Making a splash

RADCLIFFE Swimming Club hosted a Northern Counties Amateur Swimming Association mini water polo tournament at Radcliffe Pool recently.

It featured ten teams (two from Radcliffe Swimming Club), some having travelled considerable distances to compete, with nearly 100 children aged 11 years and under playing this relatively new introduction to water polo.

The competition was operated with two divisions, the stronger teams using the deep end of the pool and the weaker sides using the shallow end.

Teams in each division played each other and, as the tournament was intended as an introduction to the sport, there was no outright winning team.

Mini water polo is played with teams of any number of players, though only five are in the water at any one time. Games are played usually across the width of swimming pools, although the rules are flexible, depending upon the ability of the players.

The more experienced tend to play in deep water using similar rules to conventional water polo.

The less experienced play in the shallow water where the rules are fairly simple.

Mini water polo has been introduced in Bury by the Borough's Sports Development Unit, in collaboration with Radcliffe Swimming Club.

Any children interested in taking up this sport can contact Neil McCheyne, Radcliffe SC water polo secretary, on 0161-724-9223