Category: PenguINspiration

Reunion at the BWLP Anniversary


Penguin 100 Centenary, PenguINspiration, Water Polo

9 July 2022.

The sun was shining on Parliament Hill Lido for the British Water Polo League’s anniversary celebrations, and what a fantastic setting to bring together over 400 masters players, their families and friends from some of the League’s founding clubs.

The event, which marked 60 years of the men’s national league water polo and 35 years of the women’s competition, saw over-40s teammates and old rivals playing in games across the day.

Men on the poolside

For the Penguin men (we didn’t have women’s team participating) it was a truly memorable reunion, bringing back all the camaraderie and banter from when they were playing together regularly.  And it was lovely to see so many supporters there from across the Club. There was a real sense of the Penguin family.

As an added bonus we won the men’s tournament!

The day included two showpiece matches from the current GB men’s squad – featuring our own James Salt – versus the GB 2012 Olympic team, and the current GB girls. 

Water polo player in the pool
James Salt

 

Thank you to all the BWPL organisers, including Penguin Steve Baker, who did such a great job in planning and running the day. 

Penguin players reunited at the BWPL Anniversary celebration

Image 1 of 23

With thanks to Trevor Hyde/BWPL for a number of the photos.

If you’d like to get your hands on some of the Penguin 100 kit so beautifully modelled by our masters players, take a look here.

 

PS: Jerome up to his old tricks

Man photobombing photo of water polo team on the poolside.

Penguin 100 Stories: My water polo career by Karine Meadley


Penguin 100 Centenary, Penguin members, PenguINspiration, Team GB, Water Polo

Prior to moving to London to study physiotherapy in 1994, my sporting focus had always been basketball and a bit of swimming to mix things up. Well, except for summer holidays when I was lucky enough to find a holiday resort with ‘water polo’ or ‘water basketball’ on offer – I felt like I was in my element.

The University of London Union was where I tried water polo proper for the first time. I remember it well, especially the horrified facial expression of coach Jerome Read when, having no idea of the rules, I grabbed the ball with two hands and curled myself around it. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before I had the knack of eggbeater leg kick, a better understanding of the rules, and I was invited to join the Penguin Club.

I played with Penguin for just over ten years. It was a time that helped me grow as a person, learn life skills (and lessons), and make some incredible friendships with people from all over the world, many of whom I consider close friends even now, 16 years later. Most importantly I learnt my capacity (or lack of) to consume alcoholic beverages.

Charlie Parkinson, Karine Hales Meadley, Lis Holmes
Karine (centre) with Penguin teammates Charlie Parkinson (left) and Lis Holmes (right)

 

I was baffled when I was elected to be captain of the Penguin women’s water polo team in 1998 but figured if someone else thought I could do it, then I would give it a go. For four years I rallied the troops for games, led discussions on who was to be the next coach, delegated a lot, and introduced George I  – the inflatable penguin and women’s team mascot. I was proud to be part of a team of strong women who were committed to not only having fun whilst keeping fit, but also to becoming integral to running the Club, particularly with the likes of Helen Nicholson, Manda Hackett, Sally Woolhouse-Read and Charlie Parkinson.

From 2001 I joined the Great Britain Water Polo Squad. The extra water polo commitments, Penguins and my physio career juggle eventually became too much, and I was happy to hand over the captaincy to Fiona Greer, who has gone on to do so much more for the Club than just lead a team of women.

Karine Meadley playing water polo for team GB
Karine playing water polo for team GB

 

In late 2004 , after having had the opportunity to play at various European and World Championships, I decided I should probably try getting my life back and focusing on my physio career.

In January 2005 I played my last game for Penguin and enjoyed a legendary send off party (did I ever say thank you for that Charlie and team?) and set off to make the most of sleeping on ex-Penguin players’ couches in New Zealand and Australia, before settling in Brisbane to do some post-grad study in sports physio.

My contact with water polo became less, but there was always a Penguin linked to it, and being physio for the British team at the Commonwealth Games in Perth, with Jerome Read as part of the coaching team once again, felt like an appropriate ending to my career in water polo.

16 years on and living in South Australia, I still have close friends some of whom live just down the road, who are ex-Penguins, or know someone who was a Penguin. Lets face it, Penguins are awesome, and awesome people know awesome people…

 

This article is part of our Penguin 100 Stories, a series from Penguins past and present, recording what being a member of our Club means to them as we celebrate the Club’s centenary.

Ron Turner Memorial Trophy presentations


Award, PenguINspiration, Water Polo

It’s been along wait, but now that COVID restrictions have eased, we’ve  been able to make our Ron Turner Memorial Trophy presentations for 2020 winners.

