Joy is to blame for it all. It's her fault, it was her idea and nobody else is going to admit to anything. She formed us into a ladies' polo team, and our pleas of infirmity, insanity, and/or general incompetence fell on deaf ears.

Like most of us, Joy started paddling when her children took up the sport and now paddles more than they do!

Pat hasn't been paddling very long but is one of the original squad of Mummies.

She is another canoeing Mummy who took up the sport along with the kids and now is even more enthusiastic than they are.

Debbie also hasn't been paddling very long and only took up polo last season, but is still one of the original Mummies.

Her son plays polo for Kingston Kayak Club's junior squad and can frequently be heard shouting encouragement at his mother from the sidelines. At least, we think that's what he's shouting.

Linda is one of our more experienced lady paddlers and competes in slalom as well as playing polo (which means she is more likely to remain upright than some of us!!)

She is also of the original squad of Mummies and, like most of us, has a canoeist son to give her all the support a canoeist mother expects.

Sally has played polo competitively before, for proper teams and is one of the players who gives us a BIT of credibility!

She has been away studying Sports Science at university, but still tries to get to all our matches (thank goodness!)

Dianne took to the water when she got fed up just watching her sons and daughter paddling; the sons have now gone on to play canoe polo SERIOUSLY in a Big Boy's team and find their mother's efforts entertaining and embarassing in turn.

Despite all protests, she was one of the first of the original Mummies squad.

Helan is the baby of the team and is still at school. She has, however, been playing polo as long as the rest of us and also has the advantage of youth on her side!

Her Mum also paddles, but we have yet to persuade her to join the team; perhaps Helan can get to work on her?