Tigers member Matt spent the weekend with the GB Canoe Polo team recently, here are his thoughts after returning home:

After making it through the selection process earlier in the year I was given the opportunity to join the under 21’s squad, I took up the offer straight away with great anticipation.

On the 21st of March I attended my first GB weekend. After a long drive down I arrived at Danson Park to begin my weekend of training. To start with we were introduced to the rest of the squad many of which I already knew from previous polo competitions, followed by an introduction to our new coach George Spittal.

Our morning began with fitness sessions designed to test our drop off rates, firstly in anaerobic exersise then aerobic. This was followed by various drills and exercises, this give us the chance to learn how each of us played as team, especially our strengths and weaknesses. One of these drills led to both myself and Jack Robson having to carry out a forfeit for our poor accuracy when shooting. We did manage to get off the water before carrying out said forfeit but much to the amusement of our teammates and coach, we were then made to get back on the water and perform a role in the chilly at best, lake.

That evening with several members of the mens team and the under 21’s team we went for a meal to a nearby pub and then turned in early.

The next morning after a lovely nights sleep and breakfast from our “hostes with the mostest” the fantastic Jane Borrett, we turned up for another days training consisting of sprints, some more drills and a game made up of some meridian canoe club players who happened to be on the water.

After dinner, our session consisted of games against two teams made up of the GB men’s squad. The first game was very promising with scores level at 3 a piece by half time, with the men’s team finally winning 5-4. The second game was a bit harder with some very good defending from the under 21’s leaving the final score at 4-0 to the men’s team.

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend and cannot wait for the next one and the opportunity to play at tournaments under the GB name, until then, more training!