Holly set to represent Scotland

Massive congratulations to Otter ladies 1st team counter attacker & sharp shooter Holly Campbell who has been selected to represent Scotland at the EU Nations Senior Women International Tournament in Prague, June 2016.

Scotland Senior Womens team: Chantal Guillot (GK) & Jess Ivy (GK), Alison Tate, Carys Hardy, Emma Bird, Fran Collings, Gael Logan, Holly Campbell, Jenn Davis, Julia Mackay, Laura Mathewson, Nicola Tate & Susan Johnstone.

Reserves: Rhona Cartwright (GK), Alison Thompson & Caitlin McRobbie. 

Otter U/19s through to National Age Group Championship finals

The Girls’ U19 qualifiers 2016 in the National Age Group Water Polo Championships took place over the weekend in Watford. 

Five teams including last years Champions City of Manchester, City of Liverpool, Otter, Mid Sussex Marlins & Exeter battled over the weekend with four teams qualifying for the finals in just under two weeks. 

City of Liverpool qualified in first place clearly announcing their intentions going through their 4 matches unbeaten. City of Manchester came in second with 3 wins while London Otter went two for two, beating both Exeter and Mid Sussex Marlins. Mid Sussex Marlins grabbed the last spot with a win over Exeter. Full results from the weekend can be found here.

The finals will take place on the 23-24 of April at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, Booth Street East, Manchester, M13 9SS. Otter will take on City on City of Manchester in the 2nd vs 3rd match on Saturday & will be hoping to progress into Sundays Final.

Saturday 23rd March 15:40 City of Liverpool v Mid Sussex Marlins  Semi Final
Saturday 23rd March 16:45 City of Manchester v Otter Semi Final
Sunday 24th March 14:10 Loser SF 1 v Loser SF 2 Bronze Playoff
Sunday 24th March 15:20 Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2  Final

Mhairi in attack for Otter

5 Otters attend GB U/19s training camp

Last week, five Otters attended the Great Britain Under 19 women’s squad camp in Manchester, to begin their preparation for September’s European U19 Water Polo Championships in Gouda, The Netherlands.

The newly formed squad includes members of last year’s GB U19 team including Otters Kathy Rogers & Hannah Patchett, a number of new faces including Otter & GB U1 pla Izzy Dean & Mhairi Nurthen, & talented youngsters who are breaking through the ranks, like Otters Lily Turner.

Read more about their week in camp on Hannah & Kathy's blog here. 

Sasha & the England U17 win Bronze

Otter Sasha Tinkler-Davies & the England U17 girls’ water polo team take bronze at the EU Nations Cup 2016 in Odense, Denmark.
The England U17 girls water polo team opened their EU Nations Cup 2016 campaign with two wins and one defeat in the group stages before falling to South Africa in their semi-final. But the 13-strong squad finished the competition on a high note with an impressive 11-6 victory over Malta to see England win bronze at the EU Nations Cup 2016 – an improvement of two places from 12 months ago.
England bounced back from their semi-final defeat with a strong opening quarter against Malta, who had defeated them in the first game of the tournament. Emily Pilkington opened the scoring early before adding a second goal and Rebecca Lee saw England end the first quarter with a 3-1 lead. After winning the second quarter swim-off, Fleur Kennedy scored twice to maintain England’s two goal lead going into halftime (6-4). The team held their lead consistently throughout the third quarter (7-5) before ending on a high with a final goal from Sasha Tinkler-Davies sealing a 11-6 final score and the third place on the rostrum.
Congrats to Sasha & the England team on the Bronze.

ENGLAND GIRLS’ 1999 SQUAD: Naya Patel – Grantham & Hucknall, Emily Pilkington – Sedgefield, Emily Watkins – Bristol, Jordan Parsons – Devonport Royal, Fleur Kennedy – Warley Water Polo, Sam Murby – Lancaster, Ellie Muncaster – Liverpool, Abbie Turner – Northampton, Sasha Tinkler-Davies – Otter, Frances Holder – Liverpool, Lauren Richardson – Leeds, Rebecca Lee – Manchester & Jennifer Herring – Exeter

Otter wins the Cupar Points TROPHY

Otter won the Cupar Points Trophy at the British Masters and Senior Age Group Long Course Championships. The trophy, which goes to the top club at the championships, was awarded to Otter after a brilliant weekend of racing which saw Otter swimmers score a total of 246 points. 

Congratulations everyone on a fantastic team result.  The top ten clubs were:

1    Otter    246
2    East Leeds    204
3    Trafford Met    166
4    Silver City    160
5    Spencer    155
6    NottmLeander    118
7    Birmingham M    116
8    Guildford Ct    115
9    Newcastle    112
10    Gloucester M    96

SESSION 7 & 8 RESULTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

The morning session of the day 3 of competition was a good one for Otters 400m Freestyle swimmers who all finished in the top 5 of their age groups.  Lex Higlett placed 2nd in the ladies 30/34 yrs (4:50.59), Michael Wake was 2nd in the mens 75/79  yrs (6:41.50). Wade Rimbach (4:45.69) & Pip Bennett (4:53.48) finished 3rd in the mens 30/34 & 35/39 years. Derek Parr 70/72 picked up a Bronze (6:23.90) & Christina Bertucci finished 4th (5:20.09) in the Ladies 18-24 years. 

