Britain’s women’s water polo squad put in some superb performances at the IX International Water Polo Tournament in Portugal.

Taking on Serbia, Portugal, Italy and Germany from 26 March – 29 March the squad produced some impressive results to take the tournament title.

Beating Serbia 8-5, Germany 16-8, recording a 5-5 draw with Portugal and a 16-8 loss to Italy, Britain came third with 5 points and scoring 37 goals.

Starring for Great Britain was Francesca Clayton who scored 14 goals over the days of competition taking 7 goals of Germany as her biggest match total.

Clayton was also awarded the tournament's highest goal scorer's award.

The British squad is currently reaping the benefits of a new training regime with Hungarian Ferenc Vindisch. The women’s Assistant Coach has been working with the squad to help the sport move forward ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

The squad comprised of: Lindsey Johnston, Hannah Rudman, Briony Rutlidge, Siobhan Hoy, Rachel Drabble, Polly Egan, Hazel Musgrove
Victoria Bowen, Francesca Clayton, Claire Walmsley

The last of the three days of competition began with any of three teams – Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester – capable of victory. With Bristol defeating Manchester 11-5, it left Cardiff with the difficult challenge of defeating Sheffield by 18 goals to top the table on goal difference.  

For a while, this looked possible, Cardiff leading 7-1 in the first period and 16-4 after three. In the final period, however, Sheffield matched their opponents goal for goal and, in the end, Cardiff had to settle for a 21-8 victory and the runners-up spot.

There was plenty of drama earlier in the tournament. Old rivals Bristol and Cardiff drew 11-11, Cardiff grabbing an equaliser 30 seconds from the end. On day two, Cardiff recovered from 5-1 down in the first period to edge out Manchester 16-15.

Bristol’s Joel Thomas, who plays his National League polo for Cheltenham, was voted Player of the Tournament.

Cardiff won the women’s title. The men’s and women’s trophy winners were Birmingham and Bristol.

The tournament will be going ahead on the 20-22 June again at the National Water Sports Centre on the outskirts of Nottingham on their 270 acre site. 

The matches will be held in the main competition lake and the camping and entertainment will again be in the "team" area of on-site commercial camp site.  There will be catering provided at both the competition and camping areas and a full entertainment program on the Friday and Saturday nights in the camping area.

To fit our event in to the NWSC's existing calendar of events it is necessary that we complete all of the matches on Saturday and so, to accomodate the anticipated increased number of teams, we have arranged for additional pitches to be installed and now anticipate that every team will play at least four matches on the saturday.

In addition to the facilities that we will be using for the tournament the NWSC has waterskiing, white Water Rafting and other water sports all available on-site with quad biking and cycling available on adjacent facilities.

Further details of the NWSC can be found at: www.nationalwatersportsevents.co.uk

I will be despatching further details and entry forms at the end of this month, if you require any information prior to this please contact me.   Entry will again be on a "first come, first served basis".

Alternatively details and photos of the 2007 event can be found by following the link from www.sdwp.co.uk.

Jim Evans, Tournament Match Organiser 
East Midlands Open Water Tournament
Mobile: 07747 795439
jimevans501@vodafoneemail.co.uk

Having qualified in February after wins against UWIC and Southampton, an injured Olivia Smith took her ladies to compete in Walsall against the likes of Sheffield, Loughbrough and Edinburgh.

They found the opposition very strong and were unable to progress to this year's finals after losing to Edinburgh and Loughbrough. However the effort and endeavour that all the squad put into the games was first class. The amount of progress that the team has made, particularly those with no waterpolo background since going to the University, was very good indeed.

In the last game Bath beat Sheffield, dominating the match from start to finish. Their coach, Gareth Spicer, was delighted and proud with the way all the players applied themselves and the collective team spirit that helped to carry them forward in this competition.

City of Manchester won the women’s title beating Penguins 12-6.

Manchester’s captain and top scorer for the championships, Chloe Wilcox was thrilled with the teams title.

Wilcox went on to say: “Obviously we are so pleased to have won. The whole team has worked so hard and as it was Julie Allsopp’s last game with us it was also great to win it for her.”

In the men’s final Norman Leighton's Rotherham Metro took on City of Manchester and took a fantastic win to take the title with a final score of 12-8.

Manchester took an early lead in the opening quarters, but were overhauled by Rotherham in the third quarter.

Rotherham captain Mark Wade was keen to praise the team for a phenomenal performance.

“We have come here so many times and finished fourth and haven’t done ourselves justice with our performances,” said Wade.

“Because we have players all over the country it is difficult for us all to meet together as a team to train.

“We’ve brought in four new players who have added some really strength and depth the team and to be honest, the feeling of winning has still not really sunk in yet,” he continued.

“We are all great friends as well as team mates and everyone played fantastically over the weekend.”

Rotherham’s coach, Norman Leighton echoed his captains’ thoughts.

“I am absolutely delighted to win. For so long we have been told we’re capable of this but you never believe it until it actually happens,” said Leighton.

“The players performed so well and I also want to mention the players who did not in the final thirteen. Everyone who played in the prelims contributed to this success and it is great for the club.”

City of Liverpool took third place with a win over City of Sheffield in the women's competition, whilst Lancaster picked up the third spot in the men's third and fourth playorr with a narrow victory over Penguins after a closely fought contest ended 8-7.

Jaggers (Exeter & Devon) has organised the Tour and commented "I was surprised by the number of our players who wanted to (and could) attend ... we only sent invites out to 40 individuals we felt had the requisite fitness and skills base, and we have has 26 positive responses !".

After further training at Sventes in the Hungarian Southern Plains the two sides will compete in a "Future Olympains" International Tournament against sides from other eastern European Countries, Russia and the USA. The teams are realistic about their prospects of success
- when asking one of their Hungarian prospective hosts "how do you rate England at Waterpolo" the lightning response was "how do you view Hungary at soccer" ! The Tour then draws to a close with a visit to the University town of Szeged where the players will be given an appreication of the Hungarian revolution (which started in Szeged) in
1956 (at the same time as the infamous Hungary v Soviet Union Olympic Semi-Final).

Three coaches from Devon are also attending the Tour and will also be coached separately from their teams by some of Hungary's best coaches. 
The Coaches are Jason Quiterio (Exeter), Jaggers (Exeter & Devon) and Doug Litt (Paignton, Devon and ASA SW RTC) and they are relishing the opportunity of having 5 hours of contact with the Hungarian coaches each day. Jason Quiterio will have the opportunity to have his refereeing skills scruitinised by some of Hungary's best during the Tournament. Thankfully Jaggers is sparing the Hungarians the experience of his refereeing talents !

The BWWPL wishes the teams all the best in their Tour, and hope that the experience will help cement the strong tradition of Waterpolo in Devon and thereby help provide more talented individuals in the BWWPL in future years.

If you would like any further information on the Tour or if you would like to be considered as a reserve in case a place on the Tour becomes available please contact Jaggers: jaggers@exeterwaterpolo.co.uk /
07736301877

He was killed in Helmand Province during a patrol with his company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, to disrupt Taleban activity, the Ministry of Defence said.

The patrol was traveling in all-terrain vehicles north of the town of Sangin when an explosive device was detonated, killing Corporal Mulvihill, from Plymouth, instantly. Another Marine who was injured in the blast was treated for minor injuries.

This week members of the same regiment had helped to save the lives of two Afghan children who were injured in a random rocket attack.

Corporal Mulvihill’s fiancée and family said in a statement: “He was so loved by the whole family. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and always looked for the good in people. He was a son, a brother and uncle in a million, and a soul mate to Lisa, and we will all miss him for ever.”

Corporal Mulvihill had also represented the Royal Marines at rugby union.

The MoD said: “Dee was a true character who will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege to serve with him. Humorous, caring and a true friend, he will be sadly missed by all his comrades.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Birrell, commanding officer of 40 Commando Royal Marines, said: “The loss of Corporal Mulvihill is a devastating blow for his family, his friends and his unit.”

Firstly we saw Bristol Central II go down 19-6 to a young Bristol University side at the university pool in Clifton, and everyone seems to have thrown their "toys out of the pram". Feelings were obviously running high judging by the amount of correspondence your beloved webmaster has received on the match.

Secondly we see a strong Exeter side trouncing UWIC 30-3 in the Devon's side Pyramid Pool. Is this the gauntlet being laid down to other visiting sides.

Cheltenham showed their strength against a young and inexperienced Harlequins side in the new bwwpl junior league in front of a large crowd at the Kingswood Leisure Centre. Interesting to see that Harlequins seem to have come full circle for those of us old enough to remember their beginnings with Chris Downing's Soundwell side....

The Women's Division got off to a predictable start with victories for UWIC Ladies over Bristol University Ladies.

You can see all the results on the 2008 Fixtures page by scrolling down the page.

I welcome your comments about the new website which I'm still working on to improve its performance and design. Contact me by clicking on this link: webmaster.

The match took place at Bristol University on Saturday, December 15th, 2007, was refereed by Mike Coles and Greg Harper, with a neutral table of Michelle Jenkins and Tim La Touche.

The scores were level after the opening quarter, one apiece, but in the second quarter Wanderers took command, and by the half-way stage led 3-6. They continued to dominate for the remainder of the game, and eventually won 7-17, and so are duly promotoed to what will be, in the new season, Division One.

Next year there will be a re-alignment of the divisions, with what is presently Division One becoming the Premier League, Division Two becoming Division One, and Division Three becoming Division Two. There is no change to the Women's League, but in 2008 there is an introduction of a Junior League for under-16s.