Harrogate Ladies Waterpolo Harrogate 'Go Dutch' 2006
Harrogate “Shortwalkers” Water Polo Club completed its’ first overseas tour over the weekend 06 - 07 May 2006, the city of Groningen in Holland playing host to our ladies team.
The weekend started with a very early wake up call on the 6 May (my birthday) at 03.40am to be precise, the aim to be in Groningen for our first game at 1.45 pm, we made it, just!
The games were fast and furious, 15 minutes running clock, no time outs, no shot clocks, just polo.
We were the first UK team to attend the tournament in its’ 25 year history and we certainly made our presence felt winning our first game 5 – 2. This set the pattern for the weekend and the teams experience gained in the NWWPL certainly showed the team winning their remaining games 5 – 0, 5 – 2, 5 – 2 and 2 – 0, the final game offering the most challenge as the opposition were the Dutch Northern District Academy side.
The weekend was a success, a good polo workout, a good social event and a tournament winners trophy to head home with, not forgetting a handful of invites to other tournaments in Holland but they are another story.
We had to depart as quickly as we arrived and just made the train for the two and a half hour journey back to Amsterdam and the flight home for a well deserved rest.
The staff, team and goal scorers were:
Lindsey Johnston, Ashley Chattaway, Raewyn Newmarch, Charlotte Hanson - 7goals, Rachel Drabble - 2 goals, Julia Mackay - 8 goals, Naomi Kellett, Alycia Clayton, Judi Clayton, Francesca Clayton - 5 goals, Harry and Joan Hanson and yours truly, Chris Davey.
