aloka, says, “Anderson at a young age has shown great stature in the form of leadership and discipline. He is a player with huge potential who remains humble and simple yet plays the game hard.” Well done!
We are delighted to see that another new water polo club has been formed. Yeovil District Swimming Club has announced the formation of their new Water polo team called the Yeovil Spartans. The Yeovil Spartans will be affiliated to the swimming club and will meet at their Sherborne training centre at the Oxley swimming pool. The Yeovil Spartans is the brainchild of two longtime water polo enthusiasts and players – Rachel Middlemast and Hannah Taylor. Both are on a mission to bring the game to the local area and spread the word about the many benefits of this exciting sport. Training started on 22 April.
If you would like any further information please contact Hannah on 07866 804443 or email yeovilspartans@gmail.com – see flier below for session details.
Congratulations to GB London 2012 star Ciara Gibson-Byrne, who helped her Spanish club side Mataro to the bronze medal in the LEN Trophy Final Four last month. Ciara fired home twice in an 11-8 victory over Padova to clinch a place on the medal podium.
Ciara & her Mataro team mates
Obituary
It is with great sadness that we document the passing of Yvonne Kelley on Thursday 22nd March 2018. Yvonne was well known to many particularly in the North West. She taught many generations of children to swim and play water polo. She was also a referee for both swimming and water polo. Her passion was to encourage young people to swim and be safe around water, and to encourage smaller clubs to continue in both junior swimming and water polo. Yvonne showed amazing commitment to the sport by giving up most of her evenings and weekends to attend galas or competitions for swimming or water polo, whilst also continuing to teach at Stalybridge Swimming and Water Polo Club. We would like to offer our condolences to Yvonne’s family and friends.
Development Camps
Kent are running water polo development sessions. The next is on Saturday 12 May from 19.15-21.30 at Hilda May Avenue, Swanley BR8 7BT. If you wish to attend please contact KentWaterPoloNews@gmail.com.
Petar Momcilovic (Oxford University) and Felix Mercado (Brown University USA) are running a Water Polo Skills Camp from 30-31 May at Haberdashers’ Aske Boys School in Elstree, Herts. The event will include a talk about collegiate water polo in the USA. Please see details in the flier below.
City of Manchester WPC are supporting a Time Out UK residential water polo camp in Manchester from 28 July to 1 August. The camp will include two pool sessions a day and strength and conditioning training. The coaching will be led by GB Senior men and women players, Dan Paddon and Izzy Howe overseen by GB Senior Women’s coach Theo Nousios and 2016 Water Polo Coach of the Year, Andy McGinty. If you are interested please see further details in the flier below.
Manchester Metropolitan University are offering two free water polo taster sessions on 9th and 16th May at Manchester Aquatics Centre, 2 Booth St E, Manchester M13 9SS. The sessions will cover swimming techniques, dribbling with the ball, passing and shooting the ball and it wouldn’t be a water polo session without a bit of game time! To top it all off these sessions will be delivered by former Olympic water polo player Chloe Wilcox with support from MMU Sport Water polo club. To register please follow the link https://t.co/gj0U6tj3rG
Our team- mates in America
We would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Claire Nixon who will graduate from the University of Hawaii at the end of this semester after completing her degree in Civil Engineering. Claire was born and brought up in Staffordshire where she started her water polo career at Walsall SWPC. In 2010 Claire became a member of the GB Senior team. She was part of the team that finished 8th at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona. When the national team lost its funding Claire secured a scholarship to play water polo at the University of Hawaii; she was the first British female player to play collegiate water polo in the United States. Claire has enjoyed a hugely successful career with the Wahines and has been a role model for other GB players going to America to further their dreams. GB now has 5 women playing collegiate water polo in Hawaii (2), Arizona State University, University of Michigan and Marist College.
Claire Nixon
Claire Nixon
Claire at her Senior Day
And as one England & GBR player’s collegiate water polo career comes to an end another starts. Our congratulations go to Swim England Water Polo Performance Athlete of the Year, Sophie Jackson, who has accepted a sports scholarship with the University of Michigan in USA starting in January 2019. The City of Leeds goalkeeper will join British teammate Kathy Rogers on the water polo roster. As well as playing water polo Sophie will major in Architecture at the university’s Taubman College.
