Prudence Blyth selected for GB Youth Polo Squad

Prudence is 15 years old and in year 10 at Heathfield Community School. She is a member of both the Taunton Canoe Club, Wellington Canoe Club and Avon Ladies. Prudence has been canoeing for several years and has been playing canoe polo for about 3 years. At the end of last season her team was promoted to South West Division 1. Unfortunately the team disbanded and she formed her own youth team called the Taunton Torpedos and was entered into South West Division 3. Their first match at Millfield was played on 20/02/05. They won one, drew two and lost one to start in fourth position against other west country teams from Bristol, Plymouth, Southampton. Towards the end of last year she was given details of the GB Squad Trials for the under 21 Ladies Team to be held in Manchester and she applied and was accepted. She attended the Bury Centre near Manchester over the weekend of the 26-27/02/05. There were 21 candidates for the 11 positions and Prudence was the youngest. The trials are held every year to select the squad and team. The team consists of 8 players. Of the candidates this year, 4 were team players from the last season. The competition was very hard with most of the candidates from the London area and northern Counties. The selection followed several outdoor training sessions in the snow and indoor play. Prudence was the only candidate for the South West (excluding Bristol). Most of the candidates also play for national Division 1 Teams such as Meridian and St Albans. Prudence has only just (within the past 4 weeks) joined the Avon Ladies who play in the National league. Her first match will be in Luton on 2nd April. The coaches were very impressed with Prudence and had no hesitation in selecting her for the Squad. Over the next 2 months the team will be chosen from the squad and they are due to play their first international games in Madrid in the Summer. In 2006 the team will also play in the world championships in Amsterdam. The Ladies senior GB Team won Gold at the recent international championship and the Ladies Under 21 GB team won Silver. Her aspirations are to promote the sport, join the Team for the international games in Madrid, and bring home gold and then to encourage the inclusion of the sport for the Olympic Games.