MENTION the words Germany and September together, and most sports fans immediately think back to a certain World Cup qualifying night in Munich. But for at least ten members of the St Albans Canoe Polo Club, the two words are enough to send their minds ten weeks in the opposite direction to the Canoe Polo World Championships, taking place from September 8-15.

Both British mens and ladies teams will go into the tournament with lofty, yet realistic, ambitions, after the men were crowned world champions in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2001, while the ladies were edged into second place. Both are also reigning European champions.

The mens team, including St Albans players Alan Vessey, Stuart Moffit and Dave Sanders, meet this weekend for a training camp, before travelling to Mechelen, Belgium, for an international fixture the following weekend. Home internationals at Hull, Liverpool and London follow before they fly to Germany in the autumn.

The ladies team, meanwhile, relies on its St Albans influence to an even greater degree, with Ginny Coyles, widely regarded as the best female canoe polo player in the world, coaching and starring. She is joined in the GB team by sisters Lianne and Phillappa Grayson, Kirsty Sutcliffe, Andi Fear-Ross and Hillary Clarke.

Matt Taylor and Richard Hirst are also expected to be named in the Under-21's team, which picked up a bronze at the last World Championships.

The St Albans players begin the busy international calendar full of confidence after completing another successful season at home.

Somewhat appropriately, both mens and ladies teams picked up silver medals in the National Championships in Doncaster during the Silver Jubilee weekend.

However, both were the defending champions and, having reached the final, the men especially will view it as one match that got away.

Without Moffat and Vessey who were competing in Germany they came through a difficult quarter-final against championship-favourites Meridian (5-4) and then trounced Welsh team Dragons in the semis (6-0), before a single-goal defeat to Liverpool-based FOA in the final.

Further frustration came in the league, where the men gave up their league crown to Viking, finishing runners-up only on goal-difference.

The ladies meanwhile, having won all their matches to reach the national championships final, went down 6-5 to an Exclusive team founded by and featuring Coyles, who is also a regular in the St Albans mens team.

Unlike the men though, the ladies brought the league title back to Hertfordshire, beating Exclusive twice in the process.

While undoubtably among the world's best in their sport, representing their country costs the St Albans' players between £5,000-£6,000 each year. Consequently, the club urgently request sponsorship.

Anyone interested in helping the club can contact Dave Sanders on 07939 271 903.

St Albans Canoe Polo Mens: Dave Sanders, Andy Davis, Ginny Coyles, Matt Taylor, Richard Hirst, Paul Hilliard.

Ladies: Phillipa Grayson, Lianne Grayson, Kirsty Sutcliffe, Andi Fear-Ross, Hillary Clarke, Sam Raddings

June 20, 2002 16:30