Name: Rebecca Marshall Benson

Age: 19

Position: Centre-Forward

I first took an interest in sport at a young age, especially in swimming. I competed for Lancaster and my region at the age of 9 and then went on to compete at nationals. It was at Lancaster that I first got involved in Junior Water Polo and I discovered my love of the game.

I joined Liverpool where Gordon Dacre took me under his wing!! He gave me the opportunity to perform at the English schools championships and provided me with the necessary skills to be selected for the GB youth squad. After playing for the youth squad for 2 years I moved to Manchester to train at the high performance centre where I train 20+ hours a week. The rest of my spare time is spent working at the ski slope ‘Chill Factore’ and raising beautiful 1 year old son Oliver and I plan to go to University at Manchester Metropolitan in September.

Name: Vicky Bowen

Age: 19

Position: Centre Forward

My long-term ambition is to play at the 2012 Olympics and my short-term goal is to get into the squad for the 2009 European B’s in Manchester. To achieve these goals I have become a full-time athlete at the Manchester high performance centre where I train over 20 hours every week. I moved to Manchester in September 2008 from the junior high performance centre in Grantham where I was coached by Jim Caulfield.

            I was 14 when I started playing Water Polo, since then some of my best performances have been at the 2007 and 2008 junior Europeans in Crete and the 2007 senior European B’s in Prague. I also play for Sheffield Water Polo club in national league, British Championships and the L.E.N European trophy.

Name:   Fran Clayton

I have been brought up eating and sleeping water polo, my mum was GB captain and my dad, coach, referee and club chairman. I started playing water polo after joining Bedale Swimming club (aged 7), where my mum set up a polo section at Bedale and shortly afterwards a water polo club at Catterick.  I played in club, schools, county and district teams before joining Harrogate in 2000 to play National league. I did a lot of gymnastics when I was at school and was Yorkshire Women's Artistic Champion and I am also a qualified coach and judge.Since moving to the High Performance Centre in Manchester I now play for Liverpool, I have competed twice in the LEN trophy and won my first national championship with them in 2008.

I am the youngest ever goal scorer in the Women’s National League (aged 11), in 2006 and 2007 I was top goal scorer in division one, in 2008 I was  top goal scorer at a Junior International Tournament in Portugal. I was selected for the GB under 19 squad when I was 14 and have played for the senior GB team since I was 16, I have over 50 junior and senior international caps so far. My ambitions are to play Professional, World League & Olympic Water polo.

Name: Rachel Anne Drabble

Age: 19

Position: Left Wing

My water polo ambitions are to play in the European B's later this year and to compete at the 2012 Olympics. I have spent the last 9 years training towards my ambitions and I aim to work even harder to achieve them!  

I began at Doncaster Polo club aged 10 because I saw my sister play a match and thought the game looked really fast and lots of fun. I am currently a member of the senior squad, and captain of the junior team, which I think is a great honour. I am searching for a part-time job to fit around my training and I am proud to be a member of the City of Liverpool Water Polo A team that won Division 1 National League 2008/2009 and achieved the best results ever in Europe by a British team at the L.E.N trophy in Serbia in 2008.

Lisa Gibson

I was born in Chichester, West Sussex, but when I was 3 my Dad got a job in Oregon, USA so that is where I grew up.   I began playing polo when I was 12 with a local club team, Tualatin Hills.  My first coach was a lady called Sandy Nitta who has been a mentor to me over the years.  With Tualatin Hills I played in tournaments, all over the States, and several in British Columbia, Canada.

I was captain of my high school water polo team and we placed first in our league in 2006 and second in the State Tournament that year.  I was also captain of the swim team in 2005 and 2006. 

I graduated from Southridge high school in 2007 and spent a year at Hartwick College in New York where I was also a member of the water polo team.  I moved over to Manchester last summer so that I could train full time with the GB Team.  It has been a dream of mine since I can remember to play in the Olympics!  That’s why I made the move to train full time in Manchester. 

Some of my favorite memories in water polo would be playing in the two Junior Europeans in Greece.  Also being selected to play with the seniors in the European B’s in 2007. 

