Wallington water polo player Mhairi Nurthen captained the Kent Invicta U15 girls team to victory at the British Gas ASA water polo championships in Manchester last weekend. ( 24th March ) The Kent Invicta club draws players from the Kent and surrounding areas. In a competition traditionally dominated by clubs in the North West the Kent Invicta team were the only girl team from the South.The team gained the national champions title after decisive wins against Manchester ( 15-2 ),Tyldesley ( 6-4 ) and Liverpool ( 8-2). Mhairi and her team mates were presented with their gold medals by GB player Lisa Gibson and the ASA president Ray Gordon.

Mhairi is part of the Water Polo Elite Beacon programme based at Crystal Palace coached by Nick Buller. After selection for the England Talent Programme last Sept Mhairi trains on a regular basis in Cardiff with the national coaches and is supported by Sutton Sports Council. Mhairi plays for Croydon Amphibians, Sutton and Cheam Ladies as well as London Otters in the British Water Polo League.

" I still can't believe that we are national champions. Everyone in the team played so well. I am excited about going to see the GB women's team play in the Olympic test event in May and the Invicta girls winning the nationals is the icing on the cake ." she said.

Based on information supplied by Daryl Nurthen.