This year the joint entry into the Open National Northern Division 2 Canoe Polo League between Red Rose and Penrith was converted into a full Cumbria Canoeists team entering under the name and representing the region in our colours, writes Cumbria Polo.
Players from Red Rose, Lakeland & Penrith Canoe Clubs all joined the squad, players, and their clubs: Red Rose: Matt Carter, Dan Camp, Andy Moffat; Lakeland: Andy Laird; Penrith: Noah Rankin, Nicky Taylor, Chris Archer
The format of this competition is for all 12 teams to play each other once (Round 1) and then the top six play each other again for the title and promotion and the bottom half play each other again to avoid demotion.
There are two weekend events with four games on each day, so the first round is completed after the third match on day three (first day of the second weekend) and then the five remaining games play off for final position.
After the team encountered some illnesses and last minute changes as well as one player having to move house over the first weekend so needing to skip the last few matches we played our hardest and worked together as best we could under the circumstances and all the games were very close, with just one goal in it for most of them so could have gone either way.
Coming into the second weekend mathematically we could still make the top half, but we had to win all three of our remaining Round 1 games and hope that some other results went our way.
Playing very well together the team ensured themselves of the three wins and then had to wait patiently for the other results to come in.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be though with Granite Dons managing to get just one more point than us. Our remaining five games to avoid relegation started well with 17 goals scored in the first two.
The next two were a little closer but still solid wins for Cumbria. By the final game we were all exhausted and knew that we had cemented the top of the bottom half anyway so a mixture of tiredness and heads not really being in it anymore resulted in a loss to end it.
Whilst we didn’t quite meet the objective the team originally set out for, they performed admirably and finished seventh in the division. Onwards and upwards to next year when the team hopes to make the top half.
If you would like to try kayaking, we are running free beginner lessons at Killington Sailing Association every Tuesday from 6pm over summer. All kit is provided and is open to anybody aged 11-plus, email redrosecanoepolo@gmail.com