Winner – Elliot McHugh

Here’s the previous winner, Toby Roberts (left), handing the unique Ron Turner Memorial Trophy to the 2020 winner, Elliot McHugh (right), at a Latymer training session.

Elliott with Trophy and Toby Roberts 

Receiving the award Elliot said, ‘It’s an honour to be presented with the Ron Turner Memorial Trophy. Despite a difficult year, I enjoyed supporting the development of Penguin’s younger players. I look forward to seeing the Club succeed in the coming years, particularly with younger juniors coming through and the hard work of our coaches.’

Alongside the main Trophy, Elliot received a glass memento to keep.

Read Elliot’s story about his time with Penguin.

 

Highly Commended – Olly Castell

Olly Castell was awarded Highly Commended for the 2020 award, and received his certificate from coach Shaun Hill at a Hillingdon training session. 

Olly holding his Highly Commended certificate with coach Shaun

 

Read Olly’s story about his time with Penguin. 

 

Ron’s widow, Gill, who was unable to present the awards this year, said, ‘Ron would have been so proud of these young men.’

 

Frankie Snell – Penguin and the London 2012 Olympics


Frankie's Blog, Olympics, Penguin 100 Centenary, Penguin members, PenguINspiration, Team GB, Water Polo

As the belated 2020 Olympics get underway in Toyko, one of Penguin’s Olympians, Frankie Snell, looks back at her time with the Club and with the Team GB women’s water polo squad at London 2012.

I can remember my very first Penguin water polo training session. Tt was a cold autumnal evening in 2007 and I was lost in the maize of tunnels you had to conquer before finding the pool in the basement of the Shell Centre. I was just 20 years old and had recently arrived  in London from New Zealand.

It was an easy decision to join the Penguin club,. A few older NZ players were already members so I was looking forward to seeing familiar faces when I nervously turned up to that first session. I had nothing to be concerned about though. Right from the start with Shakey and the girls, I felt the strong sense of family and community within the Club.

Frankie Snell playing water polo
Playing in the London 20212 Olympics

 

That feeling carried with me over the following six years playing not just for Penguin, but professionally for clubs in France and Spain, and at the London 2012 Olympic Games with Team GB. I was born and grew up in NZ with a kiwi dad and English mother, hence having eligibility to compete for both nations.

I was the youngest in the Penguin team when I joined. I had a lot to learn from the older more experienced players and not just in the pool! They instantly took me under their wing and looked out for me throughout my time playing in Europe. This is my greatest memory and appreciation of being part of the Penguin Club, the lifelong friends I’ve made. We’re from all over the world, a lot of us now living back in our birth countries, but we’re still close and keep in touch from afar.

Frankie Snell playing water polo
In action

 

I must admit the friendships were bonded not just in the pool, but also in the pub. Our weekends away for national league games were always work hard, play hard. We would battle it out in the pool during the day and then enjoy the local night life until the wee hours before being back in the pool first thing the next morning.

I have very fond memories of playing for Penguins at the LEN Trophy tournaments round Europe. We weren’t quite up to the standard of the fully professional club teams we were playing against, but we always fought hard, had the biggest smiles on our faces and definitely had the most fun!

Penguin women's wtare polo team on the poolside before a match
At a LEN Championships match with the Penguin women’s team

 

I played for Penguins for a couple of years before a season for ASPTT Nancy in France. From France I moved up to Manchester in 2009 to join  the Team GB squad in preparation for London 2012, on moving up there I made sure my home club stayed as Penguins.

Competing at the Olympic Games was obviously a dream come true for me, a truly unforgettable, totally amazing experience, but it was also the hardest, most disappointing time in my life.

We went into the Olympics as massive underdogs, we weren’t expected to medal but within our team we had full belief that we could, and would!

London 2012 Women's water polo team photo in the changing room
Team photo

 

In the weeks leading up to the Olympics we’d drawn with top countries Russia and Spain (the eventual silver medalists) so we knew within our squad that we could do it. That’s why when the final whistle blew on our quarter final match and we’d lost against Spain by one goal in the last minute of the match, it was so utterly disappointing and heart breaking. To have your dream of medaling at an Olympics –  everything you’ve worked towards for years –  squashed in an instant by one blow on a whistle.

Spectators with a banner supporting Frankie Snell
Penguin team mates supporting from the poolside

 

We went to hell and back throughout our training in Manchester, pushed to our absolute limit physically and mentally so words can’t describe how broken we all felt. I still struggle now actually, almost 10 years later, when I think about how different everything would have been if we’d won that one match, if I’d made that one block or scored that one shot. All our games are up on Youtube but I haven’t yet been able to watch them back.

The whole Olympic experience was an extreme rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. We lost four out of our six games by one goal… one goal…

It was so hard to deal with but on the flip side, I had the most incredible experience. Being part of the home nation Team GB with all of the support behind us was the best feeling. The athlete village was amazing, I could’ve lived there forever (all the rumours you’ve heard about the village are true!).