Dave Warren & Derek Parr continued their domination of the mens 45/49 & 70/74 age groups in Session 8 winning the 200 Fly in 2:19.43 & 3:27.55. Pip Bennett medalled in his first ever 200 fly, picking up a bronze in the mens 35/39 age group. 

Otter were strong again in the Breastroke. Breast, Kim Liu won the mens 18-24 years 50m in 31.97, with Dontony Gill-Nasadi in 3rd in the same age group with a 34.54. Craig Gillespie (25/29) & Liz Shaw (50/55) finished second in their age groups with times of 31.48 & 43.05. While Enrico got Bronze in the 35/39 with a 33.53

Dontony 3rd in the 50m Breastroke this morning. 

In the final event of the day, the 100m free, Dave Warren (56.58), Peter Kirk (1.04.30), Lex Higlett (1.02.22), Gina Hobson (1.03.80) placed second in their age groups while Stephen Braine & Michael Wake finished 3rd. 

For full results from all sessions can be found here

SESSION 6 RESULTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Otter had some great results in the 200m Back in session 6. Alex Fraser continued his fine form from the mornings session winning the mens 18/24 Yrs 200 Back in 2:25.84. Wade also won his age group (30/34) in 2:28.58. Pip Bennett picked up a bronze in the mens 35/39. While in the ladies Gina placed 4th in the 35/39 & Lesley placed 6th. 

Otter picked up Silver & Bronze in the Mens 60/65 50m free with Stephen Brain finishing in 29.16 & Peter Kirk in 29.40. Mike Reys (40/45) & Gina Hobson (35/39) also picked up bronze medals in the event. Five Otter ladies swam under 30 in the event; Lex 28.44, Gina 28.72, Shkurks 28.99, Catherine 29.04 & Olivia 29.61. 

Gina smashing the 50 Free. 

Full results from all swimmers can be found here. 

SESSION 5 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dave Warren was a busy man in the 5th session of the 2016 British Masters & Senior age group championships. 

Dave kicked off the session winning his third British record of the Championships with a 1:00.40 effort in the 45/49 Yrs 100m Butterfly. Derek Parr won the 70/72 age group in an impressive 1.19.92 while Oli Caldwell (30/34), Alex Fraser (18-24) & Michelle Senecal (35/39) came second in their respective age groups. Stephen Braine also medalled finishing 3rd in the mens 60/64 years 100 Fly. 

Dave Warren then won the mens 45/49 Yrs 200m Free (2L04.54). Ollie Caldwell picked up his second silver of the session with a 2:10.33 in the 34/39 Yrs, while Peter Kirk (60/64) & Lex Higlett (30/34) came away with Bronze. Dave then backed up to win the mens & women's team 160+ 400 free relay with Mike Reys, Emma Shkurka & Gina Hobson in 4.04.84. Before young Alex Fraser finished 3rd in the mens 18-24 50m Back with a 31.62

 Alex Fraser ready for the mens 18-24 50m Back.

Full results from the Championships can be found here. 

SESSION 4 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Having set a British 200m IM record on the opening day of the Championships, Otter’s David Warren claimed the British 45/49 Yrs 400m IM British record, winning his age group in 4:59.64. Wade Rimbach (5:16.03) & Derek Parr (7:51.27) won the 400IM in the30/34 & 70/74 age groups. 

Otter also had strong performances in the 100m Breast, with Michael Wake winning the 75/79 age group & Liz Shaw (50/54), Kim Liu (18/24) & Craig Gillespie (25/29) picking up silvers. 

Kim dives in for the 100m Breast. 

The Otter women's 200M free relay team of Lex Higlett, Olivia Reynolds, Emma Shkurka & Gina Hobson won the 120+ age group in 1:55.22. While the Otter Mens 240+ 200M free relay team of Roger, Anthony, Steve & Michael came 3rd. 

Full results from the championships can be found here. 

SESSION 3 HIGHLIGHTS - 2016 BRITISH MASTERS & SNR AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

In the 3rd session of the day the Otter Mens 240+ relay teams backed up their earlier one two in the 800 free team race to go one two in the 400 mens free relay too. Stephen, Peter, Peter & Paul got their second British Record of the day winning in 4:22.23, while Roger, Anthony, Michael & Steve finished came in second.

Stephen, Peter, Peter & Paul with their second GB relay record of the meet. 

The Ladies 400 relay team of Lex, Olivia, Gina & Catherine stormed home to win the 120+ age group in 4:14.52, 6 seconds faster that the current British Record.

Lex, Olivia, Gina & Catherine. 

Derek Par (70/74) picked up another gold in the mens 50 Fly. Abi Rhodes (20/24), Emma Shkurka (30/34), Gina Hobson (35/39) all came second in their respective age groups, with Michelle (34/39) & Stephen (60/62) just missing out on medals in 4th, and Emma Cartwright (40/44)coming in 13th. 

Derek Parr on his way to gold in the 70-74 years 50 Fly. 

Kim Liu (20/24), Craig Gillepsie (25/29) & Micheal Wake (75/79) all picked up gold medals in the 200Breast. Dontony Gill-Nasadi (20/24), Wade Rimbach (30/32), Enrico Hahn (35/39) & Liz Shaw (50/55) all won Bronze. With Pip Bennett in 6th & Christophe Amardeilh in 7th in the mens 35/39.

Craig wins gold in white for Otter in the 200 Breast. 

For more results from the championships visit https://www.swimmingresults.org.uk/masters/results/2016/bsmasters16/index.php