Lutra go for the three-peat

Otter Lutra kick off their Women's Championship 1 title defence this weekend with games against Sheffield Sharks (13:05 Sat), Leeds Sharks (16:20 Sat) & Tyldesley (10am Sun). Lutra have been undefeated in Championship 1 for the last two years (2013/2014 & 2014/2015) and will be looking to win the division for the third consecutive year in 2015/2016. 

The defending champs will be looking to turn the tables on Sheffield this year after going down 8-6 in Phase 1 of Div 1 last year. Of the opponents they take on this weekend Lutra has the best track record against Tyldesley winning both of their last encounters; 15-10 in Championship 1 last year, and 17-5 in Division 2 earlier this season. While the game vs Leeds is likely to go down to the wire. The teams were virtually inseparable last year with the Div 1 clash ending in a 6-all draw before Otter came up trumps with a 9-8 win in the championship 1 replay. 

Good luck Lutra. 

Champions Otter return to defend their U/17s NAGS title in 2016

All of last year’s National Age Group champions have confirmed that they will defend their national water polo crowns after entries closed for the U17 & U19 NAG Champs 2016. Among them are defending champions Otter who return to NAGS action in search of their third consecutive girls U/17s title. The Otter U/19s are looking to finish one place better again this year after finishing with silver in 2015, and bronze in 2014.  Following the success of our younger Otter '02s in the U/15s last year, Otter have also entered Otter Futura teams in both the U/17 & U/19 age group this year so that all our future stars can get as much experience at a National Level as possible. 

U19 Girls (1998 and under) Competition dates
Group A & B Preliminary round: 5 March – Liverpool Aquatics Centre
Qualification round: 9 – 10 April – Watford Leisure Centre
Finals weekend & Plate competition: 23 – 24 April Manchester Aquatics Centre

2016 U19 Girls Teams
Cheltenham
City of Leeds
City of Manchester
Exeter
City of Liverpool
Mid Sussex
Northampton
Otter
Otter Futura
Hucknall
Caledonia

U17 Girls (2000 and under) Competition dates
Group A Preliminary round: 12 March – The Edge, Leeds University
Group B Preliminary round: 13 March – GL1 Leisure Centre, Gloucester
Qualification round: 19 – 20 March – Liverpool Aquatics Centre
Finals weekend & plate competition: 23 – 24 April – Manchester Aquatics Centre

2016 U17 Girls Teams
Cheltenham
City of Manchester
Crawley
Exeter
City of Liverpool
Otter
Otter Futura
Rotherham
Tyldesley
Caledonia
Welsh Wanderers

 

Upcoming competitions

It's 2016! If you're thinking about racing this year don't forget to check out the Otter swimming competitions page & the British Swimming website where you can find a list of all competitions that are available for entry.

There is already a contingent of Otters entered for the Bracknell and Swansea meets on 5 March, and we will also be hoping to send a large team to Long Course Nationals in Sheffield on 1 to 3 April. This will be excellent preparation for the European Masters championships taking part on 25 to 29 May so get involved. More details on the Europeans can be found here.

Happy Swimming.

Otter kicks off Super 5's in Leeds

The Super 5 season kicked off last weekend @ Leeds University with a tight match between Otter & the 2015 women's super 5 title holders Liverpool Lizards. Otter jumped out to an early lead with goals from Claudia Ferrone and Brooke Tafazolli before Liverpool levelled at 2-2. Liverpool then took charge scoring three times without response in the second period. Otter fought back in the third with both teams exchanging goals before a scoreless 4th quarter saw Liverpool take the win 8-4. 

A few hours later and Otter were back in action against Coventry. Coventry started strongly building a 7-4 lead thanks to four goals from Claire Walmsley. Otter quickly levelled in the 4th quarter with goals from Brooke Tafazolli and Lex Higlett. Rhianne Oscroft then restored Coventrys narrow advantage before Kathy Rogers scored for Otter with 3 minutes remaining, levelling the scores at 9 all & getting the point for Otter.

