Underwater hockey in Great Britain

Underwater hockey in Great Britain was first played in Southsea, Hampshire where it was invented in 1954.[1] It is governed nationally by the British Octopush Association.

An underwater hockey match during the British student nationals in Bangor, 2009.

History

Underwater hockey was started in by Alan Blake in 1954. Blake was a founder-member of the then newly formed Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, he and other divers including John Ventham, Jack Willis, and Frank Lilleker first played this game in the Guildhall Baths in Portsmouth.[1][2] CMAS (the world governing body for underwater hockey) however, still states on its website that the sport originated with the Royal Navy in the same time period.

The first rules were tested in a 1954 two-on-two game and Alan Blake made the following announcement in the November 1954 issue of the British Sub-Aqua Club's then-official magazine Neptune: "Our indoor training programme is getting under way, including wet activities other than in baths, and our new underwater game "Octopush". Of which more later when we have worked out the details".[3]

The first underwater hockey competition was a three-way tournament between teams from Southsea, Bournemouth and Brighton underwater hockey clubs in early 1955. Southsea won, and are still highly ranked at national level today winning 20 out of 52 national championships, which have been played annually since 1969.[4]

Today there are 70 clubs registered with the British Octopush Association (68 British and 2 Irish).[5]

Organisation

Underwater hockey is govererned nationally in Great Britain by the British Octopush Association (BOA) and has been since 1976. They were recognised as the official governing body for the sport a year later by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), governing body for all sub-aqua sport in the United Kingdom, who also still govern the sport but to a limited extended. In 2013 the BOA affiliated itself to BSAC. The BOA runs the Great Britain national team at all levels and is responsible for major national competitions.[6][7]

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Scotland and Wales have their own governing bodies for underwater hockey that work with the BOA, Scottish Underwater Hockey and Underwater Hockey Wales respectively. These organise regional competitions for the respective home nations and also run national teams. However the use of the Scottish and Welsh national teams is limited with the Great Britain side being favoured for the majority of competitions.[8][9][10][11]

Underwater hockey in Ireland operates as part of an all-Ireland basis. Therefore, the control in Northern Ireland is that of Comhairle Fo-Thuinn not the BOA.[12]

Together with Ireland's Comhairle Fo-Thuinn, Scottish Underwater Hockey and Underwater Hockey Wales organise the Cetic Cup for national teams of the three nations. The tournament began in 2022.

Celtic Cup results

Year	Venue	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	Ref.
2022	Haverfordwest	Scotland A	Wales A	Ireland B	Ireland A	Wales B	Scotland B	[13]
2023	Kirkwall	Reformatted due to lack of competitors: Orkney (rep. Scotland) vs Limerick (rep. Ireland)						[14]

Demographics

Of the 68 British clubs associated with the BOA, 56 are English, 8 are Scottish, and 4 are Welsh. 10 of the 68 clubs are student clubs, these clubs are associated with the universities of Aberdeen, Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Liverpool, Oxford, Sterling, Plymouth, York, and Warwick. In addition, the BOA had three associated Irish clubs.[5]

National competitions

The BOA operates all major underwater hockey competitions in the UK including National Championships, Nautilus National League, Ladies National Championships, Junior National Championships, and Student Nationals.[15][16][17] Other minor underwater hockey competitions also run in the UK, both operated and operated independently of the BOA.

In the UK, the major of club competitions are mixed-sex.

All competitions are currently held at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds unless otherwise stated.

National Championship

The national championships are a multi round tournament beginning with qualifiers after new year and the finals in late spring or early summer. The winners of the BOA national championships are:[18][19]

2020s	2010s	2000s	1990s	1980s	1970s	1960s
2023 Southsea 2022 Southsea 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 Southsea 2018 Southsea 2017 Southsea 2016 Southsea 2015 Southsea 2014 Southsea 2013 Southport 2012 Southsea 2011 Southport 2010 Southport	2009 Southsea 2008 Southport 2007 Southport 2006 Team Ealing 2005 Southport 2004 Southport 2003 Southport 2002 Reading 2001 Reading 2000 Reading	1999 Reading 1998 West Wickham 1997 Southsea 1996 Southsea 1995 The Club 1994 Leeds 1993 Southsea 1992 Southsea 1991 Harlow 1990 Harlow	1989 Harlow 1988 Harlow 1987 Harlow 1986 Harlow 1985 West Wickham 1984 West Wickham 1983 Harlow 1982 Harlow 1981 Harlow 1980 Harlow	1979 Harlow 1978 Harlow 1977 Harlow 1976 Southsea 1975 Southsea 1974 Aquatic Club 1973 Southsea 1972 Southsea 1971 Southsea 1970 Southsea	1969 Southsea

Nautilus Competition

The Nautilus competition is an annual national mini-league tournament held in the autumn. Its current venue is Ponds Forge in Sheffield. Winners are:[20][19]

