Description

 

Welcome to the University of Bristol Swimming and Water Polo Club!

We are so excited to kick-start another year of Swimming and Water Polo! With four Water Polo teams, a Competitive Swimming team and Fitness swimming, we host a full calendar of fun events, competitions and socials all year-round. Whether you’re already a keen swimmer or an eager Water Polo player, or even if you just want to try something new, UBSWPC could be the place for you! 

 

A message from our president: 

“Welcome to UBSWPC, the home of very serious, funny business!” 

 

Scroll down to learn more about:

• Our teams  

• Training times 

• Our committee  

• 2025/26 Membership pricing  

• Our Equality and Sustainability Mission 

• Social Media Links  

 

Meet the teams…

Water Polo:

Every year we enter four teams into the BUCS Water Polo league; they consist of the Women’s and Men’s 1st and 2nd teams. Men and women train and play matches separately but regroup together every Wednesday for socials.

Women’s Water Polo – 1st Team

Captain: Evie Walker; League: BUCS Female Southern Premier, Tier 1

The Women’s Water Polo 1st Team train three times per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Last year they won the Female Southern Premier, Tier 1, and have reached the semi-finals in BUCS two years in a row. This team is typically best suited to players who have had Water Polo experience before, as they aim to maintain a higher level of play – though there are always exceptions to this. This team has seen players ranging from GB Water Polo players, all the way to players who have never played prior to university, having transferred from other water sport disciplines. We encourage you to come along to our GIAG and training sessions where our coach and captains will place you into the team that is best suited to you.

Women’s Water Polo – 2nd Team

Captain: Lottie Cleal; League: Female Western, Tier 1

The Women’s Water Polo 2nd Team train three times per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Each year they develop players to form a competitive team, playing in the Female Western BUCS league. This team invites everyone to give the sport a go; their focus is honing the basics, development, and ultimately to have fun competing! Provided you are able to swim 25m confidently and consecutively, there is no prior Water Polo knowledge you need to be a part of this team! Come along to one of our GIAG sessions – we are confident that you will love giving our sport a go!!

Men’s Water Polo – 1st Team

Captain: Zac Downer; League: BUCS Open Southern Premier, Tier 1

The Bristol Men’s 1st Team trains three times a week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, and has just concluded one of its strongest seasons in recent years. The team went undefeated to win the BUCS Premier South Division and reached the quarter-finals of the national BUCS Championship. While we compete at a high level, we place just as much importance on creating a fun and welcoming environment both in and out of the water. Whether you’re an experienced player or completely new to the sport, we value enthusiasm, teamwork and a willingness to learn. As long as you’re keen and bring good energy, you’ll fit right in. Come along to our Give It A Go sessions and early-season trainings. Our coach and captains will help find the right place for you within the squad, and get you involved in one of the most exciting and close-knit teams at Bristol University.

Men’s Water Polo – 2nd Team

Captain: Mikey Sydenham; League: Open western tier 1

The Men’s 2s Water Polo team train on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays. The focus is a competitive yet welcoming environment with skill levels ranging from past competitive swimmers looking for a team to join, or those who are entirely new to the sport and willing to give something new a go. We strive for a high standard within our league and are entered into the open national trophy as well as the BUCS league. For the 2s the best reason to join is to get into a team that has frequent socials and improve fitness and skill in a very entertaining sport.

Swimming:

Competitive Swimming Team

Captains: Alicia Corver & Julian Lee; League: British University Swimming League

Our Competitive Swimmers train Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday and last year came 4th at the National BUSL final in Birmingham. They present opportunities to compete as a team or individually and offer weekly professionally coached training sessions. Successful applicants that try out for the team typically maintain a 50m freestyle time of 25s (men) and 29s (women), or less. Trials are usually held within the first few weeks of term, and you can keep up-to-date with when try-outs will held through the UBSWPC Instagram. With a great balance of socials and competition, this team is a fantastic way to make friends outside of your accommodation and course.

Fitness Swimming

Fitness Swimming Sec: James Wall

Is Swimming competitively not your thing? Want to continue Swimming for fitness and personal development? Or maybe you’re just looking for another activity to try out, and meet new people? Then Fitness Swimming it the place for you! At Fitness Swimming, it’s all about you and your goals! We hold three weekly sessions coached by our Competitive Swimming captains, which are divided up into lanes, based off swim set preference and/or ability. You will also have the opportunity to benefit from tailored sessions to your goals, focussing on aspects like technique, speed, or both. Most importantly, this is a place to have fun, meet new people and enjoy a low-pressured Swimming environment. Outside of the pool, everyone is also welcomed to Wednesday socials.

