Major changes will take place in the British League schedule next season after the BWPL Committee conceded that there was no option during the current coronavirus pandemic but to cut the programme in half.

Instead of the usual two phases, starting in September, the 2020/21 programme has been reduced to eight divisions (five men’s, three women’s) in which the teams play each other once – seven games.
The new launch date is 24/25 October, although even that is not guaranteed. If necessary, the reduced programme would be put back to the start of 2021.

League chairman David Andrews has written to clubs explaining the rationale behind the decision. He says: “I appreciate that all this is a huge step for the League – and no doubt a great disappointment to many people. But there are numerous factors that bring us to this point.”

The most obvious, of course, is that no one knows yet when pools will be open, let alone when Swim England, in consultation with the Government, will sanction a resumption of water polo, very much a contact sport.

Other concerns for the League include the need to cancel existing bookings to avoid paying for non-use; the financial impact of the pandemic on club finances; and the likelihood of increased travel/accommodation costs both for clubs and the League’s officials once the season does get under way.

Mr Andrews writes:  “As ever, the main priority throughout our discussions has been to act in the best interests of you, the League members, as well as the many officials who make possible the whole operation of our competition and also to ensure the ability of the League to function fully when normality returns.”

The BWPL’s prestigious Dave Warriner Memorial Trophy, which recognises outstanding service to the League and to water polo in general, has been awarded this year to table official Duncan Holmes, of Lancaster.
 
As might be imagined, there’s a great deal more to 'big Dunc' in a sporting context than someone who these days is a familiar and highly respected face at many different tournaments throughout the country.
 
Duncan (Photo: Trevor Hyde) joined the Lancaster club in 1968 and was part of the first Lancaster team to win a national title, the under-18s, in 1978. He represented Lancashire and Northern Counties at junior level, claiming national titles with both; then, as a senior, he moved to goalkeeper, playing for Lancaster throughout the club’s rise through the divisions of the former men’s National League.
 
A bizarre water polo injury in 1995 brought a premature end to his playing career. It led to his becoming team manager – and the glue behind the scenes – as Lancaster embarked on a period of domination that earned a total of 12 National League titles and 10 British Championship victories between 1996 and 2011.
 
At that time, Duncan began assisting on the table, his expertise and skill eventually leading to the well-deserved honour of appointment as a 30-second official at the 2012 Olympics.
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A veteran former international and a current Super 5s goalkeeper are to receive this year’s BWPL Columbus Direct most valuable player awards. The women’s accolade goes to Sheffield’s Linzi Gaywood, who, after an astonishing 36 years in top flight polo, still plays in the Super 5s. Our men’s winner is Ben Alcorn, of Invicta, but very much a product of the Worthing club.
 
“Most valuable”, it should be stressed, doesn’t necessarily mean the best player. The awards acknowledge a high level of commitment, loyalty and dedication of players to the club scene and the sport as a whole.
 
Linzi, now 58, made a spectacular sporting debut as a 13-year-old swimmer, representing Wales and Great Britain in sprint freestyle events. She competed in the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in 1978, but, once women’s polo became established in the early 1980s, transition to the sport was inevitable – father Ted Motley and brother Chris were both GB internationals.
 
Linzi played for Loughborough University, Nottingham Northern and City of Coventry and, by 1985, became a key member of the Great Britain team that competed in the first women’s European Championships, then the first World Championships in 1986.
 
Back in Sheffield, she created the Sheffield Sharks team in 1987. The many players she has coached include her children Alex and Eleanor. Last season was probably the first time a mother and son have represented the same club in the Super 5s!
 
Ben Alcorn has been a fixture in Invicta’s goal for a number of seasons, a player whose consistency was recognised when he joined the GB squad preparing for the 2012 Olympics.
 
His introduction to the sport was hardly promising. He’d experienced a version of water polo in a hotel pool while on holiday and wanted to try a more serious version at the Worthing club. “His first deep water session was a bit of an eye-opener,” recalls Worthing’s Alastair Roberts. “I commented to other coaches that he would never make a player because he couldn’t swim! How wrong could I be!”
 
Ben knuckled down, improved his swimming and worked on his polo skills. His career really blossomed after changing from outfield to goalie, helping Invicta win a national age group title. Nowadays, he is lead coach of the South-East region boys’ squad as well as a member of Worthing’s coaching team and balances busy training, playing and coaching schedules alongside a career as a primary school teacher.

Photos: Trevor Hyde

The League received a fantastic response to the launch of our virtual table officials' course, run by BWPL official Mike Hesketh.
 
All ten places on offer were instantly snapped up. So we will now be running a second course next Wednesday, 13 May, offering it, in the first place, to the next ten people who registered previously. Taking the lead will be the League's table officials' co-ordinator Michele Padbury. If you are still interested in taking part, or would like to be involved in the future, please register by going to  https://mailchi.mp/cf25e6118d8e/ezavym1gq9.
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A reminder that tomorrow (10 May) is the notional date of the League’s AGM – and the start of a consultation period (lasting until lunchtime on Sunday, 17 May) in which club reps can ask questions and raise issues, as would happen at a “normal” annual meeting.
 
The Committee will hold a virtual meeting on 17 May. We’ll then collate all questions and comments – plus our responses – and circulate to clubs.
 
The big question now is whether the pandemic will allow a prompt start to the 2020/21 campaign in September. League Chairman David Andrews says: “In these tough times, your Committee has been working towards running next season 'as usual'. But it is becoming increasingly likely that this will not be possible.
 
“We will be putting together our plans with key dates identified should a standard season not be feasible and will publish these thoughts and circulate with the AGM Q&A papers.”
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