2020s	2010s	2000s	1990s	1980s
2023 Southsea 2022 Southsea 2021 Southsea 2020 Cancelled	2019 Southsea 2018 Southsea 2017 Southsea 2016 Southsea 2015 Southsea 2014 Southport 2013 Southsea 2012 Southsea 2011 Southsea 2010 Southport	2009 Southport 2008 Southsea 2007 Southsea 2006 Southport 2005 Southsea 2004 Southport 2003 Southport 2002 Reading 2001 Southport 2000 Reading	1999 Slough 1998 Reading 1997 Reading 1996 Southsea 1995 Leeds 1994 The Club 1993 West Wickham 1992 Southsea 1991 Southsea 1990 Harlow	1989 Northampton 1988 Harlow 1987 Harlow 1986 Harlow

Ladies Championship

The winners of the ladies only national championship are:[21][19]

2020s	2010s	2000s	1990s	1980s
2023 London Ladies 2022 London Ladies 2021 Cancelled 2020 London Ladies	2019 South West Ladies 2018 London Ladies 2017 London Ladies 2016 London Ladies 2015 Yorkshire Ladies 2014 London Ladies 2013 South West Ladies 2012 South West Ladies 2011 North West Ladies 2010 South West Ladies	2009 North West Ladies 2008 South West Ladies 2007 South West Ladies 2006 South West Ladies 2005 South West Ladies 2004 South West Ladies 2003 South West Ladies 2002 South West Ladies 2001 Wahine Warriors 2000 Spectrum Angels	1999 Cheltenham and Bristol 1998 Spectrum Angels 1997 Yorkshire Ladies 1996 Spectrum Angels 1995 Yorkshire Ladies 1994 Yorkshire Ladies 1993 Yorkshire Ladies 1992 Yorkshire Ladies 1991 Yorkshire Ladies 1990 Yorkshire Ladies	1989 Yorkshire Ladies 1988 Yorkshire Ladies 1987 Yorkshire Ladies 1986 Yorkshire Ladies 1985 London Ladies 1984 S.E.W.O.C.

Veterans Championship

In 2018, the BOA launched the veterans championship for player over 50, winners of the competition are:[19]

2020s	2010s
2022 Auld Alliance 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 Southern 2018 South East

Student Nationals

British underwater hockey student national were formalised as a BOA event for the first time in 2020. Previous events were informally organised by participating universities, with one university hosting.[22][19] The first formal BOA student nationals was to be held at the The Alan Higgs Centre in Coventry. Subsequent events have been held at John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds. Winning universities are:[lower-alpha 1]

2020s	2010s	2000s
2023 West Yorkshire representative 2022 University of Plymouth 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 Aberystwyth University 2018 Aberystwyth University 2017 University of Plymouth 2016 University of Plymouth 2015 University of Plymouth 2014 University of Plymouth 2013 University of Plymouth 2012 Bandits 2011 Unknown 2010 Unknown	2009 Unknown 2008 Unknown 2007 Unknown 2006 Unknown

Junior Nationals

Junior nations is currently split into five age categories, the top category has varied through history and is currently an U-21s competition. Winners of the competitions are:[19]

U-21s

2020s	2010s
2023 Northern Lights (U-21) 2022 South West (U-19) 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 South West (U-19) 2018 North (U-18)

U-16s

2020s	2010s
2023 North 2022 Batley 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 Batley 2018 South West

U-14s

2020s	2010s
2023 South West 2022 South West 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 South West 2018 South West

U-12s

2020s	2010s
2023 South West 2022 Pembroke 2021 Cancelled 2020 Cancelled	2019 Pembroke 2018 South West

U-10s

2020s
2023 South West

National team

The BOA currently operate elite, masters, under 24s, and under 19s teams for both the men's and women's Great Britain squads.[24] Training camps are usually held across one weekend in odd numbered months.[25]

Medal table

Underwater Hockey World Championships

[lower-alpha 2]	Men's Elite		Women's Elite		Men's Masters		Women's Masters		Men's U-24		Women's U-24		Men's U-19		Women's U-19		T
		0	2009, 2011	2		0		0		0		0	2002	1		0	3
	1980, 1990	2	2013, 2018	2	1994, 1998, 2016	3	2006	1		0		0	2004, 2006	2	2004, 2006	2	12
	1984, 2016, 2023	3	1994	1	1996, 1998, 2002	3		0	2019	1	2015	1	2017, 2019	2		0	11
T	5		5		6		1		1		1		5		2		26

Underwater Hockey European Championships

[lower-alpha 3]	Men's Elite		Women's Elite		T
	1985	1	1985, 1995, 2008, 2010	4	5
	2008, 2017	2	1993, 2019	2	4
	1999, 2019	2	1997, 1999, 2001, 2017	4	6
T	5		10		15

Tournaments hosted

Event	Location
1985 European Championships	Crystal Palace Aquatics Centre, London
1993 European Championships	Ponds Forge, Sheffield
2006 World Championships
2019 Junior World Championships

Notes

Reference for 2012 to 2019:[23]
References: For Pre-2015:[26]
References: For 1885:[27]
For 1993-2001 (women):[28]
For 1999:[29]
For 2008:[30]

