Despite only having just turned sixteen, Y11 pupil Harriet Dickens at Bolton School Girls’ Division captained the England U17 team at the recent EU Nations Junior Women’s Water Polo Tournament, held in Brno in the Czech Republic.
Over the 8-10 October weekend, the England team played Slovakia, The Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Republic of South Africa and Austria and came out of the whole competition in a very creditable fourth place. Match 2 provided the biggest win for England, triumphing over Lithuania 34-5 (9-0, 10-2, 7-2, 8-1) and with every girl getting on the scoresheet.
Harriet first took water polo up whilst in the Junior Girls’ School at Bolton School. There is a pathway in place at the School allowing girls to play water polo from Y6 to Y13. Besides training with the U18s in school, Harriet volunteers early every Friday morning at the pool to train Y8 and Y9 pupils.
Head of Junior Girls’ School, Mrs Carol Laverick, recalls: 'Harriet started playing water polo when she was at Hesketh House, as her brother was in the Park Road training squad. The first time I watched her it was clear she was a special player; she was a strong and very influential team member even then. It is wonderful to see how she has developed her skills over the years and I was thrilled to hear she was to be the England Captain. Go Harriet!'
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