The 2009 World Games were held in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and we competed over two days from the 17-18th July. The World Games are held every four years and made up of 32 International Sports and disciplines that are not included in the Olympic Games. For Canoe Polo, the top 6 placed teams from the previous World Championships including the hosting nation qualify to compete at the games. Qualifying teams at this years World Games were GBR, GER, FRA, NZL, AUS, TPE.

We left for Taiwan on 11th July for an early afternoon flight to Hong Kong. After 12 and half hours we landed in Hong Kong where we caught a transfer flight to Kaoshiung. After 17 hours of travelling we were greeted by volunteers for the games who welcomed us with lots of smiles and escorted us to our hotel where we would spend our first night in Kaohsiung.

With a 7 hour time difference and each day averaging temperatures of 30 degrees plus we needed to acclimatise to the heat and time as soon as possible. We hit the streets of Kaoshiung for the first few days with some sight seeing and a lengthy accreditation process in the city hall with many other athletes from a variety of different sports and nations.

The first ‘official day’ was spent at the Lotus Pond where the competition was held. After some swift scrutineering we had chance to train on the official pitches and get used to the bath water like temperatures. Thursday evening was the opening ceremony at the main stadium packed with 50,000 spectators to welcome us to Kaohsiung and celebrate the opening of the World Games. We sweated it out for 4 hours in the heat but it was a fantastic and overwhelming experience we will all never forget.

Feeling pumped and fired up for the games following the opening ceremony, we kicked off the games with the first being vs TPE at 7am. An easy win of 10-3 settled our nerves and we were off to a winning start. Our success continued the rest of the day with great results against NZ 2-,1 GER 2-1 and an outstanding game against AUS beating them 8-1! This meant we had cruised into the semis with still another group game to play Saturday morning against the French.

Another early start but not so much of a convincing game against the French, but we ground out another win of 4-3. Our semi final was also to be against the French and with whispers of a typoon on its way we all carried on as normal and started our warm up on the water only to find both pitches had fallen apart and the competition was put on hold. The wind picked up whipping up the stands and officials tents into the air and the competition was postponed until the polo committee had decided a resolution. After a 5 hour break and some impressive logistics, we were relocated to Kaohsiung international pool to finish off the last remaining games of the tournament.

The semi didn’t quite go as smoothly as planned. The heat in the pool was pretty intense. With no air circulation, we found it allot harder to play in than outdoors. The French took an early lead but Pip Grayson kept us in the game scoring the equaliser. With the score 1-1 and both teams giving there all, it could have easily gone either way. Pru Blyth was given a yellow card so the team was down to 4 men in the second half for two minutes. The French continued attacking, but some fantastic goal keeping by Ellie Bridgestock kept the game 1-1 at full time. 5 minute halves of continual golden goal were played to settle the score. We won the sprint for possession of the ball and in the last 15 seconds of the first 5 minutes, Pru Blyth scored the golden goal and we were through to the final! Releif!
Germany beat NZ in the other semi so once again it was a fight between GB and GER for the gold.

We had played Germany on many occasions over the past year with mixed results and although successful at the Worlds last year, this was a whole new ball game with huge pressure and expectation on everyone’s shoulders. Revenge for 4 years ago was certainly in the back of a few minds. This was the game we had come for and within the first 30 seconds, we had put out stamp on it with a dynamic defending and breaking game. After 5 minutes, we were 3 goals up and had numerous chances to extend this. It was a fantastic team game with the Germans having few opportunities to pressure us. A goal from Zöe Anthony and three from Pru Blyth, putting her top of the goal scoring board too, sealed the win. Although the Germans scored within the last minute to bring it to 4-2, the result was never in doubt. World Games Champions…. Four years in the waiting, but worth every cold dark night of training.
This was a real team effort and a huge thank you must go to coaches Paul Brain and Elan Winter and our physio Charlottle Lister, but also to everyone else how helped us on our way… Peak UK, Reed Chillcheater, DB Xclusive, Run and Jump clothing for sponsoring us … and all our friends and families. THANK YOU!

Team:
#1 Kirsty Sutcliffe
#2 Pru Blyth
#3 Ginny Coyles
#4 Philippa Grayson
#5 Ellie Bridgstock
#6 Kathryn Grieves
#8 Zöe Anthony

(Posted on the 14th Aug 2009 by timb)

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