Blog Archives

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALE

30/5/2018

British League Super 5s champions Otter and Solihull chase double success when the British Championships finals take place at Sandford Parks Lido, Cheltenham, on Saturday and Sunday. Programme:

Saturday

13.00, Men's semi-final, Manchester v Solihull
14.15, Women's semi-final, Coventry v Manchester
15.30, Men's semi-final, Cheltenham v Lancaster
16.45, Women's semi-final, Liverpool v Otter

Sunday

10.00, Men's 3rd/4th play-off
11.30, Women's 3rd/4th play-off
13.00, Women's final
14.30, Men's final

YORK ON THE RISE!

26/5/2018

York City will move up from men's Division 5 to Division 4 at the start of the 2018/19 campaign following the resignation from the League of Ealing.

Ealing's departure follows a season in which they finished seventh in Championship 3. York narrowly missed out on promotion via Championship 4, where they finished fourth behind Caledonia Storm, Coventry and Tyldesley.

York's promotion leaves Division 5 with seven teams next season, requiring changes in the playing schedule. Those teams, therefore, are advised not to commit to hotel bookings at this stage; a full list of fixtures will be published when the data system opens for registrations early next month.

ENGLAND DOMINATE IN PRAGUE

21/5/2018

England men warmed up impressively for September's Commonwealth tournament in Malta with victory in the EU Nations in Prague.

They won all five games - including a 14-6 demolition of South Africa in the final. Team: Matt Holland, Dan Paddon, Aaron Winstanley, Jordan Elliot, Ciaran James, Chris Armstrong, Ryan Padbury, Tom Curwen, Rob Parker, Jake Vincent, Joel Leighton, Joel Abbott, Dylan Green. Coach: Dave Taylor.

Group results - Switzerland 11-4, Czech Republic 14-7, Lithuania 22-5, Denmark 30-4.

Lancaster's Tom Curwen was England's top scorer during the tournament with 27, including five in the final. Other leading marksmen: Ciaran James 16, Jordan Elliot 12, Chris Armstrong 7.

POTENTIAL NEW LEAD ROLE FOR BWPL

14/5/2018

Delegates at the ninth British League annual meeting in Birmingham (13 May) gave a mandate to the Committee to press ahead with negotiations leading to the League taking responsibility for organisation and delivery of two key national events - the National Age Group competitions and the British Championships.

The meeting was told that Swim England, who operate the NAGs, and British Swimming, which deals with the British Championships, had given written 'in principle' agreement to the broad initiative.

"Further discussions are due to take place, but all three organisations are committed to working together for the good of the sport as a whole," explained BWPL chairman David Andrews.

He said that BWPL clubs would be kept fully informed of developments. Aims included:

+ Creating a non-conflicting calendar
+ Establishing central allocation of officials
+ Clarity of season for officials, clubs and athletes
+ Making full use of BWPL's "proven organisational skills"

Paul Costello, Tyldesley's delegate, commented: "This represents a major step forward and should be embraced." Jon Sissons, of City of Bristol, said that change was needed, adding: "There has been no leadership of the sport for a number of years, leading to many problems."

BRITISH LEAGUE AWARDS

14/5/2018

Two players who have given many years' outstanding service to clubs in the lower divisions of the British League were honoured at the annual meeting (13 May) with the award of Columbus Direct trophies.

Izzy Bates (pictured left), who made her National League debut at the age of 12 and 16 years later still plays and inspirational role in the Mid Sussex Marlins club, was given the female "most valuable player" accolade. The men's award went to City of Cambridge's Andy Knight (above), the former Polytechnic and Great Britain goalkeeper.

Winners of the Super 5s top goal scorer trophies were Katie Hesketh (City of Liverpool) and Rob Parker (Cheltenham).

Photos: Trevor Hyde

KEY ISSUES FOR DEBATE AT LEAGUE AGM

6/5/2018

The ninth British League annual general meeting takes place next Sunday, 13 May, at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport, BS26 3QW (12 noon). It is particularly important that all clubs are fully represented as the agenda includes discussion regarding far-reaching issues affecting the future of water polo in the UK - and the role the League expects to play.

Meanwhile, we hope you all enjoyed the Sky Sports Arena HD Channel presentations from the recent Super 5s finale at Haberdasher's School. You can still see a taster of the event by clicking on the Facebook promotion.

BWPL ON SKY SPORTS ON SUNDAY!

1/5/2018

Next Sunday . . . that's when Sky Sports will be screening scintillating action from the recent Super 5s finale weekend!

Tune into the Sky Sports Arena HD Channel for highlights of the men's matches at 6pm, followed by the women's games at 7pm. Further showings of both programmes will happen on days to be announced.

This is a brilliant opportunity to promote our great sport to a much wider audience - and to demonstrate a demand for more water polo action in the future on UK television screens.

So please tell your friends all about it on social media as well as publicising on club websites. It would also be appreciated if BWPL clubs use the banner above as their Facebook and/or Twitter banner leading up to the screening.

This is the second time that Sky Sports have featured British League matches and could not have been achieved without the wonderful support of our main sponsor, Bourne Buildings, of Farnham, plus additional sponsorship from JC Leisure, KEW Electrical, Vincent Timber, Thai Terre, CRL Restorations and Columbus Direct Insurance.