For Sheffield Stingrays, this year was special. We finished fourth in 2000. It was important for my team to improve on the position, behind Guildford, Orkney and especially Dawlish. The tension and competativeness was palpable in the Under-18 tournament in November. The competition at this level has improved every year, but we had (more or less) the same team as last year and the girls had all benfitted from GB squad training. (Other teams have too, including Dawlish).

This is two of the Sheffield team last year at a tournament in Bristol just before the 2000 under-16's. In the background we see Sheffield's arch rivals Dawlish. Most of the same players from both teams did battle again this year.

And this is the full A-team from 2000, at Crystal Palace.
This year a last minute hitch (double booking at Crystal Palace) saw a change of venue to the new University pool at Bath.

Still an early start for the Northern and Scottish teams that make up a large proportion of the teams at this level. Sheffield Stingrays being NOT sleepy, honest, at six o'clock Saturday morning. Some were more affected by the early start than other:

"Honest its the flash that makes us look like this not the fact that 6am just shouldn't exist."
A stop for breakfast livens us up a little but soon its back on the bus for the final leg to Bath. Once off the bus there are a number of interesting activities that everyone want to do, ranging from eating to making phone calls:

Excitement mounts as we locate the entrance to the pool and there's a a sighting of an unusual and violent creature. This Yeti is a long way from Tibet! And what is he doing with that poor girl?

Since we are a bit early it takes a little while before we experience the true splendour of this new pool. Its an odd shape though! 50m long but only 18m wide. The three pitches end up being almost square. Nevertheless the poolside environment is clean, new and generally more commodious than the decaying Crystal Palace. The pool bottom is perhaps not quite as good as smooth tiles.

Competition got underway eventually and the inevitable round of frantic preparation and tedious waiting ensued. The competition was fierce.
The Sheffield Stingray 'B' team, all under-13, did not really expect to beat any of the teams at the under-16 Championship but they started well and won their first match. They were to beat another team later finishing third from bottom.
The 'A' team also won their first match easily. They were soon discomforted by a blistering performance from another old rival, Barnsley Metrodome. Sheffield beat Metrodome in a friendly just a couple of weeks before but now they were on the run. Going two-nil down and looking in danger of going out of the running early on. A last minute fight back tied that match at 4-4.

Referring at tournaments is always a problem, so Ashton brought along a clone of the National referee Neil Dixon. You can see them together in this unique picture. Neil is the one talking to Orkney coach Alistair Skene on the left, I think.

Match followed match, as it does on these occasions. Eventually everyone was just waiting for Kevin to catch up with the complicated maths to put all the teams into their final order. With sixteen teams in three pitches that is no mean feat.

All eyeing the trophy, but trying to look as if they aren't; by this time though most of us knew who's it was, again!

The day, though, had some surprises:

1. First Match.What a fixture! Guildford drew with Dawlish.
2. Ashton Alligators. These are a new team this season in the Yorkshire League and started the season at a level where the Sheffield 'B' team could 'paste' them comfortably. They made it into the top division finishing 8th overall and getting a few teams worried. They rightly took the trophy for the most promising team.
3. Leeds. Another new team in the Yorkshire League. Beat Metrodome and were perhaps disappointed not to be recognised as 'the most promising team'. But with the coaching skills of the Leeds Beavers team and the age of the team (mostly 16 this year) the promise is for the under-18 age group next year.
4. Sheffield Stingray 'A'. Nobody got sent out!!
5. Let me know of your surprises and I'll add them to the list.

The presentation gets under way. And third in is Sheffield 'B' team. remember they are all in the under-13 age group this year and three of the seven had never played in a proper match before much less a National Tournament. Young Alex here though, the captain, is a bit more experienced. He's been around for a couple of years already.

And Finally the Winners:

GUILDFORD GREMLINS

Well Done Again

I must just say though that the guy with the trophy started his career with Sheffield. A long time ago, yes, but I still like to think he's one of mine.

Well what about Sheffield Stingrays 'A'? They finished fourth again. The top four were the order same as last year. If nothing else it shows just how competative this age group is getting. Everyone is chasing Guildford and Orkney and we are all getting very close. In the top group there was little to choose between the eight teams, and lots of close, hard fought matches.

Top Group	Bottom Group
Guildford Orkney Vikings Dawlish Sheffield Stingrays Leeds Batley Metrodome Barracudas Ashton Alligators	Orkney Skullsplitters Inverness Titans Pembroke Dragons Norfolk Pikes Tarot Sheffield Stingrays 'B' Orkney Hopefuls Plymouth Pirates