Message from the President to all members:
Dear Otters,
I am writing to give you an update on how the Otter Committee is planning for a restart of swimming and water polo, and also give you quick heads up on some of the issues that might have a bearing on what swimming and water polo might look like in the short- to medium-term future.
Read MoreFollowing Government announcements on Monday concerning Corona Virus (Covid–19) and now yesterday evenings announcement from Swim England that they are “strongly advising clubs to consider cancelling or postponing activity – including events – until the end of May” (https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/coronavirus-statement/) the Otter Committee has decided that for the time being all Otter training sessions should be CANCELLED with immediate effect.
Read MoreAt the Haberdashers School in Elstree this weekend the Otter Men’s water polo team clinched promotion back to the British Water Polo League division 2.
On Saturday Otter hammered the Manchester Hawks 18-7, including contributions from Nicholas Corjon (5), Alex Zachariades (4) and Nikos Zavitsanos (4). Then on Sunday seized a hard-earned victory over Birmingham by 11 goals to 9; a last minute score from Nicholas Corjon ensured the win.
BWPL Men's Champ 2
From left to right: Konstantinos Gartaganis, Danny Davis, Ivan Martinelli, Denes Csizsinszky, Daniel Shunn. Nikos Zavitsanos, Henry Elwell-Sutton, Omiros Pantazis, Mate Nyaka, Jules Jean Palayer, Nicholas Corjon, Alexandros Zachariades, Coach - Mario de Lera Calero
Please see below second quarter dates for Saturday sessions.
April:
CP 4th- 9:30-11
CP 11th- 11-12:30
CP 25th- 9:30-11
May:
CP 2nd- 9:30-11
CP 9th- 9:30-11
CP 16th- 9:30-11
LAC 23rd- 11-12:30
LAC 30th- 11-12:30
June:
CP 6th- 9:30-11
LAC 13th- 11-12:30
LAC 20th- 11-12:30
CP 27th- 9:30-11
The following Saturday training sessions have been confirmed for this quarter:
4th January: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
11th January: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
18th January: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
25th January: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
1st February: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
8th February: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
15th February: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
22nd February: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
29th February: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
7th March: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
21st March: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
28th March: 9.00am-10.30am @ Crystal Palace
Otter Lutra had a strong start to their BWPL season in Division 2 this weekend at Grantham with a 21 - 5 win over Liverpool and a loss of 13 - 9 to an experienced Sheffield team.
Congratulations to Otter BWPL debutantes Isabella, Natasha, Grace, Pippa, Sarah EK and Lucy Mai who stepped up to the mark as if this were their 5th season and not their first!
With the team the youngest in the division (12 of the 13 players at the weekend were u18) they will have their work cut out for them. However led in the water by the indomitable Lindsay - our longest serving polo player - as captain and Ciara as vice captain, this weekend showed undoubted strengths.
The following Saturday training sessions have so far been confirmed for this quarter:
5th October: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
19th October: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
26th October: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
9th November: 10.30am-12.00pm @ Crystal Palace
16th November: 10.30am-12.00pm @ Crystal Palace
23rd November: 10.30am-12.00pm @ Crystal Palace
30th November: 10.30am-12.00pm @ Crystal Palace
7th December: 10.30am-12.00pm @ Crystal Palace
14th December: 10.30am-12.00pm @ Crystal Palace
21st December: 11.00am-12.30pm @ London Aquatics Centre
Congratulations to Hayley Davis and Pip Bennett who both took a clean sweep of the events at the National Masters Open Water Championships, held in Peterborough today (1 September).
Read More
After 8 days of competition, we say goodbye to Gwangju - South Korea’s 6th largest city. This was the first time visiting this amazing part of the world for many athletes, and it’s safe to say that warm welcome and hospitality of the Koreans has been second to none. Over 3,000 athletes from 84 countries competed, whilst Gwangju provided 1,500 jobs & volunteers. Overall, the meet has been a huge success & and fabulous experience.
