Talent pool!

SPLASH HITS: Crompton House national water polo champions Isabel Larder (left), Katie Smith, Lucy Thomas, Rachel Milligan, Anna Lord, Emily Kay, Roisin Campbell-O'Donnell, Piers Hannibal and Niamh Campbell-O'Donnell.

CROMPTON House girls have become the school’s first national water polo champions.

Team members were crowned Northern under-16 champions when they beat Leigh St Mary’s, Manchester High School for Girls and Kesteven and Grantham at Wigan.

And the girls, pupils from years eight to 11, took their triumphs to a national scale when they travelled to Oundle in Northamptonshire to beat Aleyn’s School, Dulwich; Bedford Girls School, and Kesteven and Grantham for the second time.

Six of the Crompton House girls play for the City of Manchester and Royton water polo teams, while the remaining three are accomplished swimmers.

In the build-up, the school arranged training sessions with ex-GB player and Royton coach Pete Darlington as well as Ella Chadderton, a Great Britain senior women’s player and coach of City of Manchester Water Polo Club.

The team’s success has delighted Crompton House, whose deputy head Jim Upton said: “I am so pleased for the girls. I was delighted when they asked if they could form a school water polo team. They organised themselves brilliantly, and Crompton House was delighted to support them.

“They arranged for coaching so they could learn to play as a team. The PTFA also supported them by providing the funding for transport to Oundle.

“It was a very tough day for the girls: in the evening they took part in the Oldham Schools’ Swimming Gala, where each year-group from seven to 11 won.”

Team captain Anna Lord (Year 11) said: “When we realised we had so many girls playing water polo, I thought it would be great to see how far we could go in the English Schools’ Swimming Association Water Polo Championships. I thought we could do well, but to be national champions is fantastic.