Canoe Polo

We don't have a polo team. However the hard-core polo paddlers that you'll see trainning at HHCC are members from St Albans and Hertsmere Canoe Club with some in GB teams.

St Albans and Hertsmere CC specialises in polo and has teams in every League Division - Seniors, Women and Youth, so it caters for all level of paddlers. The club has been very successful over the years winning all the major domestic titles many times, as well as some Club Internationals.

With this success many players have played for GB at the World and European Championships in the Men's, Women's and U21's as well as numerous International competitions. Of the current paddlers that use Hemel CC these are Pip and Lianne Grayson (now Lianne Studley) (World Champions 2004, European Champions 2001, 2005), Alan Vessey (World Champions 2000, 2002. European Champion 1995) Dave Sanders (World Champion 2002). Ed Feltham (U21 World Champion 2008) and Matthew Taylor also use the club and have represented GB at U21 level.

St Albans and Hertsmere CC train Thursday nights 8.15 until 11.00 in a nice warm pool at the Furzfield Centre in Potters Bar, anyone intrested in playing please email Alan here.

Also see the Canoe Polo website here for more on canoe polo.

European Canoe Polo Championships 2009

The European Canoe Polo Championships 2009 were held in Essen, Germany at the end of August and three paddlers that train at HHCC came back with medals. There are competitions to see all over Europe, and in fact all over the world. Though getting to all these locations can be costly, if you can find cheap flights these events are well worth attending. This year at the European Canoe Polo Championships three paddlers that train at HHCC came back with medals.

Philippa Grayson (pictured in the thick of it) rounded of a memorable 18 months competing for the GB womens team by winning the Europeans, finishing top goal scorer in the process. Winning the Europeans Gold completed the 'set' of major Championships after winning the World Championships last year and the World Games (feeder event to the Olympics) in July.

Alan Vessey (pictured top right) and Ed Feltham competed for the GB men's team and after a hard fought competition they won the bronze medal, beating the Holland (the current World Champions) in the 3rd/4th play-off. Ed was competiting in his first senior Championship after winning the U21 World Championships last year in Canada.

Both Alan and Ed were happy with the result and hope that it is a stepping stone to winning the World Championships next year in Milan.