Mini Polo & deep-water development
Strong swimming, passing, movement, game awareness and the confidence to contribute to a team.
Discover Mini Polo ↗DRENCHED COMPETITION WATER POLO
Train hard.
Play fearless.
Go further.
From early Mini Polo to an ambitious competition squad. We develop stronger swimmers, smarter players, better teammates and young people ready to take on opportunities across Sussex, Britain and beyond.
MORE THAN MATCH RESULTS
Serious about sport.
Even more serious about people.
Competition is a chance to test ourselves, not the only measure of progress. Training builds persistence, decision-making, friendships and belief.
Competition squad
Higher-intensity swimming and water polo training. Players learn tactical roles, defending, shooting, resilience and consistent teamwork.
Training timetable ↗Clubs, Sussex and beyond
Players can progress into club competition, Sussex Academy development and appropriate county, regional, national or international representative pathways.
Explore progression ↗THE WORLD IS OUR CLASSROOM
Big stages.
Bigger experiences.
Representing our team abroad has always meant more than an overseas tournament. Travelling together, playing unfamiliar opponents and learning from different water polo cultures can change the way a young athlete sees the sport — and themselves.
THE DREAM BEGAN EARLY
2020: an international first that had to wait.
In January 2020, Swim England reported Drenched's plans to become the first English team at HaBaWaBa International, with a 15-player squad. The 2020 festival was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and our players did not travel. The ambition survived — and international experiences followed in later years.
Read Swim England's original announcement ↗
2024 / BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Training and playing in a water polo capital.
In summer 2024, Drenched travelled to Budapest to train and play — an experience supported by local sponsor GWCA Solicitors. Hungary's extraordinary water polo culture offered the squad a chance to see the game in a new environment and share the adventure as a team.
It was an overseas training and playing trip, not a HaBaWaBa appearance. We're keeping results and individual player claims off this page unless we can verify them.
Budapest trip: sponsor record ↗2025 / TARRAGONA, SPAIN
HaBaWaBa Spain. Wearing the colours with pride.
Our under-12 Competition Squad represented Great Britain at HaBaWaBa Spain 2025. The group prepared with five to eight hours of weekly training and faced international opposition, experiencing the intensity, sportsmanship and friendships that make the festival special.
Drenched were reported as the only British team at the event, recording three wins across their entries. A defining moment for players who started with a first pass in Sussex.
Read the 2025 team report ↗
2026 / LIGNANO SABBIADORO, ITALY
HaBaWaBa International Plus.
The Drenched/Aquatic Competition Squad travelled to HaBaWaBa International Plus in Italy, progressing into the Silver level of the tournament, with only the Gold competition above it. Players faced teams from leading water polo nations including Italy and Hungary, learning from every match and proudly representing Sussex.
The official 2026 participating-team list includes Drenched Water Polo in the U13 mixed competition.
See the official 2026 teams ↗THE SUSSEX PATHWAY
A stepping stone
to the next level.
Drenched is designed to open doors rather than keep players in one place. Our Development Zone, Competition Squad and Sussex Academy links help young people prepare for more demanding water polo and understand how to progress into established clubs, county and regional opportunities, national talent pathways and, for some, international representation.
Sussex Academy is a development pathway and training identity — not an extra Splashpoint session in the current published weekly timetable. We direct families to the appropriate current group and representative opportunities according to age, confidence, commitment and ability.
Our pathway is already producing international representatives. Former Drenched players Elsie Graves and Amelia Cook have gone on to compete for Great Britain at European Championships, while other young players continue working towards the next level. Meet our international alumni ↓
See current weekly training ↗1Mini Polo & swimming foundation
2Deep-water Development Zone
3Competition Squad & Sussex Academy opportunities
4Club, county, regional & national pathways
5International experience and representation
WHAT IT TAKES
Better swimmers.
Smarter competitors.
Our competition ethos combines consistent swimming fitness, technical water polo, tactical understanding, and the ability to listen, lead and bounce back. We want committed athletes who can also enjoy training and support each other.
Swimming enduranceTeam tacticsPassing & shootingGoalkeepingResilienceRespect
Progression is discussed with families individually. Playing at HaBaWaBa, travelling abroad or taking part in representative programmes depends on the relevant age, squad selection, readiness and event availability.
DRENCHED ALUMNI / GREAT BRITAIN REPRESENTATION
From first passes
to Great Britain.
We love seeing young players grow beyond Drenched. Their progress belongs to the athletes, their families and the many coaches and clubs who have supported them along the way.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS / PORTUGAL 2026Two former Drenched players.
Two former Drenched players.
One Great Britain team.
Elsie Graves and Amelia Cook both began their water polo journeys aged just eight in our Mini Polo programme at Wadurs, Shoreham-by-Sea. When the Wadurs programme was forced to close during the pandemic, they kept going with Drenched at Windlesham House School. Years of persistence, development and support from their families and coaches later, both represented Great Britain at the Women's U20 European Water Polo Championships in Oeiras, Portugal, in August 2026. GB reached the quarterfinals and finished eighth in Europe. Their journeys show why giving children a reason to stay in the pool matters.
GB U20TOP 8Europe • 2026
EG
GREAT BRITAIN • WATER POLOElsie Graves
Elsie started with Drenched Mini Polo at Wadurs in Shoreham aged eight and continued training with the programme at Windlesham after the pandemic closure. She went on to represent Great Britain at the 2025 U18 European Championships in Malta and the 2026 U20 European Championships in Portugal. She scored throughout the 2026 competition, including six goals against Czechia and two in the decisive win over France that secured GB's top-eight finish.
2025 Great Britain U18 squad ↗AC
GREAT BRITAIN • GOALKEEPERAmelia Cook
Amelia also joined Drenched Mini Polo aged eight at Wadurs in Shoreham and stayed with the programme at Windlesham when the original venue closed during the pandemic. She progressed into Great Britain's U20 team for the 2026 European Championships in Portugal. In the dramatic 13–12 victory over France, the tournament report highlighted important saves by the goalkeeper as GB secured its place in the European top eight.
2026 European Championship report ↗THE NEXT GENERATION
Explore our pathway ↗More young players are working towards the next level.
International selection is a long journey built through regular training, representative opportunities and collaboration with other clubs. We are proud of those progressing through the pathway, including players close to higher-level opportunities, without suggesting anyone has been selected before official confirmation.
Sources: Water Polo England 2026 results · 2025 U18 team · Aquatic 2012 CIC report.
THE PATHWAY KEEPS GROWING
What comes
next?
New opportunities are considered each season, including national and international junior tournaments. Eligibility, dates, costs and team selection are confirmed separately.
Visit our Drenched Facebook archive for more team moments ↗
Photography on this page is from existing Drenched website media. Archive images are illustrative of our water polo programme and are not represented as photographs of specific Budapest, Spain or Italy matches. If authorised Facebook trip photographs become available, they can replace these placeholders.
Your first pass could
take you anywhere.
Whether your child is exploring the sport or ready for a serious training commitment, start a conversation with our coaches.
Ask about competition water polo ↗