 

London 2012 Team GB women's water polo team in the Olympic Village
Moving into our accommodation in the Olympic Village

 

The opening and closing ceremonies were so much fun and real ‘dream come true’ moments.

Frankie and team mates at the London 2012 closing ceremonyy
Me, Chloe Wilcox and Rosie Morris (my team mates and house mates for three years in Manchester) at the London 2012 closing ceremony

 

We went to Buckingham Palace and met the Queen. The countless parties after the event and the athlete parade through the streets of London were all some of the best times of my life.

It was a true honour for me to represent the Penguin Club at the Olympic Games. The support I felt by the whole Penguin family not only during the actual tournament but in the years before during the grueling preparation was immense. Being a part of the Penguin family is a very special part of my water polo journey.

Spectators with a banner supporting Frankie Snell
Penguin teammates arriving at one
of our matches

 

I’m now very happily living back in NZ with my partner Rich Chambers, also a fellow proud NZ-Penguin water polo player, and our 1 year-old daughter Cleo.

We would absolutely love to be at the Penguin 100 Anniversary Dinner next year but this is unfortunately looking unlikely. I can remember dancing the night away at the 90th Anniversary Dinner ten years ago so I hope this next celebration is just as spectacular!

Use the tag at the top of this post to read the brilliant blog that Frankie wrote in 2012 documenting her journey to the London Olympics. 

 

 

This article is part of our Penguin 100 Stories, a series of stories from Penguins past and present, recording what being a member of our Club means to them as we celebrate the Club’s centenary.

Water Polo – The Olly Story!


Penguin 100 Centenary, Penguin members, PenguINspiration, Water Polo

To celebrate the Club’s centenary we are publishing a series of stories from Penguins past and present, recording what being a member of our Club means to them.

This post comes from junior water polo player Olly Castell, who was highly commended for the Ron Turner Memorial Trophy in 2020.

 
I feel lucky to say I have been playing water polo now for six years. It all started when I met Shaun (the current coach of the Under 16s at Hillingdon Penguin) for a sports scholarship trial at my school and we played some water polo as part of the day. I thought to myself, what is this sport? And why is it so much fun? I had been a competitive swimmer at regional level at that point, but I had never experienced water polo properly until then.

Even in that first game, I recall the feeling of loving shooting the ball, receiving and throwing passes, the thrill of moving past opponents in the water and scoring goals. The sport seemed to have the best of so many worlds: the competitive team element of football mixed with the physicality of swimming, combined with clever chess-like tactics. My love of water polo was born!

 

Water polo player shooting at goal

 

At that point, there wasn’t any real school team that was in place, but Shaun suggested that I went for a trial at Hillingdon and play with the year 11s. That’s when I met Mickey, who with Shaun truly inspired me to think about how I could play at a high level.
What I enjoy about the Club

There are so many things that I love about Hillingdon Penguins. I love the training sessions, the team camaraderie, the togetherness we show in competitive matches and the fact that our team spirit always drives us on to succeed and never give up, even when we are several goals down!

 

Water polo player shooting at goal

There have been so many amazing, proud and fun moments in my water polo experience so far.  I could mention the individual accolade of winning the coach’s player’s cup for my efforts, winning a particularly tough inter-county match, or even my great pride at being asked to train with the regional academy group at Crystal Palace amongst amazing players such as Elliot McHugh.

But one of my best memories of the Club and this unique team spirit we seem to have was a time I recall us being down 7-2 at half time at a game in Croydon, and against the odds the team pulled back to narrow the margin. We were playing off each other so well, it was like there a synergy in all our minds, and this enabled me to score five goals in the half! Despite the fact that we still lost by one goal, it was this unique team feeling of everyone supporting each other and a combined willingness to play our hearts out – that the Club has inspired through the years – that was the most striking and proud element.

 

Watetr polo player shooting at goal

I would say to any young player considering getting into the sport, it’s definitely worth trying out – in my experience this is one of the most fun things you can do. It’s great exercise and also brilliant for your own mental wellbeing with the team in a frenetic, busy world of school, exams and life. Plus, nothing can beat the feeling of rising up waist high in the water and smashing a shot past a keeper in the top corner! In terms of future growth, the sport still inspires me and has opened up my interest to looking at opportunities with US scholarships too which is exciting.

This is such a special Club. We are so lucky to have a great set of supportive coaches, friends, team-mates, parents and the wider Club community. This year has proven, even despite the unexpected calamity of a global pandemic and not being able to play together for what felt like an eternity, that spirit of Hillingdon Penguin has shone through.

I look forward to many more years of great water polo experiences (and goals). Thank you, and Go Penguin!