Otter retired the number 10 cap for both games this weekend in memory of Australian Waterpolo player Cole Miller. For a young man who lived a fair game. #cozziesoutforcole

In other Super 5's games Liverpool beat Manchester 6-1, Coventry beat Caledonia 15-7 & Manchester beat Caledonia 13-5. Full reports, tables & scorecards from all games can be found on the BWPL website.

Otter are back in action in next weekend. Taking on Caledonia @2:30pm Saturday 23rd & Manchester @10am Sunday 24th. Both games will take be played in Luton.

Tracey Allen in goals for Otter. 

2015 BWPL Ladies Phase 1 hotshots

Otter & Otter Lutra both had players on the BWPL Phase 1 hot shots lists in 2015. Claudia Ferrone (18) & Lex Higlett (17) were ranked 4th & 5th in Division 1. While Sarah Bennett (11) & Helena (10) featured on the Championship 1 list. Encouragingly no Otter or Lutra players were on the majors lists for either division. Keep up the good work girls. 

 

Helena attacking

Sarah Bennett

Lex in warm up

Claudia defending

Division 1 top goal scorers

26 Katherine Fowler (Liverpool Lizards)
23 Fran Clayton (Coventry)
22 Katie Hesketh (Liverpool Lizards)
18 Claudia Ferrone (Otter)
17 Alexis Higlett (Otter) & Claire Walmsley (Coventry)
16 Bernice Cowton (Sheffield Sharks)
15 Emma Bartlett (Manchester)
14 Hannah Edwards (Caledonia)

Division 1 exclusions

16 Emily Sutcliffe (Leeds)
12 Alexandra Andrews (Penguins) & Vicki Hawkins (Coventry)                
11 Rosie Egan (Manchester)
10 Ella Chadderton (Manchester), Victoria Hawkins (Manchester) & Chiara Palazo (Penguins)

Division 2 top goal scorers

29 Danica Brazier (Mid Sussex Marlins)
21 Grace Morley (Tyldesley) 
18 Milly Wordley (Welsh Wanderers)
14 Andrea Norris (English Roses)
12 Rachel Endy (Hucknall) & Lucy Shaw (Liverpool Liver Birds)
11 Sarah Bennett (Otter Lutra)
10 Helena Phillips (Otter Lutra) & Laura Fox (Welsh Wanderers)  

Division 2 exclusions

10 Danica Brazier (Mid Sussex Marlins)
9 Abby-Louise Rocky (Mid Sussex Marlins)
8 Isobel Bates (Mid Sussex Marlins) Eve Tidy (Mid Sussex Marlins), Megan Price (Tyldesley) & Helen Reader (Hucknall)

Izzy's success recognised by Middlesex ASA

Congratulations to Izzy Dean who was been awarded the Middlesex ASA A.Van Beets Memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement in water polo over the past year & the Middlesex ASA Ron Turner Memorial Trophy for the most improved junior water polo player over the past year. Izzy is the first girl to have ever been awarded the Ron Turner Memorial Trophy. NIce work Izzy.

Izzy along with Otter team mates Mhairi Nurthen, Kathy Rogers, Brooke Tafazolli & coach Nick Buller were also awarded certificates to congratulate them on their International Representation at the European Games & Junior World Championships on behalf of Middlesex ASA. Congratulations girls & Nick. 

WOMENS EURO LEAGUE DRAW ANNOUNCED

The draw for the Women's Euro League Qualification Round 2 has been announced.

The competition will take place on the 4th - 7th February 2016. Otter are drawn in in Group C which will be played in Porto. 

Otter will be playing Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE), NC Vouliagmeni (GRE), Plebiscito Padova (ITA) & hosts Clube Fluvial Portuense (POR). 

More details & game times to follow early 2016.

Otter success at National Swimming Championships

The penultimate weekend of October saw a contingent of 42 Otters travel to Sheffield to take part in the National Short Course Championships. There were many excellent performances, and a full list can be found here.

