A local water polo club is celebrating after receiving a Silver award at the prestigious Swim England National Awards.

Winchester Water Polo Club (WWPC) was awarded the accolade in the Swim England Club of the Year category for Water Polo, in a ceremony held at Birmingham University’s Great Hall on Saturday, November 18. 

WWPC, which trains at Winchester Sports and Leisure Park, run by Everyone Active in partnership with Winchester City Council, wowed the judges to secure success ahead of the likes of Colchester Swimming Club, City of Manchester Water Polo Club, City of Sheffield Water Polo Club and Devonport RSA.

The win comes after the club won the Water Polo Club of the Year award for the South East in the Swim England Regional Awards.

This year, the event saw more than 1,000 nominations from across the aquatics community, with winners celebrated for their passion, dedication and outstanding commitment to aquatic sports.

Founded in 2021 by Toby King, a former GB triathlete, and Jaime Spicer, a former member of the South West of England water polo team, WWPC has since grown to over 60 members, winning the inaugural Hampshire Junior League competition earlier this year.

WWPC recently opened a third squad for Under 10s which is already nearing capacity. 

The club also see several of its members playing senior water polo for Southampton Water Polo Club who also train at Winchester Sport and Leisure Park.

Alison Lewis, Everyone Active’s area contract manager, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support WWPC in their training with the use of our centre.

“WWPC have grown not only in numbers but in talent in the short space of time they have been training in our centre and are a testament to the sportsmanship we see daily from members of our local community.”

Toby King, co-Founder of WWPC, added: “We were both surprised and delighted to win this award, given that we are such a new club and focused solely on children.

“When we learned of the amazing new facility being built at Winchester Sports and Leisure Park, we thought it was a wonderful opportunity to establish a brand new water polo club in Central Hampshire, and have since introduced this exciting and challenging Olympic sport to over 60 young people in the area.”

Cllr Kathleen Becker, Winchester City Council cabinet member for community and engagement, said: “We send huge congratulations to all of the members of Winchester Water Polo Club on this fantastic achievement. It's wonderful that the club have been able to make use of the facilities at Winchester Sports and Leisure Park and I'm thrilled that the centre has played a small part in their journey towards national recognition.”