Polo star Emma comes of age

JOSEPH O’REGAN and Ella Chadderton

A ROYTON schoolgirl will be making a splash in a major tournament after being chosen to play water polo for Great Britain.

Ella Chadderton (15) is the youngest player in the 13-strong Great Britain Under-17 girls’ squad for the European Championships in Hungary.

The North Chadderton School pupil now faces a gruelling schedule to prepare for the tournament.

She recently left for Grantham for a training camp, and then will fly to Greece for a week before training in Manchester and then taking part in the competition in August.

Ella has been playing water polo for three years since getting involved through Royton Swimming Club, and she plays for Royton Water Polo team and the City of Manchester.

She said: “It was strange at first, as when they announced the team it was just silence.

“I did not think I had got in and then it was the shock of it.

“I’m really excited about going away as I have never been to Hungary so it will be a new experience.”

And the sport is a great way of relieving frustrations. Ella says she likes it as: “I like being physical and you can vent your anger without getting into trouble.”

Her father, Karl, said: “She’s playing two years over her age and is the youngest in the team.

“She will have to have three weeks off school but they have been excellent in their support of her.”

Ella is only the latest talent from Royton to impress selectors as 17-year-old Joseph O’Regan has played for the Great Britain Under-17 boys’ team which, unfortunately, failed to qualify for the European tournament.