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Welcome to our June England Water Polo club news -

We begin this month’s news round-up with the announcement that our England Water Polo monthly newsletter editor Anne Huck is stepping down after 7 and a half memorable years. Many of you will know Anne and her family who are all very active in polo in the North West and on the international stage, and we would like to say a very big thank you to her from all of us here at England Water Polo and from the wider GB polo community. You did a fantastic job Anne!

The search for a new newsletter editor is now underway, as we look forward to the next chapter in our journey. So, if you are passionate about water polo and would like to try your hand at editing our newsletter, perhaps with a view to working in sports journalism in the future, or possibly you have some time available once a month and would like to support our fantastic sport, we would be delighted to hear from you. To find out more please leave your contact details in the comments section below or email us on cd@waterpoloengland.org.

This month saw some thrilling action from the British Water Polo League’s Champions Cup event held at Coventry’s Allan Higgs Sports Centre on May 11-12th.

A big shoutout to City of Manchester women for securing a sensational double victory! The City of Manchester Women’s team became double champions for the first time by following up their Super 5s success earlier the year with an 11-3 triumph over Liverpool Lizards in the Champions Cup final at Coventry. This match was a tremendous display of dominance, with Manchester scoring seven goals before Liverpool even managed to get on the board. Congratulations to the scorers: Izzy Howe (4), Lucy Blenkinship (2), Rosie Huck (2), Liv Henderson, Brooke Tafazolli, and Jade Smith. What an incredible achievement for the team! London Otter took the bronze medal.

City of Manchester’s victorious women’s team. image credit BWPL

The City of Manchester Men’s team also shone, claiming the BWPL Champions Cup with a gripping 12-10 win against Polytechnic. During the second period, Manchester turned up the heat and scored four rapid goals courtesy of Conor Lynch, Harry Dunkerley, Eleftheios Chelioudakis, and Dan Padden, securing a 10-6 lead. Despite Polytechnic’s late rally, Manchester held on strong. Earlier in the day, Welsh Wanderers secured third place with an impressive 16-7 victory over Sutton & Cheam. Hats off to all teams for their spirited performances!

City of Manchester’s champion men’s team. image credit BWPL

Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce the Manchester Bethell Cup Summer Festival, taking place on June 29th. This exciting event is in partnership with sponsors, Bethell Group Plc and Manchester City Council. Prepare for a day filled with thrilling matches and unforgettable moments. Let’s make this festival one to remember!

Our GB U19 squad recently embarked on a memorable training trip to the Barcelona BIWPA Water Polo Academy. The players have returned with fantastic experiences and invaluable skills, praising the superior training facilities and the brilliant coaching they received. This training trip has surely been a significant step forward in their development. To hear more from the lads about their experience click through here > https://x.com/i/status/1794807700741927064

Congratulations to the West London U15 mixed team on their victorious weekend at the Cheltenham Lido competition! The team registered impressive wins against Exeter (5-3), Watford (13-2), Solihull (16-5), and Cheltenham (8-3). A huge well done to the team for their outstanding performance and teamwork.

Exciting news! The Lyme Splash Water Polo Sea Championship will be featured on TV! Thanks to Bridport Barracudas for their significant support in making this event possible. Stay tuned for more information on when you can catch the championship on television.

In the East region, we have heard that Hertford Swimming Club are starting an all new junior water polo session on Thursdays from June 6th. Please contact enquiries@hertfordwaterpolo.club for more info.

And now some news from Greece club polo! Many of the stars of our GB women’s 2024 European Championship and World Championship team play professionally in Europe and our GB super-striker Lily Turner plays for elite European club, Ethnikos. We were delighted to note that in an exhilarating turn of events, Ethnikos claimed the Greek Cup by defeating Olympiacos on penalties after a dramatic 9-9 normal time. Ethnikos keeper Eleni Sotireli was the star of the match, scoring an equalizing goal 24 seconds before the end and stopping a crucial shot in the shootout. This victory was undoubtedly one of the shocks of the season and highlights the unpredictable and thrilling nature of water polo.

Our GB women’s 2024 European Championship and World Championship captain Kathy Rogers, has also been in the media sharing her insights on the “Anything But Footy” podcast. Kathy discussed the GB team’s qualification for the next Europeans, the ongoing challenges, and the potential of the squad. Listen to Kathy’s inspiring words and feel the passion for water polo shine through the conversation. Check out Kathy’s appearance on the podcast at this link > https://open.spotify.com/episode/5m1R0jTc4r8aqgddb7zLg8?si=x35bB-0QRHu1lRqNQUvmAA

That’s a wrap for this month’s round-up of water polo news in England! Don’t forget that we’re always eager to share news from clubs across England. If you have any exciting stories or updates, please reach out to us at cd@waterpoloengland.org

Stay enthusiastic, keep playing, and see you next month!

One response to “Welcome to our June England Water Polo club news”

  1. Giles Govier says:

    This weekend was the annual Faversham outdoor tournament
    Teams from , Holland, Ireland , south east England , men and women’s took part

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