GB A team here we come

Thought I would give you an update on my Canoe Polo career. It was about 3 years ago that I was first approached about going for selection for the GB squad for Canoe Polo. Well with a lot of hard work and 3 years experience at this level I have finally been selected for the A team, and am going to the European Championships in Ireland on Monday 11th August 2003. I will let you know how we did in the next newsletter.

How has this come about? Well between January and July each year I have been training at least 6 times a week, this year I have been training about 8 times a week, 2 days training twice and then having a day off, and so on. This last year I had been asked to play for a different team in the National League - they are the equivalent of Manchester United in football terms. Going from a team that was changing lots and going down into National Division 2, to playing for this team has made a lot of difference. FOA Xclusive - my new National League team, managed to win National Division 1 before the last tournament had been played. Occasionally we made it difficult for ourselves as we never trained together, but some of the time we played really well together. This has made a major difference in the way I play - with much faster reactions and better game play (just ask my Mum and Dad!!)

This year I have been asked to play for another team in the Open National League Division 3 South. This is with quite a few of the current GB A team, so it will be really good for the next International season. The only problem being that it is in the south, so I will have to travel down to London and Coventry for all my matches.

I didn't realise how much dedication you need to put in to compete at this level, it does take over your life. I think you have to have quite a lot of will power to keep on going all the time even when you would much prefer sitting at home eating crisps or chocolate and watching TV. I haven't been out socially with my friends for about 3 months, or gone Mountain Biking, Climbing, White-water Canoeing and the rest, for the last month or so, because if I hurt myself that will be it. I love playing the sport and I actually enjoy training most of the time, apart from when it is so cold I can't feel my fingers around the paddle or when most of the canal has frozen over. But I know that the reward of playing well and doing well at this level of competition will be worth all the hard work.

Next year I will, hopefully, be going to the World Championships, which are in Japan. This will be a much more expensive year as I need a new polo kayak, and we have to make a contribution towards going to all competitions, including the Worlds and Europeans.

I have been awarded a grant of £200 from the SportsAid charity this year. This has gone towards new paddles - £130, and the rest helping towards the cost of going to the Europeans - £300. So thanks to all those people who may have donated money to this charity…

If anyone has any ideas (or offers!!) of sponsorship, please contact me.

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GB A team here we come

Ellie Bridgstock