It was great to see many new faces representing the club for the first time, including Catherine Demont and Jessica Safir who swam strongly in the sprint freestyle events. The club was also well represented in the youngest age group by Alex Fraser and Dontony Gill-Nasadi. Special mention also goes to Aeron Brown who managed to fit a number of speedy swims in between assisting Steve Bratt on the coaching side.
 
Many swimmers had very busy schedules indeed, including Nico Barber who swam all the freestyle events bar the 1500, picking up a silver in the 800m and a bronze in the 400m. Craig Gillespie showed his versatility by swimming a range of events in the extremely tough 25-29 year age group, picking up a bronze in the 200IM. Lex Higlett also had great freestyle swims in the women’s 30-34 year age group, including a gold in the 200 and a bronze in the 400.
 
Both Dave Warren and Gina Hobson came back with a haul of medals. Dave won 10 individual medals(!), including seven golds. Gina won nine individual medals, including an excellent gold in the 100 free.
 
In the older age groups we also did very well, in spite of not having some of the usual 50-60 year-olds. In the women’s events, Liz Shaw swam a PB in the 200 breast, and there were solid swims from Martha Dean and Lesley Davies. 
 
We were very strong in the 240+ relays with two golds and one bronze for the men, and a gold in the mixed 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays. In the men's 280+ relays we were virtually unassailable with three gold and two silver medals.
 
Individual male performances of note include Ted Evans, who swam in four events and won gold in all of them, just missing a couple of GB records. Roger Lloyd-Mostyn with a gold and three silvers out of five events, and Mike Wake's silver and four bronzes from six swims were also very impressive, especially since they are both at the top end of their age group. However, they were overshadowed by Derek Parr, who swam in three relays and nine individual events and managed not only to win six gold and three silver individual medals, but to take out the GB records in the 50 and 200 fly!
 
Well done everyone!
 

Otter qualify for Super 5's

There's a familiar look to the top women's division of BWPL again this year with Liverpool Lizards, City of Manchester, City of Coventry and Otter all qualifying once again for the Ladies Super 5s places.  Caledonia's 12-7 victory over Penguin Emperors on Sunday earned the Scots the final Super 5s spot but only once defeats were confirmed for immediate rivals Sheffield Sharks (beaten 19-10 by Otter) and Leeds Sharks (who lost 11-6 to Coventry).

Otter came away with 2 wins from 2 games for the second weekend in a row, beating Coventry 11-9 & Sheffield 19-10. In both games Otter lead from the first goal to the last, controlling the game throughout to get the wins. Both games were solid team efforts, and the team are now looking forward to taking on the best in the country once again in the Super 5's. The first games will be in Leeds December 12th & 13th. 

Otter scorers v Coventry 11-9: Claudia 4, Lex, Peggy & Hannah 2 & Izzy 1. 

Otter scorers v Sheffield 19-10: Lex, Izzy, Kathy 3, Holly, Turny, Claudia, Hannah 2, Kate & Peggy 1. 

Izzy Dean attacking for Otter. 

Otters compete for Middlesex

14 Otters were selected to compete for Middlesex at the annual inter counties competition on 15 December. We traipsed to Barnet to join our team mates from Teddington, Barnet Copthall and beyond, to take on teams from six other counties in the South East region. A gruelling lactate session of multiple 50m sprints followed (with swimmers competing in 18+, and then 10 year age bands from 25+), with some of us lucky enough to compete in multiple age groups and in the 12x25m squadron at the end.

This year we saved our best results until last and it was only with the final race that we over took leaders, Hampshire, to win the trophy. It was a fantastic team effort by all involved, with swimmers willingly stepping up to swim their unfavoured strokes so we gained valuable points. Thanks to Aeron Brown, Catherine Delmont, Gina Hobson, Laure Kearns, Kim Liu, Derek Parr, Olivia Reynolds, Wade Rimbach, Dave Roberts, Michelle Senecal, Ben Thomas, Neal Thompson, Dave Warren and Oli Wilson and here's to retaining the trophy next year!

Middlesex 2015 Inter counties team