Club newsletter
The club have launched a monthly newsletter. It includes information on return to water, competition, a vacancy for the clubs Swim Ulster rep and some activities for seniors and juniors over the coming weeks and months.
If you have any ideas for what might be included in future editions or any information that you’d like to share with other members, get in touch.
Below is a link to this month’s edition.
Return to water
Pools in the north will reopen on 30 April for individual use. This is great news and we’d encourage all members to get back into the water and enjoy a swim to start building back fitness.
We have an indicative date of 24 May for group training indoors. We are hopeful that this will include water polo training and that we will be able to offer junior and senior sessions from that time.
Between now and then we will be working with Swim Ireland and GLL (who manage the Belfast pools) to ensure that when we can return that we can do so in as safe a way as possible.
This will be an important time for the club and we need your help to ensure that we hit the ground running and have teams in the water by the end of the summer. If anyone is interested in helping as either a coach, team manager or committee member please contact Joe, Ronan or email cuchulainn.waterpolo@gmail.com.
Return to competition
Our focus now is to get members back in the water and to remember why we enjoy the sport so much.
There are outline plans to resume competition over the summer with a focus on junior competition. The intention is that all the junior cups that should have been played over the last 14 months will be played. At this time, however, it is too early to say how and when this will happen. Safety concerns, how the restrictions will be eased in the South and pool availability will determine much of the summer calendar.
Swim Ulster Rep
We would like to invite expressions of interest in the position of Ulster Water Polo Representative.
The role requires the person to attend monthly meetings and to report back to the Cú Chulainn Committee. There is no obligation not take on extra duties.
If you are interested, please contact Joe, Ronan or send an email to cchulainn.waterpolo@gmail.com.
Seniors - catch up for run and coffee
A weekly run and catch up on Tuesdays at 8pm in parks across Belfast.
Who? Open to anyone who has played senior polo.
When: Tuesday evenings, rotating venue, meet at 8pm for a run / walk (do what you can) and then hang around from 8.30 for a coffee / tea.
Tuesday 20 April – Grove playing fields (meet in Jellicoe Av car park)
Tuesday 27 April – Botanic Park (meet in PEC car park)
Tuesday 4 May – Waterworks
Tuesday 11 May – Ormeau Park (meet in Ozone car park)
Remember that to take part in any club organised event, members must have completed the online registration form for this season. Before taking part in the activity and on the day of the activity members must complete the health screening questionnaire.
Juniors – weekly dry land sessions
Mondays at 7pm starting on 26 April. Qualified dry land coach. For juniors aged 14 to 19.
Until we can organise sessions in the pool, we are offering weekly dry land sessions for juniors. The focus is on getting active and having some fun.
The sessions are open to all junior members aged 14 to 19. They will take place on Monday evenings at 7pm in the Grove Playing Fields and will last for one hour. The first session is on Monday 26 April.
The coach for these sessions will be Thomas O’Callaghan, who is a qualified outdoor fitness instructor. A club coach will be present to help.
Remember that to take part in any club organised event, members must have completed the online registration form for this season. Before taking part in the activity and on the day of the activity members must complete the health screening questionnaire.
Juniors – introduction to open water swimming
The club are currently organising an introduction to open water swimming course for junior members. We’re hoping that it will be a great introduction to swimming outdoors and lead to more members taking part in open water swimming events across the summer months.
The course will include sessions on safety, open water swimming and some fun activities like Stand-Up Paddle boarding and a trip to Let’s Go Hyrdro. It will take place in July / August and will involve a number of venues including Leg’s Go Hyrdo and Camlough Lake.
We are still finalizing details but if you’re interested, contact Joe, Ronan or email cuchulainn.waterpolo@gmail.com