Committee

Committee document links follow the bios.

Steve Watts

Chairperson & South West Representative

Steve was previously the Chief Referee in the UK and continues to sit on the ICF Rules and Development Board. He has officiated the senior men's final in the two World Championships and was also lead referee in a World Games final. He now hopes to shift his focus to developing all aspects of polo across the UK!

Elan Winter

Chief Referee

Elan started paddling with Aberfan Canoe Club at the start of the 1990s and started playing polo a little later. He’s played ever since and has coached various clubs, as well as the national side. As a referee, Elan has officiated at European and World Championships since 2013, and has refereed the Senior Men’s Finals at the 2017 European and 2018 World Championships.

Mark Dolan

Secretary

Mark has been a keen polo player for the past 20 years. He plays for both the Royal Navy and HM Armed Forces teams. Currently living in Norfolk which seems to be a Polo black hole he is concentrating more on becoming a better referee as he has no local team to play for.

David McBay

Publicity Officer

David runs the Website and Social Media streams. Get in touch if you have any polo content to share or for any sponsorship enquiries. David began playing polo at University with London. He now plays with East End Canoe Club.

Sara Potter

Welfare Officer & North East CPC Representative

Sara started canoeing at 7 and polo at 8, now 24 the enthusiasm hasn’t left! Sara is the Yorkshire and Humberside secretary and National Committee rep as well as our Welfare Officer.

Zöe Anthony

Coaching & Welsh Chairperson

Zöe joined Aberfan Canoe Club in the mid 90's and has been playing, refereeing, coaching and other roles ever since.

Sophie Louth

Women’s Representative

Sophie advocates for women's polo in the UK as well as running women's div 1. She also organises a number of women's polo training days and fun tournaments, if you are interested in getting involved just drop her a message. Sophie started kayaking in Exeter before taking up canoe polo at university.

Michael Burbeck

South East Chairperson

Michael started paddling at the University of London in 2007 and now plays for Meridian and East End Canoe Club.

James McNeish

Scottish CPC Representative

James oversees the SCA polo leagues and development of polo in Scotland. Although James didn’t start playing polo till in his 20’s started kayaking from a young age. Having played for FCAG and Stirling and Napier. James currently plays for Titan’s Canoe Club.

Matt Carter

North West Chairperson

Matt spends his time organising and running the regional leagues and general polo development within the NW&C region. Although he has paddled from a young age he didn't start polo until he was at Lancaster Uni, where he promptly fell in love. From there he built a new club based in Lancaster initially out of Lancs graduates, "Red Rose CC" which takes up the rest of his spare time!

AP Gair

North East Chairperson

Adam-Peter a.k.a. AP started paddling at 16 and coaching at 19. British Canoeing Regional Coaching Representative for Yorkshire as well as the Yorkshire and North East Polo Committee's Chairperson. Full-time outdoor instructor and the Senior Instructor for the Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre. Coach, manager and player for the Leeds Panthers from Leeds Canoe Club. Hoping to make a difference by increasing polo coaching and standards of refereeing in the Regional division.

Hywel Whitaker

Welsh CPC Representative

Howie has been involved in Canoe Polo for the past 35 years. He plays and is secretary for Dragon Canoe Club in Wales. He has worked on the committee for a number of years as well as coaching in the GB Squads. Howie has also been involved in organising the Welsh Open for the past 25 years. He currently lives near Cardiff.

Documents