References

Blake, A. "Octopush: An original name invented on the same night as Octopush an original sport was invented". Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
"First Underwater Swimming Gala". Portsmouth Evening News. 1955-03-15. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
"Round the Branches: It's Back to the Baths", Neptune Vol. 1 No. 3, November 1954. p. 10.
"The British Octopush Association - History". Gbuwh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
"Find a Club | the British Octopush Association".
Underwood, Cliff. "How the BOA was formed". British Octopush Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
"Which sports do we recognise?". Sport England. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
"Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs". Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs website. Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs. 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
"Octopush, Welcome to Underwater Hockey and WASAC". Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs website. Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs. 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
"NGB websites:About us:Sport Wales-Chwaraeon Cymru". Sport Wales -Chwaraeon Cymru website. Sport Wales. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
"HTC UHW". Hoci Tanddwr Cymreig Underwater Hockey Wales website. Hoci Tanddwr Cymreig Underwater Hockey Wales. 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
"Underwater Hockey Ireland".
"Underwater Hockey Wales on Instagram: "Some photos from yesterday's inaugural Celtic Cup where we had both our a and B teams competing. We would like to thank our sponsors of Milford Haven Port Authority, @parfittscarpets, Bentfish Design and @merrows.shop for supporting us in hosting yesterday's Celtic Cup tournament. See you next year!@underwaterhockeyireland @scottishuwh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #underwaterhockey #octopush #celticnations #walessport"".
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=818945910239046&id=100063709321638
"Competitions". British Octopush Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
"Welsh & Scottish Championships". British Octopush Association. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
Underwood, Cliff. "UK OCTOPUSH COMPETITIONS". underwaterhockey-archive.com/. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
"National Club Championships | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
"Competition Results | the British Octopush Association".
"Nautilus | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
"Ladies National Club Championships | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
"Competitions Info | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
https://mobile.twitter.com/aberuwh
"Team GB | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
"Events | the British Octopush Association".
"World Championship Results". 19 April 2012.
"Octopush". The Observer. 1985-06-23. p. 39. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
"Team Member is Selected for World Championships in Underwater Hockey".
"Tournament Schedule and Results".
"GB Ladies Golden Glory (Bulletin 145) | the British Octopush Association".

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[24] Reference for 2012 to 2019:[23]

[28] References: For Pre-2015:[26]

[33] References: For 1885:[27]
For 1993-2001 (women):[28]
For 1999:[29]
For 2008:[30]

[Blake,_A-1] Blake, A. "Octopush: An original name invented on the same night as Octopush an original sport was invented". Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2020-10-16.

[2] "First Underwater Swimming Gala". Portsmouth Evening News. 1955-03-15. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-10-26.

[3] "Round the Branches: It's Back to the Baths", Neptune Vol. 1 No. 3, November 1954. p. 10.

[4] "The British Octopush Association - History". Gbuwh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-16.

[clubs-5] "Find a Club | the British Octopush Association".

[6] Underwood, Cliff. "How the BOA was formed". British Octopush Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

[7] "Which sports do we recognise?". Sport England. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

[Tanddwr_1-8] "Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs". Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs website. Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs. 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.

[Tanddwr_2-9] "Octopush, Welcome to Underwater Hockey and WASAC". Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs website. Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs. 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2017.

[CC_1-10] "NGB websites:About us:Sport Wales-Chwaraeon Cymru". Sport Wales -Chwaraeon Cymru website. Sport Wales. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2011.

[Tanddwr_3-11] "HTC UHW". Hoci Tanddwr Cymreig Underwater Hockey Wales website. Hoci Tanddwr Cymreig Underwater Hockey Wales. 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-20.

[12] "Underwater Hockey Ireland".

[13] "Underwater Hockey Wales on Instagram: "Some photos from yesterday's inaugural Celtic Cup where we had both our a and B teams competing. We would like to thank our sponsors of Milford Haven Port Authority, @parfittscarpets, Bentfish Design and @merrows.shop for supporting us in hosting yesterday's Celtic Cup tournament. See you next year!@underwaterhockeyireland @scottishuwh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #underwaterhockey #octopush #celticnations #walessport"".

[14] ttps://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=818945910239046&id=100063709321638

[Competitions-15] "Competitions". British Octopush Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

[16] "Welsh & Scottish Championships". British Octopush Association. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

[17] Underwood, Cliff. "UK OCTOPUSH COMPETITIONS". underwaterhockey-archive.com/. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

[18] "National Club Championships | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.

[compresults-19] "Competition Results | the British Octopush Association".

[20] "Nautilus | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.

[21] "Ladies National Club Championships | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-12.

[22] "Competitions Info | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.

[23] ttps://mobile.twitter.com/aberuwh

[25] "Team GB | the British Octopush Association". Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2022-01-11.

[26] "Events | the British Octopush Association".

[27] "World Championship Results". 19 April 2012.

[29] "Octopush". The Observer. 1985-06-23. p. 39. Retrieved 2022-07-23.

[30] "Team Member is Selected for World Championships in Underwater Hockey".

[31] "Tournament Schedule and Results".

[32] "GB Ladies Golden Glory (Bulletin 145) | the British Octopush Association".