Matt Helps was so convinced he would not win the Epsom & Ewell young sports personality of the year, he and his family sat at the back of the auditorium to watch the other winners accept their prizes.
However, when the 14-year-old’s name was read out, it was Helps who was being watched as he made the long walk to the stage.
The accolade marks a big year in the life of the water polo star, a year that culminated in the Epsom-based teenager getting into the Croydon Amphibians senior team as they vie for a place in the sport’s top national league.
That is not to say that Helps, who attends Glyn School in Ewell, has been thrown in at the deep end – for he has captained sides at regional and county level, and he is currently training for a place in the GB squad ahead of the 2015 European Championships.
“I played my first game for the U12s when I was seven, and when I scored, I was hooked,” Helps said.
“I improved my swimming by joining Epsom District Swimming Club, and then joined Amphibians because they had such a great junior set-up.
Frenetic: Waterpolo needs strength, skill and, most importantly, good vision
“I spent last season at Whitgiftians in the National League to get experience, but now I have been lucky enough to get my chance in the senior side at Amphibians.”
Unfortunately, the Amphibians’ chances of reaching Division One of the British Waterpolo League were dealt a blow in the first round of play-off games last weekend with a double defeat – it means they must win their remaining four games to have any chance.
Helps, pictured below right, collected his Epsom & Ewell award at a glitzy ceremony two weeks ago, and its significance is still to sink in.
“My first reaction was shock. I was obviously pleased and proud to be nominated, but I didn’t think I had a chance, not with two other such good quality candidates from higher profile individual sports nominated,” he said.
“Coming from a minority team sport I thought I would not have a chance, so we sat at the back to watch all the people go up.
“But all that did was make my walk up to the stage a long one.”
Great Britain’s water polo team struggled at London 2012, managing to lose every one of their five group games, but Helps still looks up to the stars of the show in Matt Holland and Sean King.
However, as a Chelsea fan, he also hero-worships Frank Lampard – and Helps can see a similarity between football and water polo.
He said: “With both sports, vision is key. Good swimming ability is important, but again like football the fastest runners don’t necessarily make the best footballers and obviously your ball handling determines your potential.”
It is easy to forget that Helps in still in the midst of the serious business of his school-work, but he is getting the balance just right - although one still gets in the way of the other.
"I do water polo training three days a week with the regional beacon programme, swim with Epsom District Swimming Club three days a weeks and land training twice a week.
"When it is National League weekend or GB training weekends, I’ll be away playing water polo.
"I also help coach Saturdays when I can. It is hard to keep a balance but at the moment both seem fine although school work gets in the way."
Croydon Amphibians are back in action in the Division One play-offs on November 23.
Helps has also been nominated for the Surrey Freedom Leisure young sports personality of the year, and results will announced at another glittery occasion for sport in December.
Winner: The Epsom & Ewell young sports personality of the year 2013 - Matt Helps
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