THE Sedgefield 75 squad are already the dominant force in North East Junior Polo and they won their first national title at the Manchester Aquatic Centre, where the Commonwealth Games take place.

The championship was the mini polo title for young inexperienced players played with smaller goals and balls. 21 teams competed from all over the country over seven hours.

Sedgefield won their five group games, their semi final and final against Warley Wasps from Birmingham 2-1 to cap a magnificent performance by the squad of James and William Leatherbarrow, Simon Callan, Fay Callan and Patrick Callan, Ryan Caws, Adam Longley, Naomi Kellett, Mark Gabrielle, Iona Stonehouse and Joseph Reed.

The side was coached by young 19 year old Sedgefield coach David Farmer and team manager was Anne Kellett. With the return of Sedefield's four girls in the Great Britain team for the European championships in Portugal where GB improved from 12th to 11th this time and Carol Mohan was GBs top scorer with 11 goals and Angela Winstanley Smith second top scorer with seven. Sedgefield are now at the very head of GB Junior Polo despite being only five years old. Their coaching team of Lee Cooke, Tara Smith, Chris Gilbertson, Martin Thompson and David Farmer must take a lot of credit. In over 60 games at generally the highest level of play, Sedgefield have only lost twice and that was to Lancaster in the National Under 17 Championships and a friendly at Under19 level this season.