Otter Club Championships tonight

The Otter Club Championship 50m Freestyle, 50m Fly & 100m Backstroke are on tonight, during training at QMSC. 

The Otter Club Championships consist of a series of races, where first-past-the-post, points are awarded on a per-swim basis with an overall winner decided from total points at the end of the year. 

Michelle will be on pool deck at the start of training asking if you'd like to race, so why not say yes and give it a go. Even if you haven't raced before or don't usually swim those events. It is good fun. Who knows. You might surprise yourself. 

Otter ladies win the London League

The Otter ladies social team won Division 1 of the London League last weekend. The league is a great opportunity for players to get more game experience, particularly playing with different members of the Otter squad. It is also an opportunity for girls who play for Otter in the BWPL to play with their original home clubs. This years Otter team was made up of young players who represent Otter at NAGs, Lutra players & Otter players. The team was undefeated over the course of the season beating West London Penguin 14-0, 7-4 & 11-2, Mid Sussex Marlins 5-2, 6-2 & 8-2 and Basingstoke Bluefins 13-4, 8-1 & 10-4. Thank you to everyone who played, helped out on the table and refereed, and to Chris Martin for organising the competition once again. 

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Matt Cockill wins the Torbay 8 mile

Congrats to Otter Matt Cockill on winning the Torbay 8mile swim race on the weekend. 

Fliss smashes the Breca SwimRun

Congrats to Otter Felicity Hannon & Ben Bussman who were the first placed mixed team in the Breca Buttermere 2016 SwimRun. Fliss & Ben braved the choppy water, high winds & even hail to complete the 39km run, 6km Swim & 1900m ascent. And they smashed it. First mixed team and 10th over all. Awesome results. 

Ping Pong and a new Ladies Waterpolo Tradition

Otter women's water polo club celebrated the end of a successful 2015/16 season, testing their dexterity over ping pong duels at Bounce. A healthy dose of competition and strength among the teams saw balls flying, and friendships in tatters..but at the end of the day, a wonderful time was had by all. 

A proud new tradition was also inaugurated, with club colours being introduced at the event. For the first time in Otter's history, a women's blazer has been made, to be handed down through the Ladies Waterpolo Club Captains.  The Blazer was presented on Sunday to outgoing captain Lex Higlett (2012-2016). 

Lex was "very honoured to be the first Lady Otter Waterpolo player to wear the club colours" and was excited to think of all the talented committed Otters who will wear the jacket in years to come. Otter Swimming Club has such a rich history & so many great club traditions. It is great for Ladies polo, a newer part of the club, to start such a lovely tradition. Lex will hand the colours down to the next Ladies Waterpolo Captain, Tracey Allen, at the beginning of the 2016 / 2017 season. 

The 2017/17 National League commences in September. Both Otter teams are looking forward to the 'International break'  before kicking into pre-season training in August. We wish all of our GB and other representatives the best of luck with their preparations for their upcoming  training camps, selection & tournaments.

Big thanks to Kathy & Mhairi for organising Sunday. To Claudia for a most delicious homemade gluten free birthday cake. It was probably the best tasting gluten free cake ever eaten. Happy Birthday CLAUDIA!

Middlesex Masters Entries closing soon

Reminder that entries for the Middlesex Masters are closing next week on the 8th July. 

The event is on 24th July at Barnet Copthall Centre, Champions Way, Hendon, London, NW4, 1PX. And comprises of 50m each stroke plus 200m Freestyle and 100m Individual Medley for individual competitors and 4 x 25m Freestyle & Medley Relays for men, women & and mixed Teams.

Otter have historically done very well at this competition and we hope to see our name on the trophies for another year. All swimmers should take this opportunity to race for themselves and the club. Most entrants will swim every event and a host of relays. It makes for an exciting day!
Entry forms & schedule can be found here. Entries Close on 8th July, so don't delay.

We look forward to seeing you there.

A few of the Otter Men with the 2015 Overall Team Trophy & Top Mens Team trophy

Get your 1/2 Mile entries in

Entries for the Otter 1/2 Mile on Friday 15th July are now open -  email Chris Sutton (chris.sutton@uk.bp.com) to enter. 

The 1/2 Mile is the main Open water event of the year, and is hosted at the Club House of Henley Sailing Club who provide a brilliant BBQ dinner after the swim. There is also a full cash bar throughout the evening. The event is on a handicap basis so swimmers of all ages and abilities have an equal chance of winning. It is a great evening and spectators and non-competitors are welcome.

We meet at the Henley Sailing Club (Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berks RG10 8LJ) about 7pm. Boats take swimmers upstream to the starting point at 19.30. We then swim back downstream and get stuck into the BBQ. 

The cost of the swim and BBQ is £20, with the cost of the BBQ alone for non-swimmers being £17.50. Please bring cash if possible on the night. We must know numbers for catering 3 days before the event, and have to pay Henley Sailing Club on the basis of these numbers, so if you cancel at the last minute you will still have to pay BBQ costs.

A 16 seat coach is also organised from Barons Court underground station which will depart at 17.50 sharp, and will return to Victoria Station after the event. The cost of the coach is £15 per head return ( back to Victoria Station) which will be collected CASH on the bus on the night. Seats are first come first served basis. So let Chris know as soon as possible whether you will swim plus any spectators who will come with you. 

This is always a fun evening which is much enjoyed so please do sign up.

Lily triumphs in the ESCAD Cup

Lily and the England 2000 emerged as ESCAD Cup 2016 champions last weekend after beating Slovakian senior club side PVK 11 - 9 on penalties.

The team kicked off the cup with a high scoring 17-13 win vs Germany on Friday. The winning ways continued into the weekend morning with an 8 - 7 result against senior club side PVK Vrutky & a 16-13 win over hosts Slovakia, & a 11-9 win in the final vs PVK.