I have an older sister, Katie, who is in the US Navy.  My mum, Joanna, and dad, Preston, still live in Oregon and we have two cats Milky and Moggins. 

I started playing water polo at the age of 13, and at my first club-City of Coventry- I was lucky to be surrounded by some really committed and talented players. The club also gave me opportunities to compete in club competitions all around Europe, preparing me well for my first international tournament with the GB Junior Team in Pilsen, Czech Republic.  Since then, water polo has remained a strong influence in my life and I made the step into the Senior GB Team. Even when living in France for a year as part of my university studies, I played for ASPTT Nancy, with whom I went on to win the French national league. Having finished my degree I moved to Manchester to complete an MA and begin training at the High Performance Centre. The women’s squad has since gone from strength to strength and I’m immensely proud to be part of it.  The training that the athletes at the High Performance Centre receive has never been as complete and professional as it is now; with continued support I am sure that the GB squads will meet our objectives of performing well in London 2012.

Aine Hoy

Name: Victoria Charlotte Hawkins

Age: 23

Position: Wing/ Centre forward

I am currently working as a teaching assistant whilst completing a masters degree in education and also training as a full-time water polo player. I was 15 when I started playing polo at Radcliffe water polo club with Hayden Howard. I was selected for the GB junior squad in 2002 and the senior team in 2003. I played at junior tournaments including the junior European Championships in Holland and Italy. My first tournament for the seniors was in 2003 in France. I had a break from GB polo between 2005 and 2008 because I had a shoulder operation and I decided to concentrate on my degree in Journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University. I rejoined the GB senior team in 2008 and I am hoping to be selected for the 2009 European B’s in Manchester

Lindsay Johnston        

First senior international meet: European A qualifiers Hamburg 2008

My aspirations are: To play in the Olympics, to become successful in life.

Tip for the top: Keep at it

Music: Anything apart from hardcore rubbish

If I wasn’t a water polo player I would be: In another sport

Describe yourself in three words: Energetic, outgoing and giddy!!

Would most like to meet: Michael Phelps/ Usain Bolt

Most prized possession: My phone/car

Biggest influence on career: Parents and friends    

Name: Rebecca Kershaw

Age: 18

Position: Right Wing

I started playing Water Polo at Lancaster City Water Polo club when I was 14 years old.  I currently play for City of Manchester and I first represented GB in 2005 at a tournament in Holland. I love polo as we work hard, train hard and play even harder.  The atmosphere within the women’s squad is great; we support each other like one big family.  I am the Head Team Junior, which means that I get to boss all the other juniors around- great fun!  

Over the past three years I have competed in many tournaments but my most memorable tournament was the junior Europeans in Greece in Chania where we finished 7^th.  This was the best result that the GB juniors had achieved for many years. I am currently studying for a degree in Education and Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University and train at the High Performance Centre in Manchester.   My water polo ambitions include playing in the European Bs in Manchester, 2009 and eventually the 2012 Olympics!

Fran Leighton

Finest ever performance/Why: Commonwealth Bronze medal & winning u16 mixed club champions with Rotherham Metro

First senior international meet: 1999, European A qualification tournament Nice

My aspirations are: To make the 2012 Olympic team and play in World league

Tip for the top: Train hard and stay positive

Life after water polo: Hopefully still involved in Water Polo in some way

Music: Funky House music and a general mix

If I wasn’t a water polo player I would like to be a: Events organiser or a teacher

Describe yourself in three words: Positive, Driven and Fun

Would most like to meet: Kevin McCloud and Roger Federer

Most prized possession: My bed and the contents of my handbag!

Biggest influence on career: My family

Sporting Relations:  My brother, dad and sister have all been involved with the GB Water Polo programme

Name: Fiona McCann

Age: 21

Position: Centre Back

I have always played sport since I was very young. My main sport was swimming but I also played football, netball, hockey, basketball, tennis and I did rowing and running. I began playing Water Polo when I was 12 and it became my only sport. I was coached at City of Chester by Tony Rogers and Eddie Wild. I was asked to play for Liverpool by Gordon Dacre and with them I have won 2 national league titles, best player and top goal scorer in division 1 in the 2008 season. I have also competed in the L.E.N trophy with Liverpool 4 times.

