Huddersfield Otters
It is fair to say the Olympic Games are the pinnacle of sport. If you make the Olympics you know you have accomplished something special. Winning or losing is down to that extra mile you put in to fulfil your dream.
But what else do the Olympics bring?
Many say that winning the Games is the perfect way to state your claim on the international stage and they wouldn’t be wrong in saying that. But it also is the place where sports can be unearthed, sports that may not get the recognition they deserve, for example, Water Polo.
I recently looked into the Huddersfield Otters Water Polo club to try and gain some insight into the history as well as look at modern domestic competition within the sport.
Established just under a Century ago, the Huddersfield Otters began as a local swimming club in Lockwood. After a few years, the local swimming club moved a few miles up the road to Rasman Street where they then formed the current Huddersfield Otters Water Polo Club. It was here where the early competitions took place and where stars of water polo were born. Athletes such as Stewart Hampshire and Barry Bonds were just some of the players that made the International grade which ultimately put the Otters on the map.
Their greatest achievements came during the 1960’s where they reached back to back British Junior Championship Semi Finals only to lose to Birkenhead and Wallasey respectively.
The club then struggled to sustain the early promise they showed and moved from their home at Rasman Street to Cambridge Road Swimming Baths where they competed in the Wakefield and District Water Polo league.
To this day the Otters have struggled to eclipse the success of the 1960’s. The 2006 season failed to live up to expectation with the Otters A team only finishing 4th in Division 1 and the B team failing to gain promotion into the top tier, but with a promising junior program the tables look like they could be turned.
This can be backed up by the U16’s recent triumph in the Yorkshire league which ultimately saw them become Champions but with no U18 side only the best of the juniors can make the grade.
Paul Bentley, coach of the U14’s and U16’s, voiced his concerns over the system, “I think that there should be a league where the juniors can go after the U16 as it a huge leap for them to enter adult competition”.
One of those juniors is U16 Goalkeeper Josh Smith who, at this early age, is in line to represent the Great Britain side at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paul hopes that this can not only put Josh on the map but also reinstate the Otters as well.
So what is the future for the otters?
Well, after many seasons in the Wakefield and District Water Polo league, the club hope to play in national competition alongside clubs such as Manchester and Bristol. However, for now the Otters aim to establish themselves as the dominant side in Yorkshire overtaking Rotherham at the top and with a promising junior set up who is to stop them.