The week began with the open water event, consisting of a choppy 3km course at the Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park, about 60 miles from Gwangju. This was then followed up by 7 days in the Nambu University International Aquatics Centre, a wonderful Olympic-level facility complete with both indoor & outdoor 50m warm-up pools.
Team GB had some outstanding results throughout the championships, with a significant contribution from Otter!
Hayley Davies (W 35-39) became very acquainted with the podium, totaling 4 silver medals & 2 gold medals overall, and 6 for 6 cuddly Otters! On top of that, she achieved 2 Otter club records in the 800 Freestyle & 200 Backstroke:
3km Open Water 41:21, 2nd
800 Freestyle 10:02.46, 2nd, Otter record
400 IM 5:31.60, 1st
200 IM 2:33.64, 1st
200 Backstroke 2:31.96, 2nd, Otter record
200 Butterfly 2:30.34, 2nd
Pip Bennett (M 35-39) brought home 2 bronze medals (and more Otters!), as well as achieving 2 other top-20 placings:
3km Open Water 42:12, 3rd
800 Freestyle 9:46.81, 3rd
400 IM 5:30.84, 15th
200 Backstroke 2:36.44, 14th
Catherine Demont (W 25-29) brings home a medal for finishing 5th in the 400 Freestyle (FINA award medals to top-6 placings at World Championships), along with top-10 places in all swims:
100 Freestyle 1:02.95, 9th
200 Freestyle 2:18.58, 8th
100 Butterfly 1:12.02, 7th
400 Freestyle 4:53.97, 5th
Fraser Peh (M 25-29) also took a 5th place medal in the 100 butterfly:
100 Butterfly 59.76, 5th
100 Freestyle 56.48, 22nd
Wade Rimbach (M 35-39) broke 2 Otter club records in the 200 Backstroke and the 400 IM, as well as 2 top-10 finishes:
200 Backstroke 2:25.58 Otter Record, 8th
200 IM 2:23.47, 11th
400 IM 5:13.55 Otter Record, 11th
200 Breaststroke 2:42.29, 12th
400 Freestyle 4:47, 9th
Enrico Hahn (M 35-39) celebrated his final meet as an Otter before returning to his native Germany, by achieving 3 top-20 finishes:
200 Breaststroke 2:44.52, 15th
100 Breaststroke 1:16.44, 24th
400 IM 5:32.29, 16th
200 IM 2:34.70, 19th
Dontony Gill-Nasadi (M 25-29) achieved a lifetime best in the 50 Breaststroke:
50 Breaststroke 34.68, 32nd
200 Breaststroke 3:00.96, 18th
100 Breaststroke 1:18.98, 26th
50 Freestyle 28.46, 52nd
100 Freestyle 1:04.23, 49th
Caspar Stops (M 30-34) also clocked a masters best time in the 200 IM:
200 IM 2:45.58, 18th
100 Freestyle 1:02.64, 34th
50 Freestyle 28.07, 45th
Michael Amos (M 60-64) dusted off his goggles for his first World Masters Championships since 2014 in Montreal:
800 Freestyle 12:09.86, 12th
Special mention to honorary Otters who have been past members, or competed under different teams on this occasion:
Steve Braine (M 65-69), racing under Mid-Sussex Marlins, took home a bronze in the 100 Freestyle, silver in the 50 Butterfly and bronze in the 100 Butterfly.
Susan Pryzwara (W 35-39), racing under SCW Eschborn, won silver in the 50 Backstroke, silver in the 200 IM and bronze in the 100 Backstroke.
Matt Wan (M 30-34), racing under Out To Swim, finished in top-20 places in all 4 of his races.
Adrian Murphy (M 40-44), racing under Trinidad & Tobago Aquatics, made his World Championships debut under his native country’s representing team, competing in various 50s & the men’s medley relay.
As we approach the half way point at this year's world Masters swimming champs in South Korea, Otters are gathering a bounty of medals to bring home.
Read More