I decided to move away from home at the age of 17 in the middle of my A Levels to train at the national performance centre and complete my A Levels in Manchester. This gave me the opportunity to play at the Commonwealths in Australia in 2006. I have been a part of the national high performance centre since it began in 2004 and as well as the Commonwealths I have competed at 2 European A qualifiers, European B’s and I have also competed in most countries in Europe and was given the chance to watch the 2008 Olympics as part of the Olympic Ambition programme.            

My short term aims are to win the 2009 European B’s in Manchester and to qualify for the European A’s and my long term aims are to compete at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Name: Alex Rutlidge

Age: 20

Position: Winger

I started polo when I was 11 at Lancaster because my dad played and I always used to watch. I trained and played for Lancaster at junior level coached by Ron Winn. I got into the GB youth squad when I went to Millfield in 2002 and then carried on into the junior squad where I represented GB at the junior Europeans in Portugal in 2005. My first senior trip was to Sweden on my 17^th birthday and I have been on many more since then. On completion of my A levels in 2007 I moved to Manchester to train at the high performance centre to be a full member of the senior squad and I study criminology and social policy at Manchester University. I also play for Manchester and we have been runners-up for the last two seasons of National League and British Champions in 2008.

Rosemary Morris
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 23

I started playing about age 16 at Solihull, and moved to Grantham Waterpolo Academy for my second year of A Levels. Within a month of being at Grantham, I went to a GB trial as an outfield player, and came away as a goalkeeper, in both the junior and senior squads!!  In 2004 I went to my first big competitions, the European Bs with the seniors, and to Bari for the junior Europeans. I went on to join City of Liverpool Water Polo Club, where I have enjoyed much success, both individually, gaining National League's Top Goalkeeper Award twice, and as a team winning two National League titles, and recently achieving Britain's most successful LEN Trophy results. 
I have now trained at the High Performance Centre in Manchester for 5 years, under the coaching of Szylveszter Fekete (ex. Hungarian goalkeeper), and am looking forward to competing at London 2012, with the hope of winning an Olympic medal!

Robyn Nicholls

Age:18

Position: Goalkeeper

I started playing water polo at Tyldesley swimming and water polo club when i was 12, where I was coached by Eric Harrison. Until the age of 16 I was involved in lots of sports including swimming, running, triathlon, hockey and badminton. My first selection for the GB junior team was in 2005. I joined the high performance centre when I was 16. I was then selected for my first senior training camp to Hungary in 2007. As well as being a full time athlete I am also studying a degree in accounting and finance.
My short term goal is to be selected for the European B's in Manchester this year, but my ultimate goal is to play in the 2012 Olympics.

Name: Chloe Wilcox

Age: 22

Position: Left Wing

I started swimming when I was a baby and began water polo in my early teens at Appleby Swimming because I was bored of swimming and my 4 brothers played. I was recruited by George Carpenter to play for Sedgefield and moved to the Grantham junior national high performance centre at the age of 16 to become an international water polo player and study my A levels. A year later I moved to Manchester to join the senior high performance centre. This gave me the opportunity to play at the 2006 commonwealths and begin a career in teaching at Manchester High School for Girls.. I also play for Manchester and we have been runners-up for the last two seasons of National League and British Champions in 2008. 

Name: Hannah Wild

Age: 24

Position: Right Wing

I got into Water Polo after seeing my brother and his friends playing at City of Chester baths in 1999. I progressed with the men at Chester before going to play for Liverpool in 2000 where I began playing National League and became champions over the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons and ASA champions in 2003.

Name: Hazel Musgrove

Age: 20

Position: Right wing

I have always loved sport. I swam for Warrington Warriors until I was 12, and then I started playing water polo for Warrington, for whom both my brothers and dad play for. Gordon Dacre asked me to play for Liverpool in 2004, and I moved up the teams to play for the first team in 2007. Since then I have played in the L.E.N Trophy 3 times and won National League twice. I started playing for GB in 2004. I have competed in two Junior Championships in Chania and was selected for the Senior squad last year. After completing my A levels I moved to Manchester in 2007 to start a B.S.c (Hons) in Psychology, which I am currently in the second year of, and to train at the High Performance Centre.