Ella’s going flat out to make a splash

HAVING A BALL . . . Ella Chadderton is dedicated to her sport.

Water polo star is a regular for GB team
LOCAL teenager Ella Chadderton is training hard with the Great Britain women’s water polo squad ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London.

Ella, aged 18, from Royton, began playing water polo ten years ago at her local pool, where she was already a keen swimmer.

She feels that “Oldham is very good for introducing new players to the sport” as it has many clubs where youngsters can get involved from an early age.

Ella has already represented Great Britain numerous times in major international competitions at both junior and senior level.

In the 2008 Junior European Championships in Hungary, she was the highest-scoring player for the GB team.

She then played for her country in the 2010 Championships in Ukraine, where the team’s seventh place finish saw them achieve their highest-ever position.

From October to December 2010, Ella took to the pool for Great Britain yet again, travelling to Hungary every fortnight to play in the top division of the National League and she helped the team to fifth place overall.

However Ella, who attended Oldham Sixth Form College, had to juggle playing water polo with her studies.

“It was a struggle to balance everything and get enough rest time and training,” she admitted.

Ella is now training in Manchester with the GB women’s water polo squad of 20 in preparation for the Olympics in London next summer.

Her tough training routine includes up to four hours a day in the pool four days a week, working on ball skills, shooting, drills and practice matches.

Dedicated Ella said: “I give 100 per cent every session in every drill.”

The GB team of 13 and two reserves for the Olympics will be announced next year.