09-08-2025
North East water polo club's incredible training camp in the Netherlands
Five young North East athletes have had a flying start to the summer holiday after attending an international water polo camp in the Netherlands.
Aston Walsh, Thomas Forrest, India Walsh, Kara Stanton, and Arwen Henderson, all members of Sedgefield Water Polo Club, joined 29 others on the England Talent Pathway to travel to Volendam from July 20 to July 24.
They trained under the guidance of Olympic gold medal-winning coach, Paul Metz, alongside their Dutch counterparts, each aged between 12 and 16 years.
The camp, which focuses on nurturing talented players with potential to represent their country in future, allowed the athletes to gain world-class experience.
For some, this was their second time attending the camp, which also focuses on teamwork and activities alongside water polo, such as orienteering, an assault course, and various team challenges.
This is in addition to two daily water polo sessions in the outdoor facilities and a tournament.
The young athletes entered into the team spirit with their Dutch friends, where they all camp, eat, and train in the same area throughout the five days, creating a strong sense of camaraderie.
Members said it had been an "amazing experience and opportunity to train with overseas athletes, learning new skills, meeting new friends and making memories, which will last a lifetime."
Head coach Matt Birch said: "The training camp was an incredible success, where the players had learned invaluable skills and the connections forged will continue well into the future, providing opportunities for many more young athletes."
