An under-16s team of Clube Naval de Portimão emerged victorious from the Portuguese Cup of Kayak Polo, which was held in Portimão between October 29 and 30.
The team, which features players Dinis Cosciuc, Diogo Durão (top scorer in his class), Jayden Ferreira, Martim Vilhena, Miguel Fortes, Nuno Roriz and Simão Vilhena led by coach Pedro Mestre, won every match it played, securing the title in what is its first year of competition.
The main competition was won by CK Barra.
For those who might not know, kayak (or canoe) polo is played by two teams of five players on a rectangular playing pitch that can be in open water or in a swimming pool. Matches are played over two halves of 10 minutes with the aim to score into a goal which is suspended two metres above the water at each end of the pitch. The ball in canoe polo is the same that is used in water polo and can be controlled by hand or by paddle.
According to the International Canoe Federation (ICF), canoe ball games have been played in Great Britain since the late 19th century and early forms of canoe polo were played in United States of America and parts of Europe into the first half of the 20th century.