Big congrats to Sophie Jackson!
We also note that as well as having a stand out water polo season Ashley Castle has been awarded three academic awards for 2017/18. He has been recognized by the ACWPC Men’s National All-Academic Outstanding Team, GCC (Golden Coast Conference) Men’s All-Academic Team and has now achieved the distinction of the San José State Dean’s Scholar Award. Play hard work hard. Well-done Ashley!
Ashley Castle
And finally, a reminder that the Super 5 finals will (probably!) be broadcast on Sky Sports on 6th May 2018 – Men at 6pm, women at 7pm. As we have found Sky Schedules are prone to change!
Well that’s it for this month. 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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Latest News
May’s England Water Polo club news is now out! -
First up, many congratulations to the victorious London Otter and Newton Abbot sides which claimed the girls’ U17 and U19 titles respectively on the final day of the Swim England Water National Age Group Championships 2018 in Manchester.
London Otter U19 Champions
The Otter U19 team were crowned champions after defeating the home side and defending champions, City of Manchester, in the final. City of Liverpool won the bronze medal in the third and fourth play-off match as they eased past Rotherham 17-12.
In the U17s competition, Newton Abbot beat Otter 9-6 to win the gold medal. Tyldesley secured the bronze medal as they sealed a 9-4 victory over Cheltenham.
Newton Abbot U17 Champions
City of Manchester and Caledonia were crowned boys’ U17 and U19 national age group champions at the Swim England Water Polo National Age Group Championships in Manchester. Caledonia’s U17 side ensured a second celebration on the day as they won the Plate competition at Manchester Aquatics Centre.
City of Manchester U17 Champions
In an exciting weekend of water polo City of Manchester booked their place in the final by defeating Beckenham 18-8 in the semi-finals. They took on Watford, who edged past City of Sheffield following a penalty shoot-out after a 13-13 draw in their match. In the final City of Manchester defeated Watford 18-10 to lift the WJ Read Trophy for the first time since 2013. Sheffield took the bronze medal.
In the U19 tournament, Caledonia had a comfortable 18-11 win over City of Sheffield to get to the final. Sedgefield defeated City of Manchester in their semi-final. It was a close final but it was Caledonia who took the national title with an 8-6 win. The bronze medal went to City of Manchester, who defeated City of Sheffield 9-6.
Worthing U14 London Winter League Champions
Congratulations to Worthing Water Polo who are the U14 London Winter League Champions. The first phase of the competition saw the teams divided into north and south divisions. The top two teams from each division then progressed to the final play-offs. Worthing and Beckenham went through for the south and Watford and Ealing qualified for the north. Worthing secured wins against all the teams in the play-offs to take the title for the first time in about 10 years. Good job!
Watford U15’s have been out to Singapore to take part in the Pacer Invitational tournament. What a fantastic opportunity. Hope you had a fab time!
Watford U15s
Anderson Jolly with Coach Aloka
Congratulations to Anderson Jolly who is the winner of the Hillingdon WPC Jack Petchey Achievement Award for March 2018 for his leadership, commitment and discipline. Anderson, 15, joined the Club in December 2016. Although a strong swimmer he was new to water polo. However, it didn’t take him long to master the basics of the game and move to the Advanced group. His coach, Aloka, says, “Anderson at a young age has shown great stature in the form of leadership and discipline. He is a player with huge potential who remains humble and simple yet plays the game hard.” Well done!
We are delighted to see that another new water polo club has been formed. Yeovil District Swimming Club has announced the formation of their new Water polo team called the Yeovil Spartans. The Yeovil Spartans will be affiliated to the swimming club and will meet at their Sherborne training centre at the Oxley swimming pool. The Yeovil Spartans is the brainchild of two longtime water polo enthusiasts and players – Rachel Middlemast and Hannah Taylor. Both are on a mission to bring the game to the local area and spread the word about the many benefits of this exciting sport. Training started on 22 April.
If you would like any further information please contact Hannah on 07866 804443 or email yeovilspartans@gmail.com – see flier below for session details.
