BWPL PLANS FRESH START
And, finally, some positive news . . . ! The League Committee have agreed that, with the Covid-19 pandemic situation hopefully easing over the next few months, we can begin to plan for the start of a full 2021/22 season next September.
Sadly, the Champions Cup won’t be happening, as envisaged, in April/May. This is due to a variety of problems (not least, the current ban on training for over-18s). But it will re-emerge in 2022 as a super new prestige event featuring BWPL’S top clubs.
For all teams, it’s now a matter of keeping fingers firmly crossed that there will be a return to action next September. The intention is that the qualification tournament and Championship 1 play-off take place in the early part of the month, followed by the full programme starting in late-September.
A key date will be 1 May. The pandemic continues to have a calamitous impact on many water polo clubs and that date will be the withdrawal deadline should any current team not be in a position to tackle the new season. 1 May is also the deadline for applications from potential new clubs.
Sadly, the Champions Cup won’t be happening, as envisaged, in April/May. This is due to a variety of problems (not least, the current ban on training for over-18s). But it will re-emerge in 2022 as a super new prestige event featuring BWPL’S top clubs.
For all teams, it’s now a matter of keeping fingers firmly crossed that there will be a return to action next September. The intention is that the qualification tournament and Championship 1 play-off take place in the early part of the month, followed by the full programme starting in late-September.
A key date will be 1 May. The pandemic continues to have a calamitous impact on many water polo clubs and that date will be the withdrawal deadline should any current team not be in a position to tackle the new season. 1 May is also the deadline for applications from potential new clubs.
Other News:
Financial blow: British water polo was not among the sports to receive financial support in the latest package announced by UK Sport (18 December). However, the British WP Leadership Group remains optimistic there may be more positive news in the future. See News page for full story.
Death of Frank Jordan: The death has occurred after a short illness of Frank Jordan, stalwart of Scottish water polo for many years. He was 87.
Frank coached the only Scottish side to win the British Women's Championship - Menzieshill, in 1984 - and had been involved in swimming and water polo for eight decades. He was honorary president of the Menzieshill Whitehall club and key in persuading the Menzieshill committee to agree to players becoming part of the combined Caledonia set-up in BWPL. He was awarded the B.E.M. four years ago.
Top of page: Snapshots (by Trevor Hyde) of last season - a reminder of those carefree, pre-corona days when BWPL was still in full swing! L-R: Manchester's Dan Padden on the attack; Eve Tidy, of Welsh Wanderers, just managing to keep afloat under the challenge of Leah Clark, of Mid Sussex Marlins; and Ali Wakeling, of Sutton & Cheam.
Financial blow: British water polo was not among the sports to receive financial support in the latest package announced by UK Sport (18 December). However, the British WP Leadership Group remains optimistic there may be more positive news in the future. See News page for full story.
Death of Frank Jordan: The death has occurred after a short illness of Frank Jordan, stalwart of Scottish water polo for many years. He was 87.
Frank coached the only Scottish side to win the British Women's Championship - Menzieshill, in 1984 - and had been involved in swimming and water polo for eight decades. He was honorary president of the Menzieshill Whitehall club and key in persuading the Menzieshill committee to agree to players becoming part of the combined Caledonia set-up in BWPL. He was awarded the B.E.M. four years ago.
Top of page: Snapshots (by Trevor Hyde) of last season - a reminder of those carefree, pre-corona days when BWPL was still in full swing! L-R: Manchester's Dan Padden on the attack; Eve Tidy, of Welsh Wanderers, just managing to keep afloat under the challenge of Leah Clark, of Mid Sussex Marlins; and Ali Wakeling, of Sutton & Cheam.
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Welcome to the website of the BWPL, UK water polo's premier league competition!!
The British Water Polo League was launched in 2010 following the successful merger of the men's National League and the National Women's Water Polo League. We have gone from strength to strength since then and the 2019/20 season features a full complement of 64 teams from England, Scotland and Wales - 40 men's and 24 women's.
Particular thanks to James Reddick, of Polytechnic, for his help in creating this website. For more information about advertising, please contact BWPL Secretary Chris Ducker, chris.ducker@bwpl.org.
The British Water Polo League was launched in 2010 following the successful merger of the men's National League and the National Women's Water Polo League. We have gone from strength to strength since then and the 2019/20 season features a full complement of 64 teams from England, Scotland and Wales - 40 men's and 24 women's.
Particular thanks to James Reddick, of Polytechnic, for his help in creating this website. For more information about advertising, please contact BWPL Secretary Chris Ducker, chris.ducker@bwpl.org.
