By Ivan MacDonald

Canoe Polo is running some big events this summer and, after several Junior competitions, the Canoe Polo National Club Championships took place at Mullingar Harbour on 9th and 10th July.

It was the biggest Club Championships in years with over 28 teams entered. This was a huge volunteer-run event, so we want to say a huge well done to everyone for organising what was a very professional, 2 day event with 5 divisions, 3 pitches and over 200 competitors!

Teams from all around Ireland took part – including Belfast, Dublin, Galway, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Kilkenny Limerick, Tullamore and of course the hosts – Mullingar Harbour.

Division 1 was hotly contested by 5 teams, with the award for Div1 champions going to WWKC in a final with Ulster. Division 2 was won by Kamikaze while Division 3 was won by the hosts Mullingar Harbour for the first time. The women’s final was between Kilcock and WWKC in a tight game with just one goal separating the two, with WWKC taking the win.

In the Junior Divisions, Ulster took first place in the U14s, while in the U12 league, 4 teams from Kilcock and Mullingar took part. Mullingar just edged it by a goal to take gold.

Polo is keeping busy with some great competitions planned – the Belfast Junior International takes place on 20-24th July, the Longford Open will be on 30/31st July and the Irish Open will be in Kilcock on 27th/28th August.

And of course this years Overload! Now in its 5th year, and is expected to bring 150 Junior polo players to Mullingar on 3rd and 4th September for a weekend of fun canoe polo training and activities.