Congratulations to GB London 2012 star Ciara Gibson-Byrne, who helped her Spanish club side Mataro to the bronze medal in the LEN Trophy Final Four last month. Ciara fired home twice in an 11-8 victory over Padova to clinch a place on the medal podium.
Ciara & her Mataro team mates
Obituary
It is with great sadness that we document the passing of Yvonne Kelley on Thursday 22nd March 2018. Yvonne was well known to many particularly in the North West. She taught many generations of children to swim and play water polo. She was also a referee for both swimming and water polo. Her passion was to encourage young people to swim and be safe around water, and to encourage smaller clubs to continue in both junior swimming and water polo. Yvonne showed amazing commitment to the sport by giving up most of her evenings and weekends to attend galas or competitions for swimming or water polo, whilst also continuing to teach at Stalybridge Swimming and Water Polo Club. We would like to offer our condolences to Yvonne’s family and friends.
Development Camps
Kent are running water polo development sessions. The next is on Saturday 12 May from 19.15-21.30 at Hilda May Avenue, Swanley BR8 7BT. If you wish to attend please contact KentWaterPoloNews@gmail.com.
Petar Momcilovic (Oxford University) and Felix Mercado (Brown University USA) are running a Water Polo Skills Camp from 30-31 May at Haberdashers’ Aske Boys School in Elstree, Herts. The event will include a talk about collegiate water polo in the USA. Please see details in the flier below.
City of Manchester WPC are supporting a Time Out UK residential water polo camp in Manchester from 28 July to 1 August. The camp will include two pool sessions a day and strength and conditioning training. The coaching will be led by GB Senior men and women players, Dan Paddon and Izzy Howe overseen by GB Senior Women’s coach Theo Nousios and 2016 Water Polo Coach of the Year, Andy McGinty. If you are interested please see further details in the flier below.
Manchester Metropolitan University are offering two free water polo taster sessions on 9th and 16th May at Manchester Aquatics Centre, 2 Booth St E, Manchester M13 9SS. The sessions will cover swimming techniques, dribbling with the ball, passing and shooting the ball and it wouldn’t be a water polo session without a bit of game time! To top it all off these sessions will be delivered by former Olympic water polo player Chloe Wilcox with support from MMU Sport Water polo club. To register please follow the link https://t.co/gj0U6tj3rG
Our team- mates in America
We would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Claire Nixon who will graduate from the University of Hawaii at the end of this semester after completing her degree in Civil Engineering. Claire was born and brought up in Staffordshire where she started her water polo career at Walsall SWPC. In 2010 Claire became a member of the GB Senior team. She was part of the team that finished 8th at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona. When the national team lost its funding Claire secured a scholarship to play water polo at the University of Hawaii; she was the first British female player to play collegiate water polo in the United States. Claire has enjoyed a hugely successful career with the Wahines and has been a role model for other GB players going to America to further their dreams. GB now has 5 women playing collegiate water polo in Hawaii (2), Arizona State University, University of Michigan and Marist College.
Claire Nixon
Claire Nixon
Claire at her Senior Day
And as one England & GBR player’s collegiate water polo career comes to an end another starts. Our congratulations go to Swim England Water Polo Performance Athlete of the Year, Sophie Jackson, who has accepted a sports scholarship with the University of Michigan in USA starting in January 2019. The City of Leeds goalkeeper will join British teammate Kathy Rogers on the water polo roster. As well as playing water polo Sophie will major in Architecture at the university’s Taubman College.
Big congrats to Sophie Jackson!
We also note that as well as having a stand out water polo season Ashley Castle has been awarded three academic awards for 2017/18. He has been recognized by the ACWPC Men’s National All-Academic Outstanding Team, GCC (Golden Coast Conference) Men’s All-Academic Team and has now achieved the distinction of the San José State Dean’s Scholar Award. Play hard work hard. Well-done Ashley!
Ashley Castle
And finally, a reminder that the Super 5 finals will (probably!) be broadcast on Sky Sports on 6th May 2018 – Men at 6pm, women at 7pm. As we have found Sky Schedules are prone to change!
Well that’s it for this month. 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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