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Recover from Halloween with our November polo club news! -

Welcome to our club news for November 2018!

October saw the Swim England National Age Group Championships take place at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.  This year was the turn of the Under 15s.  Undefeated Worthing proved to be worthy winners of the boys’ competition.  Following a hard-fought tournament, the South East side maintained their unbeaten run with a 10-2 victory over Watford A in the final.  City of Birmingham took the national bronze.

Worthing U15s in action. Image Credit Swim England

In the women’s competition City of Sheffield ‘exceeded their expectations’ as they were crowned Swim England National Age Group U15s girls’ champions.  The Yorkshire side won all five of their matches at the Manchester Aquatics Centre – and defeated Cheltenham 14-3 in the final.  Otter sealed the bronze medal with a 3-0 victory against City of Liverpool.

City of Sheffield U15 champs. Image credit Swim England

 

Congratulations to Boldmere Water Polo Club who have made history by winning the Midland League Division One Championship for the first time ever.  What an achievement!

Boldmere – Midland League Division One Champions

It’s great to see coverage of water polo tournaments taking place at a local level.  In Kent they saw the return of the Sean King Tournament for players aged 14 and under. This year teams were entered from Beckenham, Sevenoaks, Hythe and Faversham. There were some really close games, which shows how competitive clubs are in Kent.  Beckenham showed their strength in this age group by entering two teams – Beckenham and Beckenham Breams.  Beckenham took the top slot scoring 45 goals and conceding none and second place went to their second team Beckenham Breams.  Hythe came in third having been very unlucky not to finish higher considering they had 2 draws, which on another day could have been 2 wins.  Sevenoaks came fourth with a young team who gained valuable match experience.  Faversham came in fifth with another inexperienced team that clearly developed and improved throughout the tournament.

Beckenham victors!

Hillingdon Water Polo Club ran a Half Term Mixed Ability Fun Tournament on 20 October with visitors from other London clubs.  It looks like a fun time was had by all!

Fun Tournament at Hilliingdon WPC

 

Congratulations to the Radcliffe S&WPC under 12 squad who have been crowned Bolton & District champions for 2018! Lead coach Katherine and Team Manager Ian have worked hard with the team who won every single league game this season.  Great achievement!

Radcliffe S&WPC

Humberside Water Polo club are looking for players.  Training is at Albert Avenue Hull every Wednesday from 7.30 to 8.30.  The first session is free.  Do go along if you fancy giving the sport a try.

The British Water Polo League is now in full swing.  Details of fixtures and results can be found at www.bwpl.org

We are sorry to learn of the death of Beckenham’s Dr Mike Clark who made a huge contribution to water polo as a player, official and administrator.  Mike was a life member of the British League in honour of his great service to the former men’s National League for which he was treasurer for more than two decades.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

In remembrance of Dr Mike Clark

Our Team-mates in America

The men’s season started at the end of August.  Ashley Castle is playing for San José State in his Junior year.

San José State 2018 Squad

 

The women’s season starts in January 2019 but the girls are already well into their pre season training.  Our girls who will be competing for American Universities next semester will be –

Rosie Huck (City of Manchester) – Arizona State “Sun Devils”

Megan Clarke (City of Coventry) – Marist College

Kathy Rogers (Otter) – University of Michigan

Mhari Nurthen (Otter) – Hawaii

Sophie Jackson (City of Leeds) – University of Michigan

Signing week will take place in November when the Universities will announce the players who have signed up to join them next year.  Will any other English players be making their way across the Atlantic?  If so we will pick them up next month.

University of Michigan’s women’s water polo

We hope you find this report of interest.  We aim to showcase what has been going on in English Water Polo clubs over the last month and flag up forthcoming events.  If you have any news that you would like to share about your club please contact me at ah@waterpoloengland.org

 

 

 

 

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