A blend of experience and new faces have been selected to represent Great Britain at the forthcoming Canoe Polo World Championships and Super Cup taking place in Deqing, China in October.
A notable selection sees the McCutcheon brothers, Shivan, Santanam, Suryan and Kartik, in the men’s senior squad for the first time, a proud moment for the family.
There is also strong representation from Northern Ireland, with Fergal McConvey and Sara Lanao-Madden returning for the senior teams. With Angus Boyle, Jake Searle for the U21 Men and debutants Erin McCullough, Henry McCann.
Friends of Allonby, Liverpool have 13 league players representing the squads, which is a great testament to all the development work they do.
Other players going to their first championships are, Henry Metcalfe, Nathan Aleksic and Ryan Dixon
As well as the work by the athletes and coaches to get the teams selected through the regular season, it’s been a big logistical effort to get the boats and 40 people to China in readiness for the two major events.
Steve Watts, Chair of the Paddle UK Canoe Polo Committee said:
“A huge thanks to those involved in sorting out and loading the container for the Canoe Polo boats to start their journey to China for the upcoming Super Cup and World Championships in October.
“Good luck from the Canoe Polo Committee to all those selected and competing for GB and NI.”
The 2024 ICF Hangzhou Super Cup takes place on 10-13 October, followed by the 2024 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in Dequng, Huzhou 15-20 October.
In 2022 at the World Championships in France the men’s team just missed out on the podium, finishing in fourth place. The women’ team were ninth, with the u21 women’s and men’s teams taking fifth and seventh place. With the progression, training and experience all teams have the potential to go higher than two years ago.
Men
Lewis Hammond – Kingston
Alex Lowthorpe – Kingston
Shivan McCutcheon – FOA
Santanam McCutcheon – FOA
Suryan McCutheon – FOA
Kartik McCutcheon – FOA
Fergal McConvey – Ulster
James Mallon – FOA
Coaches
Dave Edwards – Kingston
Alan Vessey – St. Albans
Women
Sara Lanao-Madden – Ulster
Katie Howes – Aberfan
Georgie Longbottom – FOA
Eleanor McBay – Meridian/East End
Kirsten Lee – Manchester
Bethan Littlewood – Bridgend
Ella Winterbottom – FOA
Coaches
Jamie Thomson – Disperses
Stephen Hickson – Disperses
U21 Men
Ryan Dixon – Meridian
Toby Marlow – St. Albans
Henry McCann – Ulster
Jake Searle – Ulster
Angus Boyle – Ulster
Flynn Hammond – Dragon
Henry Metcalfe – St. Albans
Nathan Aleksic – NW Berlin
Coach
Paul Hammond – Dragon
U21 Women
Erin McCullough – Ulster
Evie McNamara – FOA
Poppy Clews – FOA
Emmy-Lou Hussin – FOA
Leena De Mul – FOA
Jessie Hurtt – FOA/Meridian
Molly Fletcher – FOA
Coaches
Andy Metcalfe – Bedford
Tamsyn Conchie – Nottingham
Squad Management
Alan Vessey
Ginny Coyles