Swimmers prepare for World Championships

Seven players from Xarifa Underwater Hockey Club have been selected to represent Great Britain in the World Championships next month.

The prestigious event is set to take place from 13-24 August at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield. 

31 teams from 13 countries will battle it out in four categories, with players travelling from as far as Orkney Islands and Plymouth to play.

However, due to new rules recently introduced by the international governing body, some countries have been left without teams.

Xarifa, which is Tameside's only underwater hockey club, will have a number of players hoping to impress in their respective age categories.

Zoe Higham, Harry Thompson and George Lythe will be hoping to draw on their previous international experience, while Charlie Brincat, Declan McNulty, Jake Charnock and Megan Callaghan are all making their GB debuts.

Zoe, 20, has previously represented GB at Under 19 level, but will now play for the Under 24s, while Harry, 18, won a silver medal during the last competition in Hobart, Tasmania.

18-year-old George also won a silver medal at the same competition, and he enters the competition with eight years' experience.

Phil Thompson, Under 24 assistant coach and father of Harry, said he can't wait for the competition to arrive. "Many of the Under-24 men's team are Under-19 silver medallists from the last competition, so we're expecting great things of them!" 

Games will be streamed live via YouTube.

for more information, head to:

World Championships at: https://sheffielduwh2019.co.uk/

Xarifa UWH (affiliated to The British Octopush Association) – www.xuwh.org.uk