Pennine Canoe Polo club made their mark in Europe as they took tenth place in an international meeting.
The Mirfield-based club, who ended the National League season as runners-up, were placed tenth in the Gekko International competition in Gent, Belgium.
The team faced a tough initial group stage where they gained a good win against the Holland Under 21 national side 7-3 before adding another win against club team Triton 9-3.
The next match saw Pennine challenge the ex-European club champions Conde Sur Vire from France.
Pennine put in a great performance that ended in a narrow defeat 3-2 in the dying seconds of the game despite leading the French side 2-1 at half-time.
The result left Pennine needing to beat the current British champions Viking, from Derbyshire, to progress to the top eight teams.
After a hard fought battle with two sin-bins for Pennine players for technical offences, the reigning British champions prevailed to win 6-1 – which unfortunately put the Yorkshire club out of the competition, but they took tenth place overall.
For Pennine the result was a good foundation to build on in Europe and the team, made up of Michael Smith, James Longley, David Edwards, Daniel Bailey, Matthew Fletcher and Gallin Montgomery, is looking to progress in order to improve on their status as “the second best team in Britain”.
Pennine are back in action on October 4-5 after qualifying for the European Club Championships for the first time in the club’s history.
They will travel to Saint Omer in France to compete against the top 30 club teams in Europe.
Pennine trio Fletcher, Longley and Montgomery will be representing the Great Britain Men’s team at the World Canoe Polo Championships in Thury Harcourt, France, from September 24-28 with Edwards coaching the Great Britain Men Under 21 team, while Daniel Bailey and Michael Smith have represented Great Britain B this year.
For more information on Pennine Canoe Polo or how to get involved like Pennine Canoe and Rowing Club contact PCRC on Facebook, follow @PennineCRC on Twitter or visit the website www.penninecrc.org
The club are actively seeking sponsorship which can be displayed on club kit and boats, and if anyone is able to help the club out with sponsorship or funding please contact michaelpsmith@hotmail.co.uk or canoepolo@penninecrc.org
