Water polo taking northern pools by storm
ROWAN SPARKES CAIRNS Water Polo has made a splash on the Far North’s sporting landscape in just 12 months of operation.
The association will celebrate its one-year birthday at Woree Pool tomorrow, with games from 4pm and a barbecue to follow.
President Jesse O’Hara said Cairns Water Polo had en- joyed “a very productive first year” since it was established last November.
“We started this year off by sending senior men’s and women’s representative sides to compete in the Queensland Country Championships in Townsville in February,” O’Hara said.
“After the tournament, three men and three women from Cairns were selected to represent Queensland Coun- try at the national championships in May. Those players then returned to Cairns with gold and silver medals.”
After establishing a senior playing group quickly, Cairns Water Polo shifted its focus to growing its juniors division.
O’Hara said the association was working on a new schoolbased competition in 2019, following the success of the Cairns Water Polo inter-school gala day at TAS on Tuesday.
“The gala day was a very memorable occasion and everyone involved is excited to build on its success next year,” O’Hara said.
“Played in the summer heat, the athletes relished the opportunity to battle it out in the water – the sport really is tailored to our tropical climate.”
He said a school-based competition would be “a major element of the future of junior water polo in Cairns”.