 

Weekly Training Schedule: 

Training Times 2025-2026:  

Men’s Water polo: Monday 20:00-22:00, Friday 06:00-07:30, Sunday 17:00-19:00 & Sunday 06:30-08:00

Women’s Water Polo: Monday 06:00-08:00, Tuesday 21:00-22:30, Friday 19:00-21:00 & Sunday 06:30-08:00

Competitive Swimming: Monday 19:00-20:00, Tuesday 19:00-20:00, Wednesday 06:00-07:30, Friday 21:00-22:00, Saturday 06:30-08:00  

Fitness Swimming: Wednesday 17:00-18:00, Thursday 19:00-21:00, Saturday 06:30-08:00 

BUCS slots: Wednesday 20:00-21:30 & Saturday 17:30-19:00 

All training occurs at: 

University of Bristol Swimming Pool, Richmond Building, 105 Queens Rd, Bristol, BS8 1LN 

 

**Pre season times and holiday periods may alter these times 

 

Meet our Committee (2025-2026):

· President: Tom Lee-Brown, president.ubswpc@gmail.com

· Vice President: Ed Brown

· Secretary: Ashleigh Fenton, st.ubswpc@gmail.com

· Treasurer: Jay Mahan

· Women’s 1st Team Water Polo Captain: Evie Walker

· Women’s 2nd Team Water Polo Captain: Lottie Cleal

· Men’s 1st Team Water Polo Captain: Zac Downer

· Men’s 2nd Team Water Polo Captain: Mikey Sydenham

· Competitive Swimming Captains: Alicia Corver & Julian Lee

· Fitness Swimming Sec: James Wall

· Social Secs: Alice Tubby, Jaego Thursfield, Liv Shorrock & Finlay Goodsall

· Kit Sec: Kit Price

· Social Media Sec: Raya Khakbiz

· Co-Alumni & Sponsorship Secs: Daniel Ewart & Ben Barnish

· Equality and Wellbeing Sec: Callum McKenzie

· Tour Sec: Cosmo Freeland

 

Our Memberships:

Competitive Swimming (FULL)	For a full year’s membership for Competitive Swimming. Includes professionally coached training sessions, up to 6 hours of training time per week and BUCS play (with funded travel).    **This membership is invite only – you will be required to qualify for the competitive swimming team first.	£80
Competitive Water Polo (FULL)	For a full year’s membership for Competitive Water Polo. Includes professionally coached training sessions, up to 7 hours of training time per week and BUCS play (with funded travel).	£80
Fitness Swimming	Includes three weekly coached sessions with opportunities for tailored sessions to your Swimming goals. This is non-competitive and do not include BUCS play.	£45
Half Year Fitness Swim	**See above   Either Sept - Dec or Jan – End of term	£25
Fitness Water Polo (2 Sessions)	For a full year’s membership for Water Polo, excluding BUCS match play. You will have access to 2/3 training session per week. Does include professionally coached sessions.	£45

 

**These prices do not include the SEH access pass (£25) that is automatically added into your basket at checkout. To learn more, click here: SEH Access Pass @ Bristol SU 

 

Equality and Sustainability statement:

“UBSWPC is an open and welcoming club for all students at the University of Bristol. We take pride in creating a friendly, supportive environment where anyone – no matter their background – can get involved and feel part of a team. As equality and wellbeing Secretary, I’m especially keen in making sure new members feel welcome. We’re a club that values enthusiasm and team spirit just as much as ability, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy the sport at their own pace, whilst building lasting friendships. We take pride in our committee being approachable and committed to making sure the club remains inclusive and safe. Sustainability is also something we feel strongly about, and it’s an important part of how the club runs. We’re working to reduce our impact on the environment by promoting car sharing, cycling, and recycling. Last year, we ran a ‘Walk, Run & Cycle to trainging scheme’ and aim to implement more sustainability-focussed initiatives this coming year.”

Callum McKenzie, Equality & Wellbeing Sec (2025-2026)

 

Social Media Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubswpc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4005671179749792