Author Archives: Alex

New year, new pitch!

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Happy new year everyone!

At the start of this year we’ll be installing a new set of floating goals and pitch lines at Salford Quays. We’ll continue to have our permanent full size pitch, and we will be adding a new 2nd pitch that can be tidied away after each session to allow the watersports centre to use the space.

This means during our outdoor sessions we’ll have 4 floating goals, making 2 full size canoe polo pitches. So now we can have games running simultaneously and no waiting around in between. We’re hoping to invite other canoe clubs to train with us and host more and more tournaments as time goes on.

The Manchester Wildcatz Annual Open Day will also be improved vastly, allowing more people to get involved in the games and other sessions throughout the day.

Our outdoor evening sessions begin when the clocks change at Easter time, and will be from 6pm – 8pm on Wednesday evenings.

Summer Tournament Results 2012

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Manchester Wildcatz sent at least 2 teams to every single summer tournament this year. Many thanks to all our players who attended and to all those who provided transport for people and equipment.

B team - London International 2012 (Kier, Adam, Conner, Josh & Antony)

Summer tournaments are competitions run over 1 weekend with a thrilling final taking place on Sunday afternoon for each division. They are excellent experience for the national leagues and give teams chance to play against opponents from all over the UK and abroad. Our highlights included the B team winning the Liverpool International Class 4, a solid 4th position for the A team in Class 2 at the Welsh Open as well as plenty of hard fought games and great performances all round.

A team - London International 2012 (Alex, Tom, David, Niall, Rachel & Richard)

The final placings for our teams over this year’s summer tournaments are outlined below:

Liverpool International (June 2012)

  • A team – Class 2 – 11th  (out of 11)
  • B team – Class 4 – 1st  (out of 6)
  • C team – Class 4 – 6th  (out of 6)

Joy Davis Hull International (July 2012)

  • A team – Class 2 – 9th  (out of 10)
  • B team – Class 3 – 9th  (out of 10)
  • C team – Class 4 – 6th  (out of 12)
  • D team – Class 4 – 11th  (out of 12)

National Club Championships (July 2012)

  • Awaiting results

Welsh Open (August 2012)

  • A team – Class 2 – 4th  (out of 15)
  • B team – Class 3 – 6th  (out of 10)

London International (August 2012)

  • A team – Class 3 – 14th  (out of 15)
  • B team – Class 4 – 8th  (out of 8 )

Big Dog Kayaks Demo Day

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On the 28th of July, Salford Watersports Centre will be visited by the crew from Big Dog Kayaks, who are bringing down a van full of boats, along with their trade stall and food for the day. Members from Salford Canoe Club, and other local paddlers will also be in attendance.

We know many Manchester Wildcatz members are also keen river paddlers, so get yourself down to try out the Big Dog range of kayaks. Our Saturday morning training session is going ahead too (10am-1pm), so you can get a double dose of canoeing.

 

Try Canoe Polo at Manchester Wildcatz

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On Sunday the 27th May, Manchester Wildcatz Canoe Polo Club holds our Annual Open Day. On the day we will have demonstration games and introductory sessions for anyone interested in giving canoe polo a go. It is a great opportunity to get out on the water for the first time and start playing canoe polo, just as the weather gets warmer, our summer training program begins and the prospect of playing summer tournaments gets nearer.

What do I need to get started?

  • All equipment is provided, just bring clothes you don’t mind getting wet!
  • No experience of canoeing necessary, our BCU registered coaches can teach you all the skills from beginner to expert.
  • Our base at Salford Watersports Centre has fantastic facilities & warm showers.
  • A small water fee of £2 for under 18′s and £3.50 for adults applies.

So meet us at Salford Watersports Centre on Salford Quays, between 11am until 2pm on Sunday 27th May 2012.

In the meantime, to get a flavour of canoe polo, you can read all about the sport and how its played on our Introduction page and Competitions page. Alternatively watch the short introductory video on our About Canoe Polo page.

Manchester Wildcatz: A Club Mark club

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Manchester Wildcatz Canoe Polo Club has recently earned Club Mark status. This is most definitely a milestone in the clubs history and something for the entire club to be proud of. Clubmark sets standards and best practices for the running of all clubs in the UK and for our club to have reached the necessary standards is fantastic.

You can not just fill in a form and get accredited, it takes many months of gathering evidence, putting paper work and procedures in place. Its a process that requires dedication, organisation and not to mention a real passion for the sport and the club.

That makes it sound like a sub committee of 5 are required to achieve this! However most of the work has been done by just one club member and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Manchester Wildcatz Canoe Polo Club to say a big well done and thank you for all the hard work that Niall Evans has done to achieve Club Mark accreditation.

The blue Club Mark banner is now proudly on display at the top of our website.

National League Results 2011/12

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The BCU National League season is now finished, and the results are in. This year for the first time, players from the two original clubs of Salford Wildcatz and Manchester CC, have combined as part of the integration process to create one club: Manchester Wildcatz. It has been a successful year for Manchester Wildcatz, with some great team performances to be seen across the board.

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The A team maintained their Division 2 North status, due to the expansion of the league system, finishing in 8th position.

The B team put in game after game of solid performances in Division 3 North to claim 3rd position, agonisingly just one place shy of the promotion playoff position.

Likewise Manchester Wildcatz C had a strong season and finished 3rd in Division 4 North, just missing out on the chance to play for promotion.

Manchester Wildcatz D gained some valuable experience playing in the national league system for the first time in the 2011/12 season. They also recorded a win and two draws, generally playing against teams with a great deal more tournament experience. They finished in 9th position in the 10 team Division 4 North league.

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Final league position for every team, and individual game scores are all available to view on the national canoe polo leagues’ League Republic site.

Canoe Rugby Polo

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Two stars of the Super League took to the water at Salford Watersports Centre recently to mix canoe polo with rugby. It was all to help announce this years fundraising activities for The Steve Prescott Foundation, whose work helps the Rugby League Benevolent Fund and Christies Hospital.

The event will see Steve Prescott and Paul Sculthorpe running marathons in London and Paris, cycling from one venue to the other and crossing the English channel by kayak. The two events are held 1 week apart, making this an epic challenge to complete in such a short space of time.

You can learn more about the challenge by watching the video below, and by visiting the Steve Prescott Foundation website. Or if you would like to donate to the cause, follow this link to their Just Giving page.