Otter took a small team made up of Otter & Otter Lutra players to Hamburg over the August long weekend for some pre-season friendly games vs recently promoted Dutch club team SGHA & Hamburg ETV. Otter won all 6 games played. Huge thanks to Hamburg ETV for hosting us again, we had a brilliant time. Come over to London soon!
The Great Britain under 17s water polo team have returned as runners-up from the 4 Nations International Tournament in Warendorf, Germany which was held from 14 - 17 August.
Otters Izzy Dean, Mhairi Nurthen & Anna Szyszko represented GB U/17s at the Tournament, where many of their games were against older opponents. Otter Izzy Dean was named Captain for the tour & Otter coach Nick Buller was part of the coaching staff.
In August, Gina Hobson, Michelle Senecal, Liz Shaw, Matt Davis and Pip Bennett travelled to Montreal to compete in the 15th World Masters Swimming Championships. The event has seen increasing numbers of competitors and there were around 10,000 entered in swimming, diving, water polo and synchro events in Canada. These numbers were felt in the warm-up sessions where onlookers commented that each pool looked like a vat of swimmer-soup.
The weather was generally fantastic and athletes were able to enjoy using the two outdoor racing pools. Each weekend of the competition music festivals took place in the neighbouring venue (by the Villeneuve Formula One racing track) and although the music was not necessarily to everyone’s taste it provided a pleasant accompaniment to the racing.
The highlight of the long course domestic calendar is the GB Nationals. June 2014 saw a romp of 24 Otters travel to Swansea to pit their swimming skill against the best of British. Despite some perplexing issues caused by new relay rules, which resulted in myriad consternation throughout the weekend, the meet was a roaring success.
There were several excellent Otter performances throughout the course of the Championships and, as ever, a number of national champions. The Otter team took a whopping 34 golds, 28 silvers and 10 bronze medals. However, a special mention must go to our very own Queen of Freestyle/Water Polo, Lex Higlett, who became national champion in the 50, 100, 200 and 400m events. Lex was later joined by team mates Olivia Reynolds, Laure Kearns and Gina Hobson, who put in tremendous legs to take the European record (and gold medal) in the 4 x 100m free relay (120+ age group).
Other stand-out performances came from the following:
Pip Bennett successfully transferred his skills from open water to the pool by winning the 1500m freestyle despite the ‘unacceptable’ number of turns, and put in a strong show in the 400free and 400IM.
Dave Warren once again showed his dominance by winning all nine of the races he entered in the 40-44 age group and set a new British record in the 200 IM.
Not to be shown up by the ‘young lad’, Derek Parr also claimed victory in his six events, a gruelling programme which included 200 fly, 400 free, 800 free and 400IM.
Golds also went to Cat Hasnain (50bk), James Stewart (200bk), Gina Hobson (200bk, 100bk), Laure Kearns(200IM), Mike Wake (200 free), Paul Goudie (200bk and 800free), Roger Lloyd-Mostyn (100bk, 50bk), the 120+ ladies’, 120+ and 240+ men’s 4x50 free, and 240+ 4x100 free relay teams.
As ever, our thanks go to Steve for his enthusiasm and coaching throughout the weekend, the coaching team for preparing us so well for the meet, Tony Ray for his invaluable contribution to the relays (henceforth dubbed the ‘third captain’), our lane mates who didn’t compete for their understanding during taper, and the attending team for their unbridled passion and enthusiasm throughout the weekend.
Otter 120+ 4x100m Free European Record breaking rely team: Gina Hobson. Lex Higlett, Olivia Reynolds & Laure Kearns.
The 2014 edition of the Otter golf tournament was one of the closest and most memorable events of many a year. It had a classy field, packed with experience and nous (some of it even golf-related). In a tense event, the humble organiser, a certain Mr A. Craig managed to get around with minimal 3 putting. A couple of fluky holes, including a 3 at the (par 5) 7th hole, ensured an unassailable total of 28 points.
Peter Rae was the worthy runner-up and el Presidente, Mr Hindle, a distant third. Certain other esteemed members of the swimming fraternity didn’t really trouble the scorers, but we will leave them to stew in anonymity - this time around!
Once again, the post-golf lunch was a well-attended affair and a delicious spread was laid on by the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club (RWGC). Many thanks are owed, in particular to those who managed to navigate their way around one of London’s most picturesque (and occasionally tricky) courses and the RWGC for allowing a bunch of less than reputable aquatic mammals to roam freely on its hallowed greens.
Once again Otter put together a large team for the Middlesex County Championships, this year held at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre on 1 June. Despite other clubs aiming to topple us from our position as county champions, a strong team effort saw Otter dominate throughout and come home with the men’s, ladies’ and overall team titles.
The Otters juniors performed brilliantly this weekend at the National Age Group Championships. The U17s are as of today the National Age Group Youth champions beating Liverpool in the final 10 - 7. The U19s were National Age Group Junior Bronze medal winners beating Crawley 15 - 10. Otter Izzy Dean was also nominated MVP for the weekend! A massive congratulations to both teams & coach Nick Buller.
Congratulations to Otter Holly Campbell who has been selected in Scotland's team for the Commonwealth Water Polo Championships! Good luck Holly.
Otter Women’s Water Polo player Peggy Etiebet won the Hungarian National Championship this week with her team Szentes. After sailing past ZF-Eger with three straight wins in their playoff semi-final, Szentes saw off Dunaujvaros by 3-1 in the final, winning the first two matches 14-13 and 9-8 respectively, losing the third game 8-5, then claiming the title with a 15-14 victory in game four.
“The atmosphere at all the games has been electric,” said Etiebet. "The play-offs take place on a home and away basis over a best of five games series.
“The stands were packed with exuberant and very noisy fans. The town really got behind the team and it has been a fantastic finish to the season.”
Congrats Peggy!
Otter ladies first team have won silver after going down 15-12 vs Liverpool Lizards in the final of the British championships.
In a close match that saw both sides attack and defend well, Liverpool’s strong start proved decisive in their eventual victory over Super 5s Champions Otter (5-1, 3-4, 3-3, 4-4).
Liverpools Rachel Drabble opened the scoring and took advantage of a man-up to score her second of the quarter. Otter’s Sarah Benett replied but two goals from Liverpool’s Lauren Tasker and one from Liverpool Captain Fiona McCann meant they finished the quarter four goals ahead.
Good build up play, some cracking goals from Liz 'Turny' Dunn and movement in the pit gave Otter the edge in the second quarter with a 4-3 win. But a goal and penalty conversion from Liverpools Katie Hesketh gave the Lizards a lead of three at the end of the first half.
Otter came out fighting in the second half with four goals from Captain Lexi Higlett and some important saves from Goalkeeper Tracey Allen. The two teams were tied during the last two periods but Liverpool’s first quarter lead proved too great for the London club to come back from and the match finished 15 – 12.
