Brenhan Heath, Class of 1992

What initially drew you to water polo, and when did you start playing?

I started playing when I was 10 or 11 years old at Trinity. My older brother, Tristan, attended after school training on a Tuesday evening, so instead of cycling home on my own, I decided to go along and see what water polo was all about.

How did you balance your academic and athletic commitments during your time as a student-athlete?

I’m not sure I balanced my academic studies as well as I would have liked, as I enjoyed sports far more than some of my A levels. I remember attending a U20 Great Britain training weekend just before my A level maths examination which, on reflection, wasn’t ideal.

Can you share a memorable moment or game from your water polo career?

My favourite moments from water polo were the school national finals. In my school career I believe we won this competition twice (1989 Worcester and 1991 Radcliffe, Manchester), but we also lost many times, which made winning even more special. We had a brilliant school team, helped enormously by Robert Anderson who, as a 6’5’’ schoolboy, was a formidable and talented goalkeeper. It was a challenging competition; King’s School Grantham, Torquay Grammar and Bedford Modern were our regular rivals.

In my early 20s, I was very fortunate to play for London Polytechnic, and went on to win Division 1 and I subsequently played in the first round of the European Championships in Finland. I also represented England in a tournament in Loule, Portugal, but personally these didn’t compare to my memories of winning the schools competition. I also have many enjoyable memories of playing water polo for the Old Boys, the Old Mid-Whitgiftians team. Iain Macleod, Chris Mann and Richard Crawley deserve a special mention for their relentless support and encouragement.

What specific skills or attributes do you think contributed most to your success in water polo?

I was very fortunate to be a strong swimmer and that started because my mum took my brother, sister and me swimming at South Norwood pool every weekend from a young age. I seemed to pick up the skills of water polo very quickly and was lucky enough to have a fast and accurate shot.

How did you overcome setbacks or failures along the way?

There have been a lot of setbacks and failures, but I have largely continued to play water polo since I left school. I have played in all five divisions of the British Water Polo League (BWPL). Exercise and sport have always been a significant part of my life.

Can you describe the camaraderie and team dynamics within your water polo team?

I am pleased to say that I am still in contact with several of the players from school and was delighted to be best man at Martin Anderson’s wedding. He was very much a gifted sports person who could turn his hand to any sport and he developed into a very strong water polo defender.

What role did your coaches play in your development as a water polo player?

Our coaches, Ian Marsh and Dave Lawson, were excellent and we were lucky to have such devoted members of staff.

What changes would you like to see in the development of water polo, particularly at the grassroots level?

In England, I feel water polo remains very much a minority sport and lacks funding. If we are ever to compete on the global stage,

this will need to be addressed. It appears that the BWPL is being cut from five divisions to three due to a lack of officials which, again, will not help develop the sport.

What were some of the most memorable lessons you learnt from your water polo career?

Sport offers so much to young people and I quickly realised how difficult it is to be successful. Reflecting upon this has helped me to be more determined and resilient in all aspects of my life.

How has your experience in water polo influenced your life beyond the pool?

Water polo has had a significant positive influence in my life and encouraged me to take part in many other sporting opportunities, including running the London Marathon many times and completing Ironman distance triathlons. I am very grateful that I can turn to sport and I’m still physically active, as I believe it helps me to be a better person in all aspects of my life.