| Bucks Examiner | "Having a ball in the pool" | 11th July 1997 |
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Octopush, which was set up in 1989, and is seeking to boost its membership, particularly among women, invited the Examiner to try out a game at Chesham Leisure Centre.
Oraniser Martin Reed, 32, said "When I first saw people playing Octopush, I thought it looked pretty bizarre, like its name. From the poolside, it looks like sharks splashing around and chasing after a piece of meat. It is only when you join in you begin to understand the game."
Martin added: "I am a former club swimmer and have dived and played water polo, but it is underwater hockey that I enjoy the most."
The aim of Octopush is to score goals by combining with five other players to push a rubber and plastic coated lead weight into an underwater goal using a small curved stick or "pusher". Teams can be identified by the colour of their pushers.
Equipment required for the sport includes face masks, snorkels, ear shields and snorkels and, although a reasonable level of fitness is required, the extra-long fins enable even the most mediocre of swimmers to achieve speedy acceleration.
Above the water, the game does indeed look like agitated bees chasing a submerged honeypot but, stunningly, below the surface, a physical and frenetic version of underwater chess evolves.
Mr Reed, of Longfield Drive, Amersham, said that despite the close proximity of the players, stick injuries are rare - a stiff neck being the worst side-effect he has suffered in eight years.
He said: "We are a non-registered club and the primary aims are fun and a bit of exercise. If people don't come along and try it, they won't know what they're missing out on."
The club meets at Chesham Leisure Centre on Mondays from 9.30pm to 10.30pm.
Anyone interested in joining can contact Martin on 01494 727104.
Article reproduced by kind permission of the Bucks Examiner. To obtain copies of the article, please contact the Bucks Examiner, 16-18, Germain Street, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1LH, Tel.:01494 792626, Fax.: